Valve packing having independently loaded packing rings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11698147-B2
Application number	US-202117153318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2021
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A valve packing having independently loaded packing rings is disclosed. A packing assembly for a fluid valve includes a first packing ring, a first follower to be disposed at least partially within a bore of a bonnet of the fluid valve to apply a first load to the first packing ring, a second packing ring sized to fit within a bore of the first follower, and a second follower to be disposed at least partially within the bore of the first follower to apply a second load to the second packing ring within the bore of the first follower.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packing assembly for a fluid valve, the packing assembly comprising:
a first packing ring sized to fit within a bore of a bonnet of the fluid valve;
a first follower to be disposed at least partially within the bore of the bonnet, the first follower to apply a first load to the first packing ring, the first follower coupled to the bonnet via a first fastener external to the bonnet, wherein a first tightening torque of the first fastener determines at least a portion of the first load;
a first spring sized to fit within the bore of the bonnet between the first packing ring and the first follower;
a second packing ring sized to fit within a bore of the first follower; and
a second follower to be disposed at least partially within the bore of the first follower, the second follower to apply a second load to the second packing ring within the bore of the first follower, the second follower coupled to the first follower and the bonnet via a second fastener, wherein a tightening torque of the second fastener determines the second load and at least a portion of the first load.

2. The packing assembly of claim 1 , further including a second spring sized to fit within the bore of the first follower between the second packing ring and the second follower.

3. The packing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first follower applies the first load via the first spring and the second follower applies the second load via the second spring.

4. The packing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first follower is to be disposed at least partially outside of the bore of the bonnet of the fluid valve and to be coupled to an outside surface of the bonnet.

5. The packing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second follower is to be disposed at least partially outside of the bore of the bonnet of the fluid valve and to be coupled to at least one of an outside surface of the bonnet or a surface of the first follower that is disposed at least partially outside of the bore of the bonnet.

6. An apparatus to seal a valve, the apparatus comprising:
a first packing ring disposed in a valve bonnet and coupled to a first surface of a first spring disposed in the valve bonnet;
a first follower coupled to a second surface of the first spring, the second surface of the first spring opposite of the first surface of the first spring, the first follower coupled to a flange of the valve bonnet via a first fastener, wherein a first tightening torque of the first fastener determines at least a portion of a first load;
a second packing ring disposed on a surface of the first follower, the surface of the first follower spaced apart from the first spring, the second packing ring coupled to a first surface of a second spring; and
a second follower coupled to a second surface of the second spring, the second surface of the second spring opposite of the first surface of the second spring, the second follower coupled to the first follower and the flange via a second fastener, wherein a tightening torque of the second fastener determines at least a portion of the first load for the first follower and a second load for the second follower.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first fastener applies the first load via the first spring and the second fastener applies the second load via the second spring.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first load on the first packing ring is different from the second load on the second packing ring.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first packing ring is to allow a leakage including a portion of fluid in the valve, the first packing ring to cause a first leakage path and a second leakage path for the leakage.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second packing ring is to prevent fluid leaking from the first leakage path.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further including a static seal coupled to an outer surface of the first follower and an inner surface of the valve bonnet to prevent fluid leaking from the second leakage path.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the static seal includes an O-ring.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first spring and the second spring include at least one of a wave spring or a Belleville spring.

14. A valve, comprising:
a bonnet including a first bore;
a first packing ring disposed within the first bore;
a first follower disposed at least partially within the first bore, the first follower including a second bore, the first follower to apply a first load to the first packing ring, the first follower coupled to the bonnet via a first fastener, wherein a first tightening torque of the first fastener determines at least a portion of the first load;
a first spring disposed within the first bore between the first packing ring and the first follower;
a second packing ring disposed within the second bore; and
a second follower disposed at least partially within the second bore, the second follower to apply a second load to the second packing ring, the second follower coupled to the first follower and the bonnet via a second fastener, wherein a tightening torque of the second fastener determines the second load and at least a portion of the first load.

15. The valve of claim 14 , wherein the first spring includes at least one of a wave spring or a Belleville spring.

16. The valve of claim 14 , further comprising a second spring disposed within the second bore between the second packing ring and the second follower.

17. The valve of claim 16 , wherein the second spring includes at least one of a wave spring or a Belleville spring.

18. The valve of claim 16 , wherein the first follower applies the first load via the first spring and the second follower applies the second load via the second spring.

19. The valve of claim 14 , wherein the first follower is disposed at least partially outside of the first bore and coupled to an outside surface of the bonnet.

20. The valve of claim 19 , wherein the second follower is disposed at least partially outside of the second bore and coupled to an outside surface of the first follower.

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Hofman Brett Allen

Classifications

• F16J15/186 Primary

  using springs · CPC title

• F16K41/043 Primary

  for spindles which only rotate, i.e. non-rising spindles · CPC title

• F16K41/02 Primary

  with stuffing-box {; Sealing rings} · CPC title

• F16K41/06

  with at least one ring attached to both spindle and housing · CPC title