Patents Examined by Nashmiya S. Fayyaz
  • Patent number: 11385205
    Abstract: An inspection system comprises a sensor array and a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is configured to provide a fluid coupling environment between the sensor array and a structure. The fluid chamber comprises a bellows having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side is a flexible lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Curtis R. Estevo
  • Patent number: 11351628
    Abstract: A wedge for on-line inspection of a weld includes a wedge body defining a coolant channel and at least one couplant channel, and a coolant input port in fluid connection with a first end of the coolant channel. The wedge body has a surface for disposing a phased array ultrasonic transducer comprising an array of ultrasonic elements. The coolant channel is formed in proximity to the surface for disposing the phased array ultrasonic transducer such that coolant flowing through the coolant channel maintains the phased array ultrasonic transducer below a predetermined temperature without obstructing the array of ultrasonic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE
    Inventors: Daniel J. Huggett, Mohammad W. Dewan, Muhammad A. Wahab, Thunshun W. Liao, Ayman M. Okeil
  • Patent number: 11346817
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for evaluating properties of a temporary plugging agent based on acoustic emission, wherein the apparatus includes a fracturing machine, an acoustic emission sensor and an acoustic emission analyzer, wherein the fracturing machine is configured to load a sample when oil pressure is stable and remains unchanged in a fracture of the sample, a real fracturing condition being simulated for the sample, and oil being pumped in and a temporary plugging agent being placed into the fracture; the acoustic emission sensor is configured to detect an acoustic wave signal emitted by the sample when the fracturing machine loads the sample; and the acoustic emission analyzer is connected to the acoustic emission sensor and configured to determine that the temporary plugging agent is fractured when a fracture signal occurs in the acoustic wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: China University of Petroleum-Beijing
    Inventors: Guangqing Zhang, Xuejing Han
  • Patent number: 11340145
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for collecting dust samples. The apparatus comprises a piston (102) and a cylinder (110) for holding the piston with a body having a hole (108) extending through the body. The cylinder (110) has a first end (112), which is open, the first end of the cylinder being slanted such that underside (130) of the cylinder extends farther than upper side (132). A mechanism (114) moves the piston between inward and outward positions. The apparatus gathers dust flowing past the piston into the hole of the piston when the piston is in the outward position and moves the gathered dust by moving the piston into the inward position. An input feed (116) is configured to spread fluid through the hole filled with dust to flush the dust to an output feed (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Petri Janhunen, Ilkka Pyykkönen, Pasi Kärki, Timo Sirviö
  • Patent number: 11326909
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for monitoring shipping containers. A system comprises a shipping container, a sensing component, and a transmission device. The shipping container defines an interior compartment. The sensing component is positioned within the interior compartment and comprises one or more sensors, a sensing component battery, a sensing component microcontroller, and a communication chip. The one or more sensors sense atmospheric data. The sensing component microcontroller has a memory and receives the atmospheric data sensed by the one or more sensors at a predetermined interval and stores the atmospheric data in the memory. The transmission device is external to the interior compartment and comprises a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver receives data transmitted by the sensing component. The transmitter transmits the received data to a storage location. The transmission device is paired with the sensing component or an interior component contained within the interior compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Boschert, Michael Patrick Verdicchio, Allen Brian Barta, Cory Alfred Nation
  • Patent number: 11280700
    Abstract: A rotating system comprising two or more blades 3 mounted on a hub installed on a rotatable propeller shaft 1, each blade provided with a respective sensor 4 arranged to detect response of the respective blade to harmonic excitation; and the system further comprising means configured to compare the response of the respective blade to that of the other blade(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Bruno Seminel
  • Patent number: 11255079
    Abstract: [PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED] The feces sampling tool which paper jams such as the drain pipe do not produce even if it is canceled on a flushing toilet stool after use is offered. [SOLUTION] The cup body C and a pair of band portions B 1 and B 2 extending in the left and right direction from the upper edge of the cup body C are integrated by press die to constitute the feces sampling tool 1. The cup body C is suspended in the toilet stool by band portions B 1, B 2. The band portions B 1, B 2 are configured to be narrower than the width of the cup body C. The cup body C and the band portions B 1 and B 2 are laminated by laminating a single piece of water-soluble/water-disintegratable paper, or by combining a single sheet or a plurality of water-soluble and water-disintegratable paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Takahashi Keisei Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11204291
