Patent ID: 7469876
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A secure retrofit mechanism for a valve device that includes valve body having a rotatable actuating portion extending outwardly therefrom and attached to a lower valve stem which is connected to a valve member at the opposite end, said secure mechanism comprising: a non-rotatable protective module defined by a wall that is adapted to be positioned over and around at least a portion of the valve body with an opening through the non-rotatable containment module for receiving a bearing system, a keyed rotatable actuating module, a keyed rotatable locking module, and a compression stop module, said actuating, and compression stop modules are operatively connected to the lower valve stem; and a means for coupling said non-rotatable containment module to said valve body; and a means for coupling said non-rotatable containment module to said compression stop module; and said compression stop module having, an opening for receiving and engaging said lower valve actuation portion, said compression stop module having a projection or recess with a plurality of elements in the top portion for receiving and engaging said keyed rotatable locking module, said compression stop module having a threaded/lacerated portion in the bottom for engaging said non-rotatable containment module and said lower valve stem actuating portion to prevent rotation; and a first bearing means disposed between said non-rotatable containment module and said keyed rotatable locking module for reducing friction and protecting against infiltration of foreign elements; and said keyed rotatable locking module being flush with a top portion of said non-rotatable containment module, said keyed rotatable locking module having a taper bottom portion thereof for engaging said non-rotational containment module, wherein said keyed rotatable locking module covering said lower valve stem actuation portion and positions between said lower valve stem actuation portion and non-rotatable containment module, such that a compression force restrict the rotation of the lower valve stem actuation portion, and a key-way either recessed or projected with a plurality of elements on the top portion of said keyed rotatable locking module; and a second bearing means disposed between said keyed rotatable locking module and said keyed rotatable actuation module for reducing friction and protecting against infiltration of foreign elements; and said keyed rotatable actuation module being flush with a top portion of said non-rotatable containment module, said keyed rotatable actuation module having a recess in the bottom portion thereof for covering and engaging the lower valve stem actuating portion, and a key-way either recessed or projected with a plurality of elements on the top portion of said keyed rotatable actuating module; and a keyed valve wrench system having a plurality of projected or recessed elements on a bottom portion thereof for engaging the keyed rotatable actuation module actuating recessed or projected key-way elements for rotating the lower valve stem portion to actuate the valve member by applying a rotational force on a keyed valve wrench, such that the rotational force cause by a rotational moment on the actuating module; and said keyed valve wrench system having a plurality of projected or recessed elements on a top portion thereof for engaging the keyed rotatable locking module recessed or projected key-way elements for rotating said keyed rotatable locking module, by means of a rotational force applied to the compression stop module thereby limiting rotation of the lower valve stem actuation portion.