Fisher Controls International LLC

David Anthony Arnold

David George Halm

Daniel Martin Adams

Douglas Paul Gethmann

Michael Wildie McCarty

Ross Schade

Michael Wildie Mccarty

Ross A Schade

Fluid valve actuator apparatus having internal tubing and anti-rotation features are disclosed. An example actuator apparatus includes a diaphragm plate defining a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber opposite the first pressure chamber, a first internal fluid passageway in fluid communication with atmosphere, and a second internal fluid passageway to receive a control fluid from a controller. The example apparatus also includes a tube fluidly coupling the first or second internal fluid passageway to the first pressure chamber via an opening in the diaphragm plate, where a first center axis of the tube is offset from a second center axis of the diaphragm plate, and where the tube passing through the diaphragm plate is to prevent the diaphragm plate from rotating. The example actuator apparatus also includes an adjustable spring seat in contact with a spring at a first end of the spring, where the spring is in contact with the diaphragm plate at a second end of the spring opposite the first end.

Actuator apparatus with internal tubing and anti-rotation mechanism

Diaphragm actuators having adjustable actuation force are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a spring seat coupled to a diaphragm of an actuator. The spring seat is to contact a spring and is to be coupled to a stem. The diaphragm is to displace the stem based on a force provided to the diaphragm, and the stem is to control a fluid valve. The example apparatus also includes an adjuster to adjust an amount of force provided to the spring seat by the spring.

Diaphragm actuators having adjustable actuation force

Fluid valve actuator apparatus having internal tubing and anti-rotation features are disclosed. An example actuator apparatus includes an actuator casing and a diaphragm plate disposed within the actuator casing. The diaphragm plate defines a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber opposite the first pressure chamber. A yoke couples the actuator casing to a fluid valve. The yoke includes a first internal fluid passageway in fluid communication with atmosphere and a second internal fluid passageway to receive a control fluid from a controller. A tube fluidly couples the first or second internal fluid passageway to the first pressure chamber via an opening in the diaphragm plate. The tube also prevents the diaphragm plate from rotating relative to the actuator casing.

A valve shaft apparatus with a rotary valve includes a shaft having a first portion in an opening of a valve body and a second portion in a cavity of a closure member. A first seal is coupled to the first portion to prevent fluid leakage into the opening of the valve body, where the first seal defines a first leakage detection area. A second seal is coupled to the second portion to prevent fluid leakage into the cavity, the second seal is to define a second leakage detection area. A passageway in the shaft is fluidly coupled to the first and second leakage detection areas to provide an indication of fluid leakage past the first seal in the opening or to detect fluid leakage past the second seal in the cavity. The passageway is in fluid communication with a shaft outlet formed in an end of the shaft.

Valve shaft apparatus for use with rotary valves

Actuators having override apparatus are described herein. An example actuator having an override apparatus includes a first actuator stem coupled to a control actuation member. The override apparatus is operatively coupled to the actuator. A spring is coupled to an override member to move the first actuator stem to a predetermined position in response to an override condition.

Actuator having an override apparatus

An example valve shaft apparatus includes a shaft having a stationary seal and a dynamic seal spaced from the stationary seal. The stationary seal defines a first leakage detection area adjacent the stationary seal and the dynamic seal defines a second leakage detection area adjacent the dynamic seal. A seal leakage detector is integrally formed with the shaft to provide a visual indication of process fluid leakage within the first leakage detection area or within the second leakage detection area. The seal leakage detector has a passageway in fluid communication with the first leakage detection area and the second leakage detection area. The passageway has a cross-sectional profile that changes between the first and second leakage detection areas to prevent fluid from flowing from one of the leakage detection areas into a body of the fluid valve.

Apparatus to increase a force of an actuator having an override apparatus are described herein. An example fluid control system includes a first fluid control apparatus to fluidly couple a control fluid supply source to a control actuator via a first passageway. The control fluid supply source provides a control fluid to move a control actuator member of the control actuator in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction when the control actuator is in the operational state. A second fluid control apparatus is in fluid communication with the first fluid control apparatus and is configured to fluidly couple an override actuator to the control actuator via a second passageway when the control actuator is in a non-operational state. The override actuator is operatively coupled to the control actuator.

Apparatus to increase a force of an actuator having an override apparatus

Biasing apparatus for use with actuators are described. A biasing apparatus for use with a piston actuator includes a first sleeve at least partially surrounded by and movably coupled to a second sleeve. Additionally, the biasing apparatus includes a stop to limit an amount of movement of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve and a biasing element positioned between first and second ends of the respective first and second sleeves to urge the first sleeve away from the second sleeve.

Biasing apparatus for use with actuators

A diaphragm actuator for a fluid process control device comprises a housing, a diaphragm, a stem, and a plate assembly. The plate assembly includes a concave plate and a convex plate, each having inner and outer radial portions. The outer radial portions compressingly engage and retain the diaphragm. The inner radial portions are compressed together onto the stem between a shoulder of the stem and a nut threaded onto the stem. Accordingly, the concave plate forcibly engages and provides a fluid-tight seal directly with the shoulder of the stem without requiring an o-ring or any other additional sealing component. Moreover, the concave and convex plates are structurally equivalent such that the actuator may easily be switched between a biased-open configuration and a biased-closed configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Marshalltown, IA, United States of America

David Anthony Arnold