摘要 |
A valve includes a valve body with a hollow valve body interior and an opening-defining portion that defines an access opening. The opening-defining portion is arranged as a connection-facilitating structure for facilitating the fluid-tight connection of a separate isolation valve assembly to the opening-defining portion in a position over the access opening that enables removal and replacement of a valve-stopping mechanism from the valve through the isolation valve assembly. It may include a flange, exterior thread, one or more annular grooves or rings, and/or a segmented cam lock arrangement. The associated method includes (i) providing a valve-servicing assembly having an isolation valve assembly and an attached chamber-defining structure that defines a fluid-tight pressure chamber in which the valve-stopping mechanism fits, (ii) connecting the auxiliary valve assembly to the opening-defining portion of the valve body, and (iii) withdrawing the valve-stopping mechanism through the isolation valve assembly into the pressure chamber.
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