Patents by Inventor James L. Griffin, Jr.

James L. Griffin, Jr. 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: 11209101
    Abstract: A cage for a fluid valve. The cage includes a first cage ring, a second cage ring, and a lattice structure disposed between the first cage ring and the second cage ring. The lattice structure defines a plurality of interconnected flow paths between an internal surface of the lattice structure and an external surface of the lattice structure. The lattice structure has a non-uniform density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., James M. West, Nathan A. Quinn
  • Patent number: 11035487
    Abstract: A body of a fluid control apparatus includes an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A first flange surrounds the inlet and a second flange surrounds the outlet. A bore is sized to receive a control stem and a control element. An inner wall includes an outside surface, an inside surface, an area surrounding the bore, an area sized to receive a valve seat, an area surrounding the inlet, an area surrounding the outlet, and an area defining the fluid flow path. A three-dimensional lattice structure is attached to the inner wall. The lattice structure includes a plurality of connected lattice members and is integrally formed with the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., William E. Wears, Bryan J. Penkal
  • Patent number: 10920896
    Abstract: A valve seat assembly for use in a fluid control valve. The valve seat assembly includes a pad holder and a support ring. The pad holder includes a support body configured to support a seat pad and a plurality of alignment struts projecting radially outwardly from the support body. The support ring extends around the radially outer perimeter of the alignment struts. The pad holder slides into and out of an operative position in the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., Daniel G. Roper, Douglas J. Scheffler, Harold J. Mckinney, Matthew W. Hanusa
  • Publication number: 20190338865
    Abstract: A cage for a fluid valve. The cage includes a first cage ring, a second cage ring, and a lattice structure disposed between the first cage ring and the second cage ring. The lattice structure defines a plurality of interconnected flow paths between an internal surface of the lattice structure and an external surface of the lattice structure. The lattice structure has a non-uniform density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, JR., James M. West, Nathan A. Quinn
  • Publication number: 20190226597
    Abstract: A body of a fluid control apparatus includes an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A first flange surrounds the inlet and a second flange surrounds the outlet. A bore is sized to receive a control stem and a control element. An inner wall includes an outside surface, an inside surface, an area surrounding the bore, an area sized to receive a valve seat, an area surrounding the inlet, an area surrounding the outlet, and an area defining the fluid flow path. A three-dimensional lattice structure is attached to the inner wall. The lattice structure includes a plurality of connected lattice members and is integrally formed with the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, JR., William E. Wears, Bryan J. Penkal
  • Patent number: 10359128
    Abstract: A fluid valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A fluid passageway connects the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A trim assembly is located within the fluid passageway and the trim assembly cooperates with a control member to control fluid flow through the fluid passageway. The trim assembly includes a cage having a lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., James M. West, Nathan A. Quinn
  • Patent number: 10281053
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body of a fluid control apparatus using additive manufacturing, the method including forming an inner wall having an outside surface and an inside surface, an area surrounding an inlet, an area surrounding an outlet, and an area surrounding a fluid flow path, wherein the inner wall provides a fluid boundary and connects the inlet and the outlet. The method further including forming a portion of the inner wall that receives a valve seat, forming a portion of the inner wall that receives a control stem and a control element, and forming a lattice structure by depositing a solidifiable material onto the inner wall in a predetermined pattern, wherein the lattice structure is three-dimensional and includes a plurality of connected lattice members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., William E. Wears, Bryan J. Penkal
  • Publication number: 20180347718
    Abstract: A valve seat assembly for use in a fluid control valve. The valve seat assembly includes a pad holder and a support ring. The pad holder includes a support body configured to support a seat pad and a plurality of alignment struts projecting radially outwardly from the support body. The support ring extends around the radially outer perimeter of the alignment struts. The pad holder slides into and out of an operative position in the support ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, JR., Daniel G. Roper, Douglas J. Scheffler, Harold J. Mckinney, Matthew W. Hanusa
  • Patent number: 10041602
    Abstract: An axial flow regulator includes a lateral access port through a portion of the valve body that provides access to a valve seat assembly and/or other portions of the valve trim without having to remove or uncouple the outlet flange or the inlet flange from the adjacent pipe sections. The lateral access port may extend through an outlet flange portion of the valve body and is configured to allow a valve seat assembly to be laterally inserted into and removed from the outlet flange. A valve seat assembly which may be configured for installation in the axial flow regulator includes a pad holder and a support ring for the pad holder that is separable from the pad holder. The pad holder may have alignment struts projecting radially outwardly from a pad support body. The support ring may include strut receivers that slidably receive the alignment struts of the pad holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., Daniel G. Roper, Douglas J. Scheffler, Harold J. McKinney, Matthew W. Hanusa
