Freeing of seized valves
OwnerRobert Peter Enstoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to free a seized valve, an inspection port is formed in a wall of the valve body and the areas where the valve is seized are determined. One or more injection ports are formed in the valve body adjacent to the seized portions of the valve, pressurized fluid (preferably an insoluble lubricant having a very high cone penetration) is injected through the or each injection port and the injection ports are then closed.
Claims26
A method of freeing a seized valve of the type having a valve housing, an inlet, an outlet, a valve seat within the valve housing between the inlet and the outlet and a valve closure member releasably engageable with the valve seat to control the degree of opening of the valve, the method comprising:
- (a) forming one or more injection ports in a wall of the valve housing adjacent to seized portions of the valve;
- (b) injecting a pressurized treatment fluid towards the seized portions of the valve through at least one of the one or more injection ports to free the valve at the seized portions;
- and
- (c) selectively closing off at least one of the injection ports when fluid is no longer required.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.