Agitator having detachable wear sleeve

An agitator having a detachable wear sleeve comprising, an agitator drive shaft carrying wear sleeve means secured thereon and extending through an opening in a fixed mounting flange, having detachable stuffing box means secured to one side of the flange opening and axially operable normally open valve means secured to the agitator drive shaft on the other side of the flange opening, having an axially movable element for at times sealing said opening, said element being rotated by the agitator drive shaft, and being operable to a closed position by axial movement of the agitator drive shaft for sealing the opening in the flange when the stuffing box means is detached therefrom, wherein improved replacement means is provided for the wear sleeve means comprising;

• (a) the valve means having an axially operable valve element secured on the agitator drive shaft at a point on said other side of the flange and having internal threads to detachably secure one end of the wear sleeve means to the axially operable valve element, whereby the wear sleeve means is rotated with the agitator drive shaft to prevent wear of the agitator drive shaft by the sleeve, and
• (b) the wear sleeve means being a single integral longitudinal sleeve on the agitator drive shaft extending through said opening in the flange and through the stuffing box and having external threads at one end thereof for detachably securing the wear sleeve means to the axially operable valve element, whereby the sleeve means can be detached from the agitator drive shaft for replacement solely by operations from said one side of the flange with the valve means closed to prevent flow of fluid from said other side of the flange through the flange opening, without requiring removal of the shaft from the opening in the flange.