BRUCE FREDERICK GRUMSTRUP
Pilots at 8 St, Marshalltown, IA

5684451, Nov 4, 1997

Sep 18, 1995

8/529321

Stephen G. Seberger - Marshalltown IA
Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
George W. Gassman - Marshalltown IA

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

H04M 1104

34031006

The present invention relates to a circuit which is connected by two conductors to a control system for a variable analog DC input and that also enables bidirectional digital communication along the two conductors for diagnostic operations of an instrument. The novel circuit includes a switch circuit that has a first position that provided the ability to accept both the variable DC analog signals and the bidirectional digital communication signals by presenting a first impedance for the DC signals and a second switch position for providing a second substantially higher impedance while using the same two conductor system. The novel invention also includes an auxiliary analog input signal to the circuit which allows further control as a current feedback to a control algorithm in a microcontroller. An auxiliary process transmitter can sense pressure, temperature, flow or some other process related variable and couple it to the circuit for control of the instrument. Finally, the novel invention includes a novel voltage regulator and a capacitive voltage supply for utilizing the voltage on the two conductors from the controller to also power the device.

5966679, Oct 12, 1999

Sep 29, 1997

8/939364

Jimmie L. Snowbarger - Marshalltown IA
Eugene R. Taylor - Marshalltown IA
Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
Kenneth W. Junk - Ames IA

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

G01M 1900

702105

An apparatus for nonobtrusively determining one or more parameters, such as dead band, dead time, or response time of a process control device that is connected on-line in a process control loop includes a measurement unit and a processing unit. The measurement unit is coupled to the process control loop to detect stochastic changes in a control signal sent to the process control device and to detect an indication of the response of the process control device to the changes in the control signal while the process control device is operating on-line. The processing unit calculates the device parameters from one or more sets of the detected changes in the control signal and the detected response indication.

2004004, 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.

5451923, Sep 19, 1995

Sep 2, 1994

8/301156

Stephen G. Seberger - Marshalltown IA
Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
George W. Gassman - Marshalltown IA

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

H04M 1104

34031006

The present invention relates to a circuit which is connected by two-conductors to a control system for a variable analog DC input and that also enables bidirectional digital communication along the two conductors for diagnostic operations of an instrument. The novel circuit includes a switch circuit that has a first position that provided the ability to accept both the variable DC analog signals and the bidirectional digital communication signals by presenting a first impedance for the DC signals and a second switch position for providing a second substantially higher impedance while using the same two-conductor system. The novel invention also includes an auxiliary analog input signal to the circuit which allows further control as a current feedback to a control algorithm in a microcontroller. An auxiliary process transmitter can sense pressure, temperature, flow or some other process related variable and couple it to the circuit for control of the instrument. Finally, the novel invention includes a novel voltage regulator and a capacitive voltage supply for utilizing the voltage on the two conductors from the controller to also power the device.

2010014, 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.

6023763, 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.

6186167, Feb 13, 2001

Mar 4, 1999

9/262444

Bruce F. Grumstrup - Marshalltown IA
Stephen G. Seberger - Marshalltown IA

Fisher Controls International Inc. - Clayton MI

F16K 31124

1374875

An emergency shutdown system for a process control system includes an emergency shutdown (ESD) valve and an associated valve actuator. An emergency shutdown (ESD) controller provides output signals to the ESD valve in the event of a failure in the process control system. A solenoid valve responds to the ESD controller to vent the actuator to a fail state. A digital valve controller (DVC) test strokes the ESD valve. An impedance booster device enables the dc powering of the solenoid valve and the DVC over a two wire line while still permitting digital communication over the same two wire line.

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.

2012021, 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.

5687098, 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.