Stuffing Box

Glossary Right Side Image

Classification

Definition

For pumps, this is hollow space where the rotating shaft enters the stationary pump housing. While the term originated from shaft packing that was “stuffed” around the shaft to create a seal, today a pump’s stuffing box is often fitted with a mechanical seal, lip seal, or O-Pro® seal instead of packing.

What is a pump stuffing box?

In pumps, the stuffing box is the hollow space where the rotating shaft enters the stationary pump housing. While the term originated from shaft packing that was “stuffed” around the shaft to create a seal, today a pump’s stuffing box can be fitted with a mechanical seal, lip seal, or O-Pro® seal instead of packing.

Image of an internal gear pump that is cutaway to show the stuffing box.

Image of packing being “stuffed” into a stuffing box.