Unloading system

摘要

An unloading system for a stuffing box includes a plate-like footing element within which a stuffing box may be locked. An unloading tool includes concentric inner and outer shafts. A grip element formed at the end of the outer shaft includes a segmented wing section arrayed radially about the tool axis. An enlarged core element is formed at the end of the inner shaft. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner and outer shafts allows the core element to expand or contract the wing section's cross-sectional profile. The unloading tool is actuated within the stuffing box to enlarge the cross-sectional profile of the wing section, which tightly grips the internal walls of the base packing element. Axial force applied to the outer shaft from an elevated platform withdraws the outer shaft from the stuffing box. The gripped base packing element, and the packing elements above it, are concurrently unloaded.

主权项

1. A kit for unloading a stuffing box loaded with stacked annular packing elements, including a lowermost base retainer element having internal walls, comprising:
a footing element adapted to releasably engage and maintain the stuffing box in a fixed position; and one or more components that can form an unloading tool adapted to engage the internal walls of the loaded base retainer element, comprising:
an elongate and hollow outer shaft;an elongate inner shaft receivable within the outer shaft and longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft; anda grip element positionable at one end of the outer shaft, the grip element having a wing section with a cross-sectional profile that can be selectively contracted and expanded.