Emerson Process Management Valve Automation, Inc.

Shafer Valve Company

William Kenneth LeBlanc

Jason T Hoffbauer

Willard D Kaiser

Mark J Koenig

Jon L Shafer

David John Hoke

Michael Patrick McQuade

An actuator assembly includes a cylinder disposed in an actuator housing, the cylinder having a cylinder interior is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. A ram member has a piston head within the cylinder interior, and pressure on the piston head moves the ram member. An end of the ram member acts on a collar having a collar interior, and an end of a rod member is disposed within the collar interior. The rod member is displaceable relative to the collar such that the end of the rod member does not contact the collar. Accordingly, fluid in the cylinder interior acting on the ram member may expand due to thermal expansion without damaging a hard stop at an opposite end of the rod member and without losing system pressure by triggering a relief valve.

Thermal volume control for an actuator assembly

Control fluid power apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example control fluid power apparatus includes a first housing having a first piston defining a first chamber and a second chamber, where the first chamber receives a control fluid and the second chamber receives a process fluid from a process system. The first chamber is oriented above the second chamber when the control fluid power apparatus is coupled to a control valve assembly. A second housing has a second piston defining a third chamber and a fourth chamber, where the third chamber receives the control fluid and the second chamber receives the process fluid. The third chamber is oriented above the fourth chamber when the control fluid power apparatus is coupled to the control valve assembly.

Control fluid power apparatus and related methods

Methods and apparatus to charge accumulators are described. An example system to charge an accumulator apparatus includes a piston disposed within a housing to define a first chamber adjacent a first side of the piston and a second chamber adjacent a second side of the piston. A fill probe having a body and a passageway between a first end of the fill probe and a second end of the fill probe removably couples to the piston to fluidly couple to the passageway of the fill probe to the second chamber of the housing when the accumulator is in a charging condition. A valve is fluidly coupled to the piston to enable fluid flow to the second chamber of the housing via the piston when the fill probe is coupled to the piston.

Methods and apparatus to charge accumulator apparatus

An apparatus for measuring torque characteristics of devices (20, 73) includes a first shaft (19) having torque applied thereto by a first device (20) and a second shaft (41) having torque applied thereto by a second device (73). Sensing elements (31) are provided which detect the forces generated by the torque of the first and second shafts (19, 41) and produce electrical signals proportional to the forces detected. A first coupling device (25) transfers the forces generated by the torque from the first and second shafts (19, 41) to the sensing elements (31). A suspension mechanism (57) permits the second device (73) to move laterally independent in two spatial dimensions with respect to the first device (20) so as to minimize any effects from mechanical misalignment and the structural support frame (10). The apparatus can be adapted to measure frictional characteristics of devices (20, 73) by providing an actuator (93) for applying a torque to a third shaft (92). A second coupling device (95 ) transfers the rotational moment generated by the actuator (93) from the third shaft (92) to the first shaft (19). Sensing elements (31), contained within the second coupling device (95) measure the frictional characteristics of the first device (20) and compensates from mechanical misalignment between the actuator (93) and the first device (20).

Torque and friction tester

A hand pump system which allows normal automatic operation of a fluid motor operator for a pipeline valve by pipeline pressure, and also provides a stand-by hand pump while may be manually connected to a pressure fluid storage in the system for operating the fluid motor operator in either direction. The hand pump is connected into the system in such manner as to prevent accidental actuation of the pump handle by a pressure surge in the pipeline.

Growing community of inventors

Mansfield, OH, United States of America

William Kenneth LeBlanc