Gland and packing assembly for ball valve and associated process of assembly

A ball valve assembly comprising:

• a body having at least first and second passages that are in fluid communication with a cavity formed in the body;
• a ball valve member received in the cavity, the ball valve member has a flow passageway therethrough that selectively communicates with the passages upon rotation of the ball valve member relative to the body;
• a single piece packing received in the cavity and dimensioned to receive the ball valve member therein;
• and
• a packing gland having a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom and urged toward the single piece packing.

A method of assembling a valve assembly that includes a housing having a cavity and at least first and second flow passages that communicate therewith, a valve member rotatably received in the housing cavity, and a packing received around the valve member having first and second openings that communicate with the first and second flow passages, the assembling method comprising:

• inserting the valve member into a smaller dimensioned opening in the packing whereby the packing is forcibly stretched to accommodate the valve member through the opening;
• inserting the packing with valve member inserted therein into the housing cavity;
• installing a gland into operative engagement with the packing around the third opening;
• and
• providing a surface on at least one of the packing, housing, and packing gland that urges the packing smaller dimensioned opening toward its original unstretched conformation.