Patents by Inventor Steven Hostetter

Steven Hostetter 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).

  • Publication number: 20240068595
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture of valve packing apparatus and related methods are described. An apparatus includes a cartridge including packing components and a spring. The cartridge is dimensioned to fit in a bore of a bonnet of a valve. A cap is coupled to the cartridge to retain the packing components and the spring. The cap is to compress the packing components and the spring to a predetermined load in response to the cartridge being fastened to the bonnet of a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Lucas Schmitt, Steven Hostetter, Aaron Anderson, Lisa Miller
  • Publication number: 20240068596
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture of valve packing apparatus and related methods. An apparatus includes a cartridge including packing components and a spring. The cartridge is dimensioned to fit in a bore of a bonnet of a valve. A retainer is disposed in an aperture of the cartridge. The retainer is removable from the aperture to release the spring to apply a predetermined compressive load to the stack of packing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Lucas Schmitt, Steven Hostetter, Aaron Anderson, Lisa Miller
  • Publication number: 20230018750
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a retaining ring for a valve plug assembly. The retaining ring includes a first ring portion having an inner surface with a central axis extending along a circumference of the first ring portion, and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the first ring portion and offset from the central axis. The retaining ring also includes a second ring portion having an inner surface with a central axis extending along a circumference of the second ring portion, and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the second ring portion and offset from the central axis. The second ring portion is coupled to the first ring portion such that each of the ribs disposed on the inner surfaces of the first and second ring portions are configured to mate with a groove of a valve plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Lucas J. Schmitt, Steven Hostetter, Aaron Anderson
  • Patent number: 11255442
    Abstract: Valve trim and related methods are described. An example valve trim includes a cage defining a body having a bore to receive a valve plug. The cage includes a first passageway through a side surface of the body. The first passageway has an axis that is non-parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore. A valve seat is to receive the cage. The valve seat has a first projection defining a first opening. The cage to be positioned relative to the valve seat in a first orientation to align the first opening and the first passageway to provide a first flow characteristic. The cage to be positioned relative to the valve seat in a second orientation to offset an alignment between the first projection and the first passageway to provide a second flow characteristic different than the first flow characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Steven Hostetter, Wesley Ohrt
  • Publication number: 20210018101
    Abstract: Valve trim and related methods are described. An example valve trim includes a cage defining a body having a bore to receive a valve plug. The cage includes a first passageway through a side surface of the body. The first passageway has an axis that is non-parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore. A valve seat is to receive the cage. The valve seat has a first projection defining a first opening. The cage to be positioned relative to the valve seat in a first orientation to align the first opening and the first passageway to provide a first flow characteristic. The cage to be positioned relative to the valve seat in a second orientation to offset an alignment between the first projection and the first passageway to provide a second flow characteristic different than the first flow characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Steven Hostetter, Wesley Ohrt
  • Patent number: 10830358
    Abstract: Valve trim and related methods are described. An example valve trim includes a cage defining a body having a bore to receive a valve plug. The cage includes a plurality of passageways through a side surface of the body that are radially spaced relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore. A valve seat to receive the cage. The valve seat has a plurality of projections defining a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings. Ones of the first openings to align with respective ones of the passageways to provide a first flow characteristic when the cage is positioned in a first orientation relative to the valve seat. Ones of the second openings to align with respective ones of the passageways of the cage to provide a second flow characteristic different than the first flow characteristic when the cage is positioned in a second orientation relative to the valve seat different from the first orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Steven Hostetter, Wesley Ohrt
  • Publication number: 20200325996
    Abstract: Valve trim and related methods are described. An example valve trim includes a cage defining a body having a bore to receive a valve plug. The cage includes a plurality of passageways through a side surface of the body that are radially spaced relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore. A valve seat to receive the cage. The valve seat has a plurality of projections defining a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings. Ones of the first openings to align with respective ones of the passageways to provide a first flow characteristic when the cage is positioned in a first orientation relative to the valve seat. Ones of the second openings to align with respective ones of the passageways of the cage to provide a second flow characteristic different than the first flow characteristic when the cage is positioned in a second orientation relative to the valve seat different from the first orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Hostetter, Wesley Ohrt
  • Patent number: 10753482
    Abstract: Example tapered nut valve plug fastener apparatus disclosed herein include a valve plug, a valve stem, and a nut. The valve plug has a first end, a second end located opposite the first end of the valve plug, and a bore extending from the first end to the second end of the valve plug. The valve stem has a first end, a second end located opposite the first end of the valve stem, and a first tapered surface located between the first end and the second end of the valve stem. The first end of the valve stem extends through the bore The nut is threadably engaged with the first end of the valve stem. The nut includes a second tapered surface. The first tapered surface engages the bore from the first end of the valve plug and the second tapered surface engages the bore from the second end of the valve plug to capture the valve plug between the first and second tapered surfaces, and to rigidly secure the valve plug to the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Steven Hostetter
  • Publication number: 20190264817
    Abstract: Example tapered nut valve plug fastener apparatus disclosed herein include a valve plug, a valve stem, and a nut. The valve plug has a first end, a second end located opposite the first end of the valve plug, and a bore extending from the first end to the second end of the valve plug. The valve stem has a first end, a second end located opposite the first end of the valve stem, and a first tapered surface located between the first end and the second end of the valve stem. The first end of the valve stem extends through the bore The nut is threadably engaged with the first end of the valve stem. The nut includes a second tapered surface. The first tapered surface engages the bore from the first end of the valve plug and the second tapered surface engages the bore from the second end of the valve plug to capture the valve plug between the first and second tapered surfaces, and to rigidly secure the valve plug to the valve stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Hostetter
  • Patent number: 10337623
    Abstract: Example tapered nut valve plug fastener apparatus disclosed herein include a valve stem, a first nut, a valve plug, and a second nut. The first nut includes a first tapered surface and the second nut includes a second tapered surface. The valve plug includes a bore. The first nut threadably engages the valve stem and the valve stem passes through the bore. The bore engages the first tapered surface. The second nut threadably engages the valve stem and the bore engages the second tapered surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Steven Hostetter
  • Publication number: 20180266569
    Abstract: Example tapered nut valve plug fastener apparatus disclosed herein include a valve stem, a first nut, a valve plug, and a second nut. The first nut includes a first tapered surface and the second nut includes a second tapered surface. The valve plug includes a bore. The first nut threadably engages the valve stem and the valve stem passes through the bore. The bore engages the first tapered surface. The second nut threadably engages the valve stem and the bore engages the second tapered surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Hostetter