Lubricated pump packing assembly

A packing apparatus for use in sealing a reciprocating plunger of a plunger pump, said apparatus comprising:

• packing means for sealingly engaging the plunger;
• and
• a gland adjacent to said packing means and defining:
• a groove on an outer surface thereof in communication with an outer portion of said packing means;
• a groove on an inner portion thereof in communication with an inner portion of said packing means;
• and
• a hole interconnecting said groove such that fluid leakage past said packing means moves toward said hole.

A packing apparatus for use in a plunger pump, said apparatus comprising:

• packing means for sealingly engaging a plunger of the pump;
• a single-piece seal carrier adjacent to said packing means, said seal carrier comprising:
• a vent passage defined substantially longitudinally therein for venting leakage of fluid past said packing means;
• and
• a lubrication passage isolated from said vent passage for providing lubrication to the plunger;
• and
• a seal disposed on opposite sides of said lubrication passage for sealingly engaging said plunger and allowing a film of lubricant from said lubrication passage to be deposited on said plunger.

A pump packing apparatus for use in a plunger pump, said apparatus comprising:

• packing means for sealingly engaging a plunger of the pump;
• a seal carrier adjacent to said packing means, said seal carrier comprising:
• seal receiving means for receiving a seal therein;
• a vent passage defined through said seal carrier without communication with said seal receiving means, said vent passage being adapted for venting leakage of fluid past said packing means;
• and
• a lubricating passage defined in said seal carrier without communication with said vent passage, said lubrication passage being adapted for providing lubrication to said plunger adjacent to said seal receiving means;
• a vent zone formed between said packing means and said vent passage, said vent zone comprising:
• annular grooves defined on inner and outer surfaces of said seal carrier;
• and
• a hole defined in said seal carrier and interconnecting said grooves;
• and
• sealing means disposed in said seal receiving means for sealingly engaging said plunger and allowing a film of lubricant from said lubrication passage to be deposited on said plunger.

A packing apparatus for use in a plunger pump, said apparatus comprising:

• packing means for sealingly engaging a plunger of the pump;
• a gland adjacent to said packing means and defining:
• a groove on an outer surface thereof in communication with an outer portion of said packing means;
• a groove on an inner surface thereof in communication with an inner portion of said packing means;
• and
• a hole interconnecting said grooves such that fluid leakage past said packing means moves toward said hole;
• a pair of spaced seals disposed in said gland and defining a lubrication annulus therebetween adjacent to the plunger;
• and
• lubrication means for providing lubricant to said lubrication annulus.

A packing apparatus for use in a plunger pump, said apparatus comprising:

• packing means for sealingly engaging a plunger of the pump;
• a single-piece seal carrier adjacent to said packing means, said seal carrier comprising:
• a vent passage defined substantially longitudinally therein for venting leakage of fluid past said packing means;
• and
• a lubrication passage isolated from said vent passage for providing lubrication to the plunger;
• wherein said seal carrier defines a vent chamber between said packing means and said vent passage, said vent chamber comprising:
• an annular groove defined on an outer surface of said seal carrier;
• another annular groove defined on an inner surface of said seal carrier;
• and
• a substantially transverse hole defined in said seal carrier and interconnecting said grooves said hole being in communication with said vent passage;
• and
• a seal disposed on opposite sides of said lubrication passage for sealingly engaging said plunger and allowing a film of lubricant from said lubrication passage to be deposited on said plunger.