AOV Technician

Air Operated Valve (AOV) Diagnostic Technician

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE

Responsible for performing functional post maintenance testing, diagnostic testing and calibrations of Air Operated Valves (AOV’s).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Record maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made.
2. Disassemble and repair mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches.  
3. Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants.  
4. Calibrate instrumentation, such as meters, gauges, and regulators, for pressure, temperature, flow, and level.  
5. Install, inspect and test electric meters, relays, and power sources to detect causes of malfunctions and inaccuracies, using hand tools and testing equipment.  
6. Test valves and regulators for leaks and accurate temperature and pressure settings, using precision testing equipment.  
7. Record meter readings and installation data on meter cards, work orders, or field service orders, or enter data into hand-held computers.  
8. Shut off service and notify repair crews when major repairs are required, such as the replacement of underground pipes or wiring.  
9. Install regulators and related equipment such as gas meters, odorization units, and gas pressure telemetering equipment.  
10. Cut seats to receive new orifices, tap inspection ports, and perform other repairs to salvage usable materials, using hand tools and machine tools.  
11. Turn valves to allow measured amounts of air or gas to pass through meters at specified flow rates.  
12. Report hazardous field situations and damaged or missing meters.  
13. Vary air pressure flowing into regulators and turn handles to assess functioning of valves and pistons.  
14. Examine valves or mechanical control device parts for defects, dents, or loose attachments, and mark malfunctioning areas of defective units.  
15. Mount and install meters and other electric equipment such as time clocks, transformers, and circuit breakers, using electricians' hand tools.  
16. Connect regulators to test stands, and turn screw adjustments until gauges indicate that inlet and outlet pressures meet specifications.  
17. Trace and tag meters or house lines.  
18. Repair electric meters and components, such as transformers and relays, and replace metering devices, dial glasses, and faulty or incorrect wiring, using hand tools.  
19. Replace defective parts, such as bellows, range springs, and toggle switches, and reassemble units according to blueprints, using cam presses and hand tools.  
20. Recondition displacement type gas meters and governors, fabricating, machining, or modifying parts needed for repairs.  
21. Measure tolerances of assembled and salvageable parts for conformance to standards or specifications, using gauges, micrometers, and calipers.  
22. Clean internal compartments and moving parts, using rags and cleaning compounds.  
23. Dismantle meters, and replace or adjust defective parts such as cases, shafts, gears, disks, and recording mechanisms, using soldering irons and hand tools.  
24. Disconnect or remove defective or unauthorized meters, using hand tools.  
25. Reassemble repaired equipment, and solder top, front, and back case panels in place, using soldering guns, power tools, and hand tools.  
26. Attach air hoses to meter inlets, plug outlets, and observe gauges for pressure losses to test internal seams for leaks.  
27. Make adjustments to meter components, such as setscrews or timing mechanisms, so that they conform to specifications.  
28. Clamp regulator units into vises on stages above water tanks, and attach compressed air hoses to intake ports.  
29. Repair leaks in valve seats or bellows of automotive heater thermostats, using soft solder, flux, and acetylene torches.  
30. Splice and connect cables from meters or current transformers to pull boxes or switchboards, using hand tools.  
31. Attach pressurized meters to fixtures which submerge them in water, and observe meters for leaks.  
32. Calibrate thermostats for specified temperature or pressure settings.  
33. Clean plant growth, scale, paint, soil, or rust from meter housings, using wire brushes, scrapers, buffers, sandblasters, or cleaning compounds.  
34. Connect hoses from provers to meter inlets and outlets, and raise prover bells until prover gauges register zero.
35. Perform other related duties as assigned.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The essential functions of this position consist of spending long periods of time in the physical activities of standing, walking, climbing, lifting, carrying, twisting, kneeling, stooping, bending and crouching as required.  This position also involves handling equipment ranging in weight from 1-100 lbs. Work may also be performed in adverse environmental conditions such as confined spaces, high temperature areas, and elevated heights.  The prevailing physical demands this position is medium to heavy.
• Visual Acuity, balancing, stooping, reaching, walking, manual dexterity, grasping, feeling, hearing, talking
• Capacity to think, concentrate and focus for long periods of time
• Ability to read complex documents in the English language
• Capacity to reason and make sound decisions
• Ability to write complex documents in the English language
• Capacity to express thoughts orally.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

An ideal candidate will have a high school diploma and vocational school training in the field.   An ideal candidate will have strong mechanical and electrical aptitude with three years' experience in diagnostic testing as well as AOV actuator/valve maintenance.  A U. S. Navy nuclear background with maintenance or the equivalent experience and training in reactor operations or maintenance is highly desirable.  Must be able to pass a practical and written examination as determined by contractor or client displaying mastery of diagnostic testing.  Excellent communication skills, both written and oral are required. Must be able to effectively work with a variety of personnel to include external customers and clients, and internal personnel.   Proven ability to demonstrate a high level of ethical behavior, integrity and trust.  Knowledge of  Westingouse processes and procedures and utilization of developed tools to most effectively manage work is essential.   Must actively demonstrate the Westinghouse company values and support the Westingouase Ethics and Standards.  Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a working knowledge of Westinghouse and client technical manuals and procedures; to pass Westingohuse and client specific training and qualifications as required; subject to personnel call out as required in support of nuclear station emergent work requirements; to work overtime, to include shift work, weekends, and holidays as needed; and be able to pass all background and screening requirements for the position, to include drug and/or alcohol screening.