Patents Assigned to Keystone International Holdings Corp.
  • Patent number: 6571180
    Abstract: A self-contained system to continuously monitor a mechanism used to process, control or regulate fluid flow or pressure and provide a continuing indication of the status or condition of the monitored mechanism. A specific form of the invention employs a low frequency sonic-to-electrical transducer that monitors opening and closing of a disk-type steam trap. The detected sonic signal is processed and sent to a microprocessor that is programmed to develop a time-based, baseline data set representative of normal operation of the steam trap in the environment in which it operates. The baseline data set is compared with the data from on-line operations of the steam trap. As the environment and the steam trap operation change during normal on-line operations, the baseline data set is updated to change with the changing environment and the changing steam trap operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Keystone International Holding Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Turner, Jan L. Nethers
  • Patent number: 5823228
    Abstract: A valve manifold having a manifold body with a first face, an opposed, substantially planar second face, and a peripheral wall, a first inlet, a second inlet, a first drain port, and a second drain port being formed in the first face, a first outlet and a second outlet being formed in the second face, there being a first, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the first outlet and the second outlet, a second, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the first inlet and the first outlet, a third, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between said first drain port and said first outlet, a fourth, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the second inlet and the second outlet, a fifth, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the second drain port and the second outlet, flow paths opening into the outlets sloping away from said second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Alan F. Chou
  • Patent number: 5803123
    Abstract: A mounting plate is disclosed that is adapted to be positioned between a main flow line and at least two differential pressure transmitters, to place the two differential pressure transmitters in fluid communication with a pair of pipeline taps on opposite sides of a flow reducing orifice plate in the main flow line is disclose. The mounting plate includes a plate-like body generally rectangular in cross section along its longitudinal axis and longer than it is wide along its transverse axis. The plate-like body includes a pair of ports that extend through the body and are in fluid communication with the pair of pressure taps with the longitudinal axis of the body parallel to the main flow line. A plurality of passageways or bores extend into the body to connect the ports to various combinations of pressure transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Joel David Bell, Alan Fu Chou
  • Patent number: 5765815
    Abstract: A rotary valve is provided including a valve element mounted within the flow path of a valve body and rotatable about a stem axis. A peripheral seating surface on the valve body surrounds the flow path through the valve body and is spaced from the stem axis for sealing engagement with the valve element when rotated to its closed position. The peripheral seating surface on the valve body is preferably annular, and more preferably has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration and includes a central annular seating line spaced closer to the center point of the valve than adjoining upstream and downstream portions of the seating surface. The valve element includes a rigid body with a peripheral resilient overlay. The resilient overlay has a peripheral pressure-responsive sealing member for flexing in response to fluid pressure into sealing engagement with the seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Calvin
  • Patent number: 5579800
    Abstract: An improved rotary valve indicator apparatus (10) and method is disclosed that includes an electronics switch housing (15), filled with epoxy or other generally elastomeric material (29) to hermetically seal, thus environmentally seal, the switch housing (15). A pair of hermetically sealed reed switches (30, 32) are employed within the electronics switch housing (15) for indicating the open and closed position of the valve (17). A pair of corresponding magnets (26, 28) are mounted within a separate magnet holder (16) that is mounted to a rotatable member (20) of a rotary valve actuator (13). Light emitting diodes (42, 44) radiate from a side portion (57) of the electronics switch housing (15) and are connected in a manner whereby they indicate not only that the respective switch (30, 32) is closed but also that it is conducting electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Walker
  • Patent number: 5549131
    Abstract: An automatic recirculation valve having a body portion, a central hub integral with said body portion and inlet, main outlet and recirculation outlets. A main valve element responsive to flow from said inlet to said main outlet includes a hollow stem forming a bypass valve member through which recirculation fluid flows. A shaft guide bushing surrounding the valve stem and bypass adapter in the bypass outlet provides a recirculation fluid passage and imparts a swirling movement to the recirculation fluid exiting the recirculation outlet to protect the valve body and downstream piping from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Horace J. Maxwell, Ronald J. Sirchio, James J. Henofer
  • Patent number: 5518028
