Abstract: A locking apparatus for a rotatable lever of the type used to control a valve. The apparatus is formed from a wedge-like base element, a wedge-like blocking element and a plurality of guide posts. The base element is fixedly attached to the valve body. The blocking element is penetrated by plural guide passages. Each guide post passes through a corresponding guide passage in the blocking element, and is threaded into the base element. A spring is interposed between the blocking element and the base element. When the spring is uncompressed, the blocking element obstructs rotation of the lever. External pressure in opposition to the spring can urge the blocking element toward the base element. When the blocking element is so positioned, the lever may be rotated.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for a rotatable lever of the type used to control a valve. The apparatus is formed from a wedge-like base element, a wedge-like blocking element and a plurality of guide posts. The base element is fixedly attached to the valve body. The blocking element is penetrated by plural guide passages. Each guide post passes through a corresponding guide passage in the blocking element, and is threaded into the base element. A spring is interposed between the blocking element and the base element. When the spring is uncompressed, the blocking element obstructs rotation of the lever. External pressure in opposition to the spring can urge the blocking element toward the base element. When the blocking element is so positioned, the lever may be rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a stuffing box is formed from a resiliently deformable material. It features a base and a plurality of elongate finger elements. The finger elements are supported about the periphery of the base, and define outer boundaries of a hollow interior region. Each finger element supports an externally projecting lip. In the relaxed position of the apparatus, the lips project outside the cross-sectional profile of the base. In a compressed configuration, the lips are fully contained within the base's cross-sectional profile. When the apparatus is inserted into a stuffing box loaded with coaxially aligned annular packing elements, it assumes a compressed configuration until the lips clear the lowermost packing element to be removed. The apparatus then assumes a relaxed position with the lips engaging the underside of the lowermost packing element. The apparatus and the engaged packing elements are then withdrawn from the stuffing box.

Abstract: An unloading system for a stuffing box includes a plate-like footing element within which a stuffing box may be locked. An unloading tool includes concentric inner and outer shafts. A grip element formed at the end of the outer shaft includes a segmented wing section arrayed radially about the tool axis. An enlarged core element is formed at the end of the inner shaft. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner and outer shafts allows the core element to expand or contract the wing section's cross-sectional profile. The unloading tool is actuated within the stuffing box to enlarge the cross-sectional profile of the wing section, which tightly grips the internal walls of the base packing element. Axial force applied to the outer shaft from an elevated platform withdraws the outer shaft from the stuffing box. The gripped base packing element, and the packing elements above it, are concurrently unloaded.

Abstract: A tool for repositioning a plunger is formed from a pair of concentric and relatively rotatable shafts. The inner and tubular outer shafts respectively support enlarged forward and rear head elements. The shafts are relatively rotatable between a first position, in which the cross-sectional profiles of the head elements are aligned, and a second position, in which the cross-sectional profiles of the head elements are in skewed opposition. A ball detent mechanism at the interface between the forward and rear head elements permits accurate location of the first and second positions. The tool is used with a tubular collar element having a stem section and an enlarged flange section, and a disk-shaped platform element having a centrally disposed and internally threaded opening. The threaded opening in the platform element receives the externally threaded outer shaft of the tool.

Abstract: A loading apparatus features a hollow barrel that can be threaded to one end of the stuffing box of a pump. A plunger having an enlarged piston can axially push the contents of the barrel into the stuffing box. The apparatus can be used to install replacement packing elements, such as seals, into the stuffing box. The barrel and the stuffing box can be coaxially engaged by mating threads. A retrieval apparatus is formed from a body have an internally threaded axial bore at one end and a transverse bore at the other. The retrieval apparatus can be used to recover a pump rod that has been retracted while packing elements are being replaced.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a stuffing box is formed from a resiliently deformable material. It features a base and a plurality of elongate finger elements. The finger elements are supported about the periphery of the base, and define outer boundaries of a hollow interior region. Each finger element supports an externally projecting lip. In the relaxed position of the apparatus, the lips project outside the cross-sectional profile of the base. In a compressed configuration, the lips are fully contained within the base's cross-sectional profile. When the apparatus is inserted into a stuffing box loaded with coaxially aligned annular packing elements, it assumes a compressed configuration until the lips clear the lowermost packing element to be removed. The apparatus then assumes a relaxed position with the lips engaging the underside of the lowermost packing element. The apparatus and the engaged packing elements are then withdrawn from the stuffing box.