Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatically determining friction of a control valve. An example method includes measuring first and second pressures corresponding to respective first and second positions of a valve while stroking the valve in a first direction, measuring third and fourth pressures corresponding, respectively, to the second and first positions while stroking the valve in a second direction opposite the first direction, determining a first pressure difference between the second and third pressures, determining a second pressure difference between the first and fourth pressures, determining an average pressure based on the first and second pressure differences, comparing the average pressure to a third pressure difference corresponding to a range of travel of an actuator including the first and second positions, and determining a control step size for the valve based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and system for minor loop feedback fallback are disclosed. An example method includes controlling a process control device using first values from a first sensor; comparing the first values to reference values to identify a difference; and in response to the difference being outside of a threshold, controlling the process control device using second values from a second sensor.

Abstract: A packing system is disclosed for use with a valve having a valve body that defines a flow passage therethrough. The packing system includes a bonnet configured for connection to the valve body, a stem bore extending through the bonnet to receive a stem of the valve that is movable within the stem bore to control flow through the flow passage, a first packing set arranged in the stem bore surrounding a first portion of the stem, a second packing set arranged in the stem bore surrounding a second portion of the stem that is spaced apart from the first packing set by a support ring to define an inter-packing volume within the stem bore, and a pressurized barrier lubricant reservoir in communication with the inter-packing volume via a bonnet port in the bonnet to pressurize barrier lubricant within the inter-packing volume to be at or above a process pressure.

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.

Abstract: A packing system is disclosed for use with a valve having a bonnet and a flow passage extending between an inlet and an outlet of a valve body. A bore can extend through the bonnet to receive a stem that moves a control member to control flow through the flow passage. A first packing arrangement can be arranged in the bore about a first portion of the stem. A second packing arrangement can be arranged in the bore about a second portion of the stem with the first packing arrangement between the second packing arrangement and the valve body. A bore port can extend through the bonnet and open into an inter-packing volume of the bore between the first and second packing arrangements and can provide fluid communication between the inter-packing volume and the outlet of the valve or other lower pressure area.

Abstract: Apparatus for noise reduction in valves are disclosed herein. An example valve disclosed herein includes a valve body defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet, a plug, and a cage in the fluid passageway. The plug is disposed in the cage. The plug is moveable in the cage to control fluid flow through the fluid passageway. The cage includes an inner wall having first openings, an outer wall having second openings, the outer wall disposed coaxially around the inner wall, and an insert having third openings. The insert is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall.

Abstract: Example valve bodies having resistant inner cores are disclosed herein. An example valve body comprises a metal core including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passageway extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and an exterior shell overmolded with the metal core, the exterior shell bonded to the metal core, the exterior shell to provide a pressure-boundary of the valve body.

Abstract: A valve sealing arrangement is disclosed for use with a valve having a valve body, a control member arranged in a flow passage of the valve body, a rotary shaft arranged in a bore of the valve body configured to move the control member between closed and open positions, and a valve seat. The valve seat can include an anchor portion secured to the valve body that has an anchor section with a first sealing surface and a convolution section extending from the anchor section with at least one bend, a first seat portion with a second sealing surface contacting the control member that is moveable via the at least one bend of the convolution section, and a second seat portion extending from the first seat portion with a contact surface contacting a side wall of the flow passage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to reduce noise in valve. An example valve includes a valve body defining an inner cavity that fluidly couples an inlet of the valve and an outlet of the valve, the inner cavity having an inner wall with annular cavities spaced apart from one another along a direction of flow of the valve body, a trim to vary a degree of flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet, and a screen positioned within the inner cavity, the screen at least partially surrounded by the annular cavities and including a pattern of apertures to disperse sound waves generated when the fluid moves therethrough.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimally positioning objects for automated machining are described herein. An example build file generator described herein includes an object file manager to identify a first toolpath volume associated with a first object to be formed via an additive manufacturing (AM) process. The first toolpath volume is based on a first toolpath of a first post-manufacturing process to be used on the first object. The object file manager is also to identify a second toolpath volume associated with a second object to be formed via the AM process. The second toolpath volume is based on a second toolpath of a second post-manufacturing process to be used on the second object. The example build file generator also includes a layout determiner to determine a layout of the first and second objects to be formed on a substrate by the AM process based on the first and second toolpath volumes.

