Tool and method for cleaning a valve body of a control valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926299-B2
Application number	US-201715721204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Sep 29, 2017
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A tool and a method are provided for cleaning a sealing surface of a valve body. The tool includes a stem adapted to be disposed in the valve body, at least one cleaning element coupled to the stem, and a handle operatively coupled to the at least one cleaning element via the stem. The at least one cleaning element includes at least one cleaning surface adapted to engage the sealing surface when the stem is disposed in the valve body. The at least one cleaning element is movable responsive to actuation of the handle such that the at least one cleaning surface cleans the sealing surface of the valve body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool for cleaning a sealing surface of a valve body, the tool comprising:
a sleeve;
a stem adapted to be disposed in the valve body, the stem extending through the sleeve and along a longitudinal axis;
at least one cleaning element coupled to the stem, the at least one cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning surface adapted to selectively engage the sealing surface when the stem is disposed in the valve body;
a handle operatively coupled to the at least one cleaning element via the stem; and
a lever connecting the handle and the stem,
wherein the stem includes first and second apertures corresponding to first and second positions of the stem relative to the handle, respectively, and further comprising a locking element configured to be removably disposed in the first or second aperture to secure the stem in the first or second position, respectively, the locking element comprising a locking pin having a shaft that extends along an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,
wherein the sleeve is structurally separate from the stem, and
wherein when the stem is secured in the second position, the at least one cleaning element is movable responsive to actuation of the handle such that the at least one cleaning surface cleans the sealing surface of the valve body.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the lever comprises an opening, and wherein the stem has an end removably disposed in the opening of the lever.

3. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least one leg coupled to and extending outward from the stem, wherein the at least one cleaning element is coupled to the stem via the at least one leg.

4. The tool of claim 3 , further comprising a collar coupled to the stem, the collar carrying the at least one leg.

5. The tool of claim 1 , sleeve comprises at least one slot, and wherein the lever comprises at least one outwardly extending projection arranged to be removably disposed in the at least one slot.

6. A tool for cleaning first and second sealing surfaces of a valve body, the tool comprising:
a stem adapted to be disposed in the valve body, the stem extending along a longitudinal axis;
at least one first leg coupled to and extending outward from the stem;
at least one first cleaning element coupled to a first portion of the stem via the at least one first leg, the at least one first cleaning element comprising at least one first cleaning surface adapted to selectively engage the first sealing surface when the stem is disposed in the valve body;
at least one second cleaning element coupled to a second portion of the stem, the at least one second cleaning element comprising at least one second cleaning surface adapted to selectively engage the second sealing surface when the stem is disposed in the valve body;
a handle operatively coupled to the at least one first cleaning element and the at least one second cleaning element via the stem, wherein the at least one first cleaning element and the at least one second cleaning element are movable responsive to actuation of the handle such that the at least one first and at least one second cleaning elements clean the first and second sealing surfaces of the valve body; and
a sleeve coupled to the stem, wherein the stem is movable relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis to move the at least one first cleaning element between a retracted position, spaced from the first sealing surface, and an expanded position, in engagement with the first sealing surface,
wherein the at least one first leg slidably engages a portion of the sleeve as the at least one first cleaning element moves between the retracted position and the expanded position.

7. The tool of claim 6 , further comprising a lever coupled to the handle and to the stem, wherein the lever comprises an opening, and wherein the stem has an end removably disposed in the opening of the lever.

8. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the stem includes first and second apertures corresponding to first and second positions of the stem relative to the handle, respectively, and further comprising a locking element configured to be removably disposed in the first or second aperture to secure the stem in the first or second position, respectively.

9. The tool of claim 6 , further comprising a collar coupled to the stem, the collar carrying the at least one first leg, wherein the at least one first leg is rotatable relative to the collar to move the at least one first cleaning element between the retracted position and the expanded position.

10. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve defines the at least one second cleaning element and the sleeve comprises a base portion and at least one second leg extending outward from the base portion, the base portion carrying the at least one second cleaning surface.

11. The tool of claim 10 , further comprising a lever coupled to the handle and the stem, wherein the at least one second cleaning element comprises at least one slot formed in the base portion of the sleeve, and wherein the lever comprises at least one outwardly extending projection arranged to be removably disposed in the at least one slot.

12. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the at least one second cleaning element extends along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Hostetter Steven K
• Ohrt Wesley T

Classifications

• B08B1/34

  rotating about an axis parallel to the surface · CPC title

• B08B1/10

  characterised by the type of cleaning tool · CPC title

• B08B9/021 Primary

  Cleaning pipe ends or pipe fittings, e.g. before soldering · CPC title

• B08B1/165

  Scrapers · CPC title

• F16K1/44

  Details of seats or valve members of double-seat valves · CPC title