Valve operating device

Claim 1

A valve operating device including: at least one valve stem rotating head having means for releasably engaging a valve stem and for applying torque thereto in a sense to rotate the valve stem when engaged therewith; a flexible shaft having one end connected to the valve stem rotating head for driving the same; a transmission unit including a torque limiting means; the opposite end of the flexible shaft means being connected to the transmission unit; said transmission unit having means for accepting a rotational input and for supplying rotation to said flexible shaft via said torque limiting means, for ensuring against over-torquing of the valve stem when the valve associated therewith is being opened and becomes fully open and when that valve is being closed and becomes fully closed; a control unit connected to said transmission unit for selectively operating said transmission unit to control rotation of said flexible shaft; a motor for supplying said rotational input and drive shaft means connecting said motor and said transmission unit rotational input accepting means, said motor being constituted by a motor vehicle powering motor mounted on a motor vehicle together with said transmission unit and said control unit; a boom; turn-table means mounting said boom, cantilever fashion, on said motor vehicle for pivoting about a generally vertical axis near one end of the boom, between a stowed condition on board the motor vehicle and an extended condition wherein the free end of the boom is spaced outwardly from the vehicle; said valve stem rotating head being mounted on the free end of the boom; rail means mounted on said motor vehicle; said turn-table being mounted on said wall means for translation therealong to increase the mobility of the valve stem rotating head.