Abstract: A valve, such as a ball valve, can include a noise attenuation assembly to control fluid expansion through the valve and provide noise abatement. The valve can include a valve body and a valve stem and the noise attenuation assembly can include a flow control body and a trim body. The flow control body can be coupled to the valve stem and the flow control body can be configured to selectively permit fluid flow through the valve body in an axial direction. The trim body can include a plurality of channels to control fluid expansion during fluid flow through the valve body. The trim body can be engaged with the flow control body at first and second mounting structures of the flow control body to secure the trim within a fluid pathway of the flow control body.

Abstract: Variable flow characteristic valves are disclosed. A disclosed example valve for controlling a flow characteristic therethrough includes a first plate having a first aperture pattern, a second plate proximate the first plate, the second plate having a second aperture pattern, and a rotator to rotate the second plate relative to the first plate to vary a degree of alignment between the first and second aperture patterns.

Abstract: A packing system is disclosed for use with a valve having a bonnet and a flow passage extending between an inlet and an outlet of a valve body. A bore can extend through the bonnet to receive a stem that moves a control member to control flow through the flow passage. A first packing arrangement can be arranged in the bore about a first portion of the stem. A second packing arrangement can be arranged in the bore about a second portion of the stem with the first packing arrangement between the second packing arrangement and the valve body. A bore port can extend through the bonnet and open into an inter-packing volume of the bore between the first and second packing arrangements and can provide fluid communication between the inter-packing volume and the outlet of the valve or other lower pressure area.

Abstract: A spool valve includes a sleeve with multiple axial ports positioned over the length of the sleeve and an adjustable spool component that couples neighboring ones of the sleeve's ports based on a position of the spool component within the sleeve. The adjustable spool component includes multiple sub-components having positions that are adjustable relative to each other such that the dimensions of the spool component can be tailored to precisely match the corresponding sleeve.

Abstract: Valve bodies and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. An example method of manufacturing a valve body includes forming a first duct extending from a first side of the valve body, forming a first wall in the valve body at least partially protruding from a surface of the first duct, the first wall defining a chamber, forming one or more openings in the first wall to fluidly couple the chamber to the first duct, and forming a second duct extending from a second side of the valve body opposite the first, the second duct fluidly coupled to the chamber.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least convert a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet having a second format based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol, the second data packet including a first payload having a first size, remove first data from the second data packet, increase the first size of the first payload to a second size to generate a second payload, add second data to the second payload, and transmit the second data packet to a remote device via a BLE network, the second data packet including the second payload.

Abstract: A valve packing having independently loaded packing rings is disclosed. A packing assembly for a fluid valve includes a first packing ring, a first follower to be disposed at least partially within a bore of a bonnet of the fluid valve to apply a first load to the first packing ring, a second packing ring sized to fit within a bore of the first follower, and a second follower to be disposed at least partially within the bore of the first follower to apply a second load to the second packing ring within the bore of the first follower.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to adjust operation of a fluid flow control assembly are disclosed. An example safety valve controller apparatus includes comparator circuitry to compare a current measurement to at least one of a first threshold associated with a first flow setting of a fluid flow control assembly or a second threshold associated with a second flow setting of the fluid flow control assembly, and determine a first drive signal associated with the first flow setting or a second drive signal associated with the second flow setting in response to satisfying a respective one of the first or second thresholds, and current modulating circuitry to determine a third drive signal based on the current measurement, the third drive signal to modulate the flow setting of the fluid flow control assembly between the first and second flow settings.

Abstract: Wear-resistant electro-pneumatic converters are disclosed. An electro-pneumatic converter includes a body including an axial passageway extending between a first opening and a second opening, the first opening associated with a supply port, the supply port to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure supply source, a solenoid disposed within the axial passageway, an armature including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side facing the solenoid, the armature movable between a first position and a second position, the pressurized fluid blocked from flowing through the output port when the armature is in the first position, the pressurized fluid to flow through the output port when the armature is in the second position, and a spring coupled to the first side of the armature, the spring to bias the armature toward the first position.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatically determining friction of a control valve. An example apparatus includes a hysteresis measurement controller to determine an average control hysteresis value for a valve over a first range of travel of the valve, a comparator to compare the average control hysteresis value to a second value corresponding to a second range of travel of the valve encompassing the first range of travel of the valve, and a step size selector to select one of multiple control step sizes for the valve based on the comparison.