DR. JAMES MITCH FOSTER, DDS
Dentist at El Camino Real, Houston, TX

5042531, Aug 27, 1991

Jun 11, 1990

7/537042

James H. Foster - Houston TX
John Beson - Houston TX

F15D 102

138 44

A orifice fitting for measuring gas flow in gas pipelines has an energized seal. The orifice fitting has a plate carrier which moves downward into a seat slot to position an orifice plate in the gas flow. An annular seal mounts to the plate carrier for engaging a downstream side of the seat slot. The seal is energized or pressed outwardly by hydraulic fluid pressure. The plate carrier has a chamber containing hydraulic fluid and a piston. A pin protrudes outward. The orifice fitting slide valve carrier engages and pushes the pin downward as the slide valve carrier moves to the closed position.

5094272, Mar 10, 1992

Jan 16, 1991

7/642071

James H. Foster - Houston TX
John Beson - Houston TX

F15D 108, F15D 100

138 44

A orifice fitting for measuring fluid flow in fluid pipelines has a seal mechanism to seal the orifice plate to the orifice fitting body. The orifice fitting has an orifice plate carrier which moves downward into a seat slot to position an orifice plate in the fluid flow. An annular seal mounts to the orifice plate assembly for engaging and sealing against the downstream side of the seat slot. A retaining ring mounts to an upstream side of the plate carrier. Threads on the retaining ring allow the ring to be adjusted to set the overall width of the plate carrier assembly to provide an interference fit in the seat slot. Set screws in the retaining ring bear against the orifice plate, which in turn bears against the seal member.

5050842, Sep 24, 1991

Feb 4, 1991

7/650081

James H. Foster - Houston TX
John Beson - Houston TX

F16K 302

251176

An orifice fitting has a slide valve seal strip of increased sealing area. The orifice fitting has a body with an upper chamber and a lower chamber, separated by a slot. A plate carrier will move an orifice plate from the upper chamber, through the lower chamber, and down into a flow passage below the lower chamber. A slide valve carrier will open and close the slot between the upper and lower chambers. A seal strip locates on the slide valve carrier for sealing against the seat of the slot. The seal strip has on opposite sides a pair of outward extending flanges. Each flange overlies and contacts a shoulder formed on the upper side of the slide valve carrier. The seal strip has a lower section that locates within the shoulders.

4993169, Feb 19, 1991

Jun 12, 1990

7/537021

James H. Foster - Houston TX
H. George Butler - Houston TX

G01B 500

33783

A gaging device will measure the widths between opposed seat faces in an orifice fitting. The orifice fitting has a body with flow passages for connecting into a pipeline. A seat slot locates in the flow passage. A carrier will move from an upper chamber in the body downward into the seat slot. When gaging, deformable plugs will be mounted to the carrier. The plugs have dimensions that are greater than the width of the slot. Each plug will deform as the carrier moves into the seat slot. When the carrier is removed from the seat slot, the plugs can be measured to determine the widths of the seat slot at various points.