Patents Examined by Jewel Thompson
  • Patent number: 7980124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a meter including a counter provided with an electronic display member and covered by a cap (2) presenting at least one window (2A) enabling an electronic screen (3) that is centered on the vertical central axis (X) of the meter to be viewed, said cap (2) carrying official information on its outside face (4). According to the invention, said cap (2) is pivotable about said axis (X) and the meter includes at least one static sensor (5, 6) responsive to pivoting of said cap (2), said sensor controlling the display of said screen (3) in such a manner that the data displayed by the screen has the same reading direction (S1, S2) as said official information (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Actaris S.A.S.
    Inventor: Alain Cros
  • Patent number: 7980143
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a liquid supply pipeline, for transforming energy of liquid passing therethrough into electrical energy, comprising: a housing configured to be received within the pipeline and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet defining a flow direction therebetween, at least one current generator including a rotor supported by the housing and having a shaft and a plurality of vanes attached thereto, the shaft extending in the housing along the flow direction allowing rotation of the vanes by liquid passing through the generator, and a stator associated with the rotor for producing electrical signals corresponding to the rotation of the rotor, and a power storage mean to which the at least one current generator is electrically connected, for receiving the electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hydrospin Monitoring Solutions Ltd
    Inventor: Dani Peleg
  • Patent number: 7975559
    Abstract: A damping device for a fluid flow meter is provided. The fluid flow meter is mountable on the exterior of a pipe to meter fluid flow traveling within the pipe. The flow meter has at least one ultrasonic sensor operable to transmit ultrasonic signals through a wall in a direction substantially normal to the pipe wall and into a fluid flow disposed within the pipe. The transmitted signals create secondary ultrasonic signals circumferentially traveling within the pipe wall at one or more frequencies. The damping device includes a tuned body attachable to the pipe wall at one or more contact points. The body has one or more resonant structural modes, each with a natural frequency, which natural frequencies are closely matched to the one or more frequencies of the secondary signals. The body is operable to dissipate energy upon excitation by the secondary signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Expro Meters, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Gysling
  • Patent number: 7975543
    Abstract: A method for isometric exercise safely reduces resting blood pressure and increases overall cardiovascular health. The method utilizes an apparatus that provides resistance to force and maximizes user/patient comfort. The handle or grip of the apparatus may be squeezed with a force less than the maximum squeeze force of the user, thereby restricting blood flow through contracting muscles and safely increasing blood pressure during exercise. Resting blood pressure is reduced through use of the method. The restricted blood flow reduces localized necrosis due to obstruction of blood supply. The method includes measuring and recording the maximum squeeze force of a user, calculating a fractional force using the duration of exercise or a desired fractional force percentage, and inducing the user to apply the fractional force, a lesser fractional force or no force for a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: CardioGrip IPH, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Clem, Richard Rae Clem, Thomas J. Wernikowski, Joachim Eldring, Nathaniel Longstreet, Steven Wood, Seth Huckstead
  • Patent number: 7971493
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operation of a flow measurement device, and to a flow measurement device itself. In order in this case to record the conductivity of the medium or faults resulting from deposits by means of a measurement tube configuration in a technically simple manner, a total of at least 4 electrodes are arranged distributed on the circumference of the measurement tube, in the measurement tube. When a signal is fed in at one of the electrodes or at an electrode pair, an electric current is measured between one electrode pair, while an electrical voltage is measured between another electrode pair. An impedance value is determined from the two measured values, from which impedance value a conductivity of the medium is determined and/or in comparison of different conductivities or in comparison with historical values, it is deduced that there is a covering layer on the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Kai Hencken, Daniel Schrag, Troy Wray
  • Patent number: 7966894
    Abstract: An in line measuring device, includes a measuring transducer having: a least one measuring tube vibrating, during operation, and serving for conveying, a two- or multiphase, flowable medium; an exciter mechanism for producing vibrations of the at least one measuring tube; a sensor arrangement for registering vibrations of the measuring tube and for delivering an oscillation measurement signal representing oscillations of the measuring tube, and a measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kuttler, Alfred Rieder, Hao Zhu, Christof Huber
  • Patent number: 7966895
    Abstract: An in line measuring device, includes a measuring transducer of the vibration-type having: at least one measuring tube vibrating, at least at times, during operation, and serving for conveying, at least at times, a two- or multiphase, flowable medium; an exciter mechanism acting on the measuring tube for producing vibrations of the at least one measuring tube; and a sensor arrangement for registering vibrations of the at least one measuring tube and for delivering at least one oscillation measurement signal representing oscillations of the measuring tube. The in line measuring device further includes measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer. The measuring device electronics delivers, at least at times, at least one exciter signal driving the exciter mechanism, and, at least at times, ascertains a damping value of first type, which represents a change of damping opposing the vibrations of the measuring tube within a predeterminable time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kuttler, Alfred Rieder, Hao Zhu, Christof Huber
  • Patent number: 7966892
