Operational Information

The Two Stroke Crosshead Engine

The Stuffing Box
• Because the crankcase is separated from the cylinder and scavenge
space by the diaphragm plate on a two stroke crosshead engine,
provision must be made for the piston rod to pass through the plate
without oil from the crankcase being carried upwards, or used
cylinder oil contaminated from products of combustion being carried
downwards. It is also highly undesirable to allow the pressurized air
in the scavenge space to leak into the crankcase.
• The Piston rod passes through a stuffing box which is bolted into the
diaphragm plate. The stuffing box casing which can be split
vertically, as shown in the photo, contains a series of rings which are
each made up of three or four segments. On the outside of each set
of segments is a garter spring which provides the tension to hold the
ring segments against the piston rod. There is a clearance between
each segment to allow for wear. The rings are either bronze or can
comprise of replaceable cast iron lamella fitted into a steel backing
ring.
• As the Piston rod passes up
through the stuffing box, the
oil from the crankcase is
scraped off by the lower sets
of rings and is returned via
drillings to the crankcase.
Any oil that passes this
primary set is scraped off by
another set of rings, and is
led away through a drain to a
tell tale open ended pipe into
a tun dish outside the engine
from where it drains to a
recycling tank.
• As the piston passes down
through the stuffing box, the
top set of scraper rings will
scrape off the contaminated
oil into the bottom of the
scavenge space, where it is
drained away via the
scavenge drains. However if
these rings are faulty, then
the oil may drain into the
recycling tank.
• By observing the open
ended tell tale referred to
above, a guide to the
condition of the rings can
be ascertained. If a large
quantity of oil is draining
out, then the lower set of
rings are faulty. If air is
blowing out, then the
upper rings are worn.
• Oil in the recycling tank can be purified back to the crankcase.
However this is not necessarily a good idea. It may be contaminated
by used cylinder oil which if mixed with crankcase oil causes
an increase in viscosity of the crankcase oil. calcium deposits in the
bearings lead to damage and the oil may carbonise and deposit on
the underside of the piston crown when used as a piston coolant.
Often this contaminated oil is just landed ashore or burnt.
• Regular maintenance of the stuffing box will keep it in good
condition. checking garter spring tension, ring butt and axial
clearances, and replacing worn rings are all part of the overhaul
procedure.
• Excessive wear will take place if the crosshead guides are out of
alignment or if the guide clearances are excessive. Worn stuffing
boxes and excessive leakage can exacerbate the incidence of
scavenge fires and increase the risk of a crankcase explosion.