Patents Assigned to Tri-Tec Manufacturing, LLC
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Patent number: 11788588Abstract: Valve systems include a valve and a valve actuator assembly for operating the valve. The valve actuator assembly includes a drive device and a hand wheel assembly that can independently be used to cause movement of the valve. An anti-back drive component is coupled to the output of the drive device, the hand wheel assembly, or both. The anti-back drive component includes a locking device and an unlocking device, each with respective protrusions that cooperate to define cavities that house pairs of springs and rollers. The shape and orientation of the cavities allows for rotation of the rollers in the cavities and the anti-back drive component by rotating the unlocking device, while preventing rotation of the rollers and the anti-back drive component via rotation of the locking device to selectively prevent rotation of the output of the drive device, hand wheel assembly, or both.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Michael Douglas Williams, Mark Scott Soldan, Donald Hoban, Matt Todd Buss
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Patent number: 11460079Abstract: Valve systems include a valve and a valve actuator assembly for operating the valve. The valve actuator assembly includes a drive device and a hand wheel assembly that can independently be used to cause movement of the valve. An anti-back drive component is coupled to the output of the drive device, the hand wheel assembly, or both. The anti-back drive component includes a locking device and an unlocking device, each with respective protrusions that cooperate to define cavities that house pairs of springs and rollers. The shape and orientation of the cavities allows for rotation of the rollers in the cavities and the anti-back drive component by rotating the unlocking device, while preventing rotation of the rollers and the anti-back drive component via rotation of the locking device to selectively prevent rotation of the output of the drive device, hand wheel assembly, or both.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Michael Douglas Williams, Mark Scott Soldan, Donald Hoban, Matt Todd Buss
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Patent number: 10704971Abstract: Disclosed is a valve actuator configured to determine, during operation of a valve by an alternating current (AC) motor of the valve actuator, an amount of torque produced by the AC motor. A process for measuring the amount of torque produced by the AC motor includes actuating a valve using the AC motor of the valve actuator, measuring, by a microcontroller of the valve actuator and during the actuating of the valve, a time interval between: (i) a first zero crossing of a waveform of AC voltage applied to the AC motor, and (ii) a second zero crossing of a waveform of AC current drawn by the AC motor, and determining, based on the time interval, an amount of torque produced by the AC motor during the actuating.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Roy Gilbert, Richard Lynn Cordray
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Patent number: 10649039Abstract: A system and method to detect the loss or disruption of one or more phases of a three phase alternating current (AC) power source used in the operation of a valve actuator. The loss of one or more phases of a three phase AC power source may cause a peak in AC power output. While a peak in AC power output may not affect an operation of electronic circuitry, all three phases are often required to safely operate other hardware components, such as an AC motor that is associated with the valve actuator. Therefore, in response to detecting the loss or disruption of at least one phase of a three phase AC power source, this disclosure presents a system and method to inhibit damaging operations such as operating an AC motor associated with a valve actuator, and continuing to operate communications and diagnostic circuitry to report the condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Tri-Tec Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Richard Lynn Cordray, Michael M. Van Schoiack, Roy Gilbert
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Patent number: 9995795Abstract: A system and method to detect the loss or disruption of one or more phases of a three phase alternating current (AC) power source used in the operation of a valve actuator. The loss of one or more phases of a three phase AC power source may cause a peak in AC power output. While a peak in AC power output may not affect an operation of electronic circuitry, all three phases are often required to safely operate other hardware components, such as an AC motor that is associated with the valve actuator. Therefore, in response to detecting the loss or disruption of at least one phase of a three phase AC power source, this disclosure presents a system and method to inhibit damaging operations such as operating an AC motor associated with a valve actuator, and continuing to operate communications and diagnostic circuitry to report the condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Tri-Tec Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Richard Lynn Cordray, Michael M. Van Schoiack, Roy Gilbert
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Patent number: 9739840Abstract: A system and method to detect the loss or disruption of one or more phases of a three phase alternating current (AC) power source used in the operation of a valve actuator. The loss of one or more phases of a three phase AC power source may cause a peak in AC power output. While a peak in AC power output may not affect an operation of electronic circuitry, all three phases are often required to safely operate other hardware components, such as an AC motor that is associated with the valve actuator. Therefore, in response to detecting the loss or disruption of at least one phase of a three phase AC power source, this disclosure presents a system and method to inhibit damaging operations such as operating an AC motor associated with a valve actuator, and continuing to operate communications and diagnostic circuitry to report the condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Tri-Tec Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Richard Lynn Cordray, Michael M. Van Schoiack, Roy Gilbert
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Publication number: 20160238668Abstract: A system and method to detect the loss or disruption of one or more phases of a three phase alternating current (AC) power source used in the operation of a valve actuator. The loss of one or more phases of a three phase AC power source may cause a peak in AC power output. While a peak in AC power output may not affect an operation of electronic circuitry, all three phases are often required to safely operate other hardware components, such as an AC motor that is associated with the valve actuator. Therefore, in response to detecting the loss or disruption of at least one phase of a three phase AC power source, this disclosure presents a system and method to inhibit damaging operations such as operating an AC motor associated with a valve actuator, and continuing to operate communications and diagnostic circuitry to report the condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Richard Lynn Cordray, Mike Van Schoiack, Roy Gilbert
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Publication number: 20160238469Abstract: Disclosed is a valve actuator configured to determine, during operation of a valve by an alternating current (AC) motor of the valve actuator, an amount of torque produced by the AC motor. A process for measuring the amount of torque produced by the AC motor includes actuating a valve using the AC motor of the valve actuator, measuring, by a microcontroller of the valve actuator and during the actuating of the valve, a time interval between: (i) a first zero crossing of a waveform of AC voltage applied to the AC motor, and (ii) a second zero crossing of a waveform of AC current drawn by the AC motor, and determining, based on the time interval, an amount of torque produced by the AC motor during the actuating.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Roy Gilbert, Richard Lynn Cordray
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Patent number: 8342478Abstract: Valve systems include a valve and a valve actuator assembly for operating the valve. The valve actuator assembly includes a controller that uses stored information and signals from a sensor to open and close the valve. The controller can manipulate, analyze, evaluate, store, and communicate information related to the history of the valve, performance of the valve, valve settings, and the like. The controller can send information to a replacement controller or a replacement valve actuator assembly. Various types of wired and wireless connections can establish communication between the controller and the replacement controller or replacement valve actuator assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Tri-Tec Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Richard L. Cordray, Leslie A. Kremer, Jack Buss
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Patent number: D897497Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Michael Douglas Williams, Matt Todd Buss