Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B27/00—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for
  • B25B27/14—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same
  • B25B27/24—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same mounting or demounting valves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/44—Mechanical actuating means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
  • B25B13/44—Spanners; Wrenches of the chuck type
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
  • B25B13/48—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B27/00—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for
  • B25B27/02—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B9/00—Hand-held gripping tools other than those covered by group B25B7/00
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K29/00—Arrangements for movement of valve members other than for opening and closing the valve, e.g. for grinding-in, for preventing sticking

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the freeing of seized valves and in particular to the freeing of seized valves which are opened and closed by rotating a valve
• Flow control valves of all types are frequently left completely undisturbed in the same position for extended periods of time, sometimes as long as tens of years.
• the valves may remain in a fully closed or fully open position or in an intermediate position between the two extremes.
• the impact force is applied to the valve actuating stem alternately in opposite directions along its longitudinal axis.
• the repeated application of the impact force may occur simultaneously with application of a torque to the valve actuating stem.
• torque may be applied to the valve stem after repeated application of the impact force.
• freeing a seized valve having an elongate valve actuating stem projecting out of the valve comprises means for repeatedly applying an impact force to the valve actuating stem along its longitudinal axis.
• the apparatus comprises means for applying the impact force to the valve actuating stem alternately in opposite directions along its longitudinal axis.
• the apparatus may comprise gripping means, e.g. a plurality of jaws, for gripping and engaging with a projecting portion of the valve actuating stem when an impact force is applied in a first direction to allow the gripping means to allow an impact force to be applied to the valve actuating stem in the opposite direction.
• gripping means e.g. a plurality of jaws
• Fig. 1 is a plan view of the uppermost portion of a typical valve stem
• Fig. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of valve freeing device in accordance with the present invention
• Fig. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of valve freeing mechanism in accordance with the present invention, shown in position on a valve stem;
• Fig. 4 is a side view of the mechanism of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 3; looking in the direction of arrow VI-VI in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of valve freeing mechanism in
• Fig. 7 is a plan view of the top of a valve stem used in conjunction with the mechanism of Fig. 6;
• Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion of fourth embodiment of valve freeing mechanism in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 9 is a plan view of the portion of the valve freeing mechanism of Fig. 8.
• Fig. 10 is a side view of the completed fourth embodiment of valve freeing mechanism in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic, partly perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a valve freeing mechanism in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the fifth embodiment
• Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic transverse sectional view of a bidirectional torque transfer arrangement of the fifth embodiment.
• stem 10 comprises a boss 12 projecting from an upper planar face 14 of the valve
• the boss 12 is in the form of a truncated pyramid having an upper planar square face 16 extending parallel to the upper face 14 of the stem 10 and having four identical inclined side faces 18a, 18b 18c 18d.
• a key which is complementarily-shaped to the boss 12 is placed over and
• the lower end of the impact head 22 carries a first collar 23 and two pairs of opposed gripping fingers 24 project downwardly from the collar.
• the collar 23 and fingers 24 are made from slightly resilient metal so that they can flex slightly, as will be explained.
• the shank 20 also carries a further collar 26 which in turn carries four downwardly depending fingers 28, each finger 28 adapted to engage the outer face of a respective one of the fingers 24 of the collar 23.
• the outer face of each of the fingers 24 is planar and slopes downwardly such that movement of the collar 26 towards the collar 23 causes the fingers 24 of the first collar 23 to flex inwardly.
• each of the fingers 24 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending upwardly directed teeth or barbs 30 which, as will be explained, are adapted to engage the outer faces 18a to 18d of the boss 12 of the valve
• a device e.g. a pneumatic or electrical power tool for transmitting angular torque
• the uppermost end of the shank 20 is also provided with a threaded recess 34 for receipt of the nose of a vibration device (not illustrated) for applying longitudinal vibration to the shank 20.
• the apparatus is positioned over the free end of a valve stem 10 such that each the teeth 30 of each of the fingers 24 of the collar 22 lie in contact with a
• the vibration device is then attached to the shank 20 as is the vibration device. Normally, the vibration device will be activated first of all, which will cause the shank 20 to
• valve stem boss 12 18a to 18d of the valve stem boss 12.
