Patents by Inventor Gregory L. Foust

Gregory L. Foust 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).

  • Patent number: 8739819
    Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a valve port, and a control element shiftable within the valve body. A control assembly includes an actuator coupled to the control element and includes a diaphragm disposed adjacent a diaphragm chamber. A sense tube has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the first end positioned to communicate with the diaphragm chamber, the second end disposed adjacent the outlet, and the intermediate portion disposed adjacent an intermediate portion of the outlet. The sense tube includes a shoulder and a flared portion, with the flared portion disposed adjacent the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Foust, Jared B. Chizek, Mark A. Michnevitz, Tung K. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8286660
    Abstract: A gas regulator includes an actuator, a regulator valve, and a secondary device. Downstream pressure feedback is provided to the actuator and the secondary device via a Pitot tube disposed within an outlet of the regulator valve. The Pitot tube has a first branch having an end connected to the actuator to place the actuator control cavity and diaphragm in fluid communication with downstream pressure within the outlet for maintaining the outlet pressure at an actuator setpoint pressure. The Pitot tube also has a second branch having an end connected to the secondary device to place the interior of the secondary device in fluid communication with downstream pressure within the outlet for responding to changes in the downstream pressure when the outlet pressure diverges from a predetermined normal operating pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason S. Mevius, James C. Hawkins, Seth A. Kranz, Gregory L. Foust
  • Patent number: 8281803
    Abstract: A gas regulator includes an actuator, a valve, and a balanced port housing disposed within the valve for flow conditioning to convert turbulent flow within the valve to laminar flow when the fluid reaches the sensing point of a Pitot tube disposed within the outlet of the valve. The balancing port housing includes an opening through a sidewall and disposed between a valve port of the valve and the outlet. The opening may include a partial obstruction, such as baffles or a mesh screen over which the fluid flows to convert the turbulent flow to laminar flow. The regulator may further include balanced trim having a balancing diaphragm in fluid communication with the upstream pressure to apply a force to a valve disc of the valve in the opposite direction of the force applied to the valve disc by the upstream pressure so that the upstream pressure does not affect the regulator's control of the downstream pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Jason S. Mevius, Gregory L. Foust
  • Patent number: 8240327
    Abstract: A gas regulator includes an actuator, a regulator valve, and pressure loading device. The pressure loading device provides a pressure load to a surface of a diaphragm of the actuator to act against a downstream pressure being applied to the opposite surface of the diaphragm and being controlled by the regulator. As the downstream pressure varies and the diaphragm displaces to move a control element to regulate the downstream pressure, the pressure loading device maintains a specified load pressure. The regulator may further include a balanced trim applying a balancing force to offset a force of an upstream pressure on the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Hawkins, Paul R. Anderson, Jason S. Mevius, Gregory L. Foust
  • Publication number: 20110174381
    Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a valve port, and a control element shiftable within the valve body. A control assembly includes an actuator coupled to the control element and includes a diaphragm disposed adjacent a diaphragm chamber. A sense tube has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the first end positioned to communicate with the diaphragm chamber, the second end disposed adjacent the outlet, and the intermediate portion disposed adjacent an intermediate portion of the outlet. The sense tube includes a shoulder and a flared portion, with the flared portion disposed adjacent the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Gregory L. Foust, Jared B. Chizek, Mark A. Michnevitz, Tung K. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20100071786
    Abstract: A gas regulator includes an actuator, a regulator valve, and pressure loading device. The pressure loading device provides a pressure load to a surface of a diaphragm of the actuator to act against a downstream pressure being applied to the opposite surface of the diaphragm and being controlled by the regulator. As the downstream pressure varies and the diaphragm displaces to move a control element to regulate the downstream pressure, the pressure loading device maintains a specified load pressure. The regulator may further include a balanced trim applying a balancing force to offset a force of an upstream pressure on the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James C. Hawkins, Paul R. Anderson, Jason S. Mevius, Gregory L. Foust
  • Publication number: 20090260697
    Abstract: A gas regulator includes an actuator, a regulator valve, and a secondary device. Downstream pressure feedback is provided to the actuator and the secondary device via a Pitot tube disposed within an outlet of the regulator valve. The Pitot tube has a first branch having an end connected to the actuator to place the actuator control cavity and diaphragm in fluid communication with downstream pressure within the outlet for maintaining the outlet pressure at an actuator setpoint pressure. The Pitot tube also has a second branch having an end connected to the secondary device to place the interior of the secondary device in fluid communication with downstream pressure within the outlet for responding to changes in the downstream pressure when the outlet pressure diverges from a predetermined normal operating pressure range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason S. Mevius, James C. Hawkins, Seth A. Kranz, Gregory L. Foust
  • Publication number: 20090261281
    Abstract: A gas regulator includes an actuator, a valve, and a balanced port housing disposed within the valve for flow conditioning to convert turbulent flow within the valve to laminar flow when the fluid reaches the sensing point of a Pitot tube disposed within the outlet of the valve. The balancing port housing includes an opening through a sidewall and disposed between a valve port of the valve and the outlet. The opening may include a partial obstruction, such as baffles or a mesh screen over which the fluid flows to convert the turbulent flow to laminar flow. The regulator may further include balanced trim having a balancing diaphragm in fluid communication with the upstream pressure to apply a force to a valve disc of the valve in the opposite direction of the force applied to the valve disc by the upstream pressure so that the upstream pressure does not affect the regulator's control of the downstream pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Jason S. Mevius, Gregory L. Foust
  • Patent number: 5700950
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Woollums, Gregory L. Foust