Page 419 - Centrifugal Pumps 2E

Mechanical Seals 383

Figure 17-20. Common mating ring assemblies,

Adaptive Hardware

Structural parts of a seal installation such as shaft sleeve, gland plates,
bushings, and collars used to fit a seal to a pump are referred to as adap-
tive hardware. These items may be furnished by the pump company or
the seal manufacturer.
The success or failure of a seal installation can often be traced to the
proper selection of the gland plate and associated piping arrangement.
The purpose of the gland plate or end plate is to hold either the mating
assembly or the seal assembly, depending on the type of seal construc-
tion. The gland plate is also a pressure containing component of the as-
sembly. The alignment of one of the sealing surfaces, and possibly a
bushing, is dependent on the fit of the gland plate to the stuffing box.
For a pump manufactured to API (American Petroleum Institute) spec-
ifications, a registered fit of the gland plate is required between the inside