• valve stem 10 The rapid upward and downward movement of the valve stem 10 along its longitudinal axis causes deposits, such as scale, on the valve stem to be dislodged, thereby allowing the valve stem to be rotated by means of the pneumatic or other
• the vibration may continue as the torque applying device rotates the shank 20 or may cease prior to rotation of the shank 20.
• the vibration device might typically comprise a powered hammer
• a spring e.g. a metal, hydraulic or pneumatic spring
• the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 comprises a planar drive plate 50 from which a cylindrical attachment boss 52 projects perpendicularly from one face.
• a guide plate 54 is secured to the undersurface of the drive plate by means of four
• cap screws 56 and two pairs of opposed retainer plates 58 are secured to the guide
• Each pin 60 also retains a tapered
• the guide plate 50 also receives and retains two opposed pairs of jaws 64, the
• each jaw being inclined to correspond to the inclination of the faces of
• valve stem boss and comprising laterally extending teeth 66, corresponding to the teeth 30 in the first embodiment.
• the jaws 64 are permitted a small degree of vertical movement, being limited in the downward direction by engagement of an enlarged head 65 against a shoulder 67 in the guide plate and being limited in the upward direction by abutment of the head 65 against the underside of the drive plate 50.
• the guide plate also receives and retains an impact head 68.
• the apparatus In use, and as illustrated in Fig. 3, the apparatus is placed over a valve stem boss such that the teeth 66 of the inner face of each jaw 64 lie in contact with a respective one of the inclined faces 18a to 18d of the valve stem boss 12.
• a vibration and torque inducing device is then attached to the boss 52 of the drive plate 50 and
• the vibration means is actuated, causing the drive plate, guide plate and tapered
• the impact head 68 engages the upper planar face 16 of the valve stem boss 12.
• the downward movement of the drive plate also causes the tapered wedges to move downwardly with respect to the jaws, causing the jaws to deflect inwardly and causing the teeth of the jaws to engage the outer
• valve stem boss 12 and the valve stem 10 causes the valve stem boss 12 and the valve stem 10 to be moved upwardly, and the upward and downward motion of the
• valve stem continues as long as the vibration inducing apparatus is actuated.
• the valve stem may then be rotated by actuating the torque- inducing apparatus, either during or after vibration.
• the vibration device may conveniently be the same as that used for the first embodiment.
• Fig.6 and 7 comprises a cuboidal cap 70 having a recess
• the upper end of the cap 70 is also provided with a recess for receipt of
• the cap 70 is first of all vibrated to dislodge scale and other deposits from the valve stem 10 and then the torque applying apparatus is actuated to rotate the valve stem.
• the vibration device may
• Figs. 8 to 10 illustrate a wheel handle 90 which is secured to the boss 12 of
• the wheel 90 comprises an outer annulus 92 and four spokes 94
• the apparatus for freeing the valve comprises a cylindrical shank 96, one end of which engages the upper end of the nut 98 retaining the wheel 90 in position on the boss 12.
• a transversely extending cross-piece 100 is provided.
• Two securing arms 102 are
• the upper end of the shank 96 is also provided with external threading 106 and a recess 108 for attachment of a torque-inducing device and a vibration device respectively, as for the previous embodiments.
• the vibration-inducing device (which
• lug 12 causes the valve stem to move downwardly.
• the engagement of the hooked portions 104 of the arms 102 causes the wheel and therefore the boss 12 and valve stem 10 to be moved upwardly.
• the jaws need not be
• the jaws may be urged into clamping engagement with the boss hydraulically, pneumatically, magnetically, electrically or by any other suitable means.
• a fifth embodiment differs primarily from the earlier embodiments in that the longitudinally acting impact force is applied manually rather than by a powered vibration mechanism.
• Tapered jaw arrangement 120 at the lower end of the apparatus is adapted to firmly grip the tapered boss 12 on the end of the valve stem 10 as before, with a tapered interlocking retainer 122 holding the jaws in place, as described further hereinafter in connection with Fig. 12.
• Thejaws are held on ajaw retainer 124 at the lower end of a piston assembly 126 which is itself part of a
• hydraulic actuator assembly 128 Above the hydraulic actuator assembly is a bidirectional torque transfer device 132 coupled to the hydraulic actuator assembly via a spring 130 and to a hand-bar 134 via a rotatable/reciprocable tubular jar 136.
