Abstract: A valve positioner for use on a process control valve or “valve assembly.” The process control valve may include a pneumatic actuator and a valve having a closure member coupled with the pneumatic actuator and moveable relative to a seat. The valve positioner may couple to the pneumatic actuator to provide a pneumatic signal to set a position of the closure member relative to the seat. An accelerometer may couple with the valve positioner. The accelerometer may generate data in response to orientation of the valve positioner. In one implementation, the configurations can use this data to ensure proper visualization of data on a display. The data also permits the device to properly manage operating modes, like tight shut-off or fully-opened mode, that may prevail due to orientation issues that cause defects in a measured position for a closure member that regulates flow of material through the valve assembly.

Abstract: A combined thread forming and thread locking fastener is disclosed. A fastener includes three thread zones. A first thread zone utilizes a first thread forming thread profile with an increasing outer diameter. A second thread zone extends from the end of the first zone utilizing the first thread forming thread profile and continues with a constant diameter. The third thread zone utilizes a thread locking thread profile continuing along substantially the remainder of the shaft of a fastener.

Abstract: A combined thread forming and thread locking fastener is disclosed. A fastener includes three thread zones. A first thread zone utilizes a first thread forming thread profile with an increasing outer diameter. A second thread zone extends from the end of the first zone utilizing the first thread forming thread profile and continues with a constant diameter. The third thread zone utilizes a thread locking thread profile continuing along substantially the remainder of the shaft of a fastener.

Abstract: A combined thread forming and thread locking fastener is disclosed. A fastener includes three thread zones. A first thread zone utilizes a first thread forming thread profile with an increasing outer diameter. A second thread zone extends from the end of the first zone utilizing the first thread forming thread profile and continues with a constant diameter. The third thread zone utilizes a thread locking thread profile continuing along substantially the remainder of the shaft of a fastener.

Abstract: A valve positioner for use on a process control valve or “valve assembly.” The process control valve may include a pneumatic actuator and a valve having a closure member coupled with the pneumatic actuator and moveable relative to a seat. The valve positioner may couple to the pneumatic actuator to provide a pneumatic signal to set a position of the closure member relative to the seat. An accelerometer may couple with the valve positioner. The accelerometer may generate data in response to orientation of the valve positioner. In one implementation, the configurations can use this data to ensure proper visualization of data on a display. The data also permits the device to properly manage operating modes, like tight shut-off or fully-opened mode, that may prevail due to orientation issues that cause defects in a measured position for a closure member that regulates flow of material through the valve assembly.

Abstract: A valve positioner for use on a process control valve or “valve assembly.” The process control valve may include a pneumatic actuator and a valve having a closure member coupled with the pneumatic actuator and moveable relative to a seat. The valve positioner may couple to the pneumatic actuator to provide a pneumatic signal to set a position of the closure member relative to the seat. An accelerometer may couple with the valve positioner. The accelerometer may generate data in response to orientation of the valve positioner. In one implementation, the configurations can use this data to ensure proper visualization of data on a display. The data also permits the device to properly manage operating modes, like tight shut-off or fully-opened mode, that may prevail due to orientation issues that cause defects in a measured position for a closure member that regulates flow of material through the valve assembly.

Abstract: Golf balls and golf ball components made using three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing systems are provided. The golf ball includes at least one three-dimensional piece. Preferably, a continuous liquid interface printing method is used to make the three-dimensional structure. Ultraviolet (UV)-light polymerizable materials are used in the method. The method may be used to make single-piece or multi-piece balls. For example, the ball may include an inner core produced by the liquid interface printing method. An outer core layer may be disposed about the inner core, and a cover comprising inner and outer cover layers may encapsulate the core assembly to form the finished golf ball. The outer core and cover layers may be made using conventional molding technologies or the methods of this invention.

Abstract: A valve positioner for use on a process control valve or “valve assembly.” The process control valve may include a pneumatic actuator and a valve having a closure member coupled with the pneumatic actuator and moveable relative to a seat. The valve positioner may couple to the pneumatic actuator to provide a pneumatic signal to set a position of the closure member relative to the seat. An accelerometer may couple with the valve positioner. The accelerometer may generate data in response to orientation of the valve positioner. In one implementation, the configurations can use this data to ensure proper visualization of data on a display. The data also permits the device to properly manage operating modes, like tight shut-off or fully-opened mode, that may prevail due to orientation issues that cause defects in a measured position for a closure member that regulates flow of material through the valve assembly.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises at least one intermediate core layer formed from a metallic, composite, or inorganic/organic hybrid composition.

