Multifunction Ring Radial Expansion for Pump Seal Extrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plunger pumps face maintenance challenges due to stiff packing rings that are difficult to remove and prone to overheating and premature failure, exacerbated by frictional heat and pressure-induced extrusion, with vibration resonances from fluid pressure transients further damaging the seals.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction ring with an elastomeric body and circumferential tubular cavities filled with a fluid medium, which expands radially to block extrusion and damp vibrations, reducing frictional wear and heat generation through fluid flow restrictors that adjust resistance in response to pressure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packing rings are made stiff to maintain seal shape and prevent extrusion, then sealing reliability is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases due to interference with power end components
Solution Approach 1:
The packing ring transitions from a static stiff structure to a dynamic structure that changes its mechanical properties during operation. The ring is designed to be flexible during installation and removal, then becomes stiff during pumping to maintain seal shape and prevent extrusion. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If packing ring compression is increased to improve seal and reduce extrusion, then sealing reliability is improved, but temperature increases due to frictional heating
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the packing ring from traditional stiff materials to a flexible material that can operate at lower compression forces. This parameter change allows the ring to maintain its seal through flexibility rather than high compression, thereby reducing frictional heating and temperature increase while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Ease of operation
If packing rings are made flexible to ease installation and removal, then maintenance ease is improved, but ability to retain functional shape under pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The packing ring exhibits dynamic mechanical properties, being flexible during installation and removal operations to ease maintenance, then becoming stiff during pumping operations to retain its functional chevron shape under pressure. This time-dependent behavior resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and shape retention stability.
4Productivity
If pump run time is extended to improve productivity, then output increases, but packing rings overheat and fail prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the material parameter from stiff to flexible, the invention enables operation at lower compression forces that generate less frictional heat. This allows the packing ring to maintain its functional integrity and prevent extrusion even during extended pump run times, thereby improving both productivity and reliability simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The multifunction ring effectively blocks extrusion, reduces frictional wear and heat generation, and dampens vibrations, enhancing the operational longevity and reliability of plunger pumps by managing pressure and heat more efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid medium facilitates functions such as heat conduction
Implementation Method 2
the fluid medium facilitates functions such as vibration damping
Implementation Method 3
the elastomeric body totally encloses at least one pair of longitudinally-spaced circumferential tubular cavities... responsive to longitudinal compression of the elastomeric body
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunction ring symmetrical about a longitudinal axis has an elastomeric body, first and second ends, and inner and outer surfaces. The elastomeric body totally encloses at least one pair of longitudinally-spaced circumferential tubular cavities, each pair of cavities being mutually connected via a fluid flow restrictor and substantially filled with at least one fluid medium. Each fluid flow restrictor is responsive to longitudinal compression of the elastomeric body, and the fluid medium facilitates heat conduction, vibration damping, extrusion blocking and/or fluid pressure transmission. Longitudinal compression of a multifunction ring on a pump pressure stroke increases tubular cavity fluid pressure and causes substantially symmetrical radial ring expansion. Radial ring expansion is both inward and outward, thus reducing fluid flow resistance in the fluid flow restrictor. Periodic reduction of pumped fluid pressure tends to reverse radial ring expansion, thus reducing both frictional ring wear and heat generation.