Patent ID: 8727310

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a packing follower valve, comprising: providing a shaft defining a groove around which a partial ring is to be positioned, a diameter of the shaft at the groove being larger than an aperture of the partial ring to radially and outwardly deform the partial ring when the partial ring is positioned within the groove; providing a valve body defining a second aperture; positioning the shaft within the second aperture; providing a packing follower, the packing follower comprising an elongated portion, a flange, and a bore therethrough to receive the shaft, the flange configured to engage the valve body to limit an amount of travel of the packing follower relative to the valve body, the packing follower to urge a valve packing on the shaft; and milling the bore to have a tapered surface having an angle of approximately 15 degrees, the tapered surface to exert a force on the partial ring to retain the shaft within the valve when the shaft moves toward an opening defined by the packing follower, the force to have a first component in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bore and a second component smaller than the first component in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore.