Packing apparatus and related methods to identify proper loading for valve packing
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- positioning a spring in a cavity extending through a lower portion of a packing follower and into an upper portion of the packing follower, the lower portion having an outer cylindrical profile having a threaded surface and the an upper portion having a first planar surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the packing follower and a second planar surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second planar surface connected to the first planar surface to form a recess on a top surface of the cylindrical profile, and a first aperture along the longitudinal axis disposed in the first planar surface to receive a valve stem;
threadably coupling the lower portion of the packing follower to a bore of a bonnet of a fluid valve; and
adjusting the packing follower based on an appearance of the spring to change a load provided to a packing material disposed in the bore, a second aperture positioned in the second planar surface of the upper portion of the packing follower to expose a peripheral portion of the spring.
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Abstract
An apparatus to identify proper loading for valve packing includes a packing follower for a fluid control valve. The packing follower has a cavity to receive a spring and at least a portion of a packing spacer. The apparatus also includes a first aperture disposed on an outer surface of the packing follower extending to the cavity to expose a portion of the spring.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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positioning a spring in a cavity extending through a lower portion of a packing follower and into an upper portion of the packing follower, the lower portion having an outer cylindrical profile having a threaded surface and the an upper portion having a first planar surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the packing follower and a second planar surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second planar surface connected to the first planar surface to form a recess on a top surface of the cylindrical profile, and a first aperture along the longitudinal axis disposed in the first planar surface to receive a valve stem; threadably coupling the lower portion of the packing follower to a bore of a bonnet of a fluid valve; and adjusting the packing follower based on an appearance of the spring to change a load provided to a packing material disposed in the bore, a second aperture positioned in the second planar surface of the upper portion of the packing follower to expose a peripheral portion of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 12, 13, 14)
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4. An apparatus comprising:
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a packing follower for a fluid control valve, the packing follower having a first aperture along a longitudinal axis of the packing follower to receive a valve stem, a lower portion having an outer cylindrical profile having a threaded surface, an upper portion having a first planar surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second planar surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second planar surface connected to the first planar surface to form a recess on a top surface of the cylindrical profile, and a cavity extending through the lower portion and into the upper portion to receive at least a portion of a packing spacer; a plurality of springs disposed in the cavity; and a second aperture disposed in the second planar surface of the upper portion of the packing follower extending to the cavity to expose a peripheral portion of the plurality of springs. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
a fluid control valve having a packing follower, a cavity extending through a lower portion of the packing follower and into an upper portion of the packing follower, the cavity at least partially defining a first aperture along a longitudinal axis of the packing follower and disposed in a first planar surface of the upper portion, the first planar surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a second aperture positioned on a second planar surface of the upper portion parallel to the longitudinal axis, the first aperture to receive a valve stem and the second aperture to expose a peripheral portion of a plurality of springs positioned in the cavity, wherein the lower portion has an outer cylindrical profile having a threaded outer surface, the threaded outer surface of the lower portion to threadably engage an inner surface of a bonnet of the fluid valve, and wherein the first planar surface is connected to the second planar surface to form a recess on a top surface of the cylindrical profile. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a packing follower to be threadably coupled to a bonnet of a fluid control valve, the packing follower having a first aperture along a longitudinal axis of the packing follower disposed in a first planar surface of an upper portion of the packing follower perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to surround at least a portion of a valve stem and a packing spacer and a second planar surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the packing follower includes a lower portion having an outer cylindrical profile having a threaded surface and extending radially outward from the second planar surface of the upper portion and a cavity extending through the lower portion and into the upper portion; a first recessed area formed on a top surface of the cylindrical profile where the first planar surface connects to the second planar surface to receive means for adjusting the packing follower; and a second aperture disposed in the second planar surface to expose an outer portion of means for urging the packing follower away from the packing spacer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification