Bruce F Grumstrup

6725167, Apr 20, 2004

Jan 16, 2002

10/050450

Bruce Frederick Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
Paul Robert Adams - Marshalltown IA

Fisher Controls International LLC - St. Louis MI

G01F 100

702 47, 731181, 60 39281, 1374875, 700282

A flow measurement module is adapted to operate in conjunction with a control valve assembly to measure a flow rate of a fluid though a flow passage regulated by the control valve assembly. The flow measurement module is communicatively coupled to an intelligent positioner within the control valve assembly to receive data pertaining to the position of the throttling element within the flow passage. The position of the throttling element is used to identify at least one associated valve sizing coefficient. The flow measurement module determines the flow rate of the fluid through the flow passage based on a sensed upstream pressure, a sensed downstream pressure and the valve sizing coefficient associated with the position of the throttling element within the flow passage.

6895351, May 17, 2005

Feb 24, 2003

10/373209

Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA, US
Paul R. Adams - Marshalltown IA, US

Fisher Controls International LLC - St. Louis MO

G01L027/00
G01F001/00
G16K031/36

702 98, 702 45, 702 47, 1374875

A method and an apparatus for determining fluid flow through a pressure regulator is disclosed. The pressure regulator is disposed in a fluid flow passage and has a throttling element moveable in the flow passage. A stem is attached to the throttling element. The apparatus includes a first pressure sensor for measuring pressure upstream of the throttling element, a second pressure sensor for measuring pressure downstream of the throttling element, and a travel sensor for detecting the position of the throttling element. A processor is provided which includes a stored algorithm for determining flow rate based on the measured pressure and travel values and for calibrating the pressure regulator using a temporary flow meter disposed downstream of the throttling element. A system and method is also provided for calibrating a temperature transmitter associated with the pressure regulator.

8421643, Apr 16, 2013

Dec 1, 2010

12/957836

Bruce Frederick Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA, US

Fisher Controls International LLC - Marshalltown IA

G08B 21/00

3406864, 340540, 340626, 340679, 3406861

The present invention comprises methods for testing the valve seating integrity of a valve. The valve components that determine valve seating integrity are typically a valve seat and a valve closing element that engages the valve seat to close the valve. Examples of the test method described herein respectively test valve seating integrity during opening of the valve and during closing of the valve, and do so in all instances without interrupting the operation of a process control system that includes the valve, without isolating the valve, and without relying on user analysis.

20040046670, Mar 11, 2004

Sep 5, 2002

10/235470

Paul Adams - Marshalltown IA, US
Bruce Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA, US

G08B021/00

340/605000

A storage tank monitoring system may include a stored media sensor adapted to sense a storage tank media parameter which may responsively generate a stored media signal, a blanket gas sensor adapted to sense a storage tank blanket gas parameter which may responsively generate a blanket gas signal, and a blanket gas flow sensor adapted to sense the flow of blanket gas which may responsively generate a blanket gas flow signal. The storage tank system may further include a controller unit adapted to receive at least one of the stored media signal and the blanket gas signal, and the blanket gas flow signal, and responsively generate a blanket gas leak indicator signal. As such, a blanket gas leak indicator includes at least one of a first and a second state wherein the first state is indicative of a blanket gas leak and the second state is indicative of no blanket gas leaks.

20100145476, Jun 10, 2010

Dec 4, 2009

12/631316

Kenneth W. Junk - Marshalltown IA, US
Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA, US

FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC - Marshalltown IA

G05B 15/02

700 7, 700 17

A portable communicator for operating a field device. The portable communicator is configured to communicate with the field device to configure and/or analyze performance of a field device in an efficient manner. In some embodiments, the portable communicator includes an intuitive user interface that allows the user to perform a relatively limited set of preconfigured procedures on a field device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wire and/or wirelessly. In one embodiment, the portable communicator is a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, a PDA, a pocket PC, or any Bluetooth-enabled generic mobile communication device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wireless communication unit (e.g., Bluetooth modem) coupled to the field device. In a process plant environment, in which the field device is coupled to a controller, the portable communicator may communicate with the field device without communicating with the controller.

20120216898, Aug 30, 2012

Feb 28, 2011

13/037031

Perry Keith Carter - Ames IA, US
Bruce Frederick Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA, US

F16K 31/00

137861

Methods and apparatus for bypassing a positioner in an active control loop are described. An example actuator assembly includes a pneumatic actuator and a transfer station. The transfer station includes a body defining flow paths that enable fluid to flow between a supply pressure, a valve positioner, and the pneumatic actuator and between the supply pressure and the pneumatic actuator to bypass the valve positioner without disrupting a process loop including the valve positioner. The transfer station also includes a plurality of fluid flow control devices to control the fluid flow through the flow paths.

56870981, Nov 11, 1997

Oct 30, 1995

8/549998

Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
Bruce A. Johnson - Marshalltown IA
Jimmie L. Snowbarger - Marshalltown IA

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Austin TX

G06F 1100
F16K 3700

36455101

Data samples are obtained from a control device while in use to control a material process. Selected ones of these samples are stored which represent results of operating the device over portions of its characteristics, and they are selectively combined to provide an indication of the complete device characteristics. Selected such data samples are used provide information concerning selected control device parameters based on the device characteristics.

60237635, Feb 8, 2000

Apr 23, 1997

8/842050

Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
Patrick O. Ryan - Marshalltown IA

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MI

G06F 1214

713200

A software protection method and apparatus uses a removable hardlock to prevent the unauthorized installation and/or use of a licensed software program. The removable hardlock, when supplied to a user, stores an access variable indicating the number of licenses available for the software program. During installation of the software program on a computer, the removable hardlock is inserted into an external port of the computer and the access variable is read to determine if any licenses for the software program are still available. If so, the software program is installed on the computer in a manner that allows the software program to be run on the computer when the removable hardlock is removed from the external port of the computer. The access variable on the removable hardlock is then decremented to indicate that one of the previously available licenses has now been used. However, when the access variable on the removable hardlock indicates that no further licenses are available, the software program is installed on the computer in a manner that prevents the software program from being implemented on the computer when the removable hardlock is removed from the external port of the computer.