Stem packing assembly for gate valves and means for removal
AssigneeACF Industries, Incorporated
InventorBertram L. Morrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packing assembly is arranged between a gate valve stem connected to an actuator and a bonnet secured to the valve body. An externally threaded packing sleeve is threaded within the bonnet and has the packing assembly removably connected thereto for movement with the sleeve. The packing sleeve has an outer end portion which extends into an easily disassembled actuator body where it is easily accessible to a removal tool for replacing the packing. The valve stem has a beveled shoulder thereon which engages a flexible inner flange on the bonnet in the closed position of the gate valve to provide a tight metal-to-metal surface contact between the shoulder and flange.
Claims8
In combination with a gate valve and fluid actuator therefor having a gate valve body, a gate valve mounted in said body for reciprocal movement between open and closed positions, a stem connected to the gate valve and extending therefrom, a bonnet having a lower flange secured to the valve body, a cylindrical actuator body mounted on the upper end of the bonnet and receiving the stem, and a piston mounted within the cylindrical actuator body for reciprocal movement and operatively connected to the stem for moving the gate valve between open and closed positions;
- the improvement comprising:
- a packing sleeve receiving the stem and having an externally threaded inner end threaded within the bonnet adjacent the lower portion thereof, said packing sleeve carrying a packing assembly positioned between the stem and the sleeve, and means to connect said packing assembly to said packing sleeve for longitudinal movement with said sleeve, said packing sleeve extending upwardly from said packing assembly to the cylindrical actuator body and having an outer end portion adapted for fitting with a removal tool, said packing assembly upon unthreading of said sleeve for removal from said bonnet being carried by and removed with said sleeve from said bonnet, said packing assembly including upper and lower annular members with packing material arranged between said annular members.
In combination with a gate valve and fluid actuator therefor having a gate valve body, a gate valve mounted in said body for reciprocal movement, a stem connected to the gate valve and extending therefrom, a bonnet on the gate valve body including a main bonnet body having upper and lower flanges thereon, a cylindrical actuator housing mounted on the upper bonnet flange and receiving the stem, a piston mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the stem for moving the gate valve between open and closed positions, a removable connecting ring removably connecting the cylindrical housing to the upper bonnet flange, a packing sleeve about the valve stem and removably secured to the lower portion of the bonnet, said packing sleeve having an upper end portion extending beyond the upper flange of the bonnet, said upper end portion being exposed and adapted to fit a removal tool after the connecting ring and the cylindrical housing have been removed from the upper flange of the bonnet, and a packing assembly between the stem and the packing sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.