Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Including means to relatively position plural work parts
Utility Patent
1999-10-18
2001-01-02
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Including means to relatively position plural work parts
C029S237000, C029S271000, C029S272000, C029S281400, C029S281500
Utility Patent
active
06167604
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention pertains to the general field of water valve servicing tools and more particularly to a curb valve replacement and installation tool that can be used while pressurized water is flowing through the valve.
BACKGROUND ART
One of the most common problems encountered by construction workers or engineers is when a curb valve or curb stop becomes inoperable or otherwise needs to be replaced or installed. Due to the manner in which these valves operate and the function for which they are designed, a certain amount of water pressure is constantly forced upon them. If this water pressure is too high for the valve to be replaced by hand, the water company employee(s) may be forced to shut down the water main, which typically provides water to a large number of residential and/or commercial customers. The duration for which these customers are without water can vary substantially, depending on how much work must be done and the difficulty involved. For most residential customers the lack of water is a mere inconvenience, but for others, especially larger, commercial customers, any time spent without water is a very significant problem and often can present a dangerous situation.
The only alternative to shutting off the water main is to dig down to the main and shut off what is known as the corporation valve. This second option is time-consuming and can be difficult to accomplish under certain conditions and is therefore not usually done.
Obviously, if there was some way of replacing or installing curb valves that are under pressure, without the need of relieving that pressure beforehand, it would be beneficial both to those who actually work on the valves and to those who are serviced by them.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
PATENT NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUED
4,630,347
Chilton
Dec. 23, 1986.
4,501,055
George
Feb. 26, 1985.
4,027,561
Junkers
Jun. 7, 1977.
The Chilton patent discloses a hydrant tool assembly for installing or removing a seat ring and valve from a hydrant shoe located beneath a hydrant. The tool includes a valve cap structure that mates with the valve and extends through a top portion of the hydrant. A hydraulic apparatus is provided that is attachable to the top portion of the hydrant for providing a torquing force to the valve cap structure. A lever structure also is provided that is attachable to the hydraulic structure for enabling leveraged manual turning of the valve cap structure to supplement the hydraulic torquing of the valve cap structure.
The George patent discloses a pipe tool having a collar or fitting containing a seal which is brought into engagement with the free end of a section or joint. The tool includes a first pipe-engaging member having a collar engageable about the pipe in abutment with a collar of a pipe section in place. A winch and cable are attachable to a second pipe tool engageable at the free end of the section or joint to be placed. Actuation of the winch will bring the section into sealing engagement with the collar. The yoke and collar of the second tool are also pivotable to provide an additional joining force. A bearing plate is securable at the collar of the second pipe engaging tool to abut the end of the pipe section and when removed permits the collar to engage the exterior of the pipe abutting a fitting on the pipe.
The Junkers patent discloses a hydraulically operated wrench for tightening and loosening threaded connectors. The wrench includes a shaft and a socket removably mounted on one end of the shaft for engaging a polygonal portion of a threaded connector. The shaft carries a ratchet wheel for rotation therewith which is operated by a ratchet pawl pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of a first lever, one end of which is pivotally mounted on the shaft. A second lever is pivotally mounted on one end on the shaft, whereas a cylinder-and-piston unit is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the other ends of the first and second lever so that during reciprocation of the piston in the cylinder the shaft and the socket are rotated to tighten or loosen the threaded connector engaged by the socket.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related reference may be made to the remaining cited patents.
PATENT NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUED
5,332,044
Dallas, et al
Jul. 26, 1994.
4,830,121
Krasnov, et al
May 16, 1989.
4,095,324
Lawson
Jun. 20, 1978.
3,718,057
Berchtold
Feb. 27, 1973.
Joseph G. Pollard Company Inc. Catalog July 1999, page 78,
Covering an “AQUA STOP CURB STOP REPLACEMENT TOOL”
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
When a residential or industrial city water service curb valve becomes inoperable, it may be necessary to replace the valve while the valve is under water pressure. While this task is not impossible it is very difficult in that the pressure of the water tends to impel the valve away from a ball and socket elbow. Considerable force must be exerted to overcome the inertia of the water and make the connection by precisely aligning and mating the valve threads. During this time an installer must continuously face a spray of water before the valve can be aligned and screwed in thus shutting off the pressurized flow. If the pressure is physically too high for the valve to be readily replaced by hand it may be required to shut down the water main completely, which greatly inconveniences all of the consumers serviced by that particular section of the main. An expensive alternative is to locate and dig down to the Utilities Corporation valve located at the main and shut off the individual water pressure to the residence.
To alleviate the above replacement and removal problems associated with the curb valve, which is also referred to as a curb stop, hereinafter “valve” the inventive valve tool is utilized. In its basic form, the valve tool is comprised of:
a) An inverted channel-shaped body with a downward depending first leg having a clearance notch therein and a downward depending second leg having an alignment hole therein,
b) a ball and socket elbow mounting bracket having an upper clasp and a lower clasp with the upper clasp permanently affixed adjacent the first leg clearance notch, protruding outward toward the alignment hole,
c) hinge means on the mounting bracket, pivotally connecting the bracket upper clasp to the bracket lower clasp, and
d) latch means attached to the bracket lower clasp interfacing with the bracket upper clasp such that when the tool is positioned upon the hexagonal flats of a ball and socket elbow and the bracket lower clasp is pivoted into contact with the upper clasp the tool is locked in place. The latch means, thus permits an opened replacement curb valve that has been connected to a pipe nipple loosely disposed within the alignment hole to be manually threaded into an existing ball and socket elbow while water is flowing under pressure from a water main.
In view of the above disclosure, it is the primary object of the invention to permit a residential or industrial curve valve to be replaced under any and all high pressure situations by the use of the inventive tool which permits the valve to be removed normally and a replacement valve substituted without shutting down the water pressure. This is accomplished by attaching the tool to the ball and socket elbow of the valve using a convenient draw pull latch, thus enclosing a hexagonal shoulder on the elbow. In preparation for use, a new valve is positioned within the tool and a pipe nipple is inserted into the valve on one end through an alignment hole. This arrangement allows the valve to be free to rotate and align with the threads in the ball and socket elbow. While the water is unavoidably flowing under pressure, the damaged valve is then removed. The tool which includes a channel shaped body, protects the worker from the inevitable spray and the new valve may be easily mated with the elbow and screwed in place, as it is in direct alignment and in close p
Cota Albert O.
Watson Robert C.
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