Patent US4587836A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4587836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Test stand for a valve
Assignee: Crosby Valve and Engineering Co Ltd
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Filing: 1984-10-02
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Granted: 1986-05-13
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Expires: 2004-10-02
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a test stand for the pressure testing of a valve which comprises a flat support table defining a valve testing station onto which a port of a valve can be placed, means provided in the support for directing fluid pressure medium into the port when the valve is placed on the support table, and a set of jaws uniformly spaced around the testing station and mounted for slidable movement in unison along respective radial guides between a release position in which a valve can be placed on, or removed from, the support table, and a holding position in which the jaws engage with the valve, or a part connected to the valve, in order to centralize the valve between the jaws on the testing station. The jaws are power operated, under the action of fluid pressure medium supplied to operating cylinders coupled with the jaws, so that the jaws can move downwardly towards the support table in order to hold-down the valve in position on the support table (after the jaws have been moved from the release position to the holding position) prior to pressure testing of the valve. The test stand may be provided with one, two or three testing stations.
Inventors
- 👤 Kelvin J. R. Hewlett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/26; G01M3/28; G01M3/2876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A test stand for the pressure testing of a valve which comprises: a flat support defining a valve testing station onto which a port of a valve can be placed; means provided in said support for directing a test fluid pressure medium into said port when the valve is placed on the support; a set of jaws uniformly spaced around the testing station, each jaw being mounted for slideable movement along a respective radial guide; means for applying joint movement to the jaws along the respective guides between a release position in which a valve can be placed on, or removed from the testing station, and a locating position in which the jaws engage with the valve, or a part connected to the valve, in order to centralize the valve between the jaws on the testing station; a respective operating cylinder coupled with each jaw and movable therewith during joint movement of the jaws along the guides, each cylinder being operable to move the respective jaw in a direction towards the support in a valve hold-down mode of the test stand; and means operable, in the hold-down mode, to supply fluid energy simultaneously to all of the operating cylinders, when the jaws are in said locating position, so that the jaws hold-down the valve on the testing station prior to pressure testing of the valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A test stand for the pressure testing of a valve which comprises: a flat support defining a valve testing station onto which a port of a valve can be placed; means provided in said support for directing a test fluid pressure medium into said port when the valve is placed on the support; a set of jaws uniformly spaced around the testing station, each jaw being mounted for slideable movement along a respective radial guide; means for applying joint movement to the jaws along the respective guides between a release position in which a valve can be placed on, or removed from the testing station, and a locating position in which the jaws engage with the valve, or a part connected to the valve, in order to centralize the valve between the jaws on the testing station; a respective operating cylinder coupled with each jaw and movable therewith during joint movement of the jaws along the guides, each cylinder being operable to move the respective jaw in a direction towards the support in a valve hold-down mode of the test stand; and means operable, in the hold-down mode, to supply fluid energy simultaneously to all of the operating cylinders, when the jaws are in said locating position, so that the jaws hold-down the valve on the testing station prior to pressure testing of the valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A test stand according to claim 1, in which the flat support comprises a table which is mounted on a base plate by means of a pedestal which is rigidly mounted on the base plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A test stand according to claim 2, including a plurality of valve testing stations, each testing station being provided by a respective table mounted on said base plate via a respective pedestal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A test stand according to claim 3, in which the tables and related parts of the testing stations are interchangeable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A test stand according to claim 4, in which each pedestal includes means for conveying test fluid pressure medium to the respective testing station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A test stand according to claim 5, in which said conveying means comprises a fluid medium input, and a passage leading from said input to a fluid medium outlet provided in said table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A test stand according to claim 2, in which the pedestal includes supply means for conveying a supply of fluid energy to operate the set of jaws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A test stand according to claim 7, including spring-loading which urges each jaw in a direction away from the table, the respective operating cylinder being operable to move each jaw against its spring-loading in the hold-down mode of the jaws.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A test stand according to claim 1 and adapted for testing a valve having a flanged end, in which the jaws have head portions which project generally inwardly towards the testing station and which serve in use to engage and to press downwardly upon a flat upper surface of the flanged end of a valve in the hold-down mode of the test stand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A test stand according to claim 1 and adapted for testing a screwed male or female valve, including an adapter plate having means for mounted a screwed valve thereon and adapted to be mounted on said support by the jaws.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A test stand according to claim 1, including a pressure supply system coupled with the test stand for supplying test fluid pressure medium to the testing station and for supplying fluid pressure operating medium to operate the test stand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A test stand according to claim 11, including a pressure boost system built-into the test stand to permit pressure testing to be carried out at pressures greater than the supply pressure which is available.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
A test stand according to claim 1, in which each jaw has a pair of angularly spaced projecting lugs for engaging a valve to be tested, and the jaw is mounted on the support for pivotable movement about a substantially vertical axis between first and second valve-locating positions in which a respective one of said lugs is presented for engagement with the valve to be tested.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A test stand according to claim 1, including a manually operated lever arrangement at the testing station for moving the jaws in unison along their respective guides for the purposes of centering the valve between the jaws.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-12 | 1989-11-11 | 1990-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-11-11 | 1994-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-11-11 | 1998-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |