Patents Examined by Rodney T. Frank
-
Patent number: 10545080Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring interfacial or surface tension of a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid, the method involving providing at least one substantially spherical droplet or bubble of the first fluid in a flowing stream of the second fluid in a flow channel, followed by passing the flowing stream comprising the droplet or bubble through a constriction in the flow channel, the constriction being sufficiently constricting so as to cause the droplet or bubble to deform away from its substantially spherical shape and measuring and comparing a physical property of the flowing stream both before and after the constriction, wherein the physical property changes as a result of the deformation of the droplet or bubble, and thereby inferring the interfacial or surface tension from the measured physical property.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Andrew Clarke, Patrice Ligneul, Wael Abdallah, Mikhail Stukan
-
Patent number: 10545066Abstract: A leak detection tool for a double walled fuel rail system is provided. The tool includes a body having a first end and a second end distal with respect to the first end. The tool includes a first passage extending from the first end at least partially towards the second end. The tool includes a second passage axially aligned with and extending from the first passage towards the second end. The tool includes a seat defined at an intersection of the first passage and the second passage. The tool also includes a sealing element provided in association with the seat within the second passage. The tool further includes a spring element provided within the second passage and in contact with the sealing element. The first end is configured to block fluid communication between outer passages of adjacent portions of the double walled fuel rail system.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Edwin Wainscott, Jack Albert Merchant, Andrew Loetz
-
Patent number: 10545159Abstract: A managing method for a sample processing apparatus involving the sample processing apparatus and a management apparatus. The method includes requesting an approval of self-adjustment to the management apparatus from the sample processing apparatus before performing a self-adjustment. Informing the sample processing apparatus of approval of request from the management apparatus, when approving the sample processing apparatus to perform the self-adjustment, and performing a self-adjustment by the sample processing apparatus when the sample processing apparatus is informed that the request has been approved.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATIONInventors: Junzo Yamamoto, Shigeo Kanamori, Fumio Inoue, Ikuya Takenaka, Osamu Hirota
-
Patent number: 10543387Abstract: Systems, kits, and methods for testing a combustion arrester are disclosed. Systems include an upstream chamber, a downstream chamber, and a combustion arrester between the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber. The upstream chamber includes an ignition port configured to receive an ignition source. And, the upstream chamber defines a convergent duct that converges toward the combustion arrester and terminates at the combustion arrester. The upstream chamber may include a hierarchical series of modular shell sections that define the convergent duct. The downstream chamber may include a series of modular shell sections.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignees: The Boeing Company, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyInventors: Eddie Kwon, Jason Scott Damazo, Deanna A. Lacoste, William Lafayette Roberts, IV
-
Patent number: 10539588Abstract: The method of reducing error in rotor speed measurement includes synchronously measuring a rotor having a target including at least one geometric imperfection. Time intervals for the passing of each tooth of a rotor are stored in a circular buffer memory array. Speed is always determined by extracting the time for a complete revolution, so that geometric imperfections and asymmetry of the rotating target do not influence the speed determination, which is always representing the average speed over the latest complete revolution.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph Scott Riolo, David Allen Bradford
-
Patent number: 10539930Abstract: A method of determining a calibration or maintenance time interval, comprising the steps of: determining a criticality of the specific device, based on the criticality setting a reliability target for the device, wherein the reliability target denominates the probability of the device to be compliant according to a predefined criterion at the end of the calibration or maintenance time interval; defining compliancy ranges for a measurable degree of compliance of the device; selecting a reliability model for a reliability of the device as a function of a normalized time interval and a set of at least one parameter from a variety of predefined reliability models, determining a separate set of parameters for the selected reliability model for each of the compliancy ranges based on prescribed reliability expectation values for each of the error ranges, which a reliability function associated with this error range shall comply to at at least one predefined normalized time, determining the degree of compliance of thType: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER MESSTECHNIK GMBH + CO. KGInventor: Dimitri Vaissiere
-
Patent number: 10533513Abstract: A system can include a flow measurement device positionable in a flow path for measuring a property of the fuel flowing through the flow path and a shutdown device positionable in the flow path for controlling the fuel flow through the flow path. The system can also include a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the flow measurement device for receiving the fuel flow property and from which the presence of two-phase flow or multiphase flow can be detected. The computing device is also communicatively coupled to the shutdown device for controlling fuel flow through the flow path in response to the detection of two-phase flow or multiphase flow.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Barrett Coulter
-
Patent number: 10533930Abstract: A gas monitoring and control system including a gas sampling chamber, sampling inlet and outlet valves, a pump and a controller. Sensors are disposed within the interior chamber that sense characteristics of a gas from a gas source and generate representative signals. The sampling inlet and outlet valves i) allow the gas into the gas sampling chamber while operating in a gas sampling state, and ii) allow ambient air into the gas sampling chamber while operating in a purge state. The pump i) causes the gas to flow through the gas sampling chamber while operating in the gas sampling state or ii) causes ambient air to flow through the gas sampling chamber while operating in the purge state. The controller causes the sampling inlet and outlet valves, and the pump to alternate operating in the gas sampling or purge state to selectively expose the sensors to the gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Chrintec, LLCInventor: Gregory R. Chrin
-
Patent number: 10534015Abstract: A sensor is provided including: an element outputting detection signals according to magnitude of physical quantity; a drive circuit outputting a driving signal to the element and receiving a monitor signal from the element; a detection circuit that includes amplifiers amplifying the detection signals and a first synchronous demodulation circuit performing synchronous demodulation on a signal from the amplifier, receives the detection signals, and outputs a physical quantity signal according to the physical quantity; a processing circuit processing a signal from the first synchronous demodulation circuit; a first diagnostic circuit that receives a signal into the processing circuit and a signal from the processing circuit, and outputs a first error signal when abnormalities occur in the processing circuit; and a second diagnostic circuit that outputs a diagnostic signal to the first diagnostic circuit, instead of the signal into the processing circuit or instead of the signal from the processing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTDInventors: Keisuke Kuroda, Takeshi Mori
-
Patent number: 10527535Abstract: A rotary rheometer includes a drive shaft and a dual read head optical encoder that is configured to measure angular displacement or angular velocity of the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Nigel Doe, Peter Foster
-
Patent number: 10527599Abstract: A kit for determining if a shock treatment is required for a water source may comprise a test strip having at least two chemically treated test areas. One of the areas is responsive in color to a concentration of free chlorine in the water and another test area is responsive in color to a concentration of total chlorine in the water. A chlorine indicator scale may be provided on a substrate, such as a label, and comprises a plurality of pairs of colored indicia and each pair of colored indicia representing a color pattern indicating a concentration, or range of concentrations, of total chlorine and free chlorine in the water. An alphanumeric designation may be provided adjacent to each pair of indicia indicating whether a shock treatment is required for the water source based on a color pattern the associated indicia pattern.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: HACH COMPANYInventors: Teresa Lynn Swanson, Ronald P. Merwin
-
Patent number: 10527752Abstract: A