Jim G Schmidt

US Patent:

20210207738, Jul 8, 2021

Filed:

Dec 31, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/139284

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Jim SCHMIDT - Houston TX, US
Brindesh DHRUVA - Katy TX, US
Jason DALENBERG - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

F16K 41/02
F16K 51/00
F16J 15/18

Abstract:

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having: a body of the valve containing a control element; a neck extending from the body of the valve and connected to a mounting support, wherein the neck partially houses a valve stem connected to the control element and further wherein the valve stem extends through the mounting support; a gland ring mounted around the valve stem, wherein the gland ring is partially within the mounting support; a gland retainer mounted above the gland ring within the mounting support; one or more fasteners connecting the gland retainer to the body of the valve; and one or more load cells mounted around the fasteners and located above the gland retainer, wherein each load cell is configured to sense a clamping force between a top surface and a bottom surface of the load cell.

US Patent:

20200182377, Jun 11, 2020

Filed:

Dec 6, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/706229

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Jim SCHMIDT - Houston TX, US
Brindesh DHRUVA - Katy TX, US
Michael KITCHENS - Houston TX, US
Stan ALLEN - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

F16K 37/00

Abstract:

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, having: an adaptor between the control element and the actuator, wherein the adaptor couples a valve stem of the control element to the actuator; and an electronics module contained within the adaptor, wherein the electronics module further comprises one or more sensors.

US Patent:

20180187790, Jul 5, 2018

Filed:

Jan 5, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/863757

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Jim Schmidt - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

F16K 31/04
F16K 37/00
G05D 17/02
G05B 15/02

Abstract:

An electronic torque limit switch, limiting excess torque in a valve actuator, and/or optimizing the actuation of a valve having a motor configured for driving a valve between an open direction and a closed direction. A threshold current of the motor is set. An ongoing current of the motor is monitored. The ongoing current is compared to the threshold current. Power to the motor may be disconnected when the ongoing current exceeds the threshold current. Conjunctively or disjunctively an initial threshold torque for the valve is set. A number of operational cycles of the valve are monitored. And, the threshold of torque is adjusted to another threshold of torque via correlating the number of operational cycles of the valve to a known database of torque characteristics for the valve.

US Patent:

20150277447, Oct 1, 2015

Filed:

Mar 27, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/671839

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Jim Schmidt - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G05D 7/06
F16K 31/06
G01F 1/66

Abstract:

A pressure independent control valve for small diameter applications for the purpose of regulating or maintaining a predetermined flow rate and/or energy usage/transfer within a pipe system is disclosed. A needle valve is inserted into a flow path where the flow path travels through the needle valve when the needle valve is in an open position. An actuator connects with the needle valve where the actuator is configured to move the needle valve between the open position and a closed position. The flow rate is determined from an ultrasonic sensor positioned in an inner wall of the pipe system or via differential pressure readings. The pipe system has a small diameter.