Patents Examined by Michael Brock
  • Patent number: 5955658
    Abstract: A device for measuring pressure changes, and preferably for testing the tightness of a fuel tank, wherein a high-pass filter, the time constant of which is greater than the time constant of the pressure changes to be measured and less than the time constant of the pressure changes of the surrounding air, is arranged behind an absolute-pressure sensor pressure in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Werner Wallrafen
  • Patent number: 5952558
    Abstract: The apparatus enables accurate determination of concentration profiles of liquid or gaseous substances along a given path. A partially permeable line segment is laid along the route and the substances to be detected are allowed to penetrate into its interior. The line is filled with a test medium, and the column of the test medium is forced through the line at chronological intervals and moved past a sensor that is sensitive to the substances. A first closure is incorporated between the sensor and the line, and one or more closures are incorporated into the line to maintain the column of test medium substantially stationary in a position of repose of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Knoblach, Klaus Franze, Peter Jax
  • Patent number: 5952559
    Abstract: A fuel cap tester kit containing a plurality of fuel cap adapters, wherein each adapter has a mouth opening, outer rim, cap receiving chamber, air supply passageway and a fuel cap connection opening and with each fuel cap opening being configured to engage and retain a different and specifically configured fuel cap, and wherein each adapter is also provided with a threaded base connection that cooperates with a complimentary threaded connection on a test base that is fluidly connected to a pressure source and tester apparatus and wherein the base connectors of each adapter are configured alike so that each adapter can be connected to the single threaded connector in the test base to permit testing of different size fuel caps dependent on the adapter threaded into the test base, where the tester kit is used to decide upon quality of fuel caps under test by determining a leakage rate of pressurized air from the cap-receiving chamber through the mouth opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Harris, Bruce K. Bowden, Dean C. Foltz
  • Patent number: 5948985
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus and method tests elongated, cylindrical aluminum billets. The apparatus includes a frame supporting a movable carriage having at least one ultrasonic detector assembly mounted thereon. Each ultrasonic detector assembly includes a bracket detachably mounted to the carriage, at least one holder movably coupled to the bracket, a spring-biasing mechanism to bias the holder from the bracket, a transducer shoe attached to the holder and a transducer attached to the shoe. The shoe is configured to conform to the outer surface of the billet and to be flooded with fluid to assist in testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ormet Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Brautigan, Charles D. Merckle
  • Patent number: 5948987
    Abstract: A rotational shock fixture, energized by an impulsive driver, applies a rotary shock to a device undergoing test. A rotatable device-mounting-plate, enclosed within a rigid box, receives the device. A pair of diametrically opposed bearings support the box within a frame for movement about a rotation axis. A brake, coupled to the rotatable device-mounting-plate abruptly stops the rotatable device-mounting-plate from whirling about the rotation axis thereby applying the rotary shock to the device. Optional coil springs, stretching between the box and the frame, establish a rest orientation for the box with respect to the frame, and dampens oscillations of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Hong S. Liu
  • Patent number: 5942901
    Abstract: The disclosure involves a transfer switch having a stationary frame and a front terminal matrix for connection to circuit boards undergoing test. There are two stationary connectors mounted on the switch frame. A platform is supported by the frame for reciprocating movement between first and second positions. Such platform has two movable connectors thereon and when the platform is in the first position, one of the movable connectors engages or "plug-connects" to one of the stationary connectors. When the platform is in the second position, the other movable connector plug connects to the other stationary connector. The stationary connectors are electrically coupled to respective test devices, e.g., a load board and a signal bus. Thus, the boards under test can be connected to one or the other of the test devices by shifting the position of the platform. A new method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: RPI, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cochran, Mike Konruff, Adam Peplinski, Roger L. Perry
  • Patent number: 5942678
    Abstract: In the case of a method for tracing leaks in the closed or half-cooling system of a gas turbine installation, the parts of the gas turbine installation to be cooled being cooled by means of a cooling fluid (15) other than air, and the cooling fluid (15) flowing in a special cooling fluid circuit (16), and the leak in the cooling system leading to the cooling fluid (15), entering the hot gas channel of the gas turbine (3), samples are taken from the exhaust gas (10) from the gas turbine and concentration measurements, preferably of the cooling fluid (15), are carried out on these samples. The sample taking and concentration measurement may be carried out continuously or periodically. The concentration measurement results are passed to an alarm or a protection system (21) by means of which overheating of inadequately cooled parts of the turbine (3) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Hans Wettstein
