US 4,601,304 A · Valve assembly

Abstract

A valve assembly for providing easy and rapid removal of the valve packing means while the valve is in service, closed, or out of service, which assembly includes a valve body, a bonnet connected to the body, a packing housing assembly means secured to the bonnet, a packing gland mounted on the packing means assembly, a valve stem movably secured in the valve assembly and having a closure member adapted to seat selectively in a valve closure seat in the valve body or, in the back seat condition, in a valve closure seat in the bonnet. The valve stem is threaded at its lower end adjacent the closure means for engagment with matching threads secured in the bonnet. The packing assembly means includes a stuffing box or packing cartridge that is readily detachable from the bonnet to permit removal of the packing material while the valve is in service, closed, or out of service, without damage to the stem or interior surfaces of the packing means assembly. The packing means assembly contains a drive bushing secured in one end thereof, constructed and arranged for forcible displacement through the packing means assembly to displace the packing material thereform.

Claims7

Dependent claims

In a valve having a body for the passage of fluid;

a threaded valve stem;
and
a bonnet connected to said body and having a threaded opening to receive said valve stem;
the improvement comprising a separate packing housing assembly means sealingly connected to said bonnet and being removable from said bonnet and including:
a packing material chamber within said packing housing assembly means through which a portion of said valve stem extends;
an annular drive bushing in said packing material chamber adjacent to said bonnet and surrounding said valve stem;
a packing gland in said packing material chamber remote from said bushing and surrounding said valve stem;
packing material comprising a plurality of packing material elements in said packing material chamber compressively engaged between said drive bushing and said packing gland, each of said packing material elements having a central opening through which said valve stem extends;
means for urging said packing gland into said packing material chamber;
whereby
(a) said packing means assembly may be removed from said bonnet while said valve stem remains operative in threaded engagement with said bonnet;
and
(b) whereby said annular drive bushing and said packing material can be pushed through said packing material chamber for replacement upon complete removal of said packing housing assembly means from said bonnet.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valve assembly

Life of this patent

Valve assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7