Valve stem nut wear analysis apparatus and method

1. An apparatus that indicates valve stem nut wear to an observer, comprising;

a) a tool body having a lower portion adapted to connect with and rotate with a stem nut that is to be measured for wear, said tool body having a scale having indicia of stem nut wear thereon;

b) an instrument that indicates when the valve stem initiates movement;

c) a pointer that registers on the scale a stem nut wear value that is based upon an amount of stem nut rotation that occurs prior to axial stem movement when the stem nut is rotated, wherein the scale is at least partly circular.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool body has an open center portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the instrument extends through the open center portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the instrument occupies at least in part the open center portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instrument is a dial indicator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pointer not attached to the tool body, which pointer indicates rotation of the tool body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a color coded value indicates whether or not an unacceptable amount of valve stem nut wear has occurred.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a color coded value indicates whether or not an acceptable amount of valve stem nut wear has occurred.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a color coded value indicates whether or not an amount of valve stem nut wear has occurred that is neither acceptable nor unacceptable, cautioning an inspector to inspect the valve nut at a future date.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instrument includes a stylus that engages the stem.

11. An apparatus that indicates wear of a valve stem nut to an observer, comprising;

a) a scale having indicia of stem nut wear thereon;

b) an instrument that indicates when the valve stem initiates movement;

c) a pointer that registers on the scale a stem nut wear value that is based upon an amount of stem nut rotation that occurs prior to axial stem movement when the stem nut is rotated;

d) attachment means for attaching the scale to the valve stem nut or the pointer to the valve stem nut so that either the scale or the pointer rotates with valve stem nut.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the attachment means includes a tool body which holds the scale to the valve stem nut with gravity.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the attachment means includes at least one from the group consisting of adhesive, a magnet, magnets, adhesive putty, double-stick tape, a clamp, locking pliers, and a holding device threadably attached to the stem nut.

14. A method of measuring stem nut wear in a valve having a valve stem that is connected to a stem nut, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a scale that indicates a measurement of stem nut rotation;

b) providing an indicator instrument that indicates to an observer that stem movement has initiated;

c) rotating the stem nut;

d) continuing rotation until the stem begins to move, wherein the scale provides to an observer, a value of stem nut wear once stem movement is initiated.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the amount of stem nut wear includes an acceptable wear range indication.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising measuring stem thread wear.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein measuring stem thread wear includes measuring the stem threads.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the scale is portable.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the indicator instrument is portable.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the indicator instrument and the scale are not a part of the valve, and can be used externally to measure wear of many valves.