Method of loading a liveload assembly for rotary or reciprocating shaft packing

Abstract

A liveload assembly including an stack guide, compressed belleville washers stacked inside the stack guide and a retainer to hold the compressed washers in the stack guide. A longitudinal slot in the wall of the stack guide permits visual checking of the compression provided by the liveload assembly on the gland follower of the valve or pump. The rotary or reciprocating shaft of a valve or pump is liveloaded by placing the liveload assembly over the bolt securing the gland follower to the stuffing box. A nut is threaded on the bolt until it contacts the washers and the retainer removed. The liveload assembly is preloaded by pushing on the stack of belleville washers with a bar driven by a hydraulic cylinder. The retainer is positioned against the stack to hold the belleville washers in compression.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.