Apparatus for use in servicing valves

Apparatus for radiator valve servicing has a main body 1 including a valve 5 and an adaptor 2 connecting the main body to a valve assembly support body 102. Mounted for movement within the main body is an extractor 3 comprising a shaft 30 and coupler 31 which is connected by a bayonet fitting 39,40 to the shaft and mechanically connected by a screw 37 to the valve assembly spindle 103. The coupler includes a socket 33 which fits on and facilitates unscrewing of the spindle and valve assembly from the support body. After being unscrewed, the valve assembly can be lifted past the valve 5 and, after closing the valve, withdrawn reliably from the main body because of the screw connection for servicing. A selection of adaptors and couplers enable a range of different valve systems to be serviced without draindown.

The present invention relates to an apparatus or a tool, for use in 
servicing valves and, more particularly, to such an apparatus or a tool 
for removing a valve assembly from a supporting body, for example, 
associated with a radiator of a `wet` central heating system. 
In one known form of `wet`, i.e. water-filled, central heating system which 
comprises a plurality of radiators connected in parallel, hot water under 
pressure passes through one or more of the radiators, as selected. In such 
a system each radiator may be provided with one valve at the water-inlet 
end of the radiator and another valve at the water-outlet end. By closing 
the valve at the inlet end the associated radiator may be turned off. When 
the valve at the outlet end is also closed the associated radiator is 
isolated from the remainder of the system. 
When one of the valves becomes faulty, repair or replacement becomes 
necessary, and a common practice has been to replace the both the valve 
assembly and the supporting body into which the assembly fits and which 
comprises the valve seat. 
In a known common method of removing the valve assembly the system has 
first to be drained of water and this can be very time consuming. 
In another known method, where the valve assembly supporting body is 
provided with an externally threaded portion for receiving an internally 
threaded screw-on cover for the valve assembly and the valve assembly is a 
screw fit in the supporting body, a hand tool has been used for removing 
the valve assembly with the system still filled with water. The known tool 
comprises: a generally tubular main body having a bore extending 
therethrough; valve means in the main body operable, via a handle outside 
of the main body between a valve open position and a valve closed position 
with respect to the bore; and a valve assembly extractor rotatably and 
removably mountable on the main body so as to extend along and be movable 
along the bore. The extractor comprises: a shaft; a socket attached to one 
end of the shaft by a set screw; and a handle at the other end of the 
shaft. The socket includes fixed therein a rubber washer or grommet having 
a central aperture. The shaft is a sliding fit in an aperture in a cap 
which is a screw fit on one end of the main body. The other end of the 
main body is internally threaded so as to be a screw fit o the valve 
assembly supporting body in place of the screw-on cover. 
In use, after the main body is screwed onto the valve assembly supporting 
body, the socket is pushed along the bore past the open valve in the main 
body to fit onto a nut on the valve assembly to be removed whilst the 
aperture in the grommet receives a pin extending from the valve assembly 
in a friction fit manner so that the pin is in effect resiliently clamped 
or held by virtue of the resilience of the grommet material around the 
pin. The handle on the shaft can then be turned so that the socket 
unscrews the valve assembly from the supporting body. After the valve 
assembly is fully unscrewed the shaft is slid through the bore of the main 
body away from the supporting body with the valve assembly being drawn 
along the bore with the socket by virtue of the friction fit of the pin in 
the grommet retaining the valve assembly in the socket. Once the valve 
assembly has been drawn along past the valve in the main body, the valve 
can be closed and then the cap can be unscrewed from the main body so that 
the shaft and socket together with the attached valve assembly may be 
removed from the main body. The valve assembly can then be pulled from the 
socket and inspected. Applicants have found, however, that the friction 
fit between the grommet and the pin may not be sufficient to retain the 
valve assembly in the socket during its removal from, or introduction back 
towards, the supporting body. Consequently, Applicants have found that the 
valve assembly may fall out of the socket whilst the tool is being used. 
One kind of radiator valve system with which the Applicants is interested 
in being able to service in-situ, that is without having to drain down the 
system comprises a so-called wheel- or lockshield valve system or 
arrangement in which the valve assembly (incorporating the actual valve 
member) screw into the valve assembly support body (incorporating the 
valve seat with which the valve member co-operates). The valve assembly 
includes a shaft which is fixedly connected to the actual valve member. 