• the hand-bar 134 carries a mass 138 that can be varied to suit the application.
• the tapered jaw arrangement 120 comprises four identical jaw members 140 corresponding to the four faces of the tapered boss 12 to be gripped. The inner faces
• the piston 150 is slidably received within a cylindrical housing 152 which carries at its lower end the jaw retainers 144.
• the piston member 150 has an outwardly projecting annular flange 154 at its upper end which is received in the housing 152 and carries a first o-ring seal 156.
• the cylinder has an inwardly projecting annular flange 158 which receives the piston 150 and carries a second o-
• annular chamber 162 to which hydraulic fluid can be selectively provided via an inlet bore 164.
• annular stop member 168 At a distance above the piston 150 in the cylinder 152 there is fixed to the cylinder by pins 166 an annular stop member 168. Between the stop member 168 and the piston 150
• the piston can be any hydraulic fluid to the chamber 162 in use, by applying hydraulic fluid to the chamber 162, the piston can be any hydraulic fluid to the chamber 162.
• tapered boss 12 is gripped rigidly relative to the cylinder 152. Removal of the oil pressure in chamber 162 enables the jaws to be released, this being assisted by the downward force of the spring 170 to give a quick-release action.
• a rod 172 which in plan view has the profile shown in Fig. 13, having a first pair of radially extending faces 178a, 178b, which are angularly separated by 180° but are also coplanar.
• Fixed relative to the cylinder 152 are two segmental members 182, 184 defining pairs of angular spaced but coplanar faces 182a, 184a and 182b, 184b.
• the paddle part 176 can be moved, preferably by about 70°, between two extremes wherein the faces 180a and 182a, and the faces 180b, 184b are in engagement and wherein the faces 178a, 184a and 178b, 182b are in engagement
• the upper end of the rod 172 carries the crossbar/handle bar 134 which itself carries a mass 138 which can be varied to suit the application.
• faces 182a, 182b, 184a, 184b are elongate in the vertical direction and that the paddle
• member 176 can therefore be displaced vertically from its position shown in Fig. 11, in practice by several cms., whilst still transferring rotary torque from the rod 172 to
• the cylinder 152 can be subjected
• the paddle wheel 176 falls under the weight of the rod 172, the cross member 134 and mass 138 so as to impact on the stop 168 fixed to the cylinder 152.
• the crossbar 134 and variable mass 138 By lifting and dropping the crossbar 134 and variable mass 138, the cylinder 152, and hence the valve spindle when rigidly gripped by the jaws, can be subjected to longitudinal
• the jaws can grip tapered spindles of various sizes and enable the
• variable mass facilitates the controlled use of the angular momentum to deliver the torque with just the right amount that prevents the spindle from being broken.
• the apparatus can be modified
• the mass is variable to deliver more (or less) angular momentum
• the tapered interlocking retainer serves to lock the jaws when they have
• the jaws do not need to be engaged hydraulically but could be engaged pneumatically, electrically, mechanically or magnetically induced to engage.
• the manual operation of the fifth embodiment could be achieved by a powered drive, such as an air motor or hydraulic motor.
• the "paddle member" need not be of the shape illustrated provided it enables a means of breaking/taking up the rotary drive to the cylinder.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanically-Actuated Valves (AREA)
• Details Of Valves (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Percussive Tools And Related Accessories (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9920865

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2001
  • 2001-08-23 GB GB0120496A patent/GB2378997A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2002
  • 2002-08-23 RU RU2004108091/06A patent/RU2004108091A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-08-23 MX MXPA04001692A patent/MXPA04001692A/es unknown
  • 2002-08-23 EP EP02755250A patent/EP1421311A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-08-23 CN CNA028164520A patent/CN1545602A/zh active Pending
  • 2002-08-23 AR ARP020103167A patent/AR036286A1/es unknown
  • 2002-08-23 EP EP10183295A patent/EP2278201A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-08-23 JP JP2003523875A patent/JP2005501210A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-08-23 WO PCT/GB2002/003917 patent/WO2003019057A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-08-23 BR BR0212709-1A patent/BR0212709A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-08-23 KR KR10-2004-7002673A patent/KR20040041584A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2004
  • 2004-02-20 NO NO20040734A patent/NO20040734L/no not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-03-15 ZA ZA200402041A patent/ZA200402041B/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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