US 2004/0237733 A1 · Locking valve stem cap system, components thereof, and associated methods

Abstract

A locking valve stem cap system includes a sleeve, a valve stem cap, and a rotation tool. The sleeve is configured to threadingly engage a valve stem, with a portion of a threaded region of the valve stem protruding into a cap receptacle thereof. The valve stem cap is configured to be inserted into the cap receptacle of the sleeve and to threadingly engage the portion of the threaded region that is located within the cap receptacle. The rotation tool is configured to facilitate rotation of the valve stem cap when the outer periphery thereof is substantially surrounded by the sleeve, thereby facilitating tightening or loosening of the valve stem cap relative to the sleeve. Methods for installing and removing the valve stem cap system from a valve system are also disclosed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A valve stem cap system, comprising:

a sleeve, including:
a cap receptacle;
a ledge at a lower end of said cap receptacle;
and
an aperture formed through said ledge, in communication with said cap receptacle, and including threading configured complementarily to threading on an exterior of a valve stem, said ledge having a thickness which is less than a length of a threaded region of the valve stem;
a valve stem cap configured to be disposed within said cap receptacle and substantially peripherally surrounded thereby, said valve stem cap, including:
a lower end with a valve stem receptacle that includes threading configured complementarily to the threading on the exterior of the valve stem;
and
an upper end at or adjacent to which access to at least one rotation facilitation feature may be obtained;
and
a rotation tool including at least one key element corresponding to and configured to engage said at least one rotation facilitation feature so as to facilitate rotation of said valve stem cap.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Locking valve stem cap system, components thereof, and associated methods

Life of this patent

Locking valve stem cap system, components thereof, and associated methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20