Abstract: A balanced port control assembly includes a control element with a valve plug coupled to a valve stem and a pressure sensing labyrinth defined at least partly by the valve plug. The pressure sensing labyrinth provides for fluid communication between a sealing surface of the valve plug and a balancing diaphragm carried internally of the control element. The pressure sensing labyrinth includes at least one pressure sensing passage extending from the sealing surface and into the valve plug along a central longitudinal axis of the control element. So configured, fluid pressure resident on the sealing surface of the valve plug is also resident on the balancing diaphragm such that equal and opposite forces are applied to the control element.

Abstract: A pressure relief assembly may include an actuator stem having a plurality of retaining grooves. A relief plate may be operatively connected to the actuator stem and a diaphragm plate may be operatively connected to the actuator stem. A diaphragm may be least partially disposed between the relief plate and the diaphragm plate. A relief spring seat may be releasably attached to the actuator stem at one of the plurality of retaining grooves. The relief spring may be adjusted by moving the attachment point from one retaining groove to another retaining groove.

Abstract: A cage for a control valve trim assembly includes a cage body having an opening at one end and a wall extending from the opening, a plurality of cage openings disposed in the wall, and a pressure relief mechanism disposed in the cage wall.

Abstract: A force transfer apparatus includes a housing, a shaft, a plunger, a retention plate, and a force sensor. The housing defines a cavity and a sidewall with an aperture. The shaft is supported in the cavity for rotation about a first axis that is a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The plunger is disposed in the aperture and has a first and second ends. The first end is operably coupled to the shaft such that the plunger can slide along a second axis that is transverse to the first axis in response to rotation of the shaft. The retention plate is fixed to the sidewall outside of the cavity adjacent to the aperture. The force sensor is disposed between the second end of the plunger and the retention plate. As such, the force sensor can detect the amount of force applied to the plunger by the rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for changing actuator output torques are disclosed. An example method includes decoupling a first end cap from a body of an actuator. A first spring assembly is positioned within a first outer chamber defined by the first end cap and the body. A first end of the first spring assembly is positioned adjacent a surface of a first piston. A second end of the first spring assembly is positioned adjacent the first end cap when the first end cap is coupled to the body. The method includes positioning a first spacer within the first outer chamber and coupling the first end cap to the body. The first spacer changes a distance between the first and second ends of the first spring assembly when the first end cap is coupled to the body to change an output torque of the actuator.

Abstract: An energy management system uses an expert engine and a numerical solver to determine an optimal manner of using and controlling the various energy consumption, producing and storage equipment in a plant/community. The energy management system operates the various energy manufacturing and energy usage components of the plant to minimize the cost of energy over time, or at various different times, while still meeting certain constraints or requirements within the operational system, such as producing a certain amount of heat or cooling, a certain power level, a certain level of production, etc. In some cases, the energy management system may cause the operational equipment of the plant to produce unneeded energy that can be stored until a later time and then used, or that can be sold back to a public utility, for example, so as to reduce the overall cost of energy within the plant.

Abstract: Valve seat apparatus having positive retention for use with fluid control devices are described herein. An example valve seat apparatus includes a metallic ring and an elastomeric ring coupled to the metallic ring and having a sealing surface to sealingly engage a flow control member of the fluid control device. At least a portion of an outer surface of the elastomeric ring includes an annular lip to sealingly engage an annular recess of a body of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. An actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and includes a valve disc that displaces along a longitudinal axis to open and close the fluid regulating device. The valve disc includes a sealing surface disposed adjacent to an outer radial end of the valve disc, and the sealing surface is adapted to sealingly engage the valve port in the closed position. The valve disc also includes an intermediate surface disposed inward of the sealing surface, and a groove is formed in the intermediate surface. The groove extends along a groove axis extending along the intermediate surface normal to the longitudinal axis, and the groove axis is at least partially curved when viewed along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Example pressure regulators with filter condition detectors are described herein. In one example described here, a regulator includes a body having an inlet and an outlet and a flow control member interposed between the inlet and the outlet to regulate a fluid pressure at the outlet. The example regulator also includes a filter disposed between the inlet and the flow control member and a detector having a first measurement point upstream from the filter and a second measurement point downstream from the filter and upstream from the flow control member.

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.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuating device for a sliding stem control valve assembly is mounted between a control valve and an actuator housing. The hydraulic actuating device is connected to one of a control valve stem, an actuator stem, and a stem connector and the hydraulic actuating device moves either the control valve stem, the actuator stem, or the stem connector in response to varying hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic actuating device. The hydraulic actuating device may be used to override an actuator of the sliding stem valve during emergency operations, or to provide a backup actuator in the case of a primary actuator malfunction.