When the valve assembly is mounted in the support body, the shaft projects 
outwardly of the support body and has an external screw thread which 
extends part way along the shaft and which screws into an outer body. It 
is by rotating the shaft with respect to the outer body that the position 
of the valve member with respect to the valve seat can be adjusted. 
The outer body includes a nut portion and is externally threaded so that 
the outer body, together with the valve member and connected shaft, can be 
screwed into and out of the internally threaded support body via 
application of torque to the nut portion. However, the valve assembly as a 
whole, including the outer body, can also be screwed into and out of the 
support body by applying torque to and rotating the shaft. When it is 
intended to remove the valve assembly in this latter manner it is 
preferred first to loosen off the tightness of the outer body in the 
support body. The outside of the support body is not provided with a 
threaded portion to receive a cap or a cover or the like. 
The free end portion of the projecting shaft is provided with one or more 
flats to facilitate rotation of the shaft by means of a handle or 
spanner-like tool. The end of the projecting shaft has a threaded axially 
extending hole opening at the end face. By means of this hole a screw or 
threaded bolt is normally employed either to secure a handle, such as a 
wheel-handle (in the case of the so-called wheel valve arrangement), on 
the shaft for rotating the latter: or, alternatively, to secure a cap or 
cover to the shaft (in the case of the so-called lockshield valve 
arrangement) to protect the shaft and valve assembly. 
Sometimes a cap or cover which is fitted to this kind of valve system does 
not make use of the hole in the top of the shaft but is designed to be a 
snap-fit over the valve assembly. However, the hole in the end of the 
shaft is still present. 
An object of the invention is to provide a hand tool for use in servicing a 
radiator valve assembly which does not necessitate the presence of an 
external thread on the valve assembly support body. 
Another object of the invention is to avoid having to rely on the valve 
assembly being held on the hand tool by a frictional grip as the valve 
assembly is removed from, or replaced in, the support body, and moved 
along the body of the tool. 
According to the invention a tool for removing a valve assembly from a 
support body comprises a generally tubular main body having a bore 
extending therethrough, valve means in the main body operable between a 
valve open position and a valve closed position with respect to the bore, 
an adaptor means for connecting one end of the main body to the valve 
assembly support body, the adaptor means being adapted to be securable to 
the support body and adapted to be connected to an adaptor means-receiving 
part provided on the main body, a valve assembly extractor rotatably and 
removably mountable on the main body so as to be movable along the bore 
and comprising a shaft and, connected or connectible to the shaft, a 
coupling means which is adapted to be mechanically, positively coupled or 
secured to the valve assembly and which includes means for transmitting 
torque to the valve assembly. 
The adaptor means allows the main body to be connected to a support body 
without the main body itself having to be so constructed as to be directly 
connectible to a support body of specific form. 
When the coupling means is properly mechanically positively coupled or 
secured to the valve assembly the latter cannot slip off of the coupling 
means. 
It will be appreciated that the tool should, advantageously, be 
substantially water tight in use under the conditions to which it is 
intended to be subjected. Thus, in use, the tool would, preferably, 
incorporate gaskets or seals such as O-ring seals to provide for positive 
sealing between connected parts or relatively movable parts of the tool 
and between the adaptor and the valve assembly support body to which it is 
temporarily secured. 
The adaptor means and the receiving part of the main body may have 
interengageable means, such as interengageable screwthreaded portions, to 
enable connection therebetween. 
Conveniently, either the adaptor means or the receiving part of the main 
body comprises an annular member which is provided with a respective one 
of the interengageable means and which is a captively mounted but a freely 
rotatable part of the adaptor means or the main body. 
Preferably, the annular member is a freely rotatable part of the main body 
and is generally in the form of an internally threaded sleeve. The 
provision of such an annular member allows the main body to be connected 
to the adaptor means by rotating the annular member alone. 
Conveniently, the adaptor means is a press- or snap-fit onto the valve 
assembly support body. The adaptor means may have two or more resilient 
portions for extending along the support body and which can resiliently 
flex outwardly of the adaptor means to enable the adaptor means to fit 
onto the support body. 
