Header ring
A header ring for use as a sealing element in a stuffing box disposed about a plunger of a reciprocating pump. The header ring is formed of an annular body disposed about a primary axis. The annular body includes an inner annular surface closest to the primary axis and an outer annular surface spaced radially outward from the inner annular surface. A first connecting surface extends between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface, while a second connecting surface spaced apart from the first connecting surface, extends between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface. The inner annular surface has a first transition portion and a second transition portion with an elongated inner flat portion extending therebetween. The elongated inner flat portion extends axially closest to the primary axis and is parallel with the primary axis.
1 . A header ring adapted to be engageable with a reciprocating, cylindrical member and a cylindrical wall of a housing in which the cylindrical member reciprocates, the header ring comprising:
an annular body disposed about a primary axis, the annular body having an inner annular surface closest to the primary axis; an outer annular surface spaced radially outward from the inner annular surface; a first connecting surface extending between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface; and a second connecting surface extending between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface and spaced apart from the first connecting surface;
wherein the inner annular surface has a first transition portion extending away from the primary axis and a second transition portion extending away from the primary axis with an elongated inner flat portion extending axially and linearly between the first transition portion and the second transition portion so as to be parallel with the primary axis;
wherein the first transition portion of the inner annular surface and the second transition portion of the inner annular surface are substantially flat extending linearly away from elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface; and
wherein an angled corner is formed at an intersection of the first transition portion and the elongated inner flat portion, and wherein a filleted corner is formed at an intersection of the second transition portion and the elongated inner flat portion.
2 . The header ring of claim 1 , wherein the annular body is formed of an elastomeric first material, and further comprising a reinforcing material disposed along at least the elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface, wherein the reinforcing material is different than the elastomeric first material.
3 . The header ring of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing material is a flexible woven material encasing the annular body.
4 . The header ring of claim 1 , wherein the angle between the second transition portion and the elongated inner flat portion is approximately 45°.
5 . The header ring of claim 4 , wherein the second connecting surface is substantially flat and perpendicular to the primary axis; wherein the outer annular surface is substantially flat and parallel to the primary axis; wherein the first connecting surface is angled away from the outer annular surface; and wherein a filleted corner is formed at an intersection of the second transition portion and the second connecting surface.
6 . The header ring of claim 1 , wherein the elongated inner flat portion has a length L 1 and the outer annular surface has a length L 2 , wherein the L 1 is between 10% and 80% of L 2 .
7 . The header ring of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer annular surface is parallel with the elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface.
8 . The header ring of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first transition portion and the second transition portion extend away from the elongated inner flat portion of inner annular surface to define a relief area adjacent at an end of the elongated inner flat portion.
9 . The header ring of claim 8 , wherein each of the first transition portion and the second transition portion extend away from the elongated inner flat portion of inner annular surface to define a relief area adjacent each end of the elongated inner flat portion.
10 . The header ring of claim 1 , wherein the first transition portion of the inner annular surface is adjacent the first connecting surface and the second transition portion of the inner annular surface is adjacent the second connecting surface and the inner flat portion of the inner annular surface extends from the first transition portion to the second transition portion so as to be centrally located between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface.
11 . A header ring adapted to be engageable with a reciprocating, cylindrical member and a cylindrical wall of a housing in which the cylindrical member reciprocates, the header ring comprising:
an annular body disposed about a primary axis, the annular body having an inner annular surface closest to the primary axis; an outer annular surface spaced radially outward from the inner annular surface; a first connecting surface extending between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface; and a second connecting surface extending between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface and spaced apart from the first connecting surface;
wherein the inner annular surface has a first transition portion extending away from the primary axis and a second transition portion extending away from the primary axis with an elongated inner flat portion extending axially and linearly between the first transition portion and the second transition portion so as to be parallel with the primary axis; wherein the first transition portion extends away from elongated inner flat portion at an angle and wherein the first connecting surface extends away from outer annular surface at an angle and wherein the angles of the first transition portion and the first connecting surface are the same.
12 . The header ring of claim 11 , wherein the annular body is formed of an elastomeric first material, and further comprising a reinforcing material disposed along at least the elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface, wherein the reinforcing material is different than the elastomeric first material.
13 . The header ring of claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing material is a flexible woven material encasing the annular body.
14 . The header ring of claim 11 , wherein the first transition portion of the inner annular surface and the second transition portion of the inner annular surface are substantially flat extending linearly away from elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface.
15 . The header ring of claim 11 , wherein the first transition portion of the inner annular surface is adjacent the first connecting surface and the second transition portion of the inner annular surface is adjacent the second connecting surface and the inner flat portion of the inner annular surface extends from the first transition portion to the second transition portion so as to be centrally located between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface.
16 . A header ring adapted to be engageable with a reciprocating, cylindrical member and a cylindrical wall of a housing in which the cylindrical member reciprocates, the header ring comprising:
an annular body disposed about a primary axis, the annular body having an inner annular surface closest to the primary axis; an outer annular surface spaced radially outward from the inner annular surface; a first connecting surface extending between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface; and a second connecting surface extending between the inner annular surface and the outer annular surface and spaced apart from the first connecting surface, wherein the second connecting surface is substantially flat and perpendicular to the primary axis;
wherein the inner annular surface has a substantially flat first transition portion extending linearly away from the primary axis, a substantially flat second transition portion extending linearly away from the primary axis and an elongated inner flat portion intersecting each of the first transition portion and the second transition portion, the elongated inner flat portion extending axially and linearly between the first transition portion and the second transition portion so as to be parallel with the primary axis with a first corner formed at the intersection of the first transition portion and the elongated inner flat portion and a second corner formed at an intersection of the second transition portion and the elongated inner flat portion; and
wherein the first corner is angled; wherein the second corner is filleted; wherein the angle between the second transition portion and the elongated inner flat portion is approximately 45°.
17 . The header ring of claim 16 , wherein the first transition portion of the inner annular surface is adjacent the first connecting surface and the second transition portion of the inner annular surface is adjacent the second connecting surface and the inner flat portion of the inner annular surface extends from the first transition portion to the second transition portion so as to be centrally located between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface.
18 . The header ring of claim 16 , wherein the annular body is formed of an elastomeric first material, and further comprising a reinforcing material disposed along at least the elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface, wherein the reinforcing material is different than the elastomeric first material.
19 . The header ring of claim 16 , wherein the elongated inner flat portion has a length L 1 and the outer annular surface has a length L 2 , wherein the L 1 is between 10% and 80% of L 2 .
20 . The header ring of claim 16 , wherein the annular body is formed of an elastomeric first material, and further comprising a reinforcing material disposed along at least the elongated inner flat portion of the inner annular surface, wherein the reinforcing material is different than the elastomeric first material.
21 . The header ring of claim 20 , wherein the reinforcing material is a flexible woven material encasing the annular body.