Abstract: A valve includes a fluid inlet passageway coupled to a fluid outlet passageway through an orifice and a valve plug that is moveable with respect to the orifice to vary the rate of fluid flow through the orifice. A seat ring is disposed at the orifice and includes a structural member having three vanes connected in a Y-shaped configuration extending into the fluid inlet passageway adjacent the orifice. The Y-shaped vane configuration prevents disturbances, such as intermittent vortices, from forming within the fluid in the fluid inlet passageway and, thereby, provides a stable rate of fluid flow through the valve.

Abstract: A rotary valve actuator and linkage provide an actuator having a tubular housing with end caps and a piston that is moved by fluid pressure against a compression spring. A rolling diaphragm is used to bias the piston. A pair of ports are provided on opposite sides of the housing and a linkage having two arms is interconnected with the piston through the ports. The linkage is coupled to a rotary valve shaft and linear movement of the piston causes rotational movement of the shaft. The linkage includes two separate arms and a centerpiece. The arms and the centerpiece interengage each other at angled surfaces that force the centerpiece and the arms into radial engagement with the shaft when axial compression is provided to the arms and centerpiece to force them toward each other.

Abstract: A controller of the type used in process control includes a plurality of modular I/O units. The I/O units includes I/O circuits which may be of four basic types: digital input circuits, digital output circuit, analog input circuits and analog output circuits. Each of the I/O circuits has a code generator that generates a binary code indicating the type of I/O circuit. The controller is microprocessor-controlled and periodically communicates with the I/O circuits and determines the type of each I/O unit based upon the binary code. The I/O units may be temperature-compensated based upon the temperature within the housing of the controller, and other integrity checks may be performed on the I/O units. The controller also has a change module routine which allows the I/O units to be installed or removed during operation of the controller.

Abstract: Process attributes such as, for example, the identification of process elements, the characteristics of process elements, and the states of the variables produced by the process elements, are displayed substantially simultaneous with a graphical representation of a process under control. After displaying a graphical representation of a process being controlled (the graphical representation including icon representations of process elements), a user selects a portion of the graphical representation for which the underlying process attributes are to be displayed. This selection may be accomplished by selecting an icon image of a process element for which the attributes are to be displayed. After selection, the underlying attributes are displayed substantially simultaneously with the display of the graphical representation, for example, by overlaying a dialogue box on top of the graphical representation containing indicia of the underlying attributes.

Abstract: A three-piece fluid control valve configuration including a valve body, a ball control member and two tailpieces that connect the valve to a pipeline and also house the ball fluid seals. Respective bearing plates with trunnion bearings are guide pin mounted between the respective tailpieces and in supporting engagement with respective trunnions on the ball control member for rotatably supporting the ball. A shaft bearing supports a valve shaft having a splined drive end engaging splines in one of the ball trunnions. Bidirectional fluid flow is enabled with ball sealing members on each ball side, with the sealing member on each side replaceable by removing the tailpiece on that side.

Abstract: A valve actuator with an instrument mounting pad and a manifold in a power module and yoke combination for mounting a valve controller instrument without tubing or mounting brackets. A cover encloses the feedback linkage between the actuator and instrument. The actuator includes a second instrument mounting pad and manifold so the power module is reversible to accommodate fail-safe opened or fail-safe closed valve conditions. A valve actuator and instrument combination is no higher than the actuator alone.

Abstract: A fluid seal for ball control valves formed from a composition comprising a fluorinated resin, a reinforcing polymer, and, optionally, molybdenum disulfide, which has been compression molded in a tube mold, heat sintered and annealed. Such a formed ball seal has improved properties of chemical resistance, hydrolysis and creep resistance, a sufficient hardness for low wear, a reduced coefficient of friction, and is virtually nonabrasive.

Abstract: A pressure unloading pilot operated fluid pressure regulator having a throttling element for controlling fluid flow. A pilot amplifier senses regulator outlet pressure and supplies suitable loading pressure coupled from an inlet supply pressure line through a variable flow restrictor to the throttling element. A check valve has a preset differential pressure defined between the check valve inlet and outlet and is mounted in parallel flow with the flow restrictor to limit the maximum differential pressure across the throttling element to the preset differential pressure of the check valve.

Abstract: A temperature compensation method for a microprocessor based electro-pneumatic converter device including an initial calibration sequence, a compensation sequence, and an operation sequence. Linearization of an electro-pneumatic positioner including the steps of adjusting the positioner feedback linkage until a predetermined reference position is attained, reading a position feedback value and determining the required feedback linearization value to achieve a linear relationship between the output/input. A calibration method and a configuration method independent of calibration for a microprocessor based electro-pneumatic converter device including an initial calibration sequence, a configuration sequence, and an operation sequence.

