Patents Examined by Jewel Thompson
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Patent number: 7942067Abstract: A method achieving a small spatial restriction and capable of simply measuring with high precision a flow rate of a conductive fluid of an electromagnetic pump is provided. In particular, the method is suitable in measuring a flow amount of each electromagnetic pump in an electromagnetic pump unit where a plurality of electromagnetic pumps are arranged in parallel in one pump vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Central Research Institute of Electric Power IndustryInventor: Hideo Araseki
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Patent number: 7938018Abstract: A liquid flow sensing system for sensing the flow of liquid within a supply line (2) of a metering pumping machine, the system including a magnetic member (4) arranged for movement relative to a pneumatic switch (8) operated by the presence or absence of a magnetic field, the magnetic member (4) being contained within a sealed unit (5) located within the supply line (2) and the arrangement being such that, when the liquid flow rate falls below a predetermined level, the magnetic member (4) moves downwardly from a first operative position into a second operative position.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: GSSC, Inc.Inventor: Alan Roger Harper
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Patent number: 7938023Abstract: Methods and apparatus determine phase fractions for phases within a fluid mixture flow under a wide range of flow conditions including wet-gas flow. Appropriate flow algorithms can utilize this phase fraction information with a total flow rate of the mixture to find individual flow rates for phases, such as oil, water, and gas or gas and liquid, which can represent a combination of oil and water phases. For some embodiments, a multiphase flowmeter includes an array of spatially distributed pressure sensors configured to determine a velocity of the mixture flow and hence the total flow rate, which is applied with information from a differential pressure meter to calculate the bulk density of the fluid mixture. Further, additional speed of sound information or a water-in-liquid ratio as may be determined by spectral analysis can enable differentiation between the oil and water phases.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Inc.Inventors: Espen S. Johansen, Omer Haldun Unalmis, John Lievois
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Patent number: 7938021Abstract: A compact vibratory flowmeter (200) for measuring flow characteristics of a cement flow material at a cement flow material pressure of greater than about 10 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The compact vibratory flowmeter (200) includes at least two pickoff sensors (308) and a driver (309). The compact vibratory flowmeter (200) further includes one or more flow conduits (301). The at least two pickoff sensors (308) are affixed to the one or more flow conduits (301) and the driver (309) is configured to vibrate the one or more flow conduits (301). The one or more flow conduits (301) include a drive frequency that is less than about 200 Hertz (Hz) and a frequency ratio of the drive frequency to a fluid resonant frequency of the cement flow material that is less than about 0.8.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.Inventors: Anthony William Pankratz, Mark James Bell, Andrew Timothy Patten
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Patent number: 7938020Abstract: An electrode assembly comprises a housing, an electrode, a retainer and a potting material. The housing has a first end and a second end, with the electrode extending from the first end of the housing to a process flow. The retainer is positioned about the electrode, inside the housing. The potting material fills voids between the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing, such that the potting material limits displacement of the electrode when the electrode head is subject to pressure from the process flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Rosemount Inc.Inventor: Craig Allen Diederichs
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Patent number: 7934432Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the run time of an ultrasonic pulse in the determination of the flow velocity of a gas in a breathing gas volume flow sensor (1). The breathing gas volume flow sensor (1) has a flow duct (3) with a measuring section, wherein the measuring section is arranged in parallel to or at an angle (?) smaller than 90° to the flow duct (3). The measuring section has an ultrasound transmitter (5) and an ultrasound receiver (7). The method determines the run time of the ultrasonic pulse from the receiving signal spectrum without the damping of the ultrasonic pulse having an effect on the run time measurement by an ultrasonic pulse being triggered by a transmitting pulse at the ultrasound transmitter (5). The ultrasound receiver (7) sends a receiving signal and the receiving signal is recorded as a first receiving signal data record as a function of time after the transmitting pulse.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbHInventors: Henning Kühn, Henning Gerder
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Patent number: 7934433Abstract: An insert meter can be run into an inverse venturi on wireline and make use of the existing pressure taps to allow accurate measurement of reduced flow rates that could not be accurately measured with the inverse venturi meter. The insert meter has seals and can lock into position with peripheral sealing to direct the new and lower flow rate into the throat of the insert meter that is preferably a standard venturi. The venturi devices can be in meter or eductor service and located downhole, subsea or on the surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Juan P. Franco, Kanti D. Lad
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Patent number: 7930945Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the mean flow velocity of an electrically conductive medium while applying a magnetic field to the measurement volume put through and decoupling an electric signal induced in the measurement volume. The fluctuating part of the electric signal, which is based on stochastic fluctuations of the flow velocity due to turbulent motion, is captured as a time-dependent wanted signal. By the weighted integration of the wanted signal the mean flow velocity over predefined time intervals is determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Zylum Beteilgungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Patente II KGInventor: Gerd Stange
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Patent number: 7926360Abstract: Methods and apparatus enable measuring flow of a fluid within a conduit. For example, flowmeters may measure the velocity of production fluid flowing through production pipe of an oil/gas well. The flowmeters rely on detection of pressure variations generated as a result of a backward-facing step as a basis for flow measurement calculations. Pressure sensing occurs away from the step in a direction of the flow of the fluid in an enhanced turbulence region of the flowmeter where the inner diameter remains enlarged as a result of the step.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Omer Haldun Unalmis, Espen S. Johansen, Leslie Wayne Perry, Alejandro Vera, Daniel Rodriguez, Vijay Ramakrishnan
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Patent number: 7921732Abstract: An apparatus for operating an electromagnetic valve, associated to a gas meter, and operated to stop, or allow, a flow of gas through the meter (1) includes: an electronic consumption measuring device (4), which generates in output electric signals representing the quantity of gas, which flows through the meter (1); a central unit (C), which receives in input the electric signals generated by the measuring device (4) and includes means for transmitting the data concerning the gas consumption, by electromagnetic waves. Moreover, the apparatus includes an electric, functional connection between the central unit (C) and the electromagnetic valve (3), while the central unit (C) includes also means for receiving significant data by electromagnetic waves.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Alfa Centauri S.p.A.Inventor: Mario Tabellario