  • Patent number: 5942690
    Abstract: An ultrasonic stroboscope is used to inspect an object rotating at a first frequency to determine if the rotating object has any defects. The ultrasonic stroboscope includes a first acoustic transducer spaced apart from the rotating object. The first transducer is configured to radiate ultrasonic energy at the rotating object at a second frequency. The second frequency is substantially related to a sub-harmonic of the first frequency so that the rotating object appears acoustically substantially still. A second acoustic transducer is used to sense a reflection of the ultrasonic energy from a defect in the rotating object. The second transducer translates the sensed reflection into at least one reflection signal. A user interface is coupled to the reflection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Arkady Shvetsky
  • Patent number: 5936414
    Abstract: A brake oil detector is disclosed. It includes a housing formed with a through hole on one side, a circuit board disposed in the housing and having a wire extending through the through hole to outer side of the housing, a pivotable rotary shaft disposed in the through hole and an extension arm disposed at one end of the rotary shaft and having a free end disposed with a sensor connected to the circuit board by the wire. The sensor of the extension arm is extended into a brake oil tank to check out the viscosity of the brake oil and judge whether it is necessary to replace the brake oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Tien-Tsai Tseng
  • Patent number: 5933016
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the analysis of a fluid to determine the remaining useful life of the fluid and whether the fluid has become contaminated. The method can be performed either on-line or off-line, however, the on-line method is preferred. In the method, a sample of the fluid is contacted by a single electrode which is connected to the ground potential by means of the equipment in which the fluid is used. A current is applied to the sample through the electrode and the conductivity of the sample is measured. The conductivity measurement can then compared to known values for the fluid to determine the remaining useful life of the fluid and whether the fluid has become contaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The University of Dayton
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, James D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 5932792
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining entrained gas-phase content of process streams comprising compression of the process stream, measurement of the compressive behavior, and calculation of the volume of the entrained gas-phase. A piston device is rapidly translated into the process stream. The inertia of the liquid adjacent to the end of the piston causes the volume of fluid close to the end of the piston to serve as a dynamic containment vessel so that the liquid adjacent to the piston is compressed by the movement of the piston. A pressure sensor integrally incorporated in the end of the piston measures the pressure pulse caused by the rapid movement of the piston. The pressure pulse is inversely related to the volumetric fraction of gas phase in the liquid adjacent to the end of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Steven J. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5932797
    Abstract: A sensitive hydrogen leak detector system using passivation of a stainless steel vacuum chamber for low hydrogen outgassing, a high compression ratio vacuum system, a getter operating at 77.5 K and a residual gas analyzer as a quantitative hydrogen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Southeastern Universities Research Assn.
    Inventor: Ganapati Rao Myneni
  • Patent number: 5932800
    Abstract: A device for testing the viscosity of a fluid contained in a cartridge comprising a tubular housing, a pair of end caps, one end cap being configured for operable connection to a piston and cylinder assembly, and the other end cap being configured to receive an adapter that is connectable to the cartridge and to a plug having an orifice of a predetermined diameter through which the fluid in the cartridge may be extruded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Michael W. Cummings, Wayne T. Nowlin
  • Patent number: 5929324
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas generating device that is equipped with a gas leakage detection and control system which includes a multiple number of gas generating units each equipped with flow sensors for detecting flow rates in and out of the unit and a unit controller. The gas generating device is controlled by a main controller so that when leakage in a generating unit is detected, the unit is shut off and bypassed while the outputs of the other generating units can be increased to make up the shortage such that such that the total output from the gas generating device is not affected. The present invention novel apparatus further provides the capability that any leakage in the piping system which connects the multiple number of generating units can be detected by using flow sensors installed in a main gas inlet and a main gas outlet such that the total gas flow rates coming in and going out can be continuously monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien Chen Hu, Philip Jan Lin
  • Patent number: 5929321
