Patents Examined by Erika J. Villaluna
  • Patent number: 11378431
    Abstract: A mass flow measuring sensor includes: an oscillatable measuring tube bent in a tube plane; an oscillation exciter for exciting bending oscillations in a bending oscillation use-mode; two oscillation sensors for registering oscillations; a support system; and a measuring sensor housing; wherein the support system has support system oscillation modes, including elastic deformations of the support plate; wherein the support plate is cut to form a number of spirally shaped spring securements, via which the support plate is secured to the measuring sensor housing with oscillation degrees of freedom, whose eigenfrequencies are lower than a use-mode eigenfrequency of the bending oscillation use-mode, wherein the use-mode eigenfrequency is lower than the eigenfrequencies of the support system oscillation modes, wherein a calibration factor describes a proportionality between a mass flow through the measuring tube and a phase difference between oscillations of the measuring tube oscillating in the bending oscillation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Christof Huber, Benjamin Schwenter, Dieter Mundschin, Christian Schütze
  • Patent number: 11378432
    Abstract: The Coriolis flowmeter according to the present disclosure includes: a measuring sensor including a bent measuring tube mirror-symmetrical with respect to a transverse plane, wherein a measuring tube center line runs in a longitudinal plane oriented perpendicular to the transverse plane, wherein an equatorial surface runs perpendicular to the longitudinal plane along the measuring tube center line; an exciter for exciting measuring tube bending vibrations; a first pair of vibration sensors for capturing the bending vibrations of the measuring tube; and an operating and evaluation circuit for driving the exciter, for capturing signals from the vibration sensors, and for determining a mass flow measured value, wherein the measuring sensor has a second pair of vibration sensors, which are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the transverse plane, wherein the first pair of vibration sensors is separated from the second pair of vibration sensors by the equatorial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Alfred Rieder
  • Patent number: 11365997
    Abstract: A Coriolis measuring device for measuring volume flow or density of a medium flowing through a measuring tube is disclosed, the device comprising: the measuring tube for conveying the medium; at least one exciter, which is adapted to excite the measuring tube to execute oscillations; at least one sensor, which is adapted to register the oscillations of the measuring tube; an electronic measuring/operating circuit, which is adapted to operate the exciter as well as the sensor and to determine and to output flow and/or density measurement values; wherein the electronic measuring/operating circuit has an electronics board, wherein at least one exciter has a stationary exciter element, and/or wherein at least one sensor has a stationary sensor element, wherein at least one stationary exciter element and/or at least one stationary sensor element is integrated into the electronics board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Severin Ramseyer, Benjamin Schwenter
  • Patent number: 11359946
    Abstract: A vortex flowmeter configured for ease of installation in a pipe, having a piezoelectric vortex-sensing element located within its shedder bar and mounted in a removable capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CDI Meters, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger E. Dennison, Emily Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11346697
    Abstract: Calibrating a plurality of fluid sensors of a remote metering system is disclosed. The system includes a material supply device including a main pump and a main flow sensor for monitoring an output of the main pump. The application system also includes a remote metering system for receiving the material flowing from the material supply device and applying the material to substrates. The remote metering system includes a first applicator assembly including a first applicator and a first flow sensor for monitoring an output of the first applicator, and a second applicator assembly including a second applicator and a second flow sensor for monitoring an output of the second applicator. The remote metering system further includes a controller in signal communication with the remote metering station and the material supply device. The controller performs a first and second calibration operations on the first and second flow sensors, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Alan R. Ramspeck
  • Patent number: 11340132
    Abstract: An apparatus for automated inspection or maintenance is provided. The apparatus includes a dual slider mechanism for deploying a probe. The dual slider mechanism comprises: a frame; a probe slider configured to attach the probe; a probe linear guide coupled to the frame and configured to guide the probe slider and attached probe in a linear direction; a spring having one end attached to the probe slider; a spring slider attached to another end of the spring; and a spring linear guide coupled to the frame and configured to guide the spring slider and attached spring in the linear direction, in order to guide the probe slider and attached probe in the linear direction along the probe linear guide using the guided spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdoulelah Al-Hannabi, Mohamed Abdelkader, Hassane Trigui, Sahejad Patel, FadL Abdellatif
  • Patent number: 11333536
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the flow velocity of a fluid includes a measurement tube that is axially bounded by at least one flange end and that forms a measurement space that can be flowed through by the fluid. At least one baffle is provided for generating interference in the flow, wherein the baffle is arranged in the measurement space. A detector for detecting the interference is arranged downstream of the baffle. An insertion element is introduced into the measurement tube and has a base portion. The base portion is arranged in the flange end. The insertion element has brackets that adjoin the base portion and that project into the measurement space, with the baffle being formed and its position in the measurement space being held between the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SIKA Dr. Siebert & Kühn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jörn-Ove Ketelsen, Bastian Bleichert, Sergius Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11326994
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for parallel sample stress rupture test in a controlled environment by loading predefined amounts of weight on stack lines; positioning the stack lines on a tensioning platform in alignment with respective upper clamps when the tensioning platform is a first distance away from the upper clamps; clamping samples to a corresponding lower clamp and upper clamp pair; and moving the tensioning platform to a second distance away from the upper clamps that is greater than the first distance such that the stack lines are suspended above the tensioning platform to apply individual tensions to the individual samples based on the predefined amount of weight loaded onto the individual stack lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis L. Coad, Alan Buitekant, Douglas E. Bailey, James E. Russell, Patrick D. McAllister, Thomas M. Collins, Victor L. Alonso
  • Patent number: 11314200
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11313707
