Patent attributes
Techniques for delivering lubricant to a packing assembly of a fluid end of a reciprocating pump include delivering lubricant to a stuffing box that is housing a packing assembly or to a manifold disposed in or around the stuffing box. The lubricant configured to decrease friction between an interior surface of the packing assembly and a reciprocating component moving along the interior surface. Prior to delivering the lubricant to the interior surface of the packing assembly, the lubricant is diverted to multiple radial flow paths circumferentially spaced around a bore in which the packing assembly is disposed. The multiple radial flow paths lead to the interior surface of the packing assembly and the lubricant flowing through the multiple radial flow paths is metered at different flow rates based on a friction gradient across the interior surface of the packing assembly.
