Subterranean Valve Testing, Lubricating, and Sealing Device

Abstract

A sealant gun is inserted into a limited space work area to engage a buttonhead fitting supported by a fitting assembly perpendicular to a valve stem extending from a tapered plug valve. The fitting assembly orients the buttonhead fitting on the valve stem for movement of the sealant gun in a single vertical direction to engage the buttonhead fitting. The sealant gun injects a sealant under pressure through the buttonhead fitting and the valve stem into a tapered bore of the valve body. The tapered bore receives a tapered plug on the end of the valve stem for movement into and out of a closed valve position with the tapered bore. The sealant is injected between the tapered plug and the tapered bore to provide a seal therebetween that prevents the escape of the fluid flowing through the valve from the valve through the valve stem to the atmosphere.

1 . A fitting assembly for sealing a stem of a tapered plug valve having a body with a tapered bore for receiving between open and closed positions a tapered plug extending from the end of the stem comprising:
 a base having a lower surface with a first opening positioned therein and an upper surface having a vertical member projecting therefrom,   the first opening having a preselected dimension for receiving a tubular threaded member extending from the valve stem,   said vertical member having a second opening with a preselected dimension, said second opening extending perpendicular to the valve stem,   a buttonhead fitting extending from said second opening on said vertical member, the buttonhead fitting including a check valve,   the buttonhead fitting extending from the second opening on the vertical member in perpendicular alignment with the tubular threaded member extending from the valve stem, and   the base having an internal passageway connecting the first opening to the second opening to transmit a sealant under pressure from the buttonhead fitting into the valve body between opposing surfaces of the tapered plug and the tapered bore to provide a seal therebetween to prevent the escape of fluid from the valve through the valve stem.   
     
     
         2 . A fitting assembly as set forth in  claim 1  which includes:
 the buttonhead fitting having a cylindrical portion, and 
 the buttonhead fitting extending in an essentially perpendicular direction from the vertical member so that the cylindrical portion extends over the base. 
 
     
     
         3 . A fitting assembly as set forth in  claim 1  which includes:
 the threaded member connecting the base to the valve. 
 
     
     
         4 . A fitting assembly as set forth in  claim 1  which includes: the vertical member being integral with the base. 
     
     
         5 . A fitting assembly as set forth in  claim 1  which includes:
 the base having a chamber connecting to the first opening, 
 the vertical member having a chamber connecting to the second opening, and 
 the base chamber connected to the vertical member chamber to form the internal passageway. 
 
     
     
         6 . A fitting assembly as set forth in  claim 5  which includes:
 the vertical member chamber being axially aligned with the buttonhead fitting, 
 the base chamber being axially aligned with the threaded member, and 
 the base chamber having a direct flow path to the vertical member chamber. 
 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for servicing a tapered plug valve having a valve stem with a tapered plug extending from the stem and engageable in and out of sealing relation with a tapered bore in the body of the valve comprising:
 a tubular threaded member projecting vertically from the valve stem,   a base,   the base having means for connecting the base to the tapered plug valve tubular threaded member,   the base having means for positioning a buttonhead fitting extending perpendicular to the tubular threaded member, and   the base having means for transmitting a sealant from the buttonhead fitting through the valve stem to the body of the valve between the tapered plug and the tapered bore to form a seal therebetween to prevent fluid from escaping from the valve through the valve stem.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  in which:
 the base having preselected dimensions to facilitate insertion into a gate key. 
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  which includes:
 the buttonhead fitting having a cylindrical portion, and 
 the cylindrical portion extending over the base. 
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  which includes:
 an elongated tubular member having an internal chamber, 
 means for connecting said tubular member to the buttonhead fitting extending from said base, 
 a plunger mechanism for inserting a rod into the buttonhead fitting to allow fluid to flow from the subterranean valve to said internal chamber, and 
 means for measuring the pressure of said internal chamber to detect fluid leakage from the subterranean valve. 
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  which includes:
 means for actuating the plunger mechanism. 
 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  which includes:
 means for injecting the sealant under pressure through the buttonhead fitting into the subterranean valve. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method for servicing a tapered plug valve having a vertically extending valve stem with a tapered plug engageable with a valve seat comprising the steps of:
 providing an elongated buttonhead fitting having a longitudinally extending internal bore with a checkvalve positioned in the internal bore,   positioning the buttonhead fitting in perpendicular relation to the valve stem,   attaching a fitting assembly to the valve stem with an internal passageway extending through the fitting assembly in fluid communication with the valve stem,   connecting the buttonhead fitting to the fitting assembly in fluid communication with the internal passageway and extending perpendicular to the valve stem, and   transmitting a sealant under pressure into the buttonhead fitting through the internal passageway and the valve stem to the valve seat to form a pressure seal between the tapered plug and the valve seat to resist the pressure of the fluid in the valve from escaping through the valve stem.   
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13  which includes:
 connecting the base to the valve with a tubular connector. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  which includes:
 threadedly connecting the base to the tubular connector. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  which includes:
 connecting a coupler to the buttonhead fitting, and 
 injecting fluid through the coupler into the buttonhead fitting internal bore to flow through the base internal passageway into the valve. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  which includes:
 providing a valve testing device having a coupler extending therefrom, 
 connecting the coupler to the buttonhead fitting to place a chamber within the valve testing device in fluid communication with the valve, and 
 measuring the internal pressure of the valve testing device chamber to detect leakage from the valve. 
 
