Patent ID: 7303179

Claim:
A packing follower for use with a valve, comprising: a first member including a first portion of a flange and a first portion of a curved wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the first portion of the flange to define a first portion of a cylindrical member, the first member further including a first portion of an opening of the flange located adjacent to a peripheral edge of the first portion of the flange; and a second member separable from the first member and including a second portion of the flange and a second portion of a curved wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the second portion of the flange to define a second portion of the cylindrical member, the second member further including a second portion of the opening of the flange located adjacent to a peripheral edge of the second portion of the flange, wherein the first and second members including complementary s-shaped or dovetail interlocking structures configured to mechanically couple the first and second members to form the flange and the cylindrical member of the packing follower and wherein the complementary s-shaped or dovetail interlocking structures are located between the opening and the peripheral edge of the flange to prevent separation of the first and second members across a plane substantially perpendicular to the valve shaft.