Such resilient portions may have projections for extending behind regions 
or portions of the valve assembly support body to facilitate securing the 
adaptor means thereto. Preferably, a separate securing means may be 
provided for securing, or further securing, the adaptor means to the 
support body. For example, the securing means may comprise a clip or clamp 
which can encircle and be tightened around the resilient portions. The 
clamp may, conveniently, be in the form of a substantially annular 
flexible band having opposed releasably interlockable members which can be 
inter-engaged. 
Advantageously, the adaptor means comprises one or more formations for 
retaining the securing means o the adaptor means when the securing means 
is in the operative securing position on the adaptor means. For example, 
where the resilient portions are encircled by the securing means, the 
resilient portions may comprise formations in the form of outwardly 
extending projections for preventing accidental separation or deliberate 
removal of the securing means from the adaptor means without first 
loosening or slackening such securing means. 
The adaptor means may comprise a first body part (for mounting the adaptor 
on the valve assembly support body), an annular, resilient sealing means 
and a second body part in the form of an annular insert which, when the 
adaptor is connected to the main body compresses the sealing means against 
the first body part to cause the sealing means, when the adaptor means is 
secured to the support body, to press against the support body and provide 
a seal therebetween. 
In a `wet` radiator system, it is often the case that the valve assembly 
body has a side branch pipe extending therefrom to an associated radiator 
and another pipe extending from the bottom of the support body. Thus, the 
adaptor means may have a slot for accommodating such a side branch pipe. 
For example, the slot may extend from a mouth portion at the base of the 
adaptor means and terminate part way along the adaptor means at a region 
which is dimensioned and shaped or contoured to be a close or snug fit on 
the side branch and contributes to locating the adaptor means in its 
desired position on the support body. 
In one embodiment the coupling means has an aperture via which a securing 
means can positively secure the coupling means to the valve assembly. For 
example, the securing means may be a threaded element, such as a screw or 
a bolt, for engaging in a threaded hole in the valve assembly. Thus the 
shank of such a screw or bolt may be passed through the aperture and 
screwed into the hole in the valve assembly so that the head of the screw 
or bolt engages and is tightened against the portion of the coupling means 
bounding the aperture to secure the coupling means to the valve assembly. 
One form of valve system in which the Applicants are particularly 
interested and as described earlier, often already has a suitable screw 
engaged therewith securing a cap or cover on the valve assembly and the 
self-same screw may be used to secure the coupling means to the valve 
assembly once the cap or cover has been detached after removing the screw. 
Preferably, the coupling means includes a socket part or recessed part for 
receiving a projection (such as the shaft described earlier) on the valve 
assembly via which the assembly can be screwed out of or into the support 
body. With this construction the aperture for receiving the threaded 
element may open into the socket part or the recessed part. The torque is 
transmitted from the socket part or recessed part to the projection. 
The socket or recessed part described above may comprise a first socket or 
recessed part to which is connected a second, larger socket or recessed 
part, with the two parts being rotatable together about a substantially 
common axis of rotation when the first part is rotated. The first part is 
for receiving the shaft and the second part is for receiving a nut portion 
of the valve assembly similar to that described earlier. 
The first and second parts may be rotatable with respect to each other to a 
limited extent. 
Resilient, compressible means may be provided between portions of the first 
and second parts s that the two parts are movable relatively towards each 
other to compress the resilient means therebetween. Conveniently the two 
parts are rockable to a limited extent with respect to each other. 
The capability of the two parts to rock and/or rotate with respect to each 
other has been found by the Applicants to facilitate jiggling or 
maneuvering the second socket or recess part onto the nut portion of the 
valve assembly when the assembly is being reinserted into the support 
body. 
Conveniently, the coupling means is releasably connectible to the shaft by 
way of a bayonet fitting for simple and quick connection and disconnection 
therebetween. In one embodiment, one end of the shaft serves as the plug 
of such a fitting and is provided with the pins or projections thereof, 
and a portion of the coupling means serves as the socket of the fitting 
and provides the hook-like shaped slots which are for receiving and 
engaging with the bayonet fitting pins or projections on the shaft. 
Conveniently, the shaft may be provided with resilient means which is in 
compression when the coupling means and shaft are connected together by 
the bayonet fitting and the urge to expand by the compressed resilient 
means towards the relaxed condition serves to maintain the bayonet 
connection. 
