Abstract: A valve assembly including a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, a fluid flow path, and a chamber. A control element is disposed in the chamber and in the fluid flow path, and is rotatable by a valve stem about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. A flow conditioner coupled to the valve body and including a first end, a second end, and a plurality of channels extending between the first end and the second end. The plurality of channels are in flow communication with the fluid flow path of the valve body when the control element is in the open position. A plurality of walls separate the plurality of channels and include a first thickness and a second thickness different than the first thickness.

Abstract: A diffuser has a cylindrical wall and an arcuate end wall located at an end of the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall has a first lattice structure formed of a first plurality of triply periodic surfaces that are periodic in cylindrical coordinates, the first lattice structure having a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface of the cylindrical wall and an outer surface of the cylindrical wall. The arcuate end wall has a second lattice structure formed of a second plurality of triply periodic surfaces that are periodic in spherical coordinates, the second lattice structure having a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface of the arcuate end wall and an outer surface of the arcuate end wall.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing are described. An example load apparatus to load a valve packing includes a guide including a flange and a wall protruding from the flange. The wall defines a cavity to receive a biasing element and a stop movable between a non-active state and an active state. The stop in the non-active state to enable movement of the guide in a first rectilinear direction relative to a longitudinal axis of a packing bore of a fluid valve and the stop in the active state to prevent movement of the guide in the first rectilinear direction. The stop to control an amount of deflection of the biasing element in the first rectilinear direction when the stop is in the active state.

Abstract: Example fluid valves having non-circular flow passageways are disclosed. An example fluid valve includes a body defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet, at least a portion of the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet has a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape when taken along a plane transverse to a direction of fluid flow, the cross-sectional shape includes a curved central axis, with outwardly curved end walls and curved lateral walls joining the curved end walls.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to control communication data rates of low-energy devices. An example apparatus includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio, and a power manager to determine whether to divide a first computation task into at least a second and a third computation task based on (1) energy stored in a power supply associated with the BLE radio and (2) a charging rate of the power supply, and when the first computation task is to be executed by the BLE radio and the first computation task is divided based on the determination, instruct the BLE radio to enter a sleep mode after the second computation task is executed, and invoke the BLE radio to transition from the sleep mode to an operating mode to execute the third computation task, the invoking in response to a measurement associated with the power supply satisfying an energy threshold.

Abstract: A valve body having a ring of dissimilar material and a method of forming the valve body are described. The valve body includes an inlet, an outlet and a ring of dissimilar material. The method includes forming a valve core, splitting the valve core, placing a metal ring of dissimilar material between two pieces of the valve core, casting a valve body around the valve core, and fusing the metal ring to the valve body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a trim arrangement for a ball valve. The trim arrangement can include a first seat assembly having a first seat, a threaded collar, and a biasing element. The first seat can be in contact with a first side of a ball element, and the threaded collar can be threadably coupled to the first seat and can be in engagement with the biasing element. The trim arrangement further includes a second seat assembly having a second seat in contact with a second side of the ball element. The threaded collar can have a profile that is configured to non-rotatably and slidably engage a corresponding profile of a collar bore of the valve body to prevent rotation of the threaded collar relative to the valve body.

Abstract: Purge apparatus for use with fluid valves are disclosed. An apparatus includes a stem for a fluid valve. The stem has a first channel extending therethrough to receive a fluid. The apparatus also includes an aperture in fluid communication with the first channel and disposed on an outer surface of the stem or a fluid flow control member coupled to the stem. The aperture is to exhaust the fluid from the first channel toward one or more components of the fluid valve to remove residue.

Abstract: A valve cage of a control valve includes a cylindrical body having a first ring, a second ring opposite the first ring, an outer wall, an inner wall, and an interior portion that extends radially between the inner wall and the outer wall and extends axially between the first ring and the second ring. A passage extends through the outer and inner walls of the cylindrical body, and is disposed between the first ring and the second ring of the cylindrical body. A three-dimensional lattice structure is disposed in the interior portion of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: Example electro-pneumatic converters and related methods are disclosed herein. An example electro-pneumatic converter includes an axial passageway defined in a body between a first opening and a second opening. A supply port is formed by the first opening. The supply port is to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure supply source. The electro-pneumatic converter further includes an output port fluidly coupled to the axial passageway and a solenoid including a coil and an armature. The armature is disposed in and movable in the axial passageway. The armature is movable between a first position blocking the pressurized fluid from flowing through the axial passageway between the supply port and the output port and a second position allowing the pressurized fluid to flow through the axial passageway between the supply port and the output port.

