Stuffing box lug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10190697-B2
Application number	US-201615171686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A valve assembly can include a valve body and a stuffing box attached to the valve body, the stuffing box comprising a stuffing box body and a lifting lug extending from the stuffing box body. A method for lifting a valve assembly can include attaching a lifting mechanism to a lifting lug of the valve assembly and lifting the valve assembly with the lifting mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly comprising: a valve body; a gate inside the valve body, the gate configured to control fluid flow; a stem configured to move the gate; a stem actuator connected to the stem, the stem actuator configured to rotate the stem; and a stuffing box attached to the valve body configured to form a seal around the stem, the stuffing box comprising a stuffing box body and a lifting lug extending from the stuffing box body, the lifting lug fixed in position relative to the valve body, and wherein the lifting lug defines a lifting bore defining a closed shaped profile configured to lift the valve assembly; wherein the stem actuator is positioned above the lifting lug.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein a box stem bore of the stuffing box is aligned with a vertical axis of the valve assembly.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bonnet mounted to the valve body, the stuffing box mounted on the bonnet.

4. The valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein the stuffing box and the bonnet define a clearance gap therebetween.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lifting lug extends horizontally from the stuffing box body past a radially outermost portion of an operating nut of the valve assembly.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lifting lug is a first lifting lug, the stuffing box further comprising a second lifting lug extending from the stuffing box body and defining a second lifting bore defining a closed-shape profile.

7. The valve assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first lifting lug and the second lifting lug are symmetrical about an axis of the valve assembly.

8. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve body further comprises a plurality of anti-rotation notches, each anti-rotation notch comprising:
a clearance portion configured to allow a shaft of a T-bolt to pass through by a long edge of the shaft; and
an anti-rotation portion configured to hold a head of the T-bolt in place and to prevent the T-bolt from rotating during installation;
wherein the anti-rotation notches and the T-bolts are configured to secure the valve assembly to an adjacent component of a fluid system.

9. A stuffing box for a valve assembly comprising:
a stuffing box body;
a stem bore defined through the stuffing box body; and
a lifting lug extending from the stuffing box body;
wherein the lifting lug defines a lifting bore defining a closed-shape profile, the lifting lug configured to support the entire weight of the valve assembly, the lifting lug configured to be positioned between a stem actuator and a valve body of the valve assembly.

10. The stuffing box of claim 9 , wherein the lifting lug defines a box stem bore and a lifting bore offset horizontally from the box stem bore.

11. The stuffing box of claim 9 , wherein the lifting lug is a first lifting lug, the valve assembly further comprising a second lifting lug extending from the stuffing box body and defining a second lifting bore defining a closed-shape profile.

12. The stuffing box of claim 9 , further comprising a bottom flange extending downward from a bottom surface of the lifting lug.

13. The stuffing box of claim 12 , wherein the bottom flange comprises straight edges when viewed from the side.

14. A method for lifting a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising a valve body and a stuffing box attached to the valve body, the stuffing box comprising a stuffing box body, a gate inside the valve body, the gate configured to control fluid flow, a stem configured to move the gate, a stem actuator connected to the stem, the stem actuator configured to rotate the stem, and a lifting lug extending from the stuffing box body, the lifting lug defines a lifting bore defining a closed-shape profile and is fixed in position relative to the valve body, wherein the stem actuator is positioned above the lifting lug, the method comprising: attaching a lifting mechanism to the lifting lug of the valve assembly by passing a portion of the lifting mechanism through the lifting bore; and lifting the valve assembly with the lifting mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising positioning a valve box over a portion of the valve assembly, an inner surface of the valve box positioned radially outward from an outermost portion of the lifting lug.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Gifford Paul

Classifications

• F16K27/04 Primary

  of sliding valves · CPC title

• F16K27/047

  with wedge-shaped obturating members · CPC title

• F16K41/023 Primary

  for spindles which only rotate, i.e. non-rising spindles (F16K41/043, F16K41/063 and F16K41/083 take precedence) · CPC title