A pressure regulating system for use with a mechanical seal and stationary equipment for applying a substantially uniform force or load to a stacked set of packing elements. The force applied to the packing elements can be regulated or controlled in real time and in a remote manner. The mechanical seal includes an axially movable follower element that can be energized by pressurized fluid to move between a pre-loaded position where the follower element does not apply an axial load to the packing elements to a loaded position where the follower element applies the axial load to the packing elements.

A device for tensioning a stuffing box packing includes a plurality of clamping elements, which press a stuffing box gland against the stuffing box packing and thus press the stuffing box packing against a superordinate assembly. At least two clamping elements are connected in a torque-transmitting manner such that rotation of one of the clamping elements causes rotation of the other clamping element or elements.

A seal assembly for sealing an annular space between a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface. The annular space has high pressure zones and low pressure zones. The seal assembly has an annular seal with an inner surface that faces the second cylindrical component, an outer surface that faces the first cylindrical component, a sealing end and an engagement end. A seal actuator assembly applies a force to the engagement end of the annular seal to urge the annular seal in a first direction towards an engaged position within the annular space. The force applied to the engagement end of the annular seal has a first component aligned with the first direction and a second component that is perpendicular to the first direction. The first component is at least 1.7 times greater than the second component.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture of valve packing apparatus and related methods. An apparatus includes a cartridge including packing components and a spring. The cartridge is dimensioned to fit in a bore of a bonnet of a valve. A retainer is disposed in an aperture of the cartridge. The retainer is removable from the aperture to release the spring to apply a predetermined compressive load to the stack of packing components.

A system for regulating an axial biasing force applied to a stacked set of packing elements mounted within stationary equipment, comprising a packing loading assembly for sealing a process fluid within the stationary equipment and for applying the axial biasing force to the packing elements via a pressurized fluid from a pressure regulator. The packing loading assembly includes a gland element for mounting to the stationary equipment by a plurality of gland bolts, and an external actuation subsystem for coupling to at least one of the plurality of gland bolts for applying an axial actuation force directly to the gland element in response to the pressurized fluid. The gland element in response to the axial actuation force applies the axial biasing force to the packing elements.

A packing assembly for a valve includes a first segment having at least one first guiding surface, and a second segment having at least one second guiding surface in engagement with at least a portion of the at least one first guiding surface. A shape-memory member couples the first and second segments. The shape-memory member may be formed of a material that is responsive to changes in temperature, so that, in response to a change in temperature, the shape-memory member may cause relative movement of the first and second segments in a first direction. In response to the movement, the first and second guiding surfaces may cause relative displacement of the first and second segments in a second direction.

This seal structure 1 is provided with an annular seal member 2, a shaft member 4 having a seal groove 5 where the inner peripheral side of said seal member 2 is arranged, and an inner peripheral wall member 6 which has an internal space surrounded by an inner peripheral wall 61, wherein the shaft member 4 is arranged in the internal space 62, and the annular seal member 2 is arranged in the seal groove 5 of the shaft member 4. The side of the outer periphery 21 of the annular seal member 2 is formed by overlapping, in the axial direction D1, a plurality of ring-shape parts 3 which are closed or unclosed when viewed in a radial direction D2; when viewed in the radial direction D2, on one side of a center axis C1 of the annular seal member 2, in a longitudinal cross-section of the plurality of ring-shape parts 3, one corner 32 of the two corners of the edge 31 facing the inner peripheral wall 61 of the inner peripheral wall member 6 contacts the inner peripheral wall 61 of the inner peripheral wall member 6.

A seal assembly for a valve stem comprises an external seal placed on a valve stem facing an external environment; an internal seal placed on the valve stem facing a process environment; the external and internal seals define a chamber for the containment of barrier fluid; the chamber has an inlet configured to be placed into fluid communication with a source of barrier fluid; a detector of the amount of barrier fluid; a pressurizer device for providing the chamber with a positive pressure with respect to the process environment; the pressurizer device is configured to be installed coaxially with the valve stem.

Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are disclosed. An apparatus includes a valve plug having a first annular shoulder adjacent an end of the valve plug, a seal disposed on the first annular shoulder, and a fastener at the end of the valve plug to force the seal against the first annular shoulder to apply a load to the seal.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having: a body of the valve containing a control element; a neck extending from the body of the valve and connected to a mounting support, wherein the neck partially houses a valve stem connected to the control element and further wherein the valve stem extends through the mounting support; a gland ring mounted around the valve stem, wherein the gland ring is partially within the mounting support; a gland retainer mounted above the gland ring within the mounting support; one or more fasteners connecting the gland retainer to the body of the valve; and one or more load cells mounted around the fasteners and located above the gland retainer, wherein each load cell is configured to sense a clamping force between a top surface and a bottom surface of the load cell.