GB2377666A

GB2377666A - A wrench for valves

Info

Publication number: GB2377666A
Application number: GB0215332A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Anthony Downey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-03
Filing date: 2002-07-03
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-03
Also published as: GB0215332D0; GB0116230D0; GB2377666B

Abstract

A wrench comprising:<BR> ```an elongate handle portion 1,<BR> ```gripping means disposed at an end of said handle portion 1, a slotted cavity:<BR> ```with at least two jaw portions having side walls 4, and<BR> ```gripping means adapted to receive a radiator valve body (5, Fig 4) to hold said radiator valve body by engagement with said side walls 4. The jaw portions may comprise at least two pins (2, Fig 2) extending from the handle portion.

Description

Improvements to Wrenches The present invention relates to a tool and a method of using same, with particular, but not exclusive, reference to the use of the tool in securing a radiator valve body whilst a connection between a radiator and the radiator valve body is adjusted.

It is generally known that to connect, or disconnect a typical heating radiator control valve to one end of a central heating radiator, the nut that connects the tailpiece to the valve is called the captive or union nut, which is situated between the radiator and radiator control valve. This nut has to be tightened, or loosened depending on whether the radiator is being refitted or removed. Whichever way this nut is being rotated, the radiator control valve must be held in a static position, otherwise the valve itself will try to rotate in the same direction at the same time. This is a difficult thing to do as the valve body is a round and uneven shape, and very difficult to grip. Similar problems can occur when trying to dismantle inline gate valves and stopcocks. Rotation of the valve is problematic because the pipework connected to the valve in most cases is at a right angle to the radiator connection, and damage to adjoining pipework can sometimes occur, resulting in leaks. At present there are several tools available which the user can try to grip the valve body to try to overcome this problem, ie, pliers, stillsons, dogs, adjustable grips or water pump pliers. None of these are ideal as they are not specifically designed to grip the awkward shape and position of the valve body. Slippage and damage to the valve itself can occur due to the heavy pressure sometimes required to rotate the union nut ; only those with a high level of expertise can usually do this job with any success. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or overcome at least one disadvantage of the prior art whether or not referred to herein.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tool comprising : an elongate handle portion; and gripping means disposed at an end of said handle portion and defining a slotted cavity; in which: the gripping means comprises at least two jaw portions having side walls; and the gripping means is adapted to receive a radiator valve body and to hold said radiator valve body by way of engagement with said side walls.

The jaw portions may be generally concave in plan view.

The top and bottom portions of the side walls may be curved or bevelled. The side walls may be generally convex.

The tool may further comprise at least one insert fitting onto a jaw portion.

The jaw portions may comprise at least two pins extending from the handle portion.

The pins may inwardly taper from both ends thereof thereby providing generally concave jaw portions.

The spacing of the jaw portions may be adjustable.

The spacing of the jaw portions may be in the range 1.5 to 4cm, preferably 2 to 3 cm.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of holding a radiator valve body comprising the steps of : providing a tool according to the first aspect of the invention; disposing the slotted cavity of the tool around the radiator valve body; and holding the radiator valve body in place with the tool by way of engaging said radiator valve body with the side walls of the tool.

The radiator valve body may be held in place by the tool by levering the handle portion upwardly or downwardly so as to engage said radiator valve body with the side walls of the tool.

For the purpose of clarity, the following is a description of the tool being used on a typical radiator control valve that is fully connected to a central heating radiator and pipework.

The radiator is fixed to a wall, and the valves are fixed in an upright (vertical) manner. According to the present invention there is a hand held tool adapted at least at one end to hold a radiator valve body, while the other end is adapted to form a handle; the tool must be of sufficient length to provide enough leverage, and of sufficient strength to prevent bending or twisting as in some cases very heavy pressure on the tool will be required. The tool has to hold the valve in a static or steady position when rotation of the union nut is required by way of being in contact with at least two sides, or two points of the valve body. This is achieved by forming or shaping the tool at at least one end into a slot or cut out of suitable size, into which the valve body will fit and be held. Holding or gripping of the valve can then be achieved by way of lifting, or levering the tool up or down depending on the rotation of the union nut. In this way the parts of the tool that are in contact with the valve will create a force or pressure on the valve body on opposite