    Abstract: A flow of a carrier gas through a column is provided. A sample is provided in the column, and a temperature of a longitudinally short portion of the column is raised to a predetermined controlled high temperature at which volatile substances are released from the sample packing and are carried by the carrier gas. The column is cooled on each side of the short portion to a low temperature at which the volatile substances condense or adsorb on the column packing. By continuously moving the heated short portion from an inlet end to an outlet end of the packing in a direction of carrier gas flow the volatile substances selected by the controlled high temperature are released. Four particularly useful and advantageous applications can be identified for the invention. Firstly, it provides an improved gas chromatograph (GC) injector. Secondly, it provides an improved thermal separator or extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: University of Montreal
    Inventor: Michel Bertrand
  • Patent number: 5925815
    Abstract: A method and device to measure parameters of temperature and gas composition in high temperature fluids which has particular application to compressible unsteady flowing fluid and rapidly changing temperatures of high temperature gases. The device comprises at least two temperature sensing elements, means for pre-setting said elements to different temperatures, and means for determining a parameter of the fluid from temperature readings of said sensing elements taken at least two time instants. The invention also provides a method of measuring fluid temperature by determining differing heat transfer rates from the temperature history of temperature sensors initially set to different temperatures before exposure to the fluid. Based on the same methodology and device, gas composition of binary flows can also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Terence V. Jones, David R. Buttsworth
  • Patent number: 5925814
    Abstract: A gas sensor has a sensor cell unit which includes a detection member made up of an oxygen concentration cell, oxygen pump cell and a spacer interposed between the oxygen concentration cell and the oxygen pump cell to define therebetween a measurement gas chamber. The spacer has a pair of communicating holes for providing communication between the measurement gas chamber and the outside. Diffusion control layers made of porous material are formed within the communicating holes of the spacer so as to control flow of the detection gas into the measurement gas chamber, etc. The diffusion control layer is made of alumina and has on the outer surface thereof (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tsuzuki, Takeshi Kawai
  • Patent number: 5922943
    Abstract: A leak detection system and method for detecting leaks from a storage system containing a liquid, the leak detection method includes mixing one or more tracers soluble in the liquid to provide a liquid-tracer mixture within the storage system. The tracer provides a detectable component in the liquid-tracer mixture if the liquid-tracer mixture escapes the storage system through a leak. A subsurface sampling device is positioned near the storage system. The sampling device contains an adsorption material for adsorbing tracer from the liquid-tracer mixture that leaks from the system. The adsorption material is a hydrophobic, porous material. In one embodiment, a plurality of sampling devices are contained within a plurality of subsurface monitoring wells positioned around the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Environmental Fuel Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Calvin C. Chapman, IV
  • Patent number: 5922945
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a liquid product. The apparatus includes a conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt and an agitator. The conveyor belt is constructed to deliver a unit of liquid product from the agitator to an analysis position. The agitator is constructed to impart motion to a unit of liquid product. The apparatus further includes an ultrasound transmissive pad assembly having a pad defining a chamber therein. A liquid acoustical couplant is contained in the chamber. The ultrasound transmissive pad assembly further includes an ultrasonic transducer in ultrasonic contact with the liquid acoustical couplant. The pad is positioned to contact a unit of liquid product at the analysis position. The pad has an upper portion and a lower portion and is orientated such that the upper portion contacts a unit of liquid product delivered to the analysis position before the lower portion contacts the unit of liquid product delivered to the analysis position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Brian J. Allmaras, Elwood L. Stokesbury, Jianjun Wang
  • Patent number: 5922960
    Abstract: An ultrasonic material constant measuring system comprising a reference unit, an examination unit, at least a case equipped in at least the examination unit, and a signal processing unit. The reference unit consists of at least an input ultrasonic transducer T.sub.o and at least an output ultrasonic transducer R.sub.o. The examination unit consists of at least an input ultrasonic transducer T.sub.s and at least an output ultrasonic transducer R.sub.s. The case is placed between the ultrasonic transducers T.sub.s and R.sub.s. The signal processing unit is connected with output terminals of the ultrasonic transducers R.sub.o and R.sub.s. When electric signals are applied to the ultrasonic transducers T.sub.o and T.sub.s, ultrasounds are emitted in air from the ultrasonic transducers T.sub.o and T.sub.s, respectively, and then received by the ultrasonic transducers R.sub.o and R.sub.s, respectively. If at least a sheet of paper is placed in case 1, the ultrasound emitted from ultrasonic transducer T.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventor: Kohji Toda