Advantageously, the tool may be supplied as part of a kit-of-parts also 
comprising a plurality of different adaptors and a plurality of different 
coupling means. The adaptors and coupling means are of different sizes 
and/or designs so that the kit facilitates the servicing of a range of 
radiator valve systems in which the valve assemblies and support bodies 
are of different sizes and/or designs. Thus, the kit may include specific 
adaptors and coupling means for particular valve systems. In the kit a 
single main body including the valve means and a single extractor shaft 
may be supplied which can be used with all of the adaptors and coupling 
means.

With reference to the drawings, one embodiment of tool for removing a valve 
assembly from a supporting body comprises a generally tubular main body 1, 
an adaptor 2 for connecting the lower end of the main body to a valve 
assembly support body and a valve extractor 3 which is mountable on the 
main body. 
The main body has a bore 4 extending therethrough and includes a ball valve 
member 5 which is operable between an open position (wherein the valve 
defines a portion of the bore) and a closed position with respect to the 
bore 4. The valve member 5 is operated by a handle 6 connected to the 
valve member through the side of the main body. 
The lower end of the main body 1 has an annular flange 7 which captively 
mounts an internally threaded annular member 8 o the main body such that 
the annular member is freely rotatable on the main body. 
An upper end portion of the main body 1 is externally threaded as at 9. A 
tubular stub portion 10 of smaller external diameter extends upwardly from 
the threaded portion 9. In the external wall of the stub portion 10 there 
is located an O-ring seal 11 which extends around the stub portion. 
The adaptor 2 comprises two main separate tubular parts 12 and 13. The part 
12 has an upper externally threaded portion 14 for engagement with the 
internally threaded portion 15 of the annular member 8. A bore 16 extends 
through the part 12 from the upper end (as viewed in the figures) thereof 
to a region part way down from which extend downwardly a plurality of 
resilient portions or fingers 17 which are spaced by slots 18 and are 
disposed in a part circular array. The fingers 17 ar resiliently flexible 
both generally radially outwardly and inwardly with respect to their 
positions as shown in FIG. 1. 
Projections 19 extend radially inwardly from the fingers for extending into 
a waisted or narrower region of the valve support body onto which the 
adaptor 2 is to be fitted, as will be described later. 
The lower ends of the fingers are provided with outwardly extending 
projections or lugs 20 for retaining a securing clip 21 around the fingers 
when the adaptor is mounted on the valve support body. 
The arrangement of the resilient fingers 17 are such as to enable the 
adaptor to be a snap- or press- fit onto the valve assembly support with 
which the adaptor is intended to be used. 
As may be seen from the Figures the slot 22 provided between two of the 
fingers is dimensioned and shaped so that the adaptor will accommodate and 
fit closely around a substantial circumferential extent of a side branch 
pipe which extends laterally from the support body. 
The upper end of the slot 22 terminates in a generally inverted U-shape in 
an upper body portion 23 of the part 12 such that the body portion 23 is 
provided in effect with a saddle portion which sits on the branch pipe and 
thereby locates the adaptor in the desired orientation on the support 
body. 
The adaptor part 13 is in the form of an annular tubular insert having a 
lower cylindrical portion 24 for fitting into the upper end of the adaptor 
part 12. The part 13 is provided with an external annular flange 25 a 
little below the upper end. The upper side of the annular flange 25 has an 
annular groove 25a for locating an O-ring seal 26. 
The bore 16 in the adaptor part 12 comprises an upper bore portion 16a and 
a lower bore portion 16b with an annular shoulder 27 therebetween. The 
upper bore portion 16a is of larger diameter than the lower portion 16b. 
The upper portion 16a is for closely or snugly receiving the lower 
cylindrical portion 24 of the insert. The internal diameter of tubular 
insert is substantially the same diameter as the lower bore portion 16b in 
the adaptor part 12. In use, an O-ring seal 28 of resiliently compressible 
material is placed on the shoulder 27 and then the lower cylindrical 
portion 24 of the insert 13 is inserted into the larger diameter portion 
16a of the adaptor part 12. 