    Abstract: An adjustable magnet carrier 100 for a rotary valve indicator apparatus 10 is disclosed. The adjustable magnet carrier 100 includes an extension member 117 having an extension member body 118, an extension member body top 119, and an extension body base 121. Upper and lower magnet carriers 144, 146 selectively rotate about extension member 117 to adjust the stand-off between the magnets 102, 104 and the magnetically responsive switches 30, 32. The magnetically responsive switches are hermetically sealed within a separate electronics switch housing 15. Light-emitting diodes 42, 44 radiate from electronics switch housing 15 in response to switches 30, 32. Drive shafts 124, 128 rotate the magnet carriers 144, 146. The outer surfaces of the upper and lower magnet carriers 144, 146, the ends of drive shafts 124, 128, and the light-emitting diodes 42, 44 are color-coded to correspond to each other and to the open and closed positions of rotary valve element 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Walker
  • Patent number: 5494071
    Abstract: A mounting plate is disclosed that is adapted to be positioned between a main flow line and at least two differential pressure transmitters, to place the two differential pressure transmitters in fluid communication with a pair of pipeline taps on opposite sides of a flow reducing orifice plate in the main flow line is disclose. The mounting plate includes a plate-like body generally rectangular in cross section along its longitudinal axis and longer than it is wide along its transverse axis. The plate-like body includes a pair of ports that extend through the body and are in fluid communication with the pair of pressure taps with the longitudinal axis of the body parallel to the main flow line. A plurality of passageways or bores extend into the body to connect the ports to various combinations of pressure transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Joel D. Bell, Alan F. Chou
  • Patent number: 5469805
    Abstract: A high visibility indicator 12 for fitting to the rotatable drive shaft 11 of a rotary actuator 10 is capable of being rotated from a first position to a second position to indicate corresponding first and second positions of the actuator 10. The indicator 12 has an inner cylindrical member 13 fitted to the shaft 11, an outer cylindrical member 15 secured to the housing 10 of the actuator 10, and a sleeve member 17 interposed between members 13, 15 and drivingly connected to each via pin and slot connections 15A, 19, 14A, 18, which are arranged so that rotary movement of inner member 13 produces axial movement of sleeve member 17. The members 13, 15, 17 have color-coded surfaces arranged such that when the sleeve member 17 is at one end of its axial travel, a first color-coded arrangement is visible and when the sleeve member 17 is at the other end of its axial travel, a second color-coded arrangement is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Stephen Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5439619
    Abstract: The present invention is a steam conditioning valve for use in simultaneously reducing temperature and pressure in a superheated steam line. The invention provides a butterfly-type valve with desuperheating water nozzles oriented on its downstream face. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, valving is included to control the flow of water to each of the nozzles selectively. The present invention provides an improved steam conditioning valve which is both simpler and more economic than existing steam conditioning valves or the combination of pressure reducing valves and desuperheaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Max Kuffer
  • Patent number: 5427354
    Abstract: A valve comprising a valve body having a through opening that forms a fluid passage and having a wall surrounding a portion of the fluid passage, the wall defining a radially inwardly facing surface, the valve further including a valve element rotatably mounted in the valve body. To retain a valve seat in the valve body, there is provided a ring that has a peripheral surface shaped and sized such that the peripheral surface closely faces the radially inwardly facing surface of the wall when the ring is positioned within the through opening. The ring has a first axially facing side and a second axially facing side and a notch formed in the first side, the ring also having a second, radially outwardly facing annular groove in the peripheral surface that intersects the notch. When the ring is positioned within the through opening of the valve body, the first and second annular grooves are in register and thereby define an annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Kusmer, Robert A. Frenzel
  • Patent number: 5400819
    Abstract: Measuring and regulating valve assembly which includes a butterfly valve and a measuring flange, the measuring flange being situated upstream of the butterfly valve, the distance between the valve and the measuring flange being at least 0.6.times. the nominal passageway diameter, the assembly including a control box that has an adjustable stop that may contact a cam of a sleeve connected to an operating means whereby the maximum opening angle of the butterfly valve can be restricted in a reproducible manner, the sleeve being connected to the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Rudolphus P. M. Lemmens
  • Patent number: 5388806
    Abstract: A valve comprising a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a through opening forming a fluid flow passage and a wall surrounding a portion of the fluid flow passage, the fluid flow passage defining an axis that is co-axial with the wall. A valve element is rotatably mounted in the valve body, the valve element having an annular, radiused sealing surface and being rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis passing through the fluid flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Kusmer, Robert A. Frenzel
