Patents by Inventor Donald G. Ralston

Donald G. Ralston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Butterfly valve
    Patent number: 6793197
    Abstract: A valve having improved inherent flow characteristics and improved dynamic torque characteristics is provided. The valve includes a disk for controlling fluid flow inside the valve. The disk has at least a sealing surface for sealing with a valve seal when the disk is in a closed position. The sealing surface includes a contour and creates a flow clearance with the valve seal as the disk pivots from a closed position toward an open position. A radius of curvature of the contour defines a size of the flow clearance at predetermined disk positions to characterize flow through the valve. The valve can further include an upstream indentation for dynamic torque reduction and/or an indentation for dynamic torque reduction in case of a fluid flow reversal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. DePenning, Donald G. Ralston, Hans D. Baumann
  • BUTTERFLY VALVE
    Publication number: 20040149952
    Abstract: A valve having improved inherent flow characteristics and improved dynamic torque characteristics is provided. The valve includes a disk for controlling fluid flow inside the valve. The disk has at least a sealing surface for sealing with a valve seal when the disk is in a closed position. The sealing surface includes a contour and creates a flow clearance with the valve seal as the disk pivots from a closed position toward an open position. A radius of curvature of the contour defines a size of the flow clearance at predetermined disk positions to characterize flow through the valve. The valve can further include an upstream indentation for dynamic torque reduction and/or an indentation for dynamic torque reduction in case of a fluid flow reversal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Charles L. DePenning, Donald G. Ralston, Hans D. Baumann