    Abstract: The in-line sampler separator utilizes an improved method of measuring the gas, oil and water components in a fuel material mixture being processed at high pressure in a processing system. A sampling loop obtains mixture samples to be collected in a sampler. The sampler releases the collected sample to a separator tank when a certain volume has been reached. The tank operates at or below a pressure that allows the gas component to be released in gaseous form. The oil and water components separate within the tank, and their respective volumes are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Sami O. Halilah
  • Patent number: 7963173
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter for measuring flow of a flow of process fluid, includes a flow tube arranged to receive the flow of process fluid therethrough. A magnetic drive coil proximate the flow tube is arranged to apply a magnetic field to the flow in response to a drive signal. At least one electrode is arranged to sense an electrical potential of the process fluid which related to the applied magnetic field and flow rate of the process fluid. Temperature measurement circuitry is coupled to the magnetic drive coil and is configured to provide a temperature output indicative of temperature of the drive coil based upon an electrical parameter of the drive coil. Flow measurement circuitry coupled to the at least one electrode is configured to provide a flow output based upon sensed electrical potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Scot R. Foss, Robert K. Schulz
  • Patent number: 7963172
    Abstract: A multiphase flowmeter, and a method of analyzing and measuring multiphase flow is described. The body of the multiphase flowmeter consists of the following components. It has a straight flow pipe in which two orifice plates a lodged near the extremities. At each of these two locations, a pressure differential transmitter measures the pressure drop that occurs as the fluid passes through the orifice plates. Along the length between the orifice plates, an ultrasound Doppler sensor measures the volume flow rate of the multiphase fluid, a pressure transmitter measures the in-pipe pressure and a temperature sensor measures the temperature. From the signals obtained from the above sensors, an overall analysis of the multiphase fluid flow is performed providing a complete set of flow measurement data for the mixture and for each of the three phases consisting of oil, water and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Shanghai Medeng Electronic Equipment Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhu Liu, Zhaorong Liu
  • Patent number: 7963162
    Abstract: A measurement device, particularly an anemometric measurement device, is provided for mounting in an exhaust-gas pipe, particularly an exhaust-gas recirculation pipe. The device includes a ceramic carrier embedded in an injection-molded housing made of plastic, with at least one film resistor mounted on the ceramic carrier on an end opposite the embedding. Electrical connections lead out from the film resistor to the embedded end of the ceramic carrier, and the electrical connections are passed through the injection molding, sealed and mounted within the injection-molded part. Additional components can be used for the sealing and mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Heraeus Sensor Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Muziol, Karlheinz Wienand, Karl-Heinz Ullrich
  • Patent number: 7954387
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a proximal end and an opposing distal end. The transducer assembly includes an outer housing and an electroacoustic signal generating element secured within the outer housing. The signal generating element transmits an ultrasonic signal at a characteristic frequency along an ultrasonic path that is perpendicular to the face of the generating element. An isolation diaphragm is coupled to the proximal end of the outer housing. The isolation diaphragm is thin relative to a characteristic wavelength of the diaphragm material. A fluidic transmission layer is disposed between the electroacoustic signal generating element and the isolation diaphragm. In one embodiment, the isolation diaphragm is at an angle relative to the proximal face of the electroacoustic signal generating element. In another embodiment, a flow meter includes the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and the isolation diaphragm substantially matches the contour of the flow passage within the flow meter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Edward Randall Furlong
  • Patent number: 7954386
    Abstract: A system and method for compensating a calculated or flow rate of fuel dispensed to a vehicle via a fuel flow path in response to a determination of a non-steady state condition based on data corresponding to a signal transmitted by a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure therein, where the pressure sensor is adapted to transmit a signal representative of the sensed pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Seifollah S. Nanaji, Philip A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 7954388
    Abstract: An inline measuring device, includes a measuring transducer having: at least one measuring tube vibrating, during operation, and serving for conveying, at least at times, a two- or multiphase, flowable medium; an exciter mechanism for producing vibrations of the measuring tube; and a sensor arrangement for registering vibrations of the measuring tube and for delivering oscillation measurement signal representing oscillations of the measuring tube. Measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kuttler, Alfred Rieder, Hao Zhu, Christof Huber
  • Patent number: 7950293
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring flow rates in liquid melts in a temperature range above 200 DEG C. using an ultrasonic generator and to an associated ultrasonic waveguide according to the ultrasonic Doppler method. The aim of the invention is to provide good signal incoupling and outcoupling. This is achieved by the preparation of the wettability of the end face of the ultrasonic waveguide before the measuring operation, subsequent direct incoupling of ultrasonic measuring signals into the melt at an angle that is not equal to 90 DEG, achieved by the immersion of the end face of the ultrasonic waveguide into the melt, outcoupling of the ultrasonic signals reflected in the melt via the end face of the ultrasonic waveguide and routing of said signals to an evaluation circuit. To prepare the wettability of the end face, the latter is mechanically and chemically cleaned and subsequently coated with a suitable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden, Rossendorf e.V.
