Patent ID: 8613423

Claim:
An apparatus to load a valve packing, comprising: a load assembly having a biasing element disposed between a valve packing flange and a stop flange to provide a load to a seal, the packing flange is adjustable relative to the stop flange to adjust the load to be applied to the seal; and a first guide member coupled to a fist aperture of the packing flange or a second aperture of the stop flange to provide a first predetermined distance between the packing flange and the stop flange, the first guide member being rotatable relative to the packing flange or the stop flange about an axis of the first aperture or the second aperture to adjust the first predetermined distance, the first guide member to provide an indication of a first predetermined load to be provided by the load assembly when the packing flange and the stop flange are spaced at the first predetermined distance provided by the first guide member, the first guide member is to mechanically stop the load assembly from applying a load to the seal that is greater than the first predetermined load.