Patents by Inventor James L. Griffin

James L. Griffin 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20080029171
    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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas L. Weyer, Daniel G. Roper, James L. Griffin, 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
  • Patent number: 5437738
    Abstract: The thermal resistance of a zinc chloride/ammonium chloride galvanizing preflux is improved by incorporating therein boric acid, other alkali metal chlorides and an aliphatic amino derivative. An improved zinc chloride/ammonium chloride galvanizing, top-flux includes a deoxidizer such as graphite or charcoal, other alkali metal chlorides and a foaming agent. Both compositions, the preflux and the top-flux, can be used to advantage in galvanizing steel with low lead or no lead zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventors: Yum Gerenrot, David Leychkis, Thomas L. Ranck, James L. Griffin, Gary Stefanick
  • Patent number: 4980547
    Abstract: An improved radiant energy distribution and detection apparatus for use with a device for detecting radiant energy reflected from a target zone includes an emission device for generation and emission of radiant energy, a device for redirecting radiant energy along a predetermined path and a detector device for sensing the presence of radiant energy reflected from the target zone. The emission device is stationary and emits a beam of radiant energy toward the redirecting device, which redirects the radiant energy along a primary beam path. The redirecting device also is configured for permitting a return beam of light from the target area to impinge upon the detector device, which is located therebehind with repect to the direction of travel of the return beam. A masking arrangement is employed for substantially limiting light reaching the detector to light from the return beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Wells-Gardner Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: James L. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4820050
    Abstract: An optical position determining apparatus for detecting radiant energy reflected from a target zone includes an emission device for generation and emission of radiant energy, a device for redirecting radiant energy across the target zone, a reflecting device for reflecting the radiant energy back from the target zone, and a detector device for sensing the presence of radiant energy reflected from the target zone. The emission device is stationary and emits a beam of radiant energy toward the redirecting device, which redirects the radiant energy along a primary beam path. The redirecting device also is configured for permitting a return beam of light from the target zone to impinge upon the detector device, which is located therebehind with respect to the direction of travel of the return beam. The detector device includes a CCD (charge coupled device) linear sensor formed of a plurality of sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4820030
    Abstract: A lens arrangement for redirecting beams of light which diverge in a generally conical pattern from a fixed light source comprises a lens member configured and located relative to the light source for passing the diverging beams of light from the fixed light source therethrough substantially without changing the direction of the beams in a first plane, and for redirecting others of the diverging beams of light from the light source into substantially parallel beams of light as they pass through the lens member in substantially any one cross-sectional plane through the lens member which is substantially perpendicular with the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4598291
    Abstract: An electrical control device having a transducer for producing a plurality of indicating signals proportional to actual components of a force applied to that transducer by an actuator, which actuator has a capacitance relative to electrical ground. The control device further includes a processor for receiving the plurality of indicating signals and producing a plurality of control signals proportional to the indicating signals. The processor communicates the plurality of control signals to a responding device such a computer having a visual display. The control device further includes a circuit connected to the processor and to the actuator of the transducer for monitoring the capacitance of the actuator wth respect to electrical ground. The circuit cooperates with the processor to operate as an oscillator, which oscillator has a frequency proportional to the capacitance of the actuator with respect to electrical ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4553842
    Abstract: An optical position indicating apparatus having a light source, a detector for detecting the presence of light and producing an electrical output in response thereto, a reflecting structure for reflecting light from the light source across a target zone, and, a retroreflecting structure for reflecting the light incident thereupon along a path substantially coincident with the path of incidence of the light. The retroreflecting structure comprises a plurality of retroreflective assemblies, the reflecting structure and the plurality of retroreflective assemblies are substantially disposed about the target zone and a limiting structure limits the detector to a finite viewing range so that rotation of the detector effects scanning of the target zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Griffin
  • Patent number: D281776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Griffin