Patents by Inventor Peter K. Merrill

Peter K. Merrill 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: 8677585
    Abstract: An alignment mechanism is used for assembly of a diffuser inside a pressure reducing and conditioning valve, said valve having a body, an inlet port, an outlet port, a pressure reducing section between the ports, and a diffuser in an internal cavity of the pressure reducing section. The alignment mechanism comprises at least one alignment assembly having an alignment port disposed in the valve body in the pressure reducing section. The port has a passageway passing through an outer wall of the valve, and has a removable closure member adapted to close one end of the passageway. A removable alignment rod is adapted to be inserted through the passageway in the alignment port to contact an outer surface of the diffuser when the diffuser is inserted into the internal cavity of the pressure reducing section of the valve. A method of use of the alignment assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter K. Merrill, Donald F. Foisy
  • Publication number: 20120042492
    Abstract: An alignment mechanism is used for assembly of a diffuser inside a pressure reducing and conditioning valve, said valve having a body, an inlet port, an outlet port, a pressure reducing section between the ports, and a diffuser in an internal cavity of the pressure reducing section. The alignment mechanism comprises at least one alignment assembly having an alignment port disposed in the valve body in the pressure reducing section. The port has a passageway passing through an outer wall of the valve, and has a removable closure member adapted to close one end of the passageway. A removable alignment rod is adapted to be inserted through the passageway in the to alignment port to contact an outer surface of the diffuser when the diffuser is inserted into the internal cavity of the pressure reducing section of the valve. A method of use of the alignment assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Peter K. Merrill, Donald F. Foisy
  • Patent number: 6923429
    Abstract: An electrical grounding assembly for a control valve providing a shared electrical connection between a valve body and valve trim. An elastic grounding connector having an elastic region and an electrically conductive surface is placed between the valve body and the valve trim. The valve trim compresses the electrically conductive surface of the elastic grounding connector to deform the elastic region of the elastic grounding connector to form a shared electrical connection between the valve body and the valve trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Peter K. Merrill, Joel R. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20040262561
    Abstract: An electrical grounding assembly for a control valve providing a shared electrical connection between a valve body and valve trim. An elastic grounding connector having an elastic region and an electrically conductive surface is placed between the valve body and the valve trim. The valve trim compresses the electrically conductive surface of the elastic grounding connector to deform the elastic region of the elastic grounding connector to form a shared electrical connection between the valve body and the valve trim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Peter K. Merrill, Joel R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4469123
    Abstract: A cold box valve, employed in cryogenic environments, includes a valve body assembly with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The valve body assembly includes a valve body and bonnet. The bonnet seals the top of the valve body to which access to the valve internals is provided. A trim assembly, including an inner tube is removably mounted within the valve body. A cage is secured to the inner tube and a valve seat ring is removably mounted on the cage by at least one pin. Once assembled, the valve seat ring engages the valve body surrounding an opening between the valve inlet and valve outlet. A seal is mounted within the valve seat ring to provide a fluid seal between the valve seat ring and the valve body. A valve plug is reciprocally mounted within the cage and a stem connected to the plug extends out of the body to be connected to an actuator. A spring is mounted within the valve bonnet and engages the inner tube for biasing the valve seat ring into engagement with the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Peter K. Merrill