[0002 j Valves are devices that regulate the flow of a fluid through a pipe by opening or obstructing a passageway w ithin the pipe. One common way of regulating the flow is to use a disc as part of the valve that may regulate the flow within the pipe via the disc's positioning. j 0003] A valve seat can be a part of the interior body of the valve, which contacts the disc to form a leak-tight seal obstructing the flow within the valve-regulated pipe. Because the valve seat may play a critical role in ensuring that a leak-tight seal may be formed with a disc, the valve seat may need to be periodically replaced when it is worn and thus no longer able to form a leak-tight seal with the disc.

[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a tool to easily remove a valve seat from a valve while minimizing the chances of causing damage to the valve seat or the valve.

[0005 j Disclosed is an apparatus for removing a valve seat, comprising, a body having a first end, a second end, and outer side surfaces disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the body fits against one or more protuberances of the valve seat.

[0006] In another aspect, the apparatus further comprises openings at the first and second end of the body and one or more of tapered slots on the outer side surfaces of the bodv that run on the first and second end of the body. [0007] In another aspect, the one or more slots are configured to accept the one or more protuberances.

[0008] In another aspect, the outer side surfaces include a cylindrical side surface.

10009] In another aspect, the body is of a cylindrical shape comprising a first cylinder near the first end and a second cylinder near the second end, wherein the first cylinder is of a greater circumference that the second cylinder end.

[0010] In another aspect, the body includes a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end, where the first cylinder end includes a first valve socket and the second cylinder end includes a second valve socket, the first valve socket and the second valve socket being different from one another.

[0011 ] In another aspect, the slots are situated on both a first and second cylinder of the body.

[0012] In another aspect, at least one of the openings is configured to fit at least a portion of a drive end of an extension bar within the at least one of the openings.

[0013] In another aspect, the drive end of the extension bar includes a square drive end.

[0014] In another aspect, the square drive end includes as ¾ inch square end.

[0015] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals denote like elements and in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a valve seat removal socket, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the valve seat removal socket of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the valve seat removal socket of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

10020] FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of the valve seat removal socket of FIG. 1 in use w ith a backflow valve, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a section view- of the valve seat removal socket of FIG. 1 in use with the backflow valve of FIG. 4; and

[0022] FIG. 6 shows a view of a kit showing different relative sizes of various configurations of the val ve seat removal socket of FIG. 1.

[0023] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Description of Embodiments

[0024] The following detailed description is merely exemplar}' in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described herein as "exemplar} _' " or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary

implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purpose of description herein, the terms "upper", ^" low er ^" , "left", "rear", "right", "front", "vertical", "horizontal", and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

10025] Broadly, embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide valve seat removal sockets that may be used to remove valve seats, such as valve seats within backflow valves. The valve seat removal sockets may be designed to minimize the chances of cross threading or damaging the face of a valve seat.

[0026] Referring now to FIGS. I, 2, and 3, a valve seat removal socket 10 may be made of lightweight aluminum or any other suitable materials. The socket 10 may include a body 12 having a first end 12a and a second end 12b. The body may be cylindrically shaped and may include an upper body 12c and a lower body 12d, in which the upper body 12c may have a circumference that is greater than that of the lower body 12d. Because the body 12 may be cylindrically shaped, the first and second ends 12a and 12b may correspondingly be circular in shape of same or varying radii.

[0027] The valve seat removal socket 10 may also include one or a plurality of slots 14 on the lower body 12d that may ran to the second end 12b of the body 12. In one exemplary embodiment, the valve seat removal socket 10 has a pair of slots 14 such that each are on opposite sides of the body 12, although in other exemplary embodiments there may be 4, 6, 8, or any other number of slots on the body 12 as may be necessary.

[0028] The val ve seat removal socket 10 may also include an opening 16 on the first end 12a of the body 12 that may fit at least a portion of one or both a drive end or ends 20 of an extension drive bar 18 within itself. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening 16 may be a square hole for fitting a square drive end 20, and may be appropriately sized to fit a ¼ inch square drive end 20 or may be appropriately sized to fit a 1/8 inch square drive end 20.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 4, the valve seat removal socket 10 may be used in conjunction with a wrench or ratchet 22 and an extension drive bar 1 8. As discussed above, the drive end 20 of the extension drive bar 18 may fit into the opening 16 on the first end 12a of the body 12 of the valve seat removal socket 10. The wrench or ratchet 22 may be operably coupled to the extension drive bar 18 so that a user may use the wrench or ratchet 22 to turn the val ve seat removal socket 10 during the course of removing a val ve seat or fitting a new valve seat. 10030] Referring now to FIG. 5, the valve seat removal socket 10 may be used to remove a valve seat 24, such as from a backflow valve. As shown in FIG. 5, the socket 10 may be inserted into the valve seat 24 so that protuberances 26 on the inside of the valve seat 24 may be abl e to fit into the slots 14 on the body 12 of the valve seat removal socket 10, thus ensuring a snug fit between the valve seat 24 and the socket 10.

[0031] The extension drive bar 18 having the drive end 20 that fits into the opening 16 of the socket 10 may be used to remove the valve seat 10. For example, the extension drive bar 18 may be used to turn the socket 10 counterclockwise to remove the valve seat 24. Alternatively, a new valve seat 24 may be installed into a valve by inserting the socket 10 into the valve seat 24, inserting the valve seat 24 into the valve, and using the extension drive bar 18 to turn the socket 10 clockwise to install the new valve seat 24.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 6, a kit 28 of different size sockets may be provided for use with a variety of different sized valves and valve seats 24.

[00331 It is to be understood that the forgoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

[0034] Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.