| 摘要 |
An apparatus for quickly and efficiently removing valve packing from a valve of the type having a threaded or non-threaded valve stem. In general, the apparatus includes a sleeve adapted to be positioned about the portion of the valve stem which extends exteriorly of the packing. The sleeve is rotatably connected to a translation mechanism operable in conjunction with the exposed portion of the valve stem. Depending on the type of valve and whether the exposed portion of the valve stem is threaded or smooth and whether or not the valve stem is capable of rotation, the translation mechanism can either be threadingly mated or clamped onto the valve stem to cooperate therewith for translating the sleeve toward or away form the packing. When the translation mechanism is operated, the rotatably connected sleeve is caused to translate along the valve stem. A plurality of curved teeth depend from the sleeve in such a manner that they all curve in the same rotational direction with respect to the sleeve. When the sleeve is rotated in that rotational direction and a downward force on the sleeve is applied by operating the translating mechanism, the teeth are forced to penetrate down and into the packing material. Once embedded, the translation mechanism can be operated in the opposite direction to apply an axial removal force to the sleeve and, hence, the teeth, thereby extracting the valve packing in which the teeth are embedded. Advantageously, since the sleeve is rotatable independently of the translation mechanism, the rotational force on the sleeve can be maintained or furthered to ensure the teeth remain embedded in the valve packing and to provide relative twisting motion between the valve packing and valve packing housing to facilitate removal of the valve packing. The teeth are readily removable and replaceable with different teeth or other implements for performing a variety of functions relating to removal of the valve packing, such as cutting, chiselling gouging, cleaning and polishing. |
