Abstract: A stuffing box for a polished rod used with a downhole pump uses injectable packing to provide a seal around the polished rod. The stuffing box has a chamber for receiving the packing. The chamber has an opening to allow the addition of packing to the chamber. The packing is maintained in a compacted condition by either injecting additional packing through the opening or adjusting the volume of the chamber.

Abstract: A guide to support a shaft such as a pump pull rod (11) which is capable of both rotary and reciprocal motion. The guide prevents any misalignment of rod (11) damaging a seal, e.g. a stuffing box, held in space (24). Guide element (18) has central portion (19) and annular flange (25). Element (18) can move laterally with respect to housing (12) and can also pivot, along with the cap (15) of the housing (12), with respect to the lower portion (14) thereof. The latter is achieved via movements of part-spherical bearing element (28) and similarly shaped faces (26, 37, 38) of housing 9120. Further seals (33, 34) prevents entry of pumped fluid into chamber (13).