    Abstract: A magnetic-inductive flowmeter for determining the flow of at least one medium, having first and second parallel measuring tubes for guiding the at least one medium, a magnetic field generating device for generating a magnetic field permeating the measuring tubes perpendicular to the flow direction of the at least one medium, first and second electrode pairs for respectively tapping a first and second measuring voltage induced in the medium, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the measuring voltages. Increased reliability in functioning of the flowmeter and the determined flow and flow difference values is achieved by the first and second electrode pairs being formed together by a first, second and third electrodes, the second electrode being both part of the first electrode pair and part of the second electrode pair and being arranged between the two measuring tubes. The electrodes are arranged perpendicular to the flow and magnetic field directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KROHNE AG
    Inventors: Joseph Neven, Helmut Brockhaus
  • Patent number: 11314199
    Abstract: Movement and/or urging of a developer carrying memer is carried out with high precision. A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yukio Kubo, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Koji Wada
  • Patent number: 11307125
    Abstract: A MEMS-nanoindenter chip performs nanoindentation on a specimen. The MEMS-nanoindenter chip has an intender probe joined with an indenter tip. The indenter tip indents into the specimen. A reference probe is joined with a reference tip, the reference tip touches the specimen. Sensing capabilities are provided to measure the position of the indenter probe relative to the reference probe. The MEMS-nanoindenter chip enables highly accurate measurements since the frame stiffness is not part of the measurement chain any more. Furthermore, thermal drift during the nanoindentation is considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FemtoTools AG
    Inventors: David Beyeler, Simon Muntwyler, Felix Beyeler
  • Patent number: 11307075
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of decreasing vibrational sensitivity of strain based measurements of fluid flow parameters for a fluid flow in a conduit is provided. The method includes using at least one vibrational sensor to sense a conduit to determine vibrational characteristics of the conduit, determining a predominant elastic axis using the measured vibrational characteristics, and securing a strain sensor array to an outer surface of the conduit, the strain sensor array having a plurality of strain sensors disposed at different axial positions of the conduit, the strain sensor array secured to the outer surface of the conduit at a position so that the strain sensor array is oriented substantially symmetric to the determined predominant elastic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Expro Meters, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Gabriel Dragnea, Siddesh Sridhar
  • Patent number: 11307529
    Abstract: Movement and/or urging of a developer carrying memer is carried out with high precision. A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yukio Kubo, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Koji Wada
  • Patent number: 11293789
    Abstract: A sensor unit that is configured to improve the non-contact, magnetic interface on a gas meter. The configurations may include a pair of magnets that co-rotate in response to a magnet internal to the gas meter. At least one of the magnets may also move longitudinally in proximity to the internal magnet. This feature aligns the magnets with one another to ensure proper magnetic coupling with the internal magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Thomas Martin, Roman Leon Artiuch, Jeffrey Raynal, Richard Jin Yao
  • Patent number: 11287295
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow rate measurement device and, more specifically, to a flow rate measurement device and a flow rate measurement method, wherein a flow rate is measured by sensing a rotation caused by a flow of a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Joon Young Park, Hae Soo Yu
  • Patent number: 11287296
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor assembly for rotary gas meters includes a counter module electronic volume corrector (“EVC”). In one aspect, the assembly includes a magnetic sensor probe configured to be releasably secured within an aperture of a first gas meter body. The sensor probe may alternatively be positioned within an adapter sleeve. The adapter sleeve is configured to be releasably secured within an aperture of a second gas meter body. In another aspect, the counter module EVC includes a base coupling member, and the assembly includes first and second magnetic sensor probes, the probe being configured to be releasably secured within apertures of first and second gas meter bodies, respectively. Each probe has a probe coupling member that is releasably engagable with the base coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROMET LIMITED
    Inventors: Xinmin Wang, Lin Lezhong, Andrew Smich
  • Patent number: 11274982
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to materials and articles that provide an irreversible history of compression forces and torques experienced by the materials and articles. The disclosure relates more particularly to an multiple impact level detection assembly as well as related articles and methods. The multiple impact level detection assembly provides distinct impact patterns depending on the impact force and direction (for torqueing motions) received by the detection assembly. The detection assembly can be incorporated into a variety of articles and used in a variety of settings, for example to monitor personal safety in a protective garment such as a helmet. The detection assembly incorporates an impact detection medium (e.g., a plurality of microcapsules with an indicator therein), which can serve as an irreversible means for detecting impact on the assembly via a relief substrate incorporated into the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marcos Dantus, Gary J. Blanchard, D. J. Osborn, III, Elan Dantus, Sheryl Blanchard, Evan Blanchard
  • Patent number: 11274951
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, with a measuring tube that forms a measurement chamber through which the fluid can flow and with at least one bluff body that is disposed in the measurement chamber and wherein, additionally, a measuring body, which can be displaced due to the formation of vortices at the bluff body, is disposed downstream of the bluff body in the measurement chamber. The flow meter has at least one protrusion protruding into the measurement chamber and is formed upstream of the bluff body at an inner wall delimiting the measurement chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SIKA Dr. Siebert & Kühn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Zander
  • Patent number: 11256195
    Abstract: A change of a magnetic flux density distribution adjacent to a regulating blade 9 opposed to a developer regulation pole is suppressed at a low cost, while suppressing influence to design latitude of magnetic poles. A position on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve where the magnetic flux density in the normal line direction of the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve is a maximum value position. The position on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 8 corresponding to a center portion position of the half peak range of the magnetic flux density distribution of the developer regulation pole is called half peak center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kyosuke Takahashi