Patents by Inventor Charles R. Kuhlman
Charles R. Kuhlman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11187328Abstract: A control valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve closure member displaceable a closed position and an open position. An attenuation element is provided and includes a plurality of hollow tubes including a first tube, a second tube and a third tube. Each tube includes a flow axis from an open first end to an open second end, and an inner surface defining a flow area and having a cross-sectional shape normal to the flow axis. A second end of the tubes is between the valve closure member and first ends of the tubes along their respective flow axes when the valve closure member is closed. The first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are integrally formed as a single, unitary structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David S. Scheffert
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Patent number: 10724643Abstract: A control valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve closure member displaceable a closed position and an open position. An anti-cavitation element is provided and includes a plurality of hollow tubes including a first tube, a second tube and a third tube. Each tube includes a flow axis from an open first end to an open second end, and an inner surface defining a flow area and having a cross-sectional shape normal to the flow axis. A second end of the tubes is between the valve closure member and first ends of the tubes along their respective flow axes when the valve closure member is closed. The first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are integrally formed as a single, unitary structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David Scheffert
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Publication number: 20200224775Abstract: A control valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve closure member displaceable a closed position and an open position. An attenuation element is provided and includes a plurality of hollow tubes including a first tube, a second tube and a third tube. Each tube includes a flow axis from an open first end to an open second end, and an inner surface defining a flow area and having a cross-sectional shape normal to the flow axis. A second end of the tubes is between the valve closure member and first ends of the tubes along their respective flow axes when the valve closure member is closed. The first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are integrally formed as a single, unitary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David S. Scheffert
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Publication number: 20180106383Abstract: A control valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve closure member displaceable a closed position and an open position. An anti-cavitation element is provided and includes a plurality of hollow tubes including a first tube, a second tube and a third tube. Each tube includes a flow axis from an open first end to an open second end, and an inner surface defining a flow area and having a cross-sectional shape normal to the flow axis. A second end of the tubes is between the valve closure member and first ends of the tubes along their respective flow axes when the valve closure member is closed. The first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are integrally formed as a single, unitary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David Scheffert
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Patent number: 5868378Abstract: A three-piece fluid control valve configuration including a valve body, a ball control member and two tailpieces that connect the valve to a pipeline and also house the ball fluid seals. Respective bearing plates with trunnion bearings are guide pin mounted between the respective tailpieces and in supporting engagement with respective trunnions on the ball control member for rotatably supporting the ball. A shaft bearing supports a valve shaft having a splined drive end engaging splines in one of the ball trunnions. Bidirectional fluid flow is enabled with ball sealing members on each ball side, with the sealing member on each side replaceable by removing the tailpiece on that side.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1997Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.Inventors: Timothy A. McMahon, Charles R. Kuhlman, Larry J. Weber
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Patent number: 5482249Abstract: A dynamic seal is provided between a rotatable ball control member and a noise attenuator in a fluid control valve. In one embodiment a noise attenuator is rigidly clamped in the valve body and a floating, spring biased seal is provided in the attenuator and facing the ball. A bi-directional fluid control valve is provided with two rigidly mounted noise attenuators each having a floating, spring biased ball seal. In a second embodiment a noise attenuator is floating, spring biased towards the ball and includes an annular seal retained in the attenuator. Pressure balancing the fluid flow pressure and the spring bias enables substantially zero seal engagement with the ball during ball rotation, while enabling a reliable seal of the ball in the shut-off valve position.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.Inventors: Paul J. Schafbuch, Charles R. Kuhlman
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Patent number: 5400825Abstract: A rotary valve noise attenuator with a rotary ball control element and a noise attenuator member mounted in the ball having multiple, elongated, substantially enclosed channels formed across the valve opening to split the flow stream into several smaller flow streams. The channel walls are perforated so each smaller flow stream is further dispersed and diffused into many minute flow streams after entering the channel. A noise attenuator constructed of several corrugated sections fixed crest to crest to form several diamond shaped channels across the valve opening each having four side walls with holes.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1994Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Gethmann, Allen C. Fagerlund, Charles R. Kuhlman, Ronnie L. Smith, Alan D. Thomas, Larry J. Weber
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Patent number: 5332004Abstract: A rotary valve noise attenuator with a rotary ball control element and a noise attenuator member mounted in the ball having multiple, elongated, substantially enclosed channels formed across the valve opening to split the flow stream into several smaller flow streams. The channel walls are perforated so each smaller flow stream is further dispersed and diffused into many minute flow streams after entering the channel. A noise attenuator constructed of several corrugated sections fixed crest to crest to form several diamond shaped channels across the valve opening each having four side walls with holes.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1993Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Gethmann, Allen C. Fagerlund, Charles R. Kuhlman, Ronnie L. Smith, Alan D. Thomas, Larry J. Weber
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Patent number: 5193583Abstract: A rotary valve noise attenuator with a rotary ball control element and a noise attenuator member mounted in the ball having multiple, elongated, substantially enclosed channels formed across the valve opening to split the flow stream into several smaller flow streams. The channel walls are perforated so each smaller flow stream is further dispersed and diffused into many minute flow streams after entering the channel. A noise attenuator constructed of several corrugated sections fixed crest to crest to form several diamond shaped channels across the valve opening each having four side walls with holes.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1991Date of Patent: March 16, 1993Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Gethmann, Allen C. Fagerlund, Charles R. Kuhlman, Ronnie L. Smith, Alan D. Thomas, Larry J. Weber