When the annular member 8 is screwed down onto the threaded portion 14 of 
the adaptor, the underside of the flange 7 engages the O-ring seal 26 and 
the upper side of the annular flange 25 and causes the O-ring seal 28 to 
be compressed or squeezed between the lower end surface of the cylindrical 
portion 24 of the insert 13 and the shoulder 27 and as a result to 
protrude or to protrude further radially inwardly of the inner surfaces of 
the portions 12 and 13 for engagement with the external surface of the 
valve assembly support body, as will be described below. 
The adaptor part 12 is positively secured to the support body by the 
securing clip or clamp 21 which comprises a substantially annular band 21a 
having a pair of opposed, interlockable members 21b,21c which can be 
interengaged so as to tighten the clamp in an encircling position on the 
adaptor around the resilient fingers 17. 
The extractor 3 comprises a shaft or rod 30 and a coupling means 31 which 
is connectible to the shaft. 
The coupling means 31 comprises a generally cylindrical body 32 having a 
recess 33 in the lower end for receiving the upper end portion of the 
spindle of the valve assembly such that opposite flats on the spindle are 
close fits between the opposing flat wall portions 33a,33b of the body 32 
partly defining the recess 33. 
The upper end of the body 32 is provided with a recess 34 and an axially 
extending aperture 36 in an intermediate wall 35 across the interior of 
the body connects the recesses 33 and 34. The aperture 36 allows a screw 
37 to be located therein through the upper end of the body 32 and screwed 
into a threaded hole in the end of the spindle to secure the body thereto. 
The provision of the threaded hole in the spindle normally enables a cap 
or cover for the valve assembly to be secured to the spindle. 
The annular wall 38 of the body 32 around the recess 34 has flat upper end 
surface portions 38a and includes hooked shaped slots 39 on opposite sides 
of the body having mouths tapering downwardly from the upper end surfaces 
38a. 
Adjacent the lower end of the shaft of the extractor ar diametrically 
aligned radially outwardly extending projections 40 for engaging in the 
slots 39 in the coupling body 31. 
Spaced above the projections 40, a flat ring or washer 41 is fixedly 
secured to the shaft 30. Below the ring 41 a tubular sleeve 42 of 
compressible resilient material, such as silicon rubber surrounds the 
shaft 30 and is fixed, for example by adhesive, at its upper end surface 
to the lower surface of the ring (not shown). The sleeve 42 is not adhered 
or otherwise fixed to the outer cylindrical surface of the shaft 30. The 
lower end surface of the sleeve 42 is adhered to the upper surface of a 
second flat ring or washer 43 which surrounds the shaft with clearance 
and, is gently urged downwardly, by virtue of the resilience of the 
material of the sleeve 42, against the projections 40 Together the lower 
end part of the shaft 30 and the upper portion of the coupling body 31 
provide the two parts of a bayonet kind of fitting. The shaft end serves 
as the plug with the projections and the coupling body serve as the socket 
of the bayonet fitting having the slots for receiving and engaging with 
the projections on the shaft. When the two parts are offered up to each 
other preparatory to effecting the bayonet connection, the lower surface 
of the ring 43 abuts and remains in contact with the upper surface 38a of 
the coupling body 31 whilst, with the projections 40 located within the 
mouths or openings of the slots 39, the shaft is pressed into the recess, 
turned and then released so that the projections 40 become lodged at the 
far ends of the slots 39 in the hooked regions and maintained thereat by 
virtue of the force associated with stressed (compressed) condition of the 
resilient sleeve 42. The force is sufficient for the shaft 30 to be 
maintained in an upright position on the coupling body 31, when the latter 
is secured to the spindle of the valve assembly and prior to the main body 
1 being introduced over the extractor and connected to the adaptor 2 (as 
will be described below). 
An internally threaded cap or top 45 is also provided for screwing onto the 
externally threaded upper end portion of the main body 1. The cap 45 has a 
central aperture 46 locating an ring seal 47 through which the upper end 
of shaft 30 of the extractor can be inserted. The O-ring seal 47 provides 
a substantially fluid tight seal between the cap and the shaft which 
latter is slidable through the ring. The O-ring seal 11 is engaged by an 
internal annular surface portion 45a of the cap 45 when the latter is 
screwed onto the top of the main body. 
