Patents by Inventor James Chester Hawkins
James Chester Hawkins 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: 9297465Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve, an actuator and a pilot regulator valve assembly. The pilot regulator valve assembly provides a pressure load to a surface of a diaphragm of the actuator in response to changes in downstream pressure being applied to the opposite surface of the diaphragm. An upper cavity of the pilot regulator valve assembly is in fluid communication with a control cavity of the actuator, allowing both the actuator diaphragm and the pilot regulator valve assembly diaphragm to simultaneously sense pressure variations within the cavities. As the downstream pressure varies, the diaphragms of both the actuator and the pilot regulator valve assembly displace to regulate the downstream pressure and the pilot regulator valve assembly maintains a load pressure. The regulator further includes a balanced regulator valve applying a balancing force to offset a force of upstream pressure on a balanced valve plug.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jason Scott Mevius, James Chester Hawkins, Paul Richard Anderson
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Patent number: 9229458Abstract: 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 between a closed position and an open position. The device also includes an overpressure protection device adapted to stop flow from the inlet to the outlet when pressure in a control cavity reaches a predetermined level. The overpressure protection device includes a sensing tube having a first end in fluid communication with the control cavity and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet. The sensing tube has a first portion extending parallel to the flow axis. One or more apertures are disposed in the sensing tube adjacent to the second end, and each of the apertures has a centerline that is perpendicular to the flow axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Blair Davis, Justin Lane Masias
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Patent number: 8840349Abstract: An adjusting screw configured to be adjustable by multiple different tools is described. An example adjusting screw includes a cylindrical body portion having a first end, a second end, and an outer curved surface. The example adjusting screw also includes a first raised portion on the first end and offset from a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and a second raised portion on the first end and offset from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and opposing the first raised portion. Each of the first and second raised portions is configured to engage a first socket to turn the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis. Additionally, the first and second raised portions are configured to engage a second socket larger than the first socket to turn the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Fisher Controls International, LLCInventors: Jason Scott Mevius, Gregory Lawrence Foust, James Chester Hawkins
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Publication number: 20140090724Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve, an actuator and a pilot regulator valve assembly. The pilot regulator valve assembly provides a pressure load to a surface of a diaphragm of the actuator in response to changes in downstream pressure being applied to the opposite surface of the diaphragm. An upper cavity of the pilot regulator valve assembly is in fluid communication with a control cavity of the actuator, allowing both the actuator diaphragm and the pilot regulator valve assembly diaphragm to simultaneously sense pressure variations within the cavities. As the downstream pressure varies, the diaphragms of both the actuator and the pilot regulator valve assembly displace to regulate the downstream pressure and the pilot regulator valve assembly maintains a load pressure. The regulator further includes a balanced regulator valve applying a balancing force to offset a force of upstream pressure on a balanced valve plug.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jason Scott Mevius, James Chester Hawkins, Paul Richard Anderson
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Publication number: 20140090726Abstract: 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 between a closed position and an open position. The device also includes an overpressure protection device adapted to stop flow from the inlet to the outlet when pressure in a control cavity reaches a predetermined level. The overpressure protection device includes a sensing tube having a first end in fluid communication with the control cavity and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet. The sensing tube has a first portion extending parallel to the flow axis. One or more apertures are disposed in the sensing tube adjacent to the second end, and each of the apertures has a centerline that is perpendicular to the flow axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Blair Davis, Justin Lane Masias
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Patent number: 8485213Abstract: An example loading regulator having an internal relief valve apparatus includes a body having a loading diaphragm disposed between a first casing and a second casing. The first casing and a first side of the loading diaphragm define a first chamber and the second casing and a second side of the loading diaphragm define a second chamber. A relief valve assembly is coupled to the loading diaphragm. The relief valve assembly includes a relief valve seat having an aperture that forms a passageway to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber and a relief valve plug movably coupled to the relief valve seat. The relief valve seat is to move relative to the relief valve plug to a bleed position to allow the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber in response to an outlet pressure substantially greater than a pressure at which the loading regulator enters a lock-up condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Edward Woollums, Tung Kim Nguyen, Gregory Lawrence Foust
