Packing Assembly for a Pump

Abstract

A header ring for use in a stuffing box comprising an annular body portion of an elastomeric material, an annular radially inward projecting sealing lip portion formed on said body portion and an annular, axially facing pedestal portion formed on said body portion, said pedestal portion defining an annularly extending radially inwardly facing pedestal surface, the sealing lip portion defining an annularly extending, radially inward facing sealing surface, the sealing surface and the pedestal surface forming a juncture, at least a portion of the pedestal portion adjacent the juncture and forming the pedestal surface and at least a portion of the sealing lip portion adjacent the juncture and forming a portion of the sealing surface being comprised of a layer of reinforced elastomeric material bonded to the body portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A header ring engageable with a reciprocating cylindrical member and a cylindrical wall of a housing in which the cylindrical member reciprocates, comprising:
 an opening; and   a resilient body;   wherein in a first configuration, the resilient body comprises:
 a generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion adjacent the opening and engageable with a reciprocating, cylindrical member, the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion having two portions being generally perpendicular to each other; 
 a generally axially extending second annular portion opposite the opening and engageable with a cylindrical wall of a housing; 
 a generally radially extending third annular portion facing in a first direction and extending between the first and second annular portions; 
 a fourth annular portion facing generally in a second direction, and extending between the second annular portion and the first annular portion; 
 wherein at least a section of the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion comprises woven fabric material; and, 
   wherein in a second configuration, the resilient body comprises:
 the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion of the resilient body is compressed and engaged with the reciprocating, cylindrical member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The header ring of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric material forms a barrier blocking operational nibbling away of the header ring at a junction of the two generally perpendicular portions of the radially inwardly extending first annular portion. 
     
     
         3 . The header ring of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient body does not contain layers of cloth. 
     
     
         4 . The header ring of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient body is formed substantially entirely from a homogeneous elastomeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The header ring of  claim 4 , wherein the homogeneous elastomeric material is selected from natural rubber and synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The header ring of  claim 1 , wherein the header ring further comprises an axially extending annular bead opposite the generally radially extending third annular portion, the bead being adjacent the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion. 
     
     
         7 . The header ring of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric material covers the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion, the generally axially extending second annular portion, the generally radially extending third annular portion facing in the first direction, and the fourth annular portion facing generally in the second direction. 
     
     
         8 . The header ring of  claim 6 , wherein the woven fabric material covers the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion, the generally axially extending second annular portion, the generally radially extending third annular portion facing in the first direction, the fourth annular portion facing generally in the second direction and the axially extending annular bead. 
     
     
         9 . The header ring of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric material entirely encapsulates the resilient body and defines the exterior surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A header ring engageable with a reciprocating cylindrical member and a cylindrical wall of a housing in which the cylindrical member reciprocates, comprising:
 an opening; and   a resilient body;   wherein in a first configuration, the resilient body comprises:
 a generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion adjacent the opening and engageable with a reciprocating, cylindrical member, the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion having two portions being generally perpendicular to each other; 
 a generally axially extending second annular portion opposite the opening and engageable with a cylindrical wall of a housing; 
 a generally radially extending third annular portion facing in a first direction and extending between the first and second annular portions; 
 a fourth annular portion facing generally in a second direction, and extending between the second annular portion and the first annular portion; 
 wherein at least a section of the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion comprises woven fabric material; and, 
   wherein in a second configuration, the resilient body comprises:
 the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion of the resilient body is compressed and is converted from extending generally radially inwardly to extending axially and is engaged with the reciprocating, cylindrical member. 
   
     
     
         11 . The header ring of  claim 10 , wherein the woven fabric material forms a barrier blocking operational nibbling away of the header ring at a junction of the two generally perpendicular portions of the radially inwardly extending first annular portion. 
     
     
         12 . The header ring of  claim 10 , wherein the resilient body does not contain layers of cloth. 
     
     
         13 . The header ring of  claim 10 , wherein the resilient body is formed substantially entirely from a homogeneous elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The header ring of  claim 13 , wherein the homogeneous elastomeric material is selected from natural rubber and synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The header ring of  claim 10 , wherein the header ring further comprises an axially extending annular bead opposite the generally radially extending third annular portion, the bead being adjacent the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion. 
     
     
         16 . The header ring of  claim 10 , wherein the woven fabric material covers the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion, the generally axially extending second annular portion, the generally radially extending third annular portion facing in the first direction, and the fourth annular portion facing generally in the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The header ring of  claim 15 , wherein the woven fabric material covers the generally radially inwardly extending first annular portion, the generally axially extending second annular portion, the generally radially extending third annular portion facing in the first direction, the fourth annular portion facing generally in the second direction and the axially extending annular bead. 
     
     
         18 . The header ring of  claim 10 , wherein the woven fabric material entirely encapsulates the resilient body and defines the exterior surface thereof.