The main body 1, including the cap 45, and the adaptor means 2, apart from 
the O-ring seals may be made from suitable plastics materials, such as a 
polypropylene. The O-ring seals may be made of suitable compressible 
material, such as nitrile rubber, for example having a compressible Shore 
hardness of `60`. Applicants used O-ring seals which were capable of 
working at pressures of up to 5 bar or even to up 10 bar and at 
temperatures of up to about 110.degree. C. The coupling means and 
extractor rod may, for example, be made of brass or stainless steel. 
Use of the tool will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 3 
to 6. 
In this example, a known kind of valve system on which the tool is to be 
used comprises a valve assembly 101 which is a screw fit into a support 
body 102. The valve assembly includes a spindle 103 to which is fixedly 
connected a valve member 104. The spindle screws into an outer body 100 
which itself is externally threaded. The upper end of the spindle 103 is 
of square cross-section an projects above the support body. Turning of the 
spindle 10 allows the valve member 104 to be moved with respect to the 
valve seat (not shown) so that the valve system can be opened and closed. 
Nut 105 which forms a portion of the outer body 100 is the main means by 
which the outer body 100 and thus the valve assembly 101 is screw 
tightened into the support body 102 but once the nut is turned so that the 
valve assembly is loosened a little, turning of the spindle 103 in the 
appropriate direction allows the valve assembly, including the outer body 
100, to be screwed completely out of the support body. The support body 
102 has a side branch pipe 106 which is connected to one end of a radiator 
107. 
The radiator 107 would normally also have a valve at the opposite end (not 
shown) and this would be turned to the off position prior to the tool 
being used. Also the heat source, e.g. the boiler (also not shown), would 
be turned off. 
The appropriate adaptor 2 for the valve system is selected and, with the 
nut 105 already having been loosened slightly and the two parts 12,13 with 
the interposed O-ring 28 being held together by hand, the assembled 
adaptor is pushed down over the top of the valve system so as to snap fit 
into the position shown. With the projections 19 of the resilient fingers 
17 extending into the waisted region 108 of the support body beneath the 
frusto-conical portion 109 the clip 21 is then positioned around the lower 
end regions of the resilient fingers and the interlocking ends 21b,21c 
engaged and pushed tightly together to secure the part 12 and thus the 
adaptor as a whole in position on the support body 102. The O-ring 26 is 
then positioned in the annular groove 25a. 
The appropriate coupling means 31 is selected and placed on the spindle 103 
such that the spindle extends into the slot 33 and the bayonet-connection 
part faces upwards. The coupling means is then held so that the aperture 
36 is in alignment with the threaded hole 110 in the end of the spindle 
and the screw 37 is passed through the aligned aperture and into the hole 
and then screwed up tight to secure the coupling means 31 on the spindle. 
The extractor shaft 30 is then connected to the coupling mean by way of the 
bayonet fitting. When this connection has been made the extractor shaft 
extends upwardly from the coupling means. 
The main body 1, with the valve member 5 in the open position, is then 
fitted over the upper end of the extractor rod 30 and the annular sleeve 8 
is screwed onto the threaded portion 14 of the adaptor part 12. On 
tightening the annular sleeve the O-rings 26 and 28 are engaged between 
respective opposing portions of the tool to provide substantial water 
tightness between such portions. Moreover, the compressed O-ring 28 also 
forms a seal with the external surface of the support body 102. 
Next, the threaded cap 45 with the O-ring 47 located thereon is placed over 
the upper end of the extractor shaft 30 and screwed onto the upper end of 
the main body. In this position the O-ring 11 forms a substantially 
water-tight seal between the main body 1 and the cap 45, and the O-ring 47 
forms a substantially water-tight seal between the cap 45 and the 
extractor shaft 30 whilst allowing the shaft to be movable longitudinally 
through, and to be rotatable within, the O-ring. 
In order to remove the valve assembly 101 from the support body 102 a 
spanner (not shown) is applied to the upper end 30a of the shaft and 
turned in an anti-clockwise direction to rotate the shaft and thereby the 
connected coupling means 31 and the spindle 103 so that the valve assembly 
is unscrewed from the support body. Once it is completely unscrewed, the 
valve assembly is lifted from the support body by pulling the shaft 30 
upwardly through the main body 1. A tommy bar (not shown) may be inserted 
through an opening 30b extending through the shaft to facilitate this 
operation. After the valve assembly has been drawn up past the open valve 
member 5 the latter is rotated by means of the handle 6 to a closed 
position. 
