Patents Examined by David J. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 6796167
    Abstract: A method and a device for indication of leakage in a liquid system, includes liquid lines and a liquid filter that consists of a non-transparent upper portion (3) having flow paths (5, 6) for the supply of liquid to the filter and discharge of liquid from the filter, and a transparent lower portion (4) having a transparent casing (7) and a filter unit (11) positioned inside the casing (7). It is significant for the device that an indicating channel (27) is connected to the inlet flow path (5), the indicating channel (27) extending below the upper portion (3) and having an outlet opening (31) that emerges in the lower portion (4) and being arranged to discharge supplied liquid so as to be visible to a person's eye and also visually indicate gas bubbles/air bubbles (39) that possibly are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tigerholm Innovation AB
    Inventor: Lars Tigerholm
  • Patent number: 6722185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to detection and alarm systems for predicting and detecting the location of spills, leaks, emissions, and/or pollution sources, i.e., unwanted fluid (liquid/gas) flow/escape, at refineries, e.g., oil and gas refineries, and plants, e.g., petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing plants, and avoiding said unwanted flow/escape. According to one embodiment, said system comprises at least one detector, at least one battery powered radio frequency transmitter, preferably, according to one embodiment, a 900 megahertz spread spectrum transmitter, and a central processing location which, according to one embodiment, is preferably capable of handling up to 3000 points in a single cell site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fedd Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. Lawson, Michael S. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6688159
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of determining gas concentrations in a gas mixture comprising more than one component, in which thermal conductivities of the gas mixture are determined at different temperatures, deriving therefrom the individual gas concentrations. The invention aims to improve upon this method by enabling the accuracy of measurement to be enhanced, the sensitivity to external influences to be diminished, and the constructional expenditure of a measuring apparatus to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Axel-Ulrich Grunewald
  • Patent number: 6684682
    Abstract: A method for expelling air out of mailpieces includes the steps of creating a stack of the mailpieces; cutting an opening in at least some of the mailpieces; jogging the stack of mailpieces; and subjecting the stack of mailpieces to at least one compression/decompression cycle during the jogging step thereby expelling air out of the at least some of the mailpieces through their corresponding openings. A jogger system incorporates the structure for accomplishing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Denis J. Stemmle, Eric A. Belec, Robert J. Allen, Michael M. Farrell, Jeffrey A. Gateman, Thomas M. Lyga, Edward C. Miller, John F. Zajac
  • Patent number: 6672135
    Abstract: A filter (20) suitable for gas analysis, especially non-gravimetric gas analysis, by collecting particulate matter thereon, with a filter material comprising a polycarbonate membrane having a maximum pore size of 2 micrometers or less that is secured by a support (5) formed of a polyolefin or polymethylpentene material. For additional embodiments, the particular manner of support mounting to the membrane may include thermal-bonding techniques, and the particular method of analysis may include X-Ray luminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph G. Adiletta
  • Patent number: 6662626
    Abstract: An assembly for desorbing sampling tubes comprises a gas chromatograph known per se provided with an injector. The sampling tubes are provided with an inflow opening and an outflow opening. The assembly comprises an adapter which is placed in the injector and which is provided with a chamber which is bounded by a heat conducting housing. The adapter is arranged for placing a sampling tube in the chamber thereof, while in a condition of a sampling tube wherein it is placed in the adapter, the inflow opening thereof is in fluid communication with a first carrier gas supply duct, while the outflow opening of the sampling tube is in fluid communication via the injector with a gas chromatography column disposed in the gas chromatograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: SGT Exploitatie
    Inventor: Marinus Frans van der Maas
  • Patent number: 6662644
    Abstract: A formation fluid sampling and hydraulic testing tool for a drilling apparatus that includes a drilling string comprised of a drilling pipe and a drilling bit is provided. The tool has an outer tube disposed between the drilling pipe and the drilling bit. The outer tube is provided with a plurality of through holes for receiving formation fluid into the outer tube. An inner tube is disposed within, and spaced from, the outer tube to form an annular space between them. The inner tube is provided with a plurality of through holes that are adapted to communicate with the annular space. One end of the inner tube is connectable to a pumping mechanism for drawing formation fluid through the through holes of the outer tube and of the inner tube for the purpose of collecting a sample of the fluid and imposing a hydraulic stress on the formation. The through holes of the inner tube can be closed off or released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: EDM Systems USA
