Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. An actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and includes a valve disc that displaces along a longitudinal axis to open and close the fluid regulating device. The valve disc includes a sealing surface disposed adjacent to an outer radial end of the valve disc, and the sealing surface is adapted to sealingly engage the valve port in the closed position. The valve disc also includes an intermediate surface disposed inward of the sealing surface, and a groove is formed in the intermediate surface. The groove extends along a groove axis extending along the intermediate surface normal to the longitudinal axis, and the groove axis is at least partially curved when viewed along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Example pressure regulators with filter condition detectors are described herein. In one example described here, a regulator includes a body having an inlet and an outlet and a flow control member interposed between the inlet and the outlet to regulate a fluid pressure at the outlet. The example regulator also includes a filter disposed between the inlet and the flow control member and a detector having a first measurement point upstream from the filter and a second measurement point downstream from the filter and upstream from the flow control member.

Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having a valve body defining an inlet and an outlet and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A housing assembly is disposed adjacent the valve port, and the housing assembly includes a first aperture adapted to receive a valve disc. A balancing diaphragm is secured to a portion of the valve disc and a portion of the housing assembly, and a portion of a balancing cavity is defined by a top surface of the balancing diaphragm and an interior surface of the housing assembly. A sensing passage extends from the inlet of the regulator valve to the balancing cavity such that the inlet of the regulator valve is in fluid communication with the balancing cavity.

Abstract: A regulator comprises a regulator valve and an actuator. The actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and comprises a control element for controlling the flow of fluid through the regulator valve. The regulator valve is equipped with a self-aligning valve port that includes a retaining portion, a biased portion disposed within the retaining portion, and a biasing member disposed between the retaining portion and the biased portion. The self-aligning valve port advantageously automatically adjusts to achieve sealed engagement with the control element of the actuator, thereby improving regulator performance.

Abstract: A balanced pressure regulator includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected by a fluid passageway. A valve seat is disposed within the fluid passageway. A valve plug is at least partially disposed within the fluid passageway, the valve plug interacting with the valve seat to selectively open or close the fluid passageway. A retainer operatively connects the valve plug to a valve stem. A diaphragm separates a chamber from the fluid passageway and a balancing passage fluidly connects the fluid passageway with the chamber. A balancing tube extends outward, away from the retainer, fluidly connecting the fluid passageway with the balancing passage.

Abstract: A trapezoidal thread form includes a thread having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, the thread including an apex surface, two side surfaces, and a valley; and a thread wear indicator formed in one of the apex surface and one of the side surfaces. The thread wear indicator may include a v-shaped channel formed in one of the apex surface and one of the side surfaces or the thread wear indicator may include a series of material layers, each layer having a physical characteristic that is different from an adjacent material layer. The thread wear indicator indicates excessive or unsafe thread wear when the v-shaped channel is indistinguishable from the apex surface or the side surface, or when a first layer wears sufficiently to show a second layer.