The cap 45 can then be unscrewed from the main body 1 and the valve 
assembly 101 lifted out of the main body, as shown in FIG. 6. After 
disconnecting the shaft 30 from the coupling means and unscrewing the 
screw 37 to separate the valve assembly from the coupling means, the valve 
assembly can be examined, cleaned-up, have one or more gaskets or sealing 
members replaced or be completely replaced by a new or reconditioned valve 
assembly. 
It will be appreciated that the reverse procedure to that described above 
is followed in order to locate the valve assembly back in the valve body. 
Only a small amount of water may be lost from the radiator system during 
the removal and re-insertion of the valve assembly. 
With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, an alternative form of coupling means 120 
will now be described. 
The coupling means 120 comprises an upper body part 121 (as viewed in the 
figures) and a lower body part 122. 
The upper portion 123 of the part 121 is generally cylindrical and is 
provided with a recess 124 and an axially extending aperture 125 in a wall 
126 across the bottom of the cylindrical portion. 
The annular wall 127 of the generally cylindrical portion 123 has flat 
upper end surface portions 127a and includes hooked shaped slots 128 on 
opposite sides of the body having mouths tapering downwardly from the 
upper end surfaces 127a. These features are for serving the same purposes 
as the corresponding features of the earlier described form of coupling 
means 31. 
The lower portion 130 of the upper body part 121 is generally tubular and 
extends downwardly integrally from the wall 126. The aperture 125 connects 
the recess 124 with the interior of the tubular portion into which the 
aperture 125 opens. The tubular portion 130 provides a first socket part 
131 for receiving the upper end portion of the spindle or shaft of the 
valve assembly on which the apparatus is to be used. Opposite internal 
wall portions of the tubular portion 130 are provided with flats 132 
between which flats on the spindle closely fit. The aperture 125 allows a 
screw 133 (see FIG. 12) to be located therein via the upper end of the 
cylindrical portion 123 and screwed into a threaded hole in the end of the 
spindle. The external surface 134 of the tubular portion is hexagonal. 
The upper cylindrical portion 123 is of larger diameter than the tubular 
portion 130 and provides a downwardly facing annular surface 135 which 
surrounds the tubular portion at the junction with cylindrical portion 
123. The lower body part 122 has an end portion 136 which has a central 
aperture 137 and from which a generally cylindrical wall 138 extends 
downwardly defining a second socket part 139. The internal wall 140 at the 
lower end of the socket part 139 is adapted as at 141 to receive and 
engage the flats of the nut portion of a valve assembly and thereby 
facilitate the application of torque to such nut portion. 
The aperture 137 is of hexagonal shape and slightly larger in 
cross-sectional dimensions than those of the hexagonal shape tubular 
portion 130 so that the latter fits through the aperture 137 with a little 
clearance. The aperture 137 is surrounded by an upwardly facing annular 
surface portion 142. A ring of resilient compressible material 143, such 
as silicon rubber, is sandwiched between two rigid washers 144. The two 
washers 144 and the ring of material 143 are mounted with clearance on the 
tubular portion 130 and located between downwardly facing annular surface 
135 and the upwardly facing annular surface 142, whilst the two body parts 
121 and 122 are secured together by means of a spring clip 145 which fits 
in a circumferential recess 146 which extends around the outside of the 
tubular portion 130 closely adjacent the free end 130a thereof. The clip 
145 engages the underside 147 of the upper end portion 136 of the lower 
body part 122. The construction of the coupling means is such that the 
ring of resilient material 143 is normally in a slightly compressed state 
between the two washers 144 and the two body parts 121 and 122, and allows 
the two body parts to move relatively towards each other to compress the 
material further therebetween. 
The clearance between the tubular portion 130 and the wall 148 of the upper 
end portion which defines the central aperture 137 permits the two body 
parts 121 and 122 (and thus the two socket parts) to be both rotatable and 
rockable with respect to each other to limited extents. 
The limited extent to which the two body parts 121 and 122 may be rotated 
with respect to each other may be appreciated from the different relative 
positions of hexagonal sides of the tubular portion 130 and the hexagonal 
sides of the aperture 137 in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
The provision of the resilient compressible material between the two body 
parts 121 and 122 provides some rigidity to the coupling means when the 
two parts are rocked relative to each other such that one region of the 
material may be further compressed whilst a diametrically opposite region 
may be in a relative expanded condition. 