Abstract: A fluid control valve in which the usual metal stem guide bushings have been eliminated. A fluid control valve includes a valve bonnet and a packing nut threadably engaging the valve bonnet. A valve stem passes through the valve bonnet and the packing nut in a clearance fit so that there is no engagement therebetween. Two packing sets of V-type PTFE packing are included with each set having a middle virgin PTFE sealing ring, a carbon or glass filled PTFE male packing ring on one side and a carbon or glass filled PTFE female ring on the other side. Belleville disk springs are provided intermediate the packing nut and the two packing sets, for supplying live loading to the packing. In an unloaded condition, initially the packing sets both are in a clearance fit with the valve stem.

Abstract: A fluid pressure reduction device with low noise generation. A stack of annular disks with fluid passageways formed of inlet slots, outlet slots, and interconnecting plenums. Selectively stacking and orienting the annular disks along with an asymmetric slot pattern creates the desired fluid passageways without creating an uninterrupted axial fluid flow path. High recovery inlet stages are in fluid communicating series with low recovery outlet stages and the combination provides a high performance fluid pressure reduction device with low noise generation.

Abstract: A valve includes a fluid inlet passageway coupled to a fluid outlet passageway through an orifice and a valve plug which is moveable with respect to the orifice to vary the rate of fluid flow through the orifice. A seat ring is disposed at the orifice and includes a structural member extending into the fluid inlet passageway adjacent the orifice which prevents disturbances, such as intermittent vortices, from forming within the fluid in the fluid inlet passageway and which, thereby, provides a stable rate of fluid flow through the valve. The structural member may, alternatively, be connected to the valve plug or a wall of the fluid inlet passageway.

Abstract: An actuator for fluid control valves with a reversible power module having a stationary inner member and a coaxially aligned movable outer member coupled to the valve flow control element and slidably movable on the inner member. A chamber formed between respective ends of the members includes a preformed bladder. Pneumatic pressure applied to the bladder drives the movable member to actuate the valve in a first direction. A spring returns the movable member in the second direction. The preformed bladder is formed with two pieces including an interconnecting perimeter portion. During bladder actuation the bladder perimeter portion is displaced from the bladder inner diameter to the bladder outer diameter with the bladder material in tension to thereby prolong bladder life.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing a displacement in a mechanical system using radar utilizes a miniaturized radar transceiver formed, typically, on a silicon chip. The transceiver is mounted to a fixed surface that senses a displacement of a moving surface. The moving surface is typically located in mechanical communication with a system to be sensed. By using appropriate translating circuitry, an accurate determination of the nature of displacement of the mechanical system can be made. Mechanical systems sensed can include rotating and sliding components such as motors, valves and pressure gauges. Sensors according to this invention are highly accurate and reliable.

Abstract: A two stage gas pressure regulator with a body housing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and a common interior wall dividing the body housing into two chambers forming two pressure reducing stages. Respective intersecting fluid passageways through the common interior wall communicate the first stage to the second stage and provide a gauge pressure tap on the body housing, the intersecting passageways meeting at an intersection point within the common interior wall. Respective diaphragms are provided for each stage, and a cover has a vent venting the volume defined between the cover and the second stage diaphragm. A small passageway is provided in a common cover wall between the two stages, the small passageway being sized to suitably vent both cover portions above the respective diaphragms through the vent while eliminating overpressurization of the second stage in the event of pressure regulating failure of the first stage.

Abstract: A formed metal diaphragm for use in fluid pressure regulators includes a dome-shaped central portion and a convoluted shaped flexible area. The convoluted shaped flexible area includes a series of radially spaced elliptically shaped impressions in the diaphragm surface. The major elliptic axis of each impression is aligned with a radius emanating from the center of the diaphragm. The minor ellipse axis of the impressions is located on a concentric axis outward from the center of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulator having a spring clip frictionally engaging the pivoting regulator lever to stabilize flow fluctuations. Alternatively, a disk wedge with opposite leg portions frictionally engages the moving regulator diaphragm.

Abstract: A self-aligning valve disc assembly for a fluid regulator valve. A disc holder includes a central, raised protrusion enabled in one embodiment by a cone-shaped floor surface for providing a single point of contact with a disc. The single contact point provides a pivoting action with a point of force inside the diameter of the opposing force of the valve seat. This enables the pivoting action of the disc to self-align the disc to the seating surface so as to reduce the forces required for the regulator to function properly.

Abstract: A fluid control valve for use in severe erosive fluid conditions which includes a ceramic plug seat. The ceramic plug seat is mounted to a metal valve element using a tapered mechanical bolt. The tapered portion of the mechanical bolt matches a cone-shaped interior surface portion within the ceramic plug to uniformly distribute the mounting forces within the ceramic plug to prevent cracking of the ceramic plug.

Abstract: An adapter for use with a fluid metering device includes a support structure which holds and supports the fluid metering device in an upright position while the fluid metering device is being tested with a testing device or a prover. The adapter also includes a fluid passageway having one end thereof coupled to the fluid inlet of the fluid metering device and having another end thereof positioned at a predetermined distance away from, and at a predetermined orientation with respect to, the fluid outlet of the fluid metering device to thereby enable a standard prover to be used with a fluid metering device having a non-standard inlet and outlet configuration.