Patents by Inventor Paul T. Alman

Paul T. Alman 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: 11608909
    Abstract: A flow control device includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A flow vane is coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide a flow of fluid through the valve body. The flow vane has a first surface, a second surface, and a corrugation formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces. A control element is disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Alman, Andrew J. Kinser, Randall S. Collison
  • Patent number: 11320064
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A trim assembly is disposed in the flow path and includes a valve seat and a cage. The cage includes a body and a central cavity defined by the body. A control member is movable in the central cavity of the cage between an open position, in which the control member is spaced away from the valve seat, and a closed position, in which the control member engages the valve seat. The body has a non-circular longitudinal cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Paul T. Alman
  • Patent number: 11221135
    Abstract: A spray nozzle assembly has a housing with a body and cap flange secure to the body to define a bore within the housing. A first aperture is formed through the body and intersects the bore and a second aperture is formed through the cap flange and intersects the bore. A nozzle sleeve is disposed within the bore and has a solid, unitary sleeve body. First and second fluid passages are formed through the sleeve body. The first fluid passage is in fluid communication with the first aperture and a first exit aperture in an end of the sleeve body. The second fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second aperture and second and third exit apertures in the end of the sleeve body, which are positioned on opposite sides of the first exit aperture. A portion of the second fluid passage surrounds the first fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Justin P. Goodwin, Paul T. Alman
  • Publication number: 20210278005
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A trim assembly is disposed in the flow path and includes a valve seat and a cage. The cage includes a body and a central cavity defined by the body. A control member is movable in the central cavity of the cage between an open position, in which the control member is spaced away from the valve seat, and a closed position, in which the control member engages the valve seat. The body has a non-circular longitudinal cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Paul T. Alman
  • Patent number: 11112032
    Abstract: A control valve includes a cage is disposed within a valve body adjacent to a valve seat. The cage includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve. The first sleeve includes a first circumferential wall having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first longitudinal axis. The first sleeve also includes a first plurality of openings disposed in the first circumferential wall. The second sleeve includes a second circumferential wall having a second inner surface and a second outer surface and a second longitudinal axis. The second sleeve also includes a second plurality of openings disposed in the second circumferential wall. The first outer surface of the first circumferential wall is tapered at a first angle relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second inner surface of the second circumferential wall is tapered at a second angle relative to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Kinser, Paul T. Alman
  • Publication number: 20210254725
    Abstract: A flow control device includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A flow vane is coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide a flow of fluid through the valve body. The flow vane has a first surface, a second surface, and a corrugation formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces. A control element is disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Paul T. Alman, Andrew J. Kinser, Randall S. Collison
  • Publication number: 20210071779
    Abstract: A control valve includes a cage is disposed within a valve body adjacent to a valve seat. The cage includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve. The first sleeve includes a first circumferential wall having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first longitudinal axis. The first sleeve also includes a first plurality of openings disposed in the first circumferential wall. The second sleeve includes a second circumferential wall having a second inner surface and a second outer surface and a second longitudinal axis. The second sleeve also includes a second plurality of openings disposed in the second circumferential wall. The first outer surface of the first circumferential wall is tapered at a first angle relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second inner surface of the second circumferential wall is tapered at a second angle relative to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Kinser, Paul T. Alman
  • Patent number: 10935161
    Abstract: A valve body has in inlet, an outlet, and a port positioned between the inlet and outlet. An approach passage interconnects the inlet and the port and has a cross-sectional area that is greater than that of the port. One or more guide vanes are positioned within the approach passage and extend longitudinally along at least a portion of the approach passage so that a downstream end of the guide vanes is spaced apart from the port and the guide vanes divide the portion of the approach passage into sub-passages that have equal flow resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Junk, Paul T. Alman
  • Publication number: 20190376685
    Abstract: A spray nozzle assembly has a housing with a body and cap flange secure to the body to define a bore within the housing. A first aperture is formed through the body and intersects the bore and a second aperture is formed through the cap flange and intersects the bore. A nozzle sleeve is disposed within the bore and has a solid, unitary sleeve body. First and second fluid passages are formed through the sleeve body. The first fluid passage is in fluid communication with the first aperture and a first exit aperture in an end of the sleeve body. The second fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second aperture and second and third exit apertures in the end of the sleeve body, which are positioned on opposite sides of the first exit aperture. A portion of the second fluid passage surrounds the first fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Justin P. Goodwin, Paul T. Alman