  • Patent number: 5385121
    Abstract: A desuperheater is disclosed which employs an acceleration orifice within a steam conduit to increase the velocity of steam flowing therethrough, creating a region of low pressure steam. A nozzle having an enclosed elliptical discharge orifice sprays small droplets of cooling water in a semi-elliptical hollow cone pattern directly into the region of low pressure steam flow. Evaporization of the cooling water into the steam is optimized allowing effective control of the steam temperature. Nozzle fouling and plugging is reduced because the droplet size created by the nozzle is small in comparison to the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Roy L. Feiss
  • Patent number: 5333638
    Abstract: An automatic recirculation valve having an inlet, a main outlet, and a recirculation outlet. A main valve element responsive to the flow between the inlet and main outlet and a bypass element responsive to the main valve element regulates the fluid flow to the recirculation outlet. The bypass element contains orifices through which the fluid flows to the recirculation outlet. The orifices are arranged to counterbalance fluid forces exerted on the bypass element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Horace J. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 5333635
    Abstract: A fluid pressure relief system and method for a pressure vessel or tank (10) having a normal vent (16) with a first pilot operated safety valve (18) and an emergency vent (62) having a second pilot operated safety valve (25). A vapor recovery line (20) is connected to relief valve (18) and collected at a vapor storage container (21). A manway (22) on the pressure vessel (10) shown in FIG. 2 defines the emergency vent (62) and a main valve member (66) has a counterweight (74) thereon to urge main valve member (66) to a seated closed position on nozzle (60). The first pilot operated safety valve (18) for the normal vent (16) is shown in FIG. 7 and has a T-shaped body (142) with a main relief valve member (172) at one end of the body (142) mounted for movement in a generally horizontal direction and controlled by a diaphragm (176) at an opposite end of the body (142).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Higgins, Michael D. McNeely
  • Patent number: 5313976
    Abstract: A top entry floating ball valve (10) and method of assembly including a downstream metal seat (62) mounted within an annular recess about a downstream flow passage (22) and an upstream metal seat (80) urged by a Belleville spring (78) into engagement with ball closure member (24). Ball closure member (24) is urged by Belleville spring (78) into sealing relation with downstream metal seat (62). A smooth planar wall surface (16) is defined by valve chamber (14) about the inlet flow passage (20) and Belleville spring (78) may be easily inserted within the valve chamber (14) along smooth planar wall surface (16) behind upstream metal seat (80). Upstream metal seat (80) has an inner spherical surface (82) conforming to the outer spherical surface (26) of ball closure member (24) and may be easily moved manually along the spherical surface (26) for assembly and disassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings, Corp.
    Inventor: Marvin E. Beasley
  • Patent number: RE38034
    Abstract: A valve manifold having a manifold body with a first face, an opposed, substantially planar second face, and a peripheral wall, a first inlet, a second inlet, a first drain port, and a second drain port being formed in the first face, a first outlet and a second outlet being formed in the second face, there being a first, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the first outlet and the second outlet, a second, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the first inlet and the first outlet, a third, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between said first drain port and said first outlet, a fourth, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the second inlet and the second outlet, a fifth, fluid communication pathway/valve for controlling fluid flow between the second drain port and the second outlet, flow paths opening into the outlets sloping away from said second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Keystone International Holding Corp. Tyco Flow Control, Inc. Successor in Interest
    Inventor: Alan F. Chou
  • Patent number: RE34610
    Abstract: A mounting plate (20) is positioned between a manifold (18) and a pair of fluid pressure transmitters including a differential pressure transmitter (22) and a gauge pressure transmitter (24). The fluid pressure from high and low pressure taps or lines (14, 16) placed on opposite sides of a flow restriction (12) of a main flow line (10) is measured and transmitted to a remote location by the transmitters (22, 24). The mounting plate (20) has low and high pressure ports (62, 64) for differential pressure transmitter (22) and a low pressure port (66) for a gauge pressure transmitter (24). A connecting fluid passage (68) connects the low pressure ports (62, 66) and a block valve (80) is movable between open and closed positions to permit or block fluid communication between the ports (62, 66) and fluid communication between the transmitters (22, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Randall J. Miller, Alan F. Chou
  • Patent number: D398375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Lynch, Chris M. Yohner