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Patent number: 8256446Abstract: Apparatus to configure fluid regulators are described. In one example, a stem guide for use with a fluid regulator is described. The stem guide includes a body having an opening to slidably receive a valve stem and an outer surface having a plurality of circumferential seals that removably couple the body within a bore of a regulator casing and align the body with the regulator casing or a valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, Paul Richard Anderson, Gregory Lawrence Foust, Seth Kranz, Jason Scott Mevius
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Publication number: 20100147400Abstract: An example loading regulator having an internal relief valve apparatus includes a body having a loading diaphragm disposed between a first casing and a second casing. The first casing and a first side of the loading diaphragm define a first chamber and the second casing and a second side of the loading diaphragm define a second chamber. A relief valve assembly is coupled to the loading diaphragm. The relief valve assembly includes a relief valve seat having an aperture that forms a passageway to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber and a relief valve plug movably coupled to the relief valve seat. The relief valve plug is to move away from the relief valve seat to a bleed position to allow the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber in response to an outlet pressure substantially greater than a pressure at which the loading regulator enters a lock-up condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Edward Wollums, Tung Kim Nguyen, Gregory Lawrence Foust
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Publication number: 20080256754Abstract: An adjusting screw configured to be adjustable by multiple different tools is described. An example adjusting screw includes a cylindrical body portion having a first end, a second end, and an outer curved surface. At least a portion of the outer curved surface has threads to engage an internally threaded opening. The example adjusting screw also includes a first raised portion on the first end and offset from a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and a second raised portion on the first end and offset from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and opposing the first raised portion. Each of the first and second raised portions is configured to engage a first socket to turn the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis. Additionally, the first and second raised portions are configured to engage a second socket larger than the first socket to turn the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Jason Scott Mevius, Gregory Lawrence Foust, James Chester Hawkins
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Publication number: 20080258098Abstract: Apparatus to configure fluid regulators are described. In one example, a stem guide for use with a fluid regulator is described. The stem guide includes a body having an opening to slidably receive a valve stem and an outer surface having a plurality of circumferential seals that removably couple the body within a bore of a regulator casing and align the body with the regulator casing or a valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, Paul Richard Anderson, Gregory Lawrence Foust, Seth Kranz, Jason Scott Mevius
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Patent number: 6968857Abstract: A pressure reducing fluid regulator having a housing with a flange including a plurality of ear-shaped protrusions is disclosed. Each of the protrusions includes at least one aperture configured to receive fastener such that the circumferential spacing between first and second fasteners is less than the circumferential spacing between the second fastener and a third fastener. The regulator includes a valve having a valve seat, a valve disc, a valve stem coupled to the valve disc and a valve guide that holds the valve stem. A lever having a first end coupled to the valve stem and a second end coupled to a diaphragm applies a force to the valve stem in a direction that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem to cause the valve stem to frictionally engage the valve guide. The valve stem includes a stop that limits travel of the valve stem and disc toward the valve seat.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Emerson Process ControlInventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Edwards Woollums, Neal Arthur Ackerman, Chun Lin, Harold Joe McKinney, Erik Matthew Quijano
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Publication number: 20040187930Abstract: A pressure reducing fluid regulator having a housing with a flange including a plurality of ear-shaped protrusions is disclosed. Each of the protrusions includes at least one aperture configured to receive fastener such that the circumferential spacing between first and second fasteners is less than the circumferential spacing between the second fastener and a third fastener. The regulator includes a valve having a valve seat, a valve disc, a valve stem coupled to the valve disc and a valve guide that holds the valve stem. A lever having a first end coupled to the valve stem and a second end coupled to a diaphragm applies a force to the valve stem in a direction that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem to cause the valve stem to frictionally engage the valve guide. The valve stem includes a stop that limits travel of the valve stem and disc toward the valve seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Edwards Woollums, Neal Arthur Ackerman, Chun Lin, Harold Joe McKinney, Erik Matthew Quijano
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Patent number: 5709369Abstract: A self-aligning valve disc assembly for a fluid regulator valve. A disc holder includes a central, raised protrusion enabled in one embodiment by a cone-shaped floor surface for providing a single point of contact with a disc. The single contact point provides a pivoting action with a point of force inside the diameter of the opposing force of the valve seat. This enables the pivoting action of the disc to self-align the disc to the seating surface so as to reduce the forces required for the regulator to function properly.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, Daniel Gunder Roper, David Edward Woollums, David Blair Davis, Shane Nicholson, Justin Wade Hart