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Patent number: 7921716Abstract: A method and system for measuring energy expenditure of individuals by measuring force from a plurality of foot-borne force sensitive resistors and calculating incline from a foot-borne tri-axial accelerometer.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: Stacy J. Morris Bamberg, Mark A. Fehlberg
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Patent number: 7921726Abstract: A fluid detection device is herein disclosed as including a sensor mount, a flexible deflection sensor rigidly connected to the sensor mount and a stiffener. The stiffener is arranged together with the flexible deflection sensor such that the flexible deflection sensor is preconfigured to deform in a predetermined manner when the fluid detection device is exposed to a fluid. An amount of the deformation of the flexible deflection sensor determines a property of the fluid. A pressure sensing apparatus is herein disclosed as including a rigid perimeter, a flexible membrane forming a surface area bounded by the perimeter, and a sensing means in communication with the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is configured to elastically deform when a pressure force is exerted on the surface area, and the sensing means is configured to measure an amount of deformation of the flexible membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Precision Pumping Systems, Inc.Inventor: Paul L. Ellegood
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Patent number: 7918135Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a diaphragm, a sensing element, and a circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense deflection of the diaphragm. The circuit is configured to heat the diaphragm to induce deflection of the diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
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Patent number: 7913574Abstract: A tension adapter is disclosed for a materials testing machine. The tension adapter includes a shank and a sleeve. The shank includes an enlarged head with a machined convex spherical bearing surface which forms a ring around the periphery adjacent to one end of the shaft. The opening of the sleeve includes a machine concave spherical bearing surface around the periphery thereof to form a seat for the convex spherical bearing surface. The sleeve further includes inner walls which are conical in order to allow the shank to rotate or pivot from the vertical orientation about the pivot point formed by the spherical bearing surfaces. The rotation or pivoting of the shank allows the tension adapter to align so that only tension forces are applied during materials testing.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Illinois Tool Works IncInventor: Arthur L. Cain
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Patent number: 7913577Abstract: A flow meter may include a case body formed with a fluid space in its inside, an impeller disposed in the fluid space, a detected part integrally provided in the impeller, a detecting part provided with detecting terminals for detecting the detected part, terminal pins which is provided with terminal contact parts, which are electrically connected with the detecting terminals of the detecting part, and connector parts with which a connector for outputting an electric signal to an outside is connected, and a holder to which the terminal pins are fixed and which is detachably held by the case body through a holder holding part provided in the case body. The detecting part and the terminal contact parts are held between the case body and the holder by attaching the holder to the case body so that the terminal contact parts are contacted with the detecting terminals.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Nidec Sankyo CorporationInventors: Shogo Tanaka, Tetsuhiko Hara
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Patent number: 7913576Abstract: A flow scale apparatus includes a substantially vertical flow path along which material can flow, a plurality of spreader baffles substantially aligned horizontally and positioned in the flow path, a plurality of basket baffles located downstream from the spreader baffles in the flow path and substantially aligned horizontally, and a sensor. The basket baffles are secured together and configured to be displaceable such that portions of the material in the flow path contact each of the basket baffles to displace the basket baffles relative to the spreader baffles as a function of a weight of the material in the flow path. The sensor is configured for sensing displacement of the basket baffles and generating an output signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Inventor: Clarence Richard
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Patent number: 7908928Abstract: A monitoring system is provided, which may include a structural component configured to undergo mechanical loading and a wireless node attached to the structural component. The node may include a strain sensing device configured to measure strain experienced by the structural component at the location of the node. The node may also include a processor configured to predict, based on the strain measurements, fatigue life of the structural component.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Timothy A. Vik, James A. Forck, Jeffry N Sundermeyer
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Patent number: 7908915Abstract: A method for tire rolling simulation on mud comprises the steps of modeling a tire using finite elements to build a tire model, modeling a muddy road using finite volumes to build a muddy road model which can exhibit elastoplasticity property and failure property, and executing a numerical simulation in which the tire model is made to roll on the muddy road model in a predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Masahiro Kishida
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Patent number: 7908734Abstract: A hydraulic manifold assembly includes a manifold containing a plurality of hydraulic channels that direct fluid to a centralized location and a package disposed at the centralized location to measure fluid pressure at pressure ports corresponding to the hydraulic channels. The manifold assembly directs fluid to the single package rather than scattering fluid outputs to multiple sensor locations, simplifying the overall assembly configuration.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Mark L. Dell'eva, Timothy J. Green, David E. Herbert
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Patent number: 7908932Abstract: A measuring transducer including a measuring tube for conveying a fluid; a measuring electrode arrangement for registering electric voltages produced in the flowing fluid; as well as a magnetic field system situated externally on the measuring tube for producing a magnetic field at least partially passing through the measuring tube as well as the therein conveyed fluid during operation, for inducing an electric field in the flowing fluid, wherein the magnetic field system has at least one field coil, through which an electrical exciter current flows at least at times during operation. A coil holder is also including serving for holding the at least one field coil externally on the measuring tube, wherein the measuring tube and coil holder are connected joint-freely with one another, so that the coil holder is embodied as an integral component of the measuring tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Antonio Magliocca, Werner Wohlgemuth