Abstract: A spring seat for self aligning a bias-open or bias-close spring is disposed within a tubular control element of a gas regulator and designed to reduce side loading of the spring, which can cause the spring to prematurely fail. The spring seat can comprise a spring seat adaptor and a seat ring. The spring seat adaptor is fixed inside of the tubular control element and the seat ring is movably mounted on the spring seat adaptor via a ball and socket type joint. The movable seat ring is engaged by the spring and adapted to be self-aligned through three-dimensional displacement relative to the spring seat adaptor via the ball and socket joint.

Abstract: A balanced port control assembly includes a control element with a valve plug coupled to a valve stem and a pressure sensing labyrinth defined at least partly by the valve plug. The pressure sensing labyrinth provides for fluid communication between a sealing surface of the valve plug and a balancing diaphragm carried internally of the control element. The pressure sensing labyrinth includes at least one pressure sensing passage extending from the sealing surface and into the valve plug along a central longitudinal axis of the control element. So configured, fluid pressure resident on the sealing surface of the valve plug is also resident on the balancing diaphragm such that equal and opposite forces are applied to the control element.

Abstract: A slam-shut safety device includes a valve body and defining a flow path, a valve disc mounted on a valve disc support is movable between an open first position spaced away from the valve seat and a closed second position seated against the valve seat. A reset pin is operatively coupled to the valve disc support and is shiftable between an untripped position placing the valve disc in the open position and a tripped position placing the valve disc in the closed position. An anti-rotation assembly is carried by cooperating portions of the valve disc and the valve disc support, with the anti-rotation assembly comprising at least one protrusion and at least one receiving area sized to receive the protrusion, the anti-rotation assembly arranged to stop rotation of the valve disc relative to the valve disc support.

Abstract: A pressure relief assembly may include an actuator stem having a plurality of retaining grooves. A relief plate may be operatively connected to the actuator stem and a diaphragm plate may be operatively connected to the actuator stem. A diaphragm may be least partially disposed between the relief plate and the diaphragm plate. A relief spring seat may be releasably attached to the actuator stem at one of the plurality of retaining grooves.

Abstract: Fluid flow control members for use with valves are described. An example poppet apparatus for use with an internal valve includes first and second opposing seating surfaces to control fluid flow through the internal valve. Additionally, the example poppet apparatus includes an aperture to receive a stem of the internal valve. Further, the example poppet apparatus includes a flow diverter to divert fluid flow through the poppet apparatus to substantially prevent the fluid flow from compressing a spring to be at least partially positioned in the poppet apparatus.

Abstract: A fail safe retaining plug assembly for a slam-shut safety device includes a reset pin, a retaining plug attached to the reset pin at a proximal portion, and a safety disk attached to the reset pin at a distal portion. The retaining plug assembly is sufficiently long to prevent the safety disk from falling off of the distal portion before the safety disk contacts a valve seat. The retaining plug assembly is also sufficiently long to prevent the retaining plug from falling off of the reset pin before the safety disk contacts the valve seat.

Abstract: A force transfer apparatus includes a housing, a shaft, a plunger, a retention plate, and a force sensor. The housing defines a cavity and a sidewall with an aperture. The shaft is supported in the cavity for rotation about a first axis that is a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The plunger is disposed in the aperture and has a first and second ends. The first end is operably coupled to the shaft such that the plunger can slide along a second axis that is transverse to the first axis in response to rotation of the shaft. The retention plate is fixed to the sidewall outside of the cavity adjacent to the aperture. The force sensor is disposed between the second end of the plunger and the retention plate. As such, the force sensor can detect the amount of force applied to the plunger by the rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A regulator having a valve body defining a flow-path for a fluid and having a valve seat, an actuator casing coupled to the valve body, a control member disposed within the actuator casing and adapted for displacement relative to the valve body and the valve seat for regulating a flow of the fluid through the flow-path by moving between an open position and a closed position wherein the control member engages the valve seat, and a spring operatively coupled to the control member and biasing the control member toward the open position. The control member includes a surface facing the valve seat that is recessed. The recessed surface may be a counter-bore, or may have a convex shape, conical shape, or other appropriate recessed surface. So configured, the regulator displaced improved stability in high inlet pressure, low output pressure, high flow rate implementations.

Abstract: Rotary valve actuators having partial stroke damping apparatus are described herein. An example rotary valve actuator described herein includes a housing containing a first piston and a second piston opposite the first piston, where the pistons move in opposite directions to rotate a shaft of the rotary valve actuator. A damper is operatively coupled to at least one of the first piston or the second piston to slow the movement of the piston for only a portion of a stroke of the rotary valve actuator.