Patent ID: 7040337

Claim:
A method of opening a closed gate valve comprising: providing a valve override system comprising: an engagement means being adapted for engaging a gate of the gate valve assembly such that said engagement means is for urging the gate of the gate valve assembly into an open position to allow fluid to pass through the gate valve assembly; said engagement means comprising a rigid elongate member, said rigid elongate member being adapted for extending through a casing of the gate valve assembly such that said rigid elongate member engages a bottom edge of the gate of the gate valve assembly; said rigid elongate member having threads, said threads of said rigid elongate member being adapted for threadably engaging the casing of the gate valve assembly, said rigid elongate member being adapted for being rotated with respect to the casing of the gate valve assembly for changing the length of said rigid elongate member positioned in the gate valve assembly to actuate the gate of the gate valve assembly; an inhibiting member being adapted for selectively engaging the casing of the gate valve assembly, said inhibiting member being adapted for inhibiting environmental communication between an interior space of the gate valve assembly and an external environment; said inhibiting member being operationally coupled to said rigid elongate member, said inhibiting member being adapted for abutting the casing of the gate valve assembly to inhibit environmental communication through the casing adjacent said rigid elongate member; said inhibiting member being threaded, said threads of said inhibiting member threadably engaging said rigid elongate member such that said inhibiting member engages the casing of the gate valve assembly to preload said rigid elongate member and inhibit said rigid elongate member from inadvertently separating from the gate valve assembly; drilling a hole through the casing of the gate valve assembly opposite a valve stem of the gate valve assembly; tapping the hole of the gate valve assembly to provide the hole with threads; threading said inhibiting member onto said rigid elongate member; threading said rigid elongate member into the hole drilled into the casing of the gate valve; rotating said rigid elongate member with respect to the gate valve assembly to advance said rigid elongate member into the gate valve assembly and urge the gate into the open position; and tightening of the inhibiting member against the casing of the gate valve assembly to inhibit environmental communication between the interior space of the gate valve assembly and the environment and inhibiting inadvertent rotation of said rigid elongate member with respect to the gate valve assembly.