     
     
         18 . A device for testing a subterranean valve comprising:
 a coupler,   an extension tool having a handle, an elongated member, and a pressure gage,   the elongated member connecting the handle to the coupler and having an internal chamber communicating with the pressure gage,   the handle for manipulating the extension tool to insert the coupler into a limited space work area containing the subterranean valve,   a plunger mechanism having a reciprocating internal rod positioned therein,   the plunger mechanism adjacent to the coupler to facilitate insertion of the rod into the coupler, and   the rod opening a check valve on a valve stem extending from the subterranean valve to allow fluid to flow from the valve stem into the elongated member internal chamber, so that the pressure gage detects leakage from the valve stem by measuring the elongated member internal chamber pressure.   
     
     
         19 . A device as set forth in  claim 18  which includes:
 the plunger mechanism rod extending through the elongated member internal chamber. 
 
     
     
         20 . A device as set forth in  claim 18  which includes:
 the plunger mechanism rod being essentially perpendicular to the elongated member. 
 
     
     
         21 . A device as set forth in  claim 18  which includes:
 the handle being a tee handle. 
 
     
     
         22 . A valve testing apparatus comprising:
 an elongated tubular member having an internal chamber,   means for connecting said tubular member to a fitting extending from a subterranean valve,   a plunger mechanism for inserting a rod into the fitting to allow fluid to flow from the valve to the internal chamber, and   means for measuring the pressure of the internal chamber to detect fluid leakage from the valve.   
     
     
         23 . A valve testing apparatus as set forth in  claim 22  which includes:
 means for manipulating the elongated tubular member. 
 
     
     
         24 . A valve testing apparatus as set forth in  claim 22  which includes:
 means for actuating the plunger mechanism. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method for servicing a subterranean valve comprising:
 inserting a valve testing device into a limited space work area to engage a coupler with a valve stem extending from the subterranean valve,   actuating a plunger mechanism to insert a rod into the coupler to open a check valve positioned on the valve stem,   allowing fluid to flow from the valve stem into the valve testing device, and   measuring the valve testing device internal pressure to detect fluid leakage from the subterranean valve into the valve stem.   
     
     
         26 . The method as set forth in  claim 25  which includes:
 disengaging the valve testing device coupler from the subterranean valve, 
 inserting an extension tool into the limited space work area to connect another coupler to the subterranean valve, and 
 injecting fluid through the extension tool coupler into the subterranean valve. 
 
     
     
         27 . A method as set forth in  claim 25  which includes:
 inserting an extension tool into the limited space work area to actuate the plunger mechanism. 
 
     
     
         28 . A method as set forth in  claim 25  which includes:
 disengaging the valve testing device coupler from the subterranean valve, 
 inserting an extension tool into the limited space work area to connect another coupler to the subterranean valve, and 
 injecting fluid through the extension tool coupler into the subterranean valve.