FIG. 11 shows, partly in section, the radiator valve system on which 
apparatus including the coupling means 120 is to be used in this example. 
The valve system comprises a valve assembly 201 which is a screw fit in a 
support body 202. 
The valve assembly comprises a valve member 203 having an externally 
threaded portion 204, and a shaft or spindle 205 which is fixedly 
connected to the valve member. The shaft has, extending from the valve 
member, a plain external cylindrical surface portion 206 which locates on 
the shaft a rigid washer 207, a plug 208 in the form of a washer, and an 
externally threaded body 209 having a nut portion 210. The external 
diameter of the threaded body 209 is larger than that of the threaded 
portion 204 of the valve member 203. The free end of the shaft is provided 
with a threaded hole 211 and flats 212 to facilitate turning of the shaft 
by a spanner or like tool. 
The threaded portion 204 of the valve member screws into an internally 
threaded portion 215 of the support body extending from close to a valve 
seat 216 for the valve member. The threaded body 209 screws into a larger 
diameter internally threaded portion 217. Normally the threaded body 209 
compresses the plug 208 against the washer 207 which is located in 
position on an annular shoulder 218 provided by the support body, to mount 
the valve assembly in substantially a fluid tight manner in the support 
body 202. Turning of the shaft enables the valve member to be moved 
between the closed position, whereat the valve member is in engagement 
with the valve seat 216, and a fully open position, whereat the top 
surface 219 of the valve member abuts the underneath side of the washer 
207, whereby the position of the valve can be adjusted. 
With this valve system, when both the valve member portion 204 and the 
threaded body 209 are in respective screw threaded engagement in the 
support body, the valve assembly cannot be removed from the support body 
by rotating the shaft 205 alone in the appropriate direction; both the 
shaft 205 and the threaded body 209 have to be rotated individually. 
In use of the apparatus as regards this example of a valve system, the 
coupling means 120 is mounted over the top of the spindle 205 so that the 
flats 212 of the spindle are located between the flats 132 in the tubular 
socket part 131 and the nut portion 210 is received within the socket part 
139 at the region 141. A screw 219 is used to secure the coupling means to 
the spindle by inserting the screw through the aperture 125 and screwing 
it into the threaded hole 211 of the spindle. 
Since the apparatus is otherwise assembled in essentially the manner 
described previously, the full assembly is not shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. 
However, in this particular example the resilient fingers 17 of the 
appropriate adaptor 220 (shown in part in outline in FIG. 12) do not have 
inwardly directed projections since the fingers do not extend down to the 
waisted region of the support body. A portion of the top edge of the clip 
21 contacts the underside of the branch pipe 106 to secure the apparatus 
on the support body. 
With the apparatus assembled for use, the shaft 30 of the apparatus is 
rotated so that the nut portion 210 and the spindle 205 are, initially, 
unscrewed at the same time as the socket part 139 and the socket portion 
130 rotate together. 
In the position shown in FIG. 13, the nut portion 210 (and thus associated 
threaded body 209) has been completely unscrewed from the threaded portion 
217 of the support body. Continued rotating of the shaft 30 of the 
apparatus allows the threaded portion 204 to be completely unscrewed from 
the threaded portion 215 of the support body and the valve assembly to be 
withdrawn completely from the support body, as shown in FIG. 14, in the 
same manner as described above with reference to the earlier mentioned 
valve system. 
Again, the reverse procedure is followed to relocate the valve assembly in 
the support body. As mentioned earlier, Applicants have found that the 
capability of the body part 122 to rock relative to body part 121 can 
assist in locating the socket par 139 properly onto the nut portion 210 
since in the initial stages of reinserting the valve assembly the threaded 
body 209 may slide down the shaft 205 with the result that the nut portion 
loses contact with the socket part 139, as for example shown in FIG. 14. 
It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without 
departing from the scope of the invention. For example, if found to be 
acceptable, the coupling means may comprise a single body having two 
socket portions corresponding to socket parts 131 and 139. Also, the 
adaptor 220 could be modified so as to have longer flexible fingers 17 
which have inwardly directed projections which extend into the waisted 
region 221 of the support body 202 to facilitate securing the apparatus to 
the support body.