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an interface ultrasonic reflectivity-pressure relation curve establishment method and a loading testbed. The loading testbed comprises a force displayer, a control terminal, an oscilloscope, an immersion ultrasonic transducer, a large cylinder, a small cylinder, an upper panel, a movable plate, a force sensor, a lower panel, an ultrasonic transceiver and a small cylinder connecting plate. Compared with the existing schemes, the interface ultrasonic reflectivity-pressure relation curve establishment method and the loading testbed provided by the present invention can construct a more accurate ultrasonic reflectivity-pressure relation curve, and are high in detection precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qingchao Sun, Bo Yuan, Wei Sun, Weiqiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11150167
    Abstract: An air sampling actuator and associated method are disclosed. The air sampling actuator may include a housing configured to mount on a canister, a motor configured to be accommodated in the housing, and an adaptor. The motor may generate a mechanical action, in response to a control signal received by the motor. The adaptor may be coupled to the motor, and configured to interface with a valve-controlling knob of the canister. In a first configuration of the air sampling actuator, the adaptor may be uncoupled from the valve-controlling knob of the canister, and the hook portion may be unengaged with the canister. In a second configuration of the air sampling actuator, the adaptor may be coupled with the valve-controlling knob of the canister, and the hook portion may be engaged with the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PROJECT CANARY, PBC
    Inventors: Julian Cyrus, Luke Bowersox, Colby Moxham
  • Patent number: 11143531
    Abstract: A sensor position control apparatus and method that includes a guide rail formed to be elongated along one direction set to a longitudinal direction thereof and a position control unit coupled to the guide rail and configured to slide along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. A sensor mount unit is connected to be moved together with the position control unit and has a sensor mounted on one surface thereof. In addition, an angle control unit is configured to change a direction which one surface of the sensor mounting unit faces and a position control driving unit is configured to transmit power to the position control unit. An angle control driving unit is configured to transmit power to the angle control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jaehyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11137325
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous isokinetic sampling device of a stack gas having a suction nozzle to which a cross-sectional area control device is attached, and a continuous automatic measurement system of fine dusts in the stack gas combined with the same, the device and system being configured to continuously separate and automatically measure the suspended particles into PM10 (Particulate Matter Less than 10 ?m) and PM2.5 (Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 ?m) by introducing a suction gas into a particle size separation device (cascade Impactor) at a constant flow rate of 16.67 l/min, simultaneously with removing an measurement error caused due to inertia force of the suspended particles by automatically adjusting the cross-sectional area of the suction nozzle to suck the sample at the same flow rate as that of the stack gas in the stationary source emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CHUNG ENGINEERING CO. LTD
    Inventors: Keun Sik Kim, Dae Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 11053925
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for large-area scanning of wind turbine blades or other large-bodied structures (such as aircraft fuselages and wings) for the purpose of non-destructive inspection (NDI). One or more vacuum-adhered scanning elements containing NDI sensors are lowered via cables and moved via a motorized cart driven along a leading edge of a horizontally disposed wind turbine blade or via a motorized carriage driven around a track attached to a vertically disposed wind turbine blade. Scan passes are based upon sequenced horizontal and vertical motions of scan heads provided by cart/carriage and cable spool motion. A conformable array of sensors attached to the cart may be used to collect NDI data along the leading edge of a horizontally disposed wind turbine blade if the scan heads cannot reach that area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Joseph L. Hafenrichter, Karl E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11047840
    Abstract: A breath alcohol device calibration system includes a computerized calibration module operable to calibrate a candidate breath alcohol device using a reference gas of known alcohol concentration, and a reference gas tank identification module operable to identify a reference gas tank that is coupled to the breath alcohol device calibration system. Identification is performed using at least one distinguishing characteristic of the coupled tank, the distinguishing characteristic providing reference gas tank information including at least the known alcohol concentration of gas in the reference gas tank. The reference gas tank identification module is further operable to read a temperature history of the tank from an electronic device coupled to the tank, and to indicate an error condition if the temperature history of the tank indicates temperatures below a first temperature threshold over the tank's recent temperature history to potentially result in incomplete mixing of the reference gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Edward DeVries, Scott Ruland
