Movats Incorporated

Thomas A Rak

John A McMennamy

Bruce T Boone

Steven Nafziger

Stanley N Hale

Paul G Anderson

Chin P Ho

Andrew P Burke

Duane H Rowicki

T Mark Whitaker

A Strain Follower comprises cantilevered beams mounted by gripping means on opposite sides of an object to be loaded, which beams are deflected in relationship to the deformation of the object by axial forces, and strain gages mounted on the beams and electrically within a wheatstone bridge circuit for providing an output representative of the axial deformation of the loaded object, while minimizing the impact, on the output by bending and torsional forces acting on the object.

Strain follower

A method and apparatus for remotely monitoring the condition of a DC motor operated valve and/or valve operator by monitoring at a remote location, such as the Motor Control Center ('MCC'), the output torque of the DC motor which drives the valve operator comprises method and apparatus for monitoring the armature circuit of the DC motor at the remote location (I.E. MCC) to acquire a value of motor armature current (Ia), voltage drop across the armature (Va), and the electrical resistance of the armature (Ra); these remotely acquired electrical values of Va, Ia and Ra being utilized as input to apparatus for generating mechanical values of motor output mechanical power, armature speed, and a motor torque factor representative of the motor output torque multiplied by a constant; and the apparatus of the present invention also comprises invention circuitry for isolating the armature resistance (Ra) as a resistance value, representing that resistance value as a voltage and inputting that voltage representation of Ra into other modules of the circuitry to be used in the final generation of the DC motor torque factor; this Torque Factor being used in accordance with the present invention either: (1) alone, as a single indicator of the stem load on the valve stem of the valve operator (i.e.: by multiplying the torque factor by the known constant and also by the manufacturers' published gear efficiency values for the specific valve operator being monitored); or (2) in conjunction with other diagnostic equipment as an assist in determining the condition of the valve and/or valve operator.

DC motor operated valve remote monitoring system

A method and apparatus for providing a previously unattainable yet desirable function of monitoring, at a remote location and/or in a remote (non-intrusive) manner, the condition of a valve operator to signal a need for more thorough inspection and for possible maintenance of the valve or valve operator; the method and apparatus including the relating of output power (motor load) of the valve operator motor to the valve operator stem load, setting up a threshold value for the power parameter based on a maximum allowable operator thrust depletion; and periodically monitoring actual power parameter values at a remote location for comparison to the threshold value.

Method and apparatus for remote monitoring of valves and valve operators

An apparatus and method for achieving variable observation angles by a single transducer rotationally and pivotally mounted with a housing; and for utilizing the variable angle transducer to detect and trace the distance of unseen objects within a casing from the transducer by moving the transducer within its housing which is held stationary against the casing; and for determining the angle of observation between the transducer and the observed object; and thereby accurately determining the relative position and orientation of the object within the casing.

Ultrasonic testing system with variable angle transducer mount

An apparatus and method for achieving variable observations angles by a single transducer rotationally and pivotally mounted with a housing; and for utilizing the variable angle transducer to detect and trace and distance of unseen objects within a casing from the transducer by moving the transducer within its housing which is held stationary against the casing; and for determining the angle of observation between the transducer and the observed object; and thereby accurately determining the relative position and orientation of the object within the casing.

Growing community of inventors

Marietta, GA, United States of America

Thomas A Rak