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).

  • Patent number: 11187328
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David S. Scheffert
  • Patent number: 10724643
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David Scheffert
  • Publication number: 20200224775
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David S. Scheffert
  • Publication number: 20180106383
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David Scheffert
  • Patent number: 5868378
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. McMahon, Charles R. Kuhlman, Larry J. Weber
  • Patent number: 5482249
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Schafbuch, Charles R. Kuhlman
  • Patent number: 5400825
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas P. Gethmann, Allen C. Fagerlund, Charles R. Kuhlman, Ronnie L. Smith, Alan D. Thomas, Larry J. Weber
  • Patent number: 5332004
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas P. Gethmann, Allen C. Fagerlund, Charles R. Kuhlman, Ronnie L. Smith, Alan D. Thomas, Larry J. Weber
  • Patent number: 5193583
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas P. Gethmann, Allen C. Fagerlund, Charles R. Kuhlman, Ronnie L. Smith, Alan D. Thomas, Larry J. Weber