HEADER RING
A reciprocating pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber, a plunger configured to reciprocate in an axial direction within the pumping chamber along a plunger axis, and an annular header ring positioned between the plunger and the casing. The annular header ring is formed solely of a fabric-reinforced rubber.
1 . A reciprocating pump, comprising:
a casing defining a pumping chamber;
a plunger configured to reciprocate in an axial direction within the pumping chamber along a plunger axis; and
an annular header ring positioned between the plunger and the casing, the annular header ring formed solely of a fabric-reinforced rubber.
2 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , further comprising an annular pressure ring abutted against the annular header ring.
3 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the annular header ring is one of a plurality of annular components defining a packing arrangement, the plurality of annular components further comprising an annular pressure ring, a lantern ring, and a packing nut.
4 . The reciprocating pump of claim 3 , wherein the packing nut includes threads configured to threadably engage the casing and is configured to compresses the lantern ring against the annular pressure ring and the annular header ring.
5 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the annular header ring includes an inner surface defining a minimum inside diameter of the annular header ring, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is non-cylindrical and is defined by the revolution of a curved line about the plunger axis.
6 . The reciprocating pump of claim 5 , wherein the minimum inside diameter of the annular header ring is less than an outside diameter of the plunger.
7 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position, wherein the annular header ring is deformed by the plunger in at least one of the first position or the second position.
8 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the annular header ring includes a plurality of fibers, wherein the plurality of fibers is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.
9 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is a first plunger of a plurality of plungers, the reciprocating pump further comprising a crankshaft that drives the plurality of plungers to pump fluid at high pressure.
10 . An annular header ring defining a central axis, the annular header ring comprising:
a first axial side;
a second axial side opposite the first axial side;
a first radial side extending between the first and second axial sides and defining an inside diameter of the annular header ring; and
a second radial side extending between the first and second axial sides and defining an outside diameter of the annular header ring,
wherein the annular header ring is a body uniformly constructed entirely of a fabric-reinforced rubber.
11 . The annular header ring of claim 10 , wherein the fabric reinforced rubber comprises a plurality of fibers, and wherein the plurality of fibers are oriented to extend in a lengthwise direction between the first radial side and the second radial side.
12 . The annular header ring of claim 10 , wherein the header ring is constructed without the presence of other dissimilar materials embedded within the body or forming outer layers of the body.
13 . The annular header ring of claim 10 , wherein the fabric-reinforced material is formed of a hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber and an aramid fabric.
14 . The annular header ring of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is non-cylindrical and is defined by the revolution of a curved line about the central axis
15 . The annular header ring of claim 10 , wherein the first axial side includes a male chevron portion and a knob portion extending from the male chevron portion, the knob portion defining a first axial extent of the annular header ring.
16 . A method of forming an annular header ring, the method comprising:
mixing a rubber material with a fabric material to form a fabric-reinforced rubber having fabric fibers;
cutting the fabric-reinforced rubber into sheets on a bias, turning the fabric fibers to an offset angle;
joining the sheets of the fabric-reinforced rubber, and cutting the rejoined sheets into ribbons;
stacking or coiling the ribbons into a preform; and
compressing the preform in a mold chamber of a compression mold.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the header ring is a body uniformly constructed entirely from the fabric reinforced rubber without the presence of other dissimilar materials embedded within the body or forming outer layers of the body.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein mixing the rubber material with the fabric material includes calendaring the rubber material with the fabric material.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein mixing the rubber material with the fabric material includes dissolving the rubber material in a solvent, applying the dissolved rubber material to the fabric material, and heating the dissolved rubber material and the fabric material, gelling the rubber into the fabric.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein applying the dissolved rubber material to the fabric material includes one of pulling the fabric material through the liquid rubber, applying a spray coat of the liquid rubber to the fabric material, or utilizing a transfer roll mechanism.