Valve packing ring set
AssigneeEGC Operating Company LLC (dba EGC Enterprises Inc.)
InventorsRobert Garlock, Brian Biller, Thom Jessup
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One or more packing systems and/or methods of manufacture are disclosed for a valve seal with lowered emissions while being complaint with fire standards. The packing system may have alternating mid-layers, a top layer, a bottom layer, and a first end cap and a second end cap. The layers can be formed of a flexible graphite-based material and/or a metal and/or non-fluoropolymer material. The layers may be bonded together and expand under compression to form a seal between a valve stem and a stuffing box.
Claims23
A packing ring for a fluid valve comprising:
- a top layer and a bottom layer, both the top layer and the bottom layer comprising a flexible graphite material;
- and
- one or more mid-layers comprising the flexible graphite material or a membrane material;
- wherein the one or more mid-layers are disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer;
- wherein respective one or more mid-layers are disposed parallel to an adjoining layer;
- wherein the one or more mid-layers, top layer, and bottom layer are bonded together forming a cylindrical shape;
- and
- wherein the cylindrical shape comprises an open center, wherein the open center extends through the formed cylindrical shape, and has an axis perpendicular to the one or more mid-layers, top layer, and bottom layer.
A sealing system for a fluid valve comprising:
- a packing ring comprising one or more mid-layers, respective mid-layers comprising a flexible corrosion-inhibited graphite material or a membrane material,
- a top layer and a bottom layer, both the top layer and the bottom layer comprising the flexible graphite material,
- wherein the one or more mid-layers are disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, and the mid-layers comprise alternating layers of the flexible graphite material and the membrane material,
- wherein respective layers are disposed parallel to an adjoining layer,
- wherein the packing ring is cylindrical in shape with an open center, the open center extending through the one or more mid-layers, top layer, and bottom layer, and having an axis perpendicular to the one or more mid-layers, top layer, and bottom layer;
- and
- a valve stem, wherein the valve stem extends through the open center and the packing ring forms an interference fit between the valve stem and a stuffing box in which the valve stem is disposed.
A method of manufacturing a packing ring comprising:
- placing a first layer of flexible graphite material on a first surface of a first layer of membrane material, wherein the membrane material has a second surface opposing the first surface;
- placing a second layer of flexible graphite material on the second surface of the membrane material;
- and
- bonding the layers together using a heat treatment resulting in a flexible combined graphite sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.