  • Patent number: 11035829
    Abstract: A dual probe assembly comprises dual transducers which are free to rotate over a desired range of roof angles required for different inspection applications. The roof angle for a particular application is defined by attaching the dual probe assembly to a wedge assembly having an upper contact surface which defines the roof angle of the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Olympus America Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Wells
  • Patent number: 11022527
    Abstract: A method of collecting a fluid sample includes flowing the fluid sample into an isolating container, wherein the isolating container includes a reactant material; removing a component from the fluid sample by reacting the component with the reactant material; and collecting the fluid sample leaving the isolating container into a sample container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: STRATUM RESERVOIR (US), LLC
    Inventors: Todd M. Coleman, Corben C. Rice, Dennis D. Coleman
  • Patent number: 10935486
    Abstract: An environmental test chamber, and method of providing an environmental test chamber, includes combining an equipment module made up of an equipment housing and air treatment equipment in the equipment housing with a selected one or more of a plurality of chamber modules connected with the equipment module to provide the environmental test chamber. The equipment housing includes an opening defining an airflow passage and an airflow path extending to the airflow passage. The air treatment equipment includes air moving equipment flowing air along the airflow path through the airflow passage and air-conditioning equipment in the flow path. The air treatment equipment includes one or more of (i) heating equipment for selectively heating the flowing air, (ii) cooling equipment for selectively cooling the flowing air, (iii) humidification equipment for selectively humidifying the flowing air, and/or (iv) dehumidification equipment for selectively dehumidifying the flowing air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Weiss Technik North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Johnston, Sean D. McKendry
  • Patent number: 10935522
    Abstract: In a sensor device for detecting moisture on a roadway of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, with at least one structure-borne sound sensor, with at least one circuit carrier, wherein the structure-borne sound sensor is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the circuit carrier, it is provided in a manner important for the invention that at least one structure-borne sound sensor is arranged in a housing, that the housing has at least one flat constructed housing area, that the structure-borne sound sensor is connected to the flat constructed housing area, so as to conduct structure-borne sound signals, and in that the housing is constructed as a resonant body, that the at least one circuit carrier is arranged in the housing, that the housing is provided for mounting in a wheel arch of a vehicle, that at least one connecting means for producing a connection between the housing and the wheel arch is assigned to the housing, and that the connecting means is constructed to be vibration damping, at least
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventors: Thomas Niemann, Klaas Hauke Baumgartel, Bastian Kanning
  • Patent number: 10935880
    Abstract: A video pipe inspection system may include a push-cable, camera head, and pipe guide having a pair of cylindrical shells, with each shell having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end. A pair of curved tab arms may extend circumferentially about corresponding ones of the cylindrical shells. A pair of slide-locks may be configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move them into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Eric M. Chapman, Allen W. Tucker, Dawn E. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10888253
    Abstract: An audiometer is provided which has: a main body section; and multiple sets of a headphone section and a response operation section, wherein the main body section performs wireless communication with the headphone section and performs wireless communication with the response operation section independently of the wireless communication with the headphone section, thereby supplying a test sound output command to the headphone section to cause the headphone section to output the test sound and receiving information on operation by a subject from the response operation section, and performs the wireless communication with the headphone section and the response operation section of each set by a time-division multiplexing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: RION Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Hamanaka, Kaori Sato
  • Patent number: 10883967
    Abstract: A gas detection element includes a crystal oscillator and a gas adsorption film formed on the crystal oscillator. The gas adsorption film has a thickness that causes the detection element to have a crystal impedance of no more than 10 times the crystal impedance of the crystal oscillator on which the gas adsorption film is not formed. A resonance frequency variation of the gas detection element due to humidity variation can be kept within a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hattori, Junji Oshita