Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having: a body of the valve containing a control element; a neck extending from the body of the valve and connected to a mounting support, wherein the neck partially houses a valve stem connected to the control element and further wherein the valve stem extends through the mounting support; a gland ring mounted around the valve stem, wherein the gland ring is partially within the mounting support; a gland retainer mounted above the gland ring within the mounting support; one or more fasteners connecting the gland retainer to the body of the valve; and one or more load cells mounted around the fasteners and located above the gland retainer, wherein each load cell is configured to sense a clamping force between a top surface and a bottom surface of the load cell.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, having: an adaptor between the control element and the actuator, wherein the adaptor couples a valve stem of the control element to the actuator; and an electronics module contained within the adaptor, wherein the electronics module further comprises one or more sensors.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, having: an adaptor between the control element and the actuator, wherein the adaptor couples a valve stem of the control element to the actuator; and an electronics module contained within the adaptor, wherein the electronics module further comprises one or more sensors.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, having: a valve stem, wherein the valve stem is connected to the control element; a cavity defined within the valve stem; an electronics module embedded within the cavity of the valve stem, wherein the electronics module further has one or more sensors within the valve stem; and wherein the electronic module further has a microprocessor within the valve stem; and a conductor connecting the electronics module to the actuator.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, including a valve stem having a bore therethrough, wherein the bore is defined by a wall of the valve stem, and further wherein the valve stem is connected at a first end to the actuator and at a second end to the control element; and an electronics module within the bore of the valve stem, wherein the electronics module further includes one or more sensors within the valve stem.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having: a body of the valve containing a control element; a neck extending from the body of the valve and connected to a mounting support, wherein the neck partially houses a valve stem connected to the control element and further wherein the valve stem extends through the mounting support; a gland ring mounted around the valve stem, wherein the gland ring is partially within the mounting support; a gland retainer mounted above the gland ring within the mounting support; one or more fasteners connecting the gland retainer to the body of the valve; and one or more load cells mounted around the fasteners and located above the gland retainer, wherein each load cell is configured to sense a clamping force between a top surface and a bottom surface of the load cell.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, having: an adaptor between the control element and the actuator, wherein the adaptor couples a valve stem of the control element to the actuator; and an electronics module contained within the adaptor, wherein the electronics module further comprises one or more sensors.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, including a valve stem having a bore therethrough, wherein the bore is defined by a wall of the valve stem, and further wherein the valve stem is connected at a first end to the actuator and at a second end to the control element; and an electronics module within the bore of the valve stem, wherein the electronics module further includes one or more sensors within the valve stem.

Abstract: An electronic torque limit switch, limiting excess torque in a valve actuator, and/or optimizing the actuation of a valve having a motor configured for driving a valve between an open direction and a closed direction. A threshold current of the motor is set. An ongoing current of the motor is monitored. The ongoing current is compared to the threshold current. Power to the motor may be disconnected when the ongoing current exceeds the threshold current. Conjunctively or disjunctively an initial threshold torque for the valve is set. A number of operational cycles of the valve are monitored. And, the threshold of torque is adjusted to another threshold of torque via correlating the number of operational cycles of the valve to a known database of torque characteristics for the valve.

Abstract: A pressure independent control valve for small diameter applications for the purpose of regulating or maintaining a predetermined flow rate and/or energy usage/transfer within a pipe system is disclosed. A needle valve is inserted into a flow path where the flow path travels through the needle valve when the needle valve is in an open position. An actuator connects with the needle valve where the actuator is configured to move the needle valve between the open position and a closed position. The flow rate is determined from an ultrasonic sensor positioned in an inner wall of the pipe system or via differential pressure readings. The pipe system has a small diameter.

Abstract: A pressure independent control valve system including a pipe system defining a flow path for a volume of fluid to regulate flow downstream of the pressure independent control valve system, wherein the pipe system has a butterfly valve configured to control a flow rate of the volume of fluid; an ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit and receive a signal across the flow path; and an electronic transducer processor in data communication with the ultrasonic sensor and the butterfly valve.

Abstract: A system and method for migrating state data from a source computing platform to a destination platform, such as for migrating state data from one computer to another computer. Pluggable modules collect state on a source platform and transport it to temporary storage as state objects that are independent of any particular destination platform. For example, a state object may contain the information that represents a file on a source machine, while another state object may contain a piece of registry data on that machine. At the source platform, modules provide state data gathering and analysis that collect the data into the state objects. A transport module transports the data to storage accessible to the destination. At the destination, the state objects are applied by pluggable modules to the destination platform. The object data can be adjusted, translated and/or merged with destination state data as appropriate for the destination platform.

Abstract: A method for joining vehicle components together to form a vehicle frame assembly where the components are formed from dissimilar materials such as metallic and non-metallic materials. A composite body mount bracket may be attached to a structural component of a vehicle body and frame assembly by providing a body mount bracket having an opening formed therethrough and by providing a first structural component formed from a metallic material also having an opening formed therethrough. The body mount bracket is then positioned adjacent the first structural component such that the respective openings are aligned with one another. A second structural component formed of a metallic material is then inserted through the aligned openings. Next, the second structural component is welded first structural component through a magnetic pulse welding technique, and lastly, the second structural component is pulse formed or deformed so as to mechanically clamp the body mount bracket thereto.

Abstract: A method for joining vehicle components together to form a vehicle frame assembly where the components are formed from dissimilar materials such as metallic and non-metallic materials. A composite body mount bracket may be attached to a structural component of a vehicle body and frame assembly by providing a body mount bracket having an opening formed therethrough and by providing a first structural component formed from a metallic material also having an opening formed therethrough. The body mount bracket is then positioned adjacent the first structural component such that the respective openings are aligned with one another. A second structural component formed of a metallic material is then inserted through the aligned openings. Next, the second structural component is welded first structural component through a magnetic pulse welding technique, and lastly, the second structural component is pulse formed or deformed so as to mechanically clamp the body mount bracket thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for migrating state data from a source computing platform to a destination platform, such as for migrating state data from one computer to another computer. Pluggable modules collect state on a source platform and transport it to temporary storage as state objects that are independent of any particular destination platform. For example, a state object may contain the information that represents a file on a source machine, while another state object may contain a piece of registry data on that machine. At the source platform, modules provide state data gathering and analysis that collect the data into the state objects. A transport module transports the data to storage accessible to the destination. At the destination, the state objects are applied by pluggable modules to the destination platform. The object data can be adjusted, translated and/or merged with destination state data as appropriate for the destination platform.