Brace for a valve packing gland flange

A brace for use in a valve having a valve body, a yoke, a valve stem and a stuffing box having packing disposed therein, said brace comprising:

• a pipe section, said pipe section being cut into two longitudinal sections for placement around said valve stem and within said yoke and above said stuffing box, wherein an upper portion of said pipe section is adjustably spaced from a lower portion of said yoke;
• a clamp attached around said longitudinal pipe sections for holding said pipe sections in place around said valve stem;
• a threaded nut fixedly attached to each of said pipe sections such that the axis of each nut and the axis of said pipe sections are parallel;
• a gland movably fixed within said stuffing box, wherein an upper portion of said gland engages a lower portion of said pipe section;
• and
• a jacking screw in each of said threaded nuts, said jacking screw being adapted to apply pressure between said gland and said yoke, wherein the tightening of said jacking screws within said threaded nuts increases the distance between said upper portion of said pipe section and said lower portion of said yoke and wherein said increase in distance lowers said lower portion of said pipe section and lowers said gland which the lower portion of said pipe section engages, thereby compressing said packing disposed in said stuffing box, thereby increasing the leak-sealing between said valve body and said valve stem.

A brace for use in a valve having a valve body, a yoke, a valve stem, a stuffing box having packing disposed therein, and a valve gland, said brace comprising:

• a pipe section, said pipe section being cut into two longitudinal sections for placement around said valve stem and within said yoke and above said valve gland, wherein an upper portion of said pipe section is adjustably spaced from a lower portion of said yoke;
• means for holding said pipe sections in place around said valve stem;
• a gland movably fixed within said stuffing box, wherein an upper portion of said valve gland engages a lower portion of said pipe section;
• and
• means for applying a mechanical force between said yoke and said valve gland, wherein when said means for applying a mechanical force between said yoke and said valve gland is adjusted to increase said mechanical force, there is an increase in distance between said upper portion of said pipe section and said lower portion of said yoke and wherein said increase in distance lowers said lower portion of said pipe section and lowers said valve gland which the lower portion of said pipe section engages, thereby compressing said packing disposed in said stuffing box, thereby increasing the leak-sealing between said valve body and said valve stem.