Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A packing, for the stem of a valve which projects axially into a stuffing box and provided with a packing gland which is securable in place to retain packing in the stuffing box to a selected depth, in an annular space about the valve stem, said packing comprising: a longitudinally elongate spiral of packing material, this spiral being of substantially uniform transverse cross-sectional shape and constituted by more than one helical turn; said spiral comprising a plurality of axially pre-compressed, radially adjoining layers of a plastically deformable packing material, compression-crumpled into a united structure; said spiral being sufficiently radially flexible as to permit a length of said spiral, constituted by more than one helical turn thereof, to be conformingly telescopically selectively received on any valve stem having a diameter which falls within a predetermined range of diameters including ones both larger and smaller than a medial diameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A packing, for the stem of a valve which projects axially into a stuffing box and provided with a packing gland which is securable in place to retain packing in the stuffing box to a selected depth, in an annular space about the valve stem, said packing comprising: a longitudinally elongate spiral of packing material, this spiral being of substantially uniform transverse cross-sectional shape and constituted by more than one helical turn; said spiral comprising a plurality of axially pre-compressed, radially adjoining layers of a plastically deformable packing material, compression-crumpled into a united structure; said spiral being sufficiently radially flexible as to permit a length of said spiral, constituted by more than one helical turn thereof, to be conformingly telescopically selectively received on any valve stem having a diameter which falls within a predetermined range of diameters including ones both larger and smaller than a medial diameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A packing as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said plastically deformable material comprises graphite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A packing as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said spiral consists substantially entirely of graphite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A packing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said spiral is constituted by a plurality of helical turns of said packing material and said spiral is adapted to be field-cut to length using a pen-knife.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A packing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of layers of radially adjoining layers of graphite, compression molded into a united structure, is constituted of a plurality of layers of flexible foamed graphite tape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A packing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tape is transversally corrugated with respect to the length of such tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A packing as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said radially adjoining layers of graphite, compression-crumpled into a united structure have multiple zig-zag interlocking folds extending along the lengths of such layers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A packing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said layers of said united structure are so compressed that they are about one-half the uncompressed width of said layers of said flexible foamed graphite tape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A valve having a stuffing box provided with a valve stem packing constituted by a packing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for providing a multi-layer spiral of a plastically deformable material, comprising: providing a mandrel having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface; disposing a spacer of multiple-turn helical form on said mandrel so that the spacer thereof is juxtaposed with the outer peripheral surface of the mandrel; axially spreading said spacer so as to provide an inter-turn space extending helically about said spacer; laying a plurality of lengths of plastically deformable material, one upon another, in layers in radial superposition, into said inter-turn space, so that said lengths extend along said space throughout more than one helical turn; while radially confining said space and said spacer with an outer body, applying compressive force to said spacer at opposite ends thereof so as to compression-crumple said layers into a united structure; and removing said unit structure from said spacer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for providing a multi-layer spiral of a plastically deformable material, comprising: providing a mandrel having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface; disposing a spacer of multiple-turn helical form on said mandrel so that the spacer thereof is juxtaposed with the outer peripheral surface of the mandrel; axially spreading said spacer so as to provide an inter-turn space extending helically about said spacer; laying a plurality of lengths of plastically deformable material, one upon another, in layers in radial superposition, into said inter-turn space, so that said lengths extend along said space throughout more than one helical turn; while radially confining said space and said spacer with an outer body, applying compressive force to said spacer at opposite ends thereof so as to compression-crumple said layers into a united structure; and removing said unit structure from said spacer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in Claim 9 for preparing a packing as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8.