Abstract: A multi-cone, multi-stage spray nozzle includes a nozzle body, a valve stem with a first valve head, and a second valve head attached to the first valve head. The first valve stem is biased into a closed position against a valve seat of the nozzle body by a bias device. The second valve head is continuously open. Upon the application of a first fluid pressure, which is less than a threshold fluid pressure, the bias device maintains the valve stem in the closed position while the second valve head is continuously open. And upon the application of a second fluid pressure, which is at least as great as the threshold fluid pressure, the valve stem moves to an open position while the second valve head remains continuously open.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to diagnose a pneumatic actuator-regulating accessor. An example method disclosed herein includes stroking a fluid valve operatively coupled to a field instrument and a pneumatic actuator-regulating accessory by pressurizing an actuator operatively coupled to the fluid valve. The example method also includes blocking a supply to the pneumatic actuator-regulating accessory and the field instrument, exhausting pressurized air from the actuator via the field instrument, measuring at least one of (1) positions of the fluid valve or (2) an output pressure as the pressurized air is exhausted from the actuator, and identifying a first operation of the pneumatic actuator-regulating accessory based on at least one of a travel rate of the fluid valve or the output pressure, the travel rate of the fluid valve based on the measured positions of the fluid valve.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ball valve. The ball valve includes a one-piece valve body having an interior cavity and a ball element positioned within the interior cavity. The ball element includes a ball recess that surrounds a ball passageway and extends axially into a first side of the ball element. The ball valve further includes a trim arrangement having a first seat in contact with the first side of the ball element, a second seat in contact with a second side of the ball element, a first biasing element providing a contact stress between the first seat and the first side of the ball element, and a second biasing element providing a contact stress between the second seat and the second side of the ball element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a trim arrangement for a ball valve. The trim arrangement can include a first seat assembly having a first seat, a threaded collar, and a biasing element. The first seat can be in contact with a first side of a ball element, and the threaded collar can be threadably coupled to the first seat and can be in engagement with the biasing element. The trim arrangement further includes a second seat assembly having a second seat in contact with a second side of the ball element. The threaded collar can have a profile that is configured to non-rotatably and slidably engage a corresponding profile of a collar bore of the valve body to prevent rotation of the threaded collar relative to the valve body.

Abstract: Control valves including valve trim having relative movement between the bonnet and the cage. A control valve includes a valve body including an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage connecting the inlet and the outlet. The control valve includes a cage disposed in the flow passage. The control valve includes a control element disposed in the flow passage and shiftable between a first position and a second position. The control valve includes a bonnet securable to the valve body and disposed adjacent the cage. The bonnet is adapted to receive a portion of the cage. The control valve includes a coupling formed between the bonnet and the cage that allows movement between the bonnet and the cage.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path extending therebetween, a rotatable valve member at least partially disposed in the valve body, an attenuator operably coupled to the valve body, and a retention member disposed within the valve body. The rotatable valve member is rotatable within the fluid flow path from a shut-off position to an open position for controlling the flow of fluid through the fluid flow path. The attenuator defines an attenuator body that includes a plurality of noise-reducing apertures. The retention member is positioned against a portion of the attenuator body to retain the attenuator within the valve body.

Abstract: Level sensors having conductive target movement sensing are disclosed. An example level sensor includes a lever operatively coupled to a sensing member, a target operatively coupled to the lever, where the target includes a conductor, an inductive coil to generate a magnetic field and measure feedback signatures associated with the target and the magnetic field, and a processor to calculate a position of the sensing member based on the feedback signatures.

Abstract: A control loop for a double-acting pneumatic actuator is configured to generate two control signals, one for each of the two pneumatic chambers for the purpose of controlling the actuator position in view of operating constraints on the chamber pressures or the stiffness of the actuator. A numerical indicator of the stiffness may be computed in a variety of ways, for example, as the average of the two chamber pressures. In one embodiment a numerical indicator of stiffness is treated as an output of the system along with the position of the actuator. A multi-input multi-output control loop with position and pressure feedback may be used to simultaneously control the position and the stiffness of the actuator.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to validate position parameters of a valve are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a field device, the field device further including a sensor interface to receive an unprocessed valve position parameter from a sensor and a position comparator to determine a deviation between the unprocessed valve position parameter and an interpreted valve position parameter and a valve position validator apparatus, the valve position validator apparatus further including a parameter comparator to determine if the deviation exceeds a threshold and an alert generator to generate an alert when the parameter comparator determines the deviation exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Loop-powered control of pneumatic process control devices is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes an interface for use with a pneumatic process control device of a process control system. The interface includes a power input to scavenge power from a loop power control signal associated with the process control system, a sensor to determine a position of a movable control input associated with the process control device, a comparator to compare the determined position of the movable control input with a desired position of the movable control input, and an actuator to cause movement of the movable control input based on the comparison of the determined position with the desired position, where the actuator is to be powered with the scavenged power.