    Inventors: Sven Eckert, Gunter Gerbeth, Thomas Gundrum
  • Patent number: 7946187
    Abstract: A mass flowmeter is provided which operates on the Coriolis principle, having (1) at least four measurement tubes which can oscillate and through which a medium can flow, (2) at least one oscillation generator for excitation of the oscillations of the measurement tube, and (3) at least one oscillation sensor for detection of the excited oscillations of the measurement tubes. The measurement tubes are preferably arranged closely in parallel such that the flow cross section covered by the measurement tubes covers as small an area as possible. The use of four or more compactly arranged measurement tubes advantageously allows for the measurement of a high mass flow rate with measurement tubes having a relatively small cross section and length, resulting in a mass flowmeter having compact length and width dimensions, and which requires only a relatively low energy oscillation generator for excitation of the oscillations of the measurement tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Krohne AG
    Inventors: Yousif Hussain, Christopher Rolph, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 7946165
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method provide a means for indicating an overload condition has occurred during aircraft operation. The occurrence of an overload condition is automatically determined and an indication output thereof. Based on the indication received by the cockpit, avionics, maintenance, etc., further action may be taken to correct the effects of the overload condition on the tires and/or landing gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 7942066
    Abstract: A process for determining a fluid flow velocity and then a mass flow rate of a cryogenic fluid in which a Helmholtz resonator is used to detect a presence of a two-phase flow in a conduit. The process first measures a frequency of the fluid flow, then determines a speed of sound of the fluid from the frequency, then measures the temperature of the fluid flow, and from the speed of sound and the temperature determines a quality of the fluid flow (liquid or vapor), and from the frequency and the fluid quality determines a Strouhal Number. The fluid flow velocity is found from an equation relating the frequency and a diameter of the surface area to the Strouhal Number. The mass flow rate is found from the fluid flow velocity and the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Elizabeth V Stein
  • Patent number: 7942065
    Abstract: The invention relates in a one aspect to a method or apparatus for measuring flow properties of a multiphase fluid stream flowing in a pipeline comprising means for sampling, with a sampling probe, a portion of the fluid stream; for measuring a differential pressure between a first pressure of the fluid stream in the pipeline and a second pressure of the portion of the fluid stream in the sampling probe; for controlling flow rate of the sampled portion, wherein the flow rate of the sampled portion is controlled to provide for nullification of the differential pressure in order to obtain substantially isokinetic sampling of the fluid stream; for measuring properties of the portion of the fluid stream; and for processing the measured properties to determine the flow properties of the multiphase fluid stream flowing in the pipeline, wherein the above elements do not require- or are performed without the determination of the density of fluid in the fluid stream through nuclear radiation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Gang Xie
  • Patent number: 7942070
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow sensor having a measuring chamber to which a fluid whose volume and/or rate of flow is to be measured is supplied and then drawn off. Inside the measuring chamber elements of a measuring mechanism are mounted so as to freely rotate. The sensor is also provided with a magnet which produces a magnetic field inside the measuring chamber and in close proximity thereto. At least one sensor device measures the magnetic field and/or changes in the magnetic field. The sensor device for measuring the magnetic field is provided with at least one giant magnetoresistance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: VSE Volumentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Ertler