Abstract: A valve assembly that is configured to wirelessly transmit data using near-field communication protocols. The embodiments may include a passive, NFC-enabled device disposed inside of a controller (or “valve positioner”). This NFC-enabled device can operate as a communication “port” to allow data exchange with a handheld computing device, like a smartphone or tablet. This feature can afford end users (e.g., technicians) ready access to data on the valve assembly via the handheld computing device.

Abstract: Golf ball having at least three layers comprising ionomeric and/or HNP compositions, wherein for each two adjacent layers, a relationship is established between a ratio of the volumes of the two adjacent layers and a ratio of the percent neutralizations of those two layers such that the volumes and % neutralizations of all layers are interrelated and interdependent to produce unique and desirable playing characteristics. In one embodiment, a golf ball of the invention has T layers, wherein T?3 and each of T layers has a different volume “V” and comprises an ionomeric and/or HNP composition having a different % neutralization “N”. Furthermore, each of n inner layers of the T layers (n<T) has an adjacent surrounding layer n+1 such that a volume Vn and a % neutralization Nn of each inner layer and a volume V(n+1) and % neutralization N(n+1) of each adjacent surrounding layer n+1 satisfy the relationship (Vn?V(n+1))/Vn?(Nn?N(n+1))/N(n+1).

Abstract: Golf balls and golf ball components made using three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing systems are provided. The golf ball includes at least one three-dimensional piece. Preferably, a continuous liquid interface printing method is used to make the three-dimensional structure. Ultraviolet (UV)-light polymerizable materials are used in the method. The method may be used to make single-piece or multi-piece balls. For example, the ball may include an inner core produced by the liquid interface printing method. An outer core layer may be disposed about the inner core, and a cover comprising inner and outer cover layers may encapsulate the core assembly to form the finished golf ball. The outer core and cover layers may be made using conventional molding technologies or the methods of this invention.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises at least one intermediate core layer formed from a metallic, composite, or inorganic/organic hybrid composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to multi-layer golf balls including a layer formed from a composition comprising a relatively soft or low modulus HNP, a layer formed from a composition comprising a relatively hard or high modulus HNP, an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition, and an outer cover layer.

Abstract: Multi-layer golf balls having a hard, high compression center, a relatively soft intermediate layer, and a stiff outer cover layer, are provided. The outer surface hardness of the intermediate layer is less than that of both the center and the outer cover layer.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises at least one intermediate core layer formed from a metallic, composite, or inorganic/organic hybrid composition.

Abstract: Methods for making golf balls and golf ball components using three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing systems are provided. The golf ball includes at least one three-dimensional piece. Preferably, a continuous liquid interface printing method is used to make the three-dimensional structure. Ultraviolet (UV)-light polymerizable materials are used in the method. The method may be used to make single-piece or multi-piece balls. For example, the ball may include an inner core produced by the liquid interface printing method. An outer core layer may be disposed about the inner core, and a cover comprising inner and outer cover layers may encapsulate the core assembly to form the finished golf ball. The outer core and cover layers may be made using conventional molding technologies or methods of this invention.

Abstract: Golf ball having at least three layers comprising an ionomeric and/or HNP composition, wherein for each two adjacent layers, a relationship is established between a ratio of the volumes of the two adjacent layers and a ratio of the percent neutralizations of those two layers such that the volumes and % neutralizations of all layers are interrelated and interdependent to produce unique and desirable playing characteristics. In one embodiment, each of T layers, wherein T?3, has a different volume “V” and comprises an ionomeric/HNP composition having a different % neutralization “N”; and wherein each of n inner layers of the T layers (n<T) has an adjacent surrounding layer n+1 such that a volume Vn and a % neutralization Nn of each inner layer and a volume V(n+1) and % neutralization N(n+1) of each adjacent surrounding layer n+1 satisfy the relationship (V(n+1)?Vn)/V(n+1)?(N(n+1)?Nn)/Nn.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to multi-layer golf balls including a layer formed from a composition comprising a relatively soft or low modulus HNP, a layer formed from a composition comprising a relatively hard or high modulus HNP, an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition, and an outer cover layer.

Abstract: Golf balls having an initial velocity greater than 255 ft/sec and/or an overall distance of greater than 320 yards are disclosed. The golf balls comprise one or more core layers, one or more cover layers, and optionally one or more intermediate layers disposed between the core and the cover. At least one layer is optionally formed from a composition comprising from 2 wt % to 50 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition.