Abstract: A volume booster for an actuator system advantageously includes an adjustable restrictor, such that the exhaust capacity of the device can be adjusted for specific applications. The device comprises a body, a supply path, an exhaust path, and the restrictor. The supply path operates to provide a supply of fluid to boost a stroke time of an actuator in the actuator system, e.g., in an opening direction. The exhaust path operates to accommodate backpressure relief when the actuator system operates the actuator in a closing direction, for example. The restrictor is disposed within the exhaust path and is selectively manipulable between a plurality of positions to define a plurality of distinct exhaust capacities, thereby eliminating any requirement to change the entire volume booster to achieve a different exhaust capacity.

Abstract: A control valve having a retainer for securing a seat ring within the valve body of the device is disclosed. The seat ring is disposed within a bore in the fluid flow path of the valve body of the control valve, and the retainer is attached to the inner surface of the valve body to retain the seat ring within the bore. The retainer includes threaded openings therethrough for receiving bolts that are tightened down on the seat ring to hold the seat ring against the inner surface of the bore and/or a gasket to form a tight seal and prevent leakage when the control device is in the closed position.

Abstract: A volume booster for a fluid flow control device comprises a supply path for supplying a fluid boost to facilitate actuation of an actuator in a first direction, and an exhaust path for enabling controlled exhaust to facilitate actuation of the actuator in a second direction. The supply path defines a supply resistance that is set by the geometry of a supply trim component. The exhaust path includes an exhaust resistance that is set by the geometry of an exhaust trim component. The supply and exhaust trim components are independently removable and replaceable with replacement components to customize the exhaust and supply resistances, and therefore, the exhaust and supply capacities for specific applications.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a valve body, a valve seat disposed within the valve body, and a valve cage coupled to the valve seat within the valve body. The fluid flow control device also includes a gland defined by the valve body, the valve seat, and the valve cage. The valve body has a first thermal expansion coefficient and the valve seat and/or the valve cage have a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient. The fluid flow control device further includes a sealing assembly disposed within the fluid flow control device to provide a seal between the valve body and the valve cage. The sealing assembly exploits differential thermal expansion between the valve body and the valve cage in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to improve the seal.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a trim cartridge, a diaphragm assembly, and a control element. The trim cartridge defines a cartridge supply port and an upper planar surface. The cartridge supply port is disposed along a supply path of the volume booster and the upper planar surface is disposed along an exhaust of the volume booster. The diaphragm assembly defines an exhaust port on the exhaust path. The control element is movably disposed in the trim cartridge and includes a supply plug, an exhaust plug, and a stem. The supply plug engages the cartridge supply port and the exhaust plug engages the exhaust port. The exhaust plug further includes a lower planar surface that is coplanar with the upper planar surface of the trim cartridge.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device having a body having a inlet connection, an outlet connection, a discharge port and a booster module disposed within the body. The booster module including a control element and an actuator element having a noise-reducing trim element with a supply path extending between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. The noise-reducing trim element being coupled immediately adjacent to the discharge port such that the noise-reducing trim element distributes a fluid flow to the discharge port via the exhaust path into a plurality of fluid jets to substantially inhibit jet recombination at the discharge port.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a body having an inlet connection, an outlet connection, and a discharge port. A supply path extends between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and a booster module is disposed within the body. The booster module includes a control element and an actuator element and defines an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. A supply port is disposed within the booster module along the supply path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and at least a first damping means operatively connected to the booster module.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a body having an inlet connection, an outlet connection, and a discharge port. A supply path extends between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and a booster module is disposed within the body. The booster module includes a control element and an actuator element and defines an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. A supply port is disposed within the booster module along the supply path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and at least a first damping means operatively connected to the booster module.

Abstract: A seat ring for a control valve has a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a gallery. The seat ring includes an annular body and a flow separator. The annular body is adapted to he disposed in the gallery of the valve body and includes an interior sidewall defining a port for accommodating fluid flow through the gallery. The flow separator is disposed within the port and includes a flow straightening portion defining a plurality of separate passageways. Each of the plurality of separate passageways has a hydraulic diameter and a length that is larger than the hydraulic diameter. As such, the passageways separate the flow of fluid through the port into a plurality of separate flow paths to interrupt turbulence adjacent to the port.

Abstract: A pneumatic pilot valve comprises a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passage, and first and second valves arranged to control flow through the valve. The second valve includes a tapered valve seat opening into a cylindrical bore, and a thrust pin includes a tapered second part and an annular recess having a seal. The thrust pin is movable between a first position, a second position, and an intermediate position. The tapered second part of the thrust pin is arranged to engage the tapered valve seat to close the second valve when the thrust pin moves to the second position, and the resilient seal is sized to engage the cylindrical bore when the thrust pin is in the intermediate position.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a trim cartridge, a diaphragm assembly, and a control element. The trim cartridge defines a cartridge supply port and an upper planar surface. The cartridge supply port is disposed along a supply path of the volume booster and the upper planar surface is disposed along an exhaust of the volume booster. The diaphragm assembly defines an exhaust port on the exhaust path. The control element is movably disposed in the trim cartridge and includes a supply plug, an exhaust plug, and a stem. The supply plug engages the cartridge supply port and the exhaust plug engages the exhaust port. The exhaust plug further includes a lower planar surface that is coplanar with the upper planar surface of the trim cartridge.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device having a body having a inlet connection, an outlet connection, a discharge port and a booster module disposed within the body. The booster module including a control element and an actuator element having a noise-reducing trim element with a supply path extending between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. The noise-reducing trim element being coupled immediately adjacent to the discharge port such that the noise-reducing trim element distributes a fluid flow to the discharge port via the exhaust path into a plurality of fluid jets to substantially inhibit jet recombination at the discharge port.

Abstract: A volume booster for an actuator system advantageously includes an adjustable restrictor, such that the exhaust capacity of the device can be adjusted for specific applications. The device comprises a body, a supply path, an exhaust path, and the restrictor. The supply path operates to provide a supply of fluid to boost a stroke time of an actuator in the actuator system, e.g., in an opening direction. The exhaust path operates to accommodate backpressure relief when the actuator system operates the actuator in a closing direction, for example. The restrictor is disposed within the exhaust path and is selectively manipulable between a plurality of positions to define a plurality of distinct exhaust capacities, thereby eliminating any requirement to change the entire volume booster to achieve a different exhaust capacity.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a body having an inlet connection, an outlet connection, and a discharge port. A supply path extends between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and a booster module is disposed within the body. The booster module includes a control element and an actuator element and defines an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. A supply port is disposed within the booster module along the supply path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and at least a first damping means operatively connected to the booster module.

Abstract: A volume booster for a fluid flow control device comprises a supply path for supplying a fluid boost to facilitate actuation of an actuator in a first direction, and an exhaust path for enabling controlled exhaust to facilitate actuation of the actuator in a second direction. The supply path defines a supply resistance that is set by the geometry of a supply trim component. The exhaust path includes an exhaust resistance that is set by the geometry of an exhaust trim component. The supply and exhaust trim components are independently removable and replaceable with replacement components to customize the exhaust and supply resistances, and therefore, the exhaust and supply capacities for specific applications.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately measuring supply gas consumed by a particular process control component within a process control system is disclosed. Enhanced measurement accuracy is derived from measuring the consumption of the process control component in a normal operating mode of the process control system. The amount of fluid expended by one process control component is separated by a fluid control system from the amount of supply gas expended in actuating other process control components. The amount of fluid expended by each component may be determined by measuring a decrease in a fluid within a vessel having a known quantity that independently supplies supply gas to each component during its operation.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately measuring supply gas consumed by a particular process control component within a process control system is disclosed. Enhanced measurement accuracy is derived from measuring the consumption of the process control component in a normal operating mode of the process control system. The amount of fluid expended by one process control component is separated by a fluid control system from the amount of supply gas expended in actuating other process control components. The amount of fluid expended by each component may be determined by measuring a decrease in a fluid within a vessel having a known quantity that independently supplies supply gas to each component during its operation.

Abstract: A control valve having a retainer for securing a seat ring within the valve body of the device is disclosed. The seat ring is disposed within a bore in the fluid flow path of the valve body of the control valve, and the retainer is attached to the inner surface of the valve body to retain the seat ring within the bore. The retainer includes threaded openings therethrough for receiving bolts that are tightened down on the seat ring to hold the seat ring against the inner surface of the bore and/or a gasket to form a tight seal and prevent leakage when the control device is in the closed position.

Abstract: Split packing followers for use with valves are disclosed. A disclosed packing follower includes a first member having a first portion of a flange and a first portion of a curved wall extending substantially perpendiculary from the first portion of the flange to define a first portion of a cylindrical member. The disclosed packing follower further includes a second member separable from the first member. The second member include a second portion of the flange and a second portion of a curved wall extending substantially perpendiculary from the second portion of the flange to define a second portion of the cylindrical member. The first and second member include complementary interlocking structures that are configured to mechanically couple the first and second members to form the packing follower.

Abstract: A valve travel indicator is described. An indicator portion indicates a location on a valve indicator scale. A retaining portion is fixedly coupled to the indicator portion and movably coupled to a valve stem. The retaining portion fixedly couples the indicator portion to the valve stem during movement of the valve stem and movably couples the indicator portion to the valve stem in response to a predetermined force level exerted upon the indicator portion.