Abstract: A valve packing system uniformly distributes the radial packing load in a valve stuffing box. In one embodiment the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is tapered with a flat bottom. In other embodiments the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is straight with a tapered outbound bottom, the bottom of the packing ring is tapered at the same outbound angle to match the outbound taper at the bottom of the cylindrical stuffing box, the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is straight with a tapered inbound bottom, the bottom of the packing ring is tapered at the same inbound angle to match the inbound taper at the bottom of the cylindrical stuffing box, and the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is straight with a male “V” x-section at the bottom of the stuffing box to accept a packing ring having a female “V” groove on the bottom.

Abstract: Live loaded valve stem packing wherein grafoil packing is molded into a metal cap that prevents extrusion of the packing, and has live loading built into the metal cap. This metal cap can be conventional flat spring materials (17-7PH S.S. or 302 S.S.) or a Shape Memory Alloy (commonly known as SMA materials, e.g. Ni—Ti (Nickel-Titanium alloy) or Fe—Si—Mn (Iron-Silicon-Manganese alloy). The cap is designed with a singular hump, entirely along its top surface. On this hump there are two slots through the hump, 180 degrees apart, for ease of removing the packing. Upon assembly of the packing box, the hump is elastically flattened out due to axial loading through the fasteners. As the packing consolidates during service (optionally if the cap is SMA, during temperature increases) the hump deflects to maintain a relatively constant or enhanced axial load on the packing to enhance sealing, even during a fire.

Abstract: In the stem set configuration for a double block and bleed plug valve, the improvement provides an operator which can be significantly shorter and more compact than conventional operators for such valves. The invention makes use of a novel nesting of the threading section whereby a conventional female thread is replaced by a nested male thread surrounded by the translation section. The translation section, in turn, houses the indication section inboard of the nested male threads thereby compacting three functions into one location. This design lends itself nicely to investment casting technology obviating conventional machine shop practices. The invention also combines by use of a long plug stem pin, the plug connection and L slot functions into one location. The input function still remains separate, however, combining ultimately all functions in only three discrete locations and what appears at this time to be the ultimate compacted or nested arrangement.