  • Publication number: 20180112800
    Abstract: A fluid valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A fluid passageway connects the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A trim assembly is located within the fluid passageway and the trim assembly cooperates with a control member to control fluid flow through the fluid passageway. The trim assembly includes a cage having a lattice structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, JR., James M. West, Nathan A. Quinn
  • Publication number: 20180100599
    Abstract: An axial flow regulator includes a lateral access port through a portion of the valve body that provides access to a valve seat assembly and/or other portions of the valve trim without having to remove or uncouple the outlet flange or the inlet flange from the adjacent pipe sections. The lateral access port may extend through an outlet flange portion of the valve body and is configured to allow a valve seat assembly to be laterally inserted into and removed from the outlet flange. A valve seat assembly which may be configured for installation in the axial flow regulator includes a pad holder and a support ring for the pad holder that is separable from the pad holder. The pad holder may have alignment struts projecting radially outwardly from a pad support body. The support ring may include strut receivers that slidably receive the alignment struts of the pad holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, JR., Daniel G. Roper, Douglas J. Scheffler, Harold J. McKinney, Matthew W. Hanusa
  • Publication number: 20170102089
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body of a fluid control apparatus using additive manufacturing, the method including forming an inner wall having an outside surface and an inside surface, an area surrounding an inlet, an area surrounding an outlet, and an area surrounding a fluid flow path, wherein the inner wall provides a fluid boundary and connects the inlet and the outlet. The method further including forming a portion of the inner wall that receives a valve seat, forming a portion of the inner wall that receives a control stem and a control element, and forming a lattice structure by depositing a solidifiable material onto the inner wall in a predetermined pattern, wherein the lattice structure is three-dimensional and includes a plurality of connected lattice members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, JR., William E. Wears, Bryan J. Penkal
  • Patent number: 9091366
    Abstract: A control device includes a valve body, a seat ring, and an actuator. The valve body defines a flow-path for a fluid. The seat ring is disposed within the flow-path. The actuator is coupled to the valve body and includes a control member. The control member is adapted for displacement relative to the seat ring for regulating a flow of the fluid through the flow-path. The control member includes a sealing disk adapted to sealingly engage the seat ring and close the flow-path. The seat ring includes a plurality of orifices disposed within the flow-path such that the seat ring prevents at least a portion of the flow of the fluid from substantially perpendicularly impacting the sealing disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Weyer, Jr., Daniel G. Roper, James L. Griffin, Jr., Harold J. McKinney, Douglas J. Scheffler
  • Patent number: 8910661
    Abstract: A cage for a control valve trim assembly includes a cage body having an opening at one end and a wall extending from the opening, a plurality of cage openings disposed in the wall, and a pressure relief mechanism disposed in the cage wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., Matthew W. Hanusa, Thomas L. Weyer, Jr., Daniel G. Roper, Harold J. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20110108146
    Abstract: A control device includes a valve body, a seat ring, and an actuator. The valve body defines a flow-path for a fluid. The seat ring is disposed within the flow-path. The actuator is coupled to the valve body and includes a control member. The control member is adapted for displacement relative to the seat ring for regulating a flow of the fluid through the flow-path. The control member includes a sealing disk adapted to sealingly engage the seat ring and close the flow-path. The seat ring includes a plurality of orifices disposed within the flow-path such that the seat ring prevents at least a portion of the flow of the fluid from substantially perpendicularly impacting the sealing disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas L. Weyer, JR., Daniel G. Roper, James L. Griffin, JR., Harold J. McKinney, Douglas J. Scheffler
  • Patent number: 7896028
    Abstract: A control device includes a valve body, a seat ring, and an actuator. The valve body defines a flow-path for a fluid. The seat ring is disposed within the flow-path. The actuator is coupled to the valve body and includes a control member. The control member is adapted for displacement relative to the seat ring for regulating a flow of the fluid through the flow-path. The control member includes a scaling disk adapted to sealingly engage the seat ring and close the flow-path. The seat ring includes an orifice disposed within the flow-path such that the seat ring prevents at least a portion of the flow of the fluid from substantially perpendicularly impacting the sealing disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Weyer, Jr., Daniel G. Roper, James L. Griffin, Jr., Harold J. McKinney, Douglas J. Scheffler
  • Patent number: 6102071
    Abstract: A fluid control valve having a valve body, a cage, and a flexible elastomeric diaphragm with a formed convolution to fully open the cage opening. An elastomeric diaphragm regulator with a flow diverter in the fluid flow path to reduce fluid flow separation and thereby reduce the required flow recovery area before pressure throttling. A raised knife edge seat located on the cage top in a position of stagnant fluid flow to reduce the build-up of contaminants on the seat. An elastomeric diaphragm regulator with a valve actuator coupled to a guided valve stem attached to the regulator diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert H. Walton, Douglas C. Pfantz, Gary L. Scott, William J. Bonzer, James L. Griffin, Jr., Bernard Cornu, Donald K. Day, Paul R. Adams