The two short prongs straddle a spoke or rim of the handwheel and the long handle gives controlled leverage, without the risk of a slipping pipe wrench. Refinery and plant operators carry them on rounds, in several sizes, and sites that ban cheater bars often allow F-wrenches of approved length. They are also called valve wheel wrenches or wheel keys.
Bring the big F-wrench, that 10 inch gate on the tank outlet hasn't been touched since the last turnaround.
Also heard as
- valve wrench
- wheel key
- valve wheel wrench
Related terms
Cheater bar
A length of pipe slipped over a wrench or valve handle to gain extra leverage on something stuck.
Gate valve
A multi-turn isolation valve that lifts a flat or wedge-shaped gate clear of the flow path to open.
Stem
The rod that carries motion from the handwheel, lever or actuator through the bonnet to the closure member.