    Inventors: Josef Grotendorst, Gerhard Grotendorst
  • Patent number: 6658917
    Abstract: An air-sampling carrier for sampling air from a clean room of a semiconductor processing facility, an apparatus and a method for analyzing the air, wherein the air-sampling carrier includes a container having an inner space, a door mounted at a front wall of the container, a discharging pipe for discharging the air sample out of the container, and at least one inlet tube for introducing purge gas into the inner space of the container from outside the container. The discharging pipe and inlet tube are respectively formed on an outer surface of the container and connected to an inner space of the container. The air in the unit process tools is effectively sampled using an unmanned carrying apparatus and the pollution level of the air sample is simply and easily measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Ho Kim, Dong-Seok Ham
  • Patent number: 6658916
    Abstract: A sensor comprising; a sensing element disposed within a housing having a lower shell portion, a middle shell portion, and an upper shell portion, wherein said sensing element extends from said lower shell portion through at least a portion of said middle shell portion; a connector plug concentrically disposed within said upper shell portion; one or more electrical wires extending from said connector plug through an opening in said upper shell portion, and said opening forming a seal in said upper portion concentrically disposed around said one or more eletrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Donelon, Kathryn McCauley
  • Patent number: 6658915
    Abstract: A vapor sensing device that is sufficiently small and lightweight to be handheld, and also modular so as to allow the device to be conveniently adapted for use in sensing the presence and concentration of a wide variety of specified vapors. The device provides these benefits using a sensor module that incorporates a sample chamber and a plurality of sensors located on a chip releasably carried within or adjacent to the sample chamber. Optionally, the sensor module can be configured to be releasably plugged into a receptacle formed in the device. Vapors are directed to pass through the sample chamber, whereupon the sensors provide a distinct combination of electrical signals in response to each. The sensors of the sensor module can take the form of chemically sensitive resistors having resistances that vary according to the identity and concentration of an adjacent vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cyrano Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Sunshine, M. Gregory Steinthal, Christopher K. Boehr, Robert K. Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6658930
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for isolator pad assemblies used in formation testing equipment. The pad comprises a primarily metallic pad member and a retractable resilient sealing member. The resilient sealing member is maintained in a retracted, protected position until extended to seal against the wellbore. When extended the metallic pad pushes into the mudcake until a raised ring of material on the surface of the pad contacts the formation. Once the pad is in place, the resilient sealing member, which is molded to an extending metal sleeve, is extended and contacts the mudcake to form a primary seal. With the primary and secondary seals energized, a fluid sample can be collected from the formation without contamination from wellbore fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Arian Abbas
  • Patent number: 6655192
    Abstract: A permeameter provides normal and lateral permeability measurements on porous materials. The permeability measurements can be made on compressed or uncompressed samples and can be made at room temperature or at elevated temperatures. A wide variety of fluids, gas or liquid, can be used as the penetrating test fluid depending on the application and the porosity of porous sample. The penetrating test fluid is forced through the sample under pressure. The load, the fluid displacement, and the time are recorded and used in the calculations of permeability, porosity, pore size distribution, average pore size and the number of pores per unit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Bulent Chavdar
  • Patent number: 6651483
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for monitoring the fluidic contents of a tank. The tank includes a quick disconnect valve and an assembly includes a monitor device, such as, for example, a gas density monitor, a pressure monitor, a temperature monitor, etc., and a quick disconnect fitting. The monitor device is coupled to the quick disconnect fitting. The quick disconnect fitting is adapted to couple to the quick disconnect valve such that the interior of the quick disconnect fitting is in fluidic communication with the interior of the monitor device for reducing the chance of leakage upon connection/disconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jeffry R. Meyer, Willie B. Freeman, Caroline Komlenic
  • Patent number: 6647761