  • Publication number: 20190086000
    Abstract: A valve body has in inlet, an outlet, and a port positioned between the inlet and outlet. An approach passage interconnects the inlet and the port and has a cross-sectional area that is greater than that of the port. One or more guide vanes are positioned within the approach passage and extend longitudinally along at least a portion of the approach passage so that a downstream end of the guide vanes is spaced apart from the port and the guide vanes divide the portion of the approach passage into sub-passages that have equal flow resistances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Junk, Paul T. Alman
  • Patent number: 8820704
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly includes a housing having a diaphragm plate and diaphragm disposed within the housing. A stem projection downwardly extends from a bottom surface of the diaphragm plate, and the stem projection is coupled to an actuator stem disposed along a longitudinal axis. A guide member has a top wall and a center aperture that receives the stem projection, and the top wall is biased into engagement with the bottom surface of the diaphragm plate by a spring. The guide member also has a side wall that downwardly extends from the top wall, and an outer surface of the side wall is adapted to engage an inner surface of a spring housing to limit displacement of the diaphragm plate and the actuator stem in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Alman, Hanbing Lu
  • Publication number: 20130277596
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly includes a housing having a diaphragm plate and diaphragm disposed within the housing. A stem projection downwardly extends from a bottom surface of the diaphragm plate, and the stem projection is coupled to an actuator stem disposed along a longitudinal axis. A guide member has a top wall and a center aperture that receives the stem projection, and the top wall is biased into engagement with the bottom surface of the diaphragm plate by a spring. The guide member also has a side wall that downwardly extends from the top wall, and an outer surface of the side wall is adapted to engage an inner surface of a spring housing to limit displacement of the diaphragm plate and the actuator stem in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Alman, Hanbing Lu
  • Patent number: 7766045
    Abstract: A fluid pressure reduction device comprises two or more stackable annular plates. Each disk having a perimeter and a hollow center aligned along a longitudinal axis when the annular plates are stacked one on top of the other. Each disk further comprising at least one inlet flow sector having an inlet flow stage for defining a first inlet area and a first outlet area, and at least one outlet flow sector having an outlet flow stage defining a second inlet area and a second outlet areas wherein the ratio of the second inlet area to the second outlet area is predetermined to define a backpressure at the outlet flow stage to provide a sub-sonic fluid flow at the perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Allen C. Fagerlund, Frederick W. Catron, Charles L. DePenning, Paul T. Alman, Ted D. Grabau
  • Publication number: 20080023086
    Abstract: A fluid pressure reduction device comprises two or more stackable annular plates. Each disk having a perimeter and a hollow center aligned along a longitudinal axis when the annular plates are stacked one on top of the other. Each disk further comprising at least one inlet flow sector having an inlet flow stage for defining a first inlet area and a first outlet area, and at least one outlet flow sector having an outlet flow stage defining a second inlet area and a second outlet areas wherein the ratio of the second inlet area to the second outlet area is predetermined to define a backpressure at the outlet flow stage to provide a sub-sonic fluid flow at the perimeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Allen C. Fagerlund, Frederick W. Catron, Charles L. DePenning, Paul T. Alman, Ted D. Grabau
  • Patent number: 6997211
    Abstract: A valve assembly with a multiple-component valve plug is disclosed. The use of multiple materials in the construction of the valve plug provides different rates of thermal expansion in the axial and radial directions thereby enabling the valve plug to have thermal expansion characteristics that closely match that of the components in which it cooperates with. Specifically, the radial thermal expansion of the downstream end of the plug is closely matched to that of the retainer component which receives the downstream end of the plug. The radial thermal expansion of the upstream end of the plug is closely matched to that of the cage and seat ring to enable the plug to properly close or seat when the valve is in the closed position. The plug body or spacer tube has an axial thermal expansion that closely matches that of the cage retainer, cage or valve body, depending upon the valve design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC.
    Inventors: Paul T. Alman, Kimball R. Barron
  • Patent number: 6637452
    Abstract: The seal assembly is disclosed for use with a valve having a trim cage with an inner surface extending along in axis and a plug sized to fit inside the trim cage inner surface, wherein the plug is adapted to move along the axis thereof. A seal ring is attached to an upstream portion of the cage to effectuate a seal with the plug. The plug is equipped with a wiper seal that cleans or otherwise removes debris from the seating surface of the seal ring, an interior surface of the seal ring and an interior surface of the cage during both the opening and the closing of the valve. Thus, the valve is self-cleaning. Further, the wiper seal delays throttling action through the valve until the plug has moved a substantial distance away from the seating surface of the seal ring which reduces high pressure abrasive flow against the seating surface of the seal ring to reduce wear on the trim set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul T. Alman