sides, and at differing points along the length of the valve body, enabling the valve to be held in a static position as the union nut is being rotated. If the union nut is being turned in a downward manner, the tool, when placed onto the valve, will be levered upwards, or vice versa. In other words, the tool will counter rotate the valve, and the user can more easily judge how much pressure to apply to the tool. The tool can also be applied side on to the valve, as opposed to present method of trying to grip the valve over the top, which necessitates removal of the control knob. A further possible way of producing such a tool will be to attach pins of a certain suitable size at right angles into one end of a flat bar, or rod, or similar. The pins can be placed apart to provide the required size gap to accommodate the valve body. The pins can be attached to the bar by either welding, screwing or rivetting. Adjustability of the tool can be achieved by inserting suitably shaped inserts into the slot or jaws of the tool, or in the case of the pins, extra holes can be provided in the handle to enable the user to select their own size by either moving them apart to make the gap bigger, or moving them closer to make the gap smaller. Other methods of adjustment are also possible. A further important aspect of this invention is the shaping or forming of the parts of this tool which come into contact with the valve body. It is preferable to form the inside of the mouth or jaws of the slot into a suitable rounded, bevelled shape to fit or grab the valve body more effectively. The jaws of the tool are preferably specially shaped or formed in two ways, firstly across the width of each jaw so as to enable left or right hand use of the tool, secondly, across the length of the jaw they are concaved (rounded in). In this way, when the tool is being used, it will help prevent the tool from slipping or twisting, especially when the tool is being used with heavy pressure. In the case where the tool is being made with the previously mentioned pins, the pins are preferably not parallel, but tapered along the length of the pins from both ends to the centre to form a type of indented roller. A preferred material for making any of the above will be mild steel or similar. Preferred manufacturing processes may be casting, pressing, laser cutting or die cast moulding. In the case of the jaw inserts or pins, these can be made of a softer material, ie, hard plastic to prevent damage to the valve. Any of the

above are not restricted by size, shape or being produced by any particular material or manufacturing processes.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the tool with cut out or slot formed at one end; Figure 2 shows the tool with specially shaped pins and extra adjustment holes; Figure 3 shows a close up of the tool with specially shaped jaw inserts; Figure 4 shows a top view of the tool with slot, holding a typical radiator valve; and Figure 5 shows a front view of a typical radiator valve assembly.

Referring to the drawing in Figure 1, the tool in this case shows a handle I with cut out or slot at one end, with specially formed jaws 4 to hold a valve body 5.

Referring to the drawing in Figure 2, the tool comprises a handle 1 with specially shaped pins 2 inserted at right angles to the handle. Also shown are extra adjustment holes 7 to make the gap larger or smaller.

Referring to Figure 3, this shows a close up of the hand held tool 1 with specially shaped jaw inserts 3 that fit into the slot or cut out in the tool 1.

Referring to the drawing in Figure 4, this shows a top view of a typical radiator valve 5 being held by the tool 1.

Referring to the drawing in Figure 5, this shows a front view of a typical radiator valve assembly 5 and union nut 6.

It is possible to provide tools which have gripping means at either ends thereof. The jaws of the gripping means can be of different sizes. In this way, it is possible to use a single tool on a range of differently sized radiator valve bodies.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstracts and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purposes, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, expressly stated or otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments.

The invention extends to any novel one or any combination of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one or any novel combination of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A tool comprising: an elongate handle portion; and gripping means disposed at an end of said handle portion and defining a slotted cavity; in which: the gripping means comprises at least two jaw portions having side walls; and the gripping means is adapted to receive a radiator valve body and to hold said radiator valve body by way of engagement with said side walls.
2. A tool according to claim 1 in which the jaw portions are generally concave in plan view.
3. A tool according to claim 2 in which the slotted cavity is generally concave in plan view.
4. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the top and bottom portions of the side walls are concave or bevelled.
5. A tool according to claim 4 in which the side walls are generally convex.
6. A tool according to any previous claim further comprising at least one insert for fitting onto a jaw portion.
7. A tool according to any previous claim in which the jaw portions comprise at least two pins extending from the handle portion.

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8. A tool according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 2 in which the pins inwardly taper from both ends thereof thereby providing generally concave jaw portions.
9. A tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings or the description.
10. A method of holding a radiator valve body comprising the steps of : providing a tool according to any of claims 1 to 9; disposing the slotted cavity of the tool around the radiator valve body; and holding the radiator valve body in place with the tool by way of engaging said radiator valve body with the side walls of the tool.
11. A method according to claim 10 in which the radiator valve body is held in place by the tool by levering the handle portion upwardly or downwardly so as to engage said radiator valve body with the side walls of the tool.