    Abstract: A hand held refrigeration fluid leak detector for observing and detecting optical fluorescence resulting from optical excitation of the leaking refrigeration fluid provides single hand operation for a user while holding the main body of the detector with either one of two hands. The flexible stalk is coupled to the main body and to a head containing an LED light source which provides spectral emissions in the UV to blue range. In one embodiment, the hand held detector includes a gas detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mastercool, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Barjesteh
  • Patent number: 6644110
    Abstract: A system of measuring properties, such as pressure, and transmitting measurements in a subterranean well. In a described example, a valve system includes a valve having a closure member. A sensor senses a pressure differential across the closure member. A tool positioned in the valve transmits power to the valve to operate the sensor, and the sensed pressure differential is transmitted from the valve to the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick D. Curtis, Paul Spriggs, Vimal V. Shah
  • Patent number: 6644098
    Abstract: A gas detector for sensing the presence of at least one predetermined gas is operative in conjunction with a electrical power source and includes a detection circuit, a temperature controller, and a electrical current controller, wherein the detection circuit includes a sensing device having first and second electrodes, the first electrode being connected to the power source for heating the first electrode, the temperature controller is operatively connectable to the detection circuit for maintaining a temperature of the first electrode at a predetermined magnitude, and the current controller is operatively connectable to the detection circuit for maintaining a current in the second electrode at a predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Test Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Cardinale, Robert Zubik
  • Patent number: 6637256
    Abstract: An air side cover is attached to a proximal end of a housing so as to confine an aerial atmosphere therein. A measured gas side cover is attached to a distal end of the housing so as to confine a measured gas atmosphere therein. A glass sealing material airtightly seals a clearance between an inner surface of an insulator and an outer surface of a sensing element. A contact interface of the glass sealing material protrudes toward a proximal end of the gas sensor compared with at least an adjacent portion of the remainder of the glass sealing material. By melting and hardening a glass pellet, the sensing element is airtightly fixed in the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 6629449
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a non-invasive bubble measuring instrument operable for detecting, distinguishing, and counting gaseous embolisms such as bubbles over a selectable range of bubble sizes of interest. A selected measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected is insonified by two distinct frequencies from a pump transducer and an image transducer, respectively. The image transducer frequency is much higher than the pump transducer frequency. The relatively low-frequency pump signal is used to excite bubbles to resonate at a frequency related to their diameter. The image transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode at a controllable repetition rate that transmits bursts of high-frequency ultrasonic signal to the measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected and then receives the echo. From the echo or received signal, a beat signal related to the repetition rate may be extracted and used to indicate the presence or absence of a resonant bubble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert Kline-Schoder, Patrick J. Magari
  • Patent number: 6626026
    Abstract: An apparatus that is configured to sense the presence of gases, vapors and liquids using acoustic waves. The apparatus comprises a first part that is configured to generate acoustic waves. The apparatus further comprises a second part having a sensing and acoustic wave guiding device, which is configured to sense the presence of such substances and propagate acoustic waves. The first part is removably fixable to the second part of the apparatus. When the first part is fixed to the second part, the acoustic waves propagate in the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Pedro Banda, Andrew Campitelli
  • Patent number: 6622543
    Abstract: A gas detection sensor permits precise measurement of the concentration of flammable gas in a detection or subject gas and the concentration of oxygen in a detection gas containing flammable gases. In the sensor, the heating of the sensor by contact catalytic reaction of flammable gas gives off a detection signal of the flammable gas. The gas detection sensor has a first detection sensor including a diaphragm having a platinum coat on a side which the flowing detection gas comes in contact with, and a thermocouple having respective ends of two different metals placed close to each other and fixed on the side of the diaphragm not coming in contact with the flowing detection gas and which is heated by the contact catalytic reaction of flammable gas. A second detection sensor similar to the first detection sensor detects the temperature of the flowing detection gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Kouji Kawada, Nobukazu Ikeda, Akihiro Morimoto, Yukio Minami, Katunori Komehana, Teruo Honiden