Patents Examined by Kristina M Deherrera
  • Patent number: 11815374
    Abstract: A flow meter for a fluid with a pulsating flow includes a piezo transducer for receiving and converting fluid pulses into electrical pulses, a AC/DC converter circuit for cumulatively storing the pulse energies of the electrical pulses in an energy store, a counter for counting the electrical pulses during a time interval, an evaluation device for determining a pulse parameter indicative of the flow rate of at least one of the electrical pulses and for determining a flow value based on the electrical pulses counted within the time interval and the determined pulse parameter, a communication device for the preferably wireless transmission of the determined flow value and a power supply device for the exclusive power supply of the flow meter with the energy stored in the energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ralf Huck, Jürgen Kiefer
  • Patent number: 11808616
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor detects a liquid level. A substrate (707) has an acoustic array (705). An acoustic diversion array (710) can be between a substrate edge (713) and the acoustic array. A sensing region (701) can lay next to the acoustic array opposite the acoustic diversion array. A collimation groove (706) can be in the substrate along a length of the acoustic array next to the liquid level sensing region. Multiple longitudinal folds (801, 802, 803) can run parallel to and between acoustic source and receive arrays. A feed strip (1201, 1202, 1309, 1311) can be used with a bend (1203, 1204) acoustically coupled to the acoustic array and an ultrasonic transducer at another end of the feed strip. The feed strip runs along the entire acoustic array when top fed and runs along part of the acoustic array when fed through a side of a tank (1401).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Texzec, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence John Knowles, Charles F Bremigan, III
  • Patent number: 11808260
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a pump in a drilling system, of which the method includes determining a plurality of baseline behaviors for one or more valves of the pump, determining a plurality of in-use behaviors for the one or more valves of the pump. Each of the plurality of in-use behaviors are determined based on one or more measurements from one or more sensors. The method also includes comparing the in-use behaviors and the baseline behaviors, and forecasting, based on the comparison of the in-use behaviors and the baseline behaviors, a remaining useful life of the at least one of the one or more valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alejandro Camacho Cardenas, Vishwanathan Parmeshwar, Manat Singh
  • Patent number: 11808748
    Abstract: A method of detecting radon may include starting a first timer at a radon detection device in response to a first triggering action. A seal of the radon detection device may transition to a seal position from an open position in response to the first timer being equal to a measurement interval. The open position may facilitate the introduction of ambient air to a vent of the radon detection device. The seal position may discourage introduction of the ambient air to the vent. The vent may be in fluid communication with a test material. The test material may collect radon from the ambient air introduced to the radon detection device. A second timer may be started in response to the seal transitioning from the open position to the seal position. The seal remains in the sealed position following the transition from the open position to the sealed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORMATIVE HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Travis A. Jewell
  • Patent number: 11802783
    Abstract: A system for measuring fluid flow in a wellbore is provided. A probe includes at least a heater. A fiber optic cable is connected to the probe. The system is programmed to perform operations including: changing an output of the heater to thereby change a temperature of drilling fluid moving over a fiber optic cable; measuring a strain on the fiber optic cable caused by changing the temperature of the drilling fluid; preliminarily determining a velocity of the drilling fluid from the measured strain; measuring at least a second parameter of the drilling fluid; adjusting the preliminary determined velocity based on the measured at least a second parameter to yield an adjusted velocity; and determining a flow rate of the drilling fluid based on the adjusted velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Baishali Roy, Kyle Friehauf, Kevin T. Raterman, Herbert W. Swan, Jesse J. Constantine, Ge Jin
  • Patent number: 11802860
    Abstract: In one illustrative configuration, a method of locating an emission source of a target substance at a site is disclosed. The method may include obtaining predicted substance concentrations of the target substance from a prediction model to generate a mapping of a weighted mean of the plurality of the predicted substance concentrations grouped in a predetermined number of feature groups. A simulated plume model is generated for each emission source present at the site to calculate representative circular normal distributions for each air quality monitor. By performing an analysis of the plurality of representative circular normal distributions in relation to the mapping, a target emission source is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: PROJECT CANARY, PBC
    Inventors: Nathan C. Eichenlaub, Kieran J. Lynn, William J. Foiles, Jason D. Clark
  • Patent number: 11802858
    Abstract: In various embodiments, rapid, sensitive detection of molecular hydrogen is achieved by receiving sample gas that includes ambient water vapor and hydrogen, passing the sample gas through a gas dryer, chemically converting hydrogen in the sample gas to water vapor to produce converted sample gas, measuring water vapor in the converted sample gas to produce a water vapor signal, separating the water vapor signal in the time domain into an ambient water vapor signal and a hydrogen-derived water vapor signal, wherein the gas dryer dampens variation in the ambient water vapor signal, and outputting a hydrogen signal that describes molecular hydrogen in the sample gas that is based on the hydrogen-derived water vapor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Aerodyne Research, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Nelson, Jr., Scott C. Herndon, Joanne H. Shorter, Joseph R. Roscioli
  • Patent number: 11788563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a pre-charge gas pressure in a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator are disclosed. For example, systems and methods for determining pre-charged gas pressure of a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator included as part of a vehicle are disclosed. Further, the present disclosure provides for determining a pre-charge gas pressure of a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator using a position sensor. The accumulator may form part of a hydraulic system used to move one part of the vehicle relative to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Alexander C. Reiners, John A. Dighton, Peter A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11774421
    Abstract: A detector comprising an analytical apparatus for detecting a substance of interest, and a detector inlet. The detector inlet comprises a flow passage for carrying a flow of fluid, the flow passage comprising a sampling volume, and a sampling inlet adapted to collect samples of the fluid from the sampling volume as the fluid flows past the sampling inlet, and to provide the samples to the analytical apparatus, wherein the flow of fluid carries particulates. The detector inlet also comprises a flow director arranged to vary a spatial distribution of the particulates carried by the fluid to increase a relative proportion of the particulates carried past the sampling inlet along the flow passage without entering the sampling volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Smiths Detection-Watford Limited
    Inventors: Alastair Clark, Bruce Grant, Matthew Easton, Frederic Fournier
  • Patent number: 11774423
    Abstract: The invention discloses a parallel device and method for high-precision determination of sulfur solubility under multiple influencing factors, and the device comprises an elemental sulfur absorption system, an elemental sulfur saturation system and a sulfur content determination system. The elemental sulfur absorption system is used to remove the dissolved elemental sulfur in the sour gas. The elemental sulfur saturation system is arranged in parallel to saturate sour gases at different temperatures and pressures at the same time. The elemental sulfur absorption system and the elemental sulfur saturation system are arranged in parallel. The sulfur content determination system is used to determine the total sulfur content of the parallel elemental sulfur saturation system and the elemental sulfur content in the sour gas after absorbing the elemental sulfur under the same conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Southwest Petroleum University
    Inventors: Xiao Guo, Binliang Jiang, Jingjing Ma, Tao Li, Pengkun Wang, Changqing Jia, Ming Zhou, Yi He
  • Patent number: 11774346
    Abstract: In an analysis of a fluid component using a nanomechanical sensor covered with a receptor, the same receptor is caused to express different response characteristics. In a measuring system of analyzing a response when a sample gas and a purge gas are supplied to a nanomechanical sensor while switching the sample gas and the purge gas, a gas (external gas) different from both gases is mixed into a gas channel and supplied to the sensor for measurement. Since a response characteristic of a receptor is modulated by mixing of the external gas, the object described above is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Kosuke Minami, Gaku Imamura, Kota Shiba, Genki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11774389
    Abstract: A monolithic sensor arrangement, a manufacturing method and a measurement method are disclosed. In an embodiment a monolithic gas sensor arrangement includes a sensor including a first transducer with a first sensitive layer and a second transducer with a second sensitive layer, and a readout circuit configured to generate a first measurement signal and a second measurement signal depending on the first and second transducers, wherein the sensor arrangement is a humidity sensor arrangement, wherein the first and second sensitive layers are configured to absorb water molecules, and wherein the first and second sensitive layers differ from each other in at least one property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sciosense B.V.
    Inventors: Frederik Willem Maurits Vanhelmont, Nebojsa Nenadovic, Hilco Suy, Hooman Habibi
  • Patent number: 11774426
    Abstract: In one illustrative configuration, a method of locating an emission source of a target substance at a site is disclosed. The method may include obtaining predicted substance concentrations of the target substance from a prediction model to generate a mapping of a weighted mean of the plurality of the predicted substance concentrations grouped in a predetermined number of feature groups. A simulated plume model is generated for each emission source present at the site to calculate representative circular normal distributions for each air quality monitor. By performing an analysis of the plurality of representative circular normal distributions in relation to the mapping, a target emission source is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PROJECT CANARY, PBC
    Inventors: Nathan C. Eichenlaub, Kieran J. Lynn, William J. Foiles
  • Patent number: 11767753
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining movement of a fluid into or out of a subsurface wellbore, to thereby enable accurate allocation of fluids being produced by or injected into each of several zones of the wellbore. A temperature change is effected in the fluid in a semi-continuous or pulsed manner at one or more locations in the wellbore. A temperature of the fluid is measured at one or more sensing locations downstream of the location of the temperature change. A time of flight model is used to determine, for a plurality of points of interest, a fluid flow direction, bulk flow rate and/or a cumulative flow rate contribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Brian C. Seabrook, Ted A. Long, Charles J. Mart
  • Patent number: 11761874
    Abstract: A method includes determining a critical micelle concentration (Ccm assumed) of a sample with an unknown concentration (Cs) of a surfactant based on an assumed surfactant concentration (Cassumed) of the sample, providing a benchmark solution with a known concentration of the surfactant, determining an actual critical micelle concentration (Ccm) of the surfactant from the benchmark solution, and calculating the unknown concentration (Cs) of the surfactant in the sample from the following equation: Cs=Ccm/(Ccm assumed/Cassumed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulkareem AlSofi, Abdulaziz AlKhateeb, Ziyad Kaidar
  • Patent number: 11761945
    Abstract: A system for separating and analyzing a discrete sample of multiphase fluid includes a separation vessel having a first inner chamber containing a discrete sample of multiphase fluid, and an analytical cell in fluid communication with the separation vessel. The analytical cell has a second inner chamber containing a diluted aqueous liquid phase sample for analysis. The system further includes probes disposed in the second inner chamber, each probe having a sensing area at a distal end, and being oriented in the second inner chamber such that the sensing area is immersed in the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample contained in the second inner chamber. The plurality of probes include a first probe whose sensing area surface is coated with a first ion-exchange membrane; and a second probe whose sensing area surface is coated with a second ion-exchange membrane, the second ion-exchange membrane being different from the first ion-exchange membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Naim Akmal, Saleh Sharidi
  • Patent number: 11761274
    Abstract: A test apparatus can measuring particle plugging of a simulated fracture. The test apparatus can include a first test component having a first surface and a second test component having a second surface. The second test component can be positionable relative to the first test component to create a simulated fracture between the first surface and the second surface. The test apparatus can include a visualization area of at least one of the first test component or the second test component can be positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet along at least a portion of the simulated fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Andrew Vos, James R. Jones
  • Patent number: 11761328
    Abstract: A well system includes a fiber-optic cable that can be positioned downhole along a wellbore. The well system further includes a plurality of opto-electrical interfaces to communicatively couple to the fiber-optic cable to monitor temperature and strain along the fiber-optic cable. Additionally, the well system includes a processing device and a memory device that includes instructions executable by the processing device to cause the processing device to perform operations. The operations include receiving data representing frequency or phase shift measurements from the opto-electrical interfaces using at least two frequency or phase shift measurement techniques. Further, the operations include generating a temperature shift output and a strain change output using an inversion comprising sensitivity ratios and the data representing the frequency or phase shift measurements from the plurality of opto-electrical interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michel LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 11761870
    Abstract: A device to determine density includes a housing, a first transducer disposed in the housing at a first position, and a second transducer disposed in the housing at a second position. The second transducer is located a distance from the first transducer. The device also includes a controller that reads a first output from the first transducer, and reads a second output from the second transducer. The controller determines a density of a liquid based on the first output, the second output, and the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
    Inventors: Jeffrey Barber, James C. Weatherall, Duane Karns, Barry T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11761939
    Abstract: A health exposure sensor system includes a housing, a monitoring platform in the housing, and a power source. The monitoring platform includes at least one modular gas sensor, a circuit board having a microcontroller, and data ports for connecting the modular gas sensor to the circuit board. The housing includes manifolds to direct atmospheric air to the modular gas sensor. The modular gas sensor includes a gas detector and a gas sensor circuit board having a gas sensor microcontroller. The gas sensor microcontroller includes at least one on-chip universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter peripheral and at least one on-chip USB peripheral, where both peripherals include input/output functionality and are connected to a single data port interface for external communication. An associated method of operating the same includes selectively enabling individually either the UART peripheral or the USB peripheral via digital I/O configuration of the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Cridge, Trang T. Young, Matthew S. Benefiel, Eric A. Nees, Brian E. Henslee