Compressible packing live loading apparatus

A dynamically-loaded apparatus for installation on a gland follower bolt secured to a fluid handling device body in which a fluid sealing packing structure is disposed and compressible by a movable gland follower, said dynamically-loaded apparatus being operable to exert thrust through the gland follower to the packing structure and comprising a spring cartridge assembly having:

• a tubular cartridge body having first and second ends spaced apart along an axis;
• a generally tubular spring structure coaxially disposed within said cartridge body and having a first end bearing against said first end of said cartridge body, and a second end;
• and
• a tubular piston structure coaxially and slidably disposed within said cartridge body and having a first end portion against which said second end of said spring structure bears, and a second end portion axially projecting outwardly through said second end of said cartridge body and having a calibrated scale thereon, wherein a diameter of the first end portion is larger than a diameter of the second end portion,
• said spring cartridge assembly being mountable on the gland follower bolt, with said second end portion of said piston structure bearing against the gland follower, by axially passing the bolt through said piston structure, said spring structure and said first end of said cartridge body, and then tightening a nut onto the gland follower bolt to axially compress said spring structure and move said cartridge body along said second end portion of said piston structure, said scale providing a visual indication of the axial distance which said spring structure has been compressed.

A fluid handling apparatus incorporating a dynamically-loaded packing apparatus and comprising:

• a body with an opening extending therethrough;
• a shaft extending through said opening and being movable relative to said body;
• a compressible packing structure disposed within said opening and circumscribing said shaft;
• a tubular gland member circumscribing said shaft and being axially movable within said opening to compress said packing structure;
• a gland spigot structure secured to said tubular gland member for movement therewith;
• spaced apart first and second bolts having first end portions thereof secured to said body, said first and second bolts extending from said body and having second end portions;
• first and second spring cartridge assemblies extending along axes and through which said first and second bolts respectively and coaxially extend, each of said first and second spring cartridge assemblies including:
• a tubular cartridge body having spaced apart first and second ends,
• a stack of Belleville springs coaxially disposed within said cartridge body and having a first end bearing against said first end of said cartridge body, and a second end,
• a tubular piston structure coaxially and slidably disposed within said cartridge body, said piston structure circumscribing one of said bolts, having a first end portion against which said second end of said stack of Belleville springs bears, and having a second end portion axially projecting outwardly through said second end of said cartridge body and having a calibrated scale thereon, said second end portion of said tubular piston structure bearing against said gland spigot structure, wherein a diameter of the first end portion is larger than a diameter of the second end portion;
• and
• nuts threaded onto said second end portions of said first and second bolts and being tightenable thereon to drive said cartridge bodies along said first and second bolts toward said gland spigot structure and thereby compress said stacks of Belleville springs, resulting positions of said second ends of said cartridge bodies along said scales providing visual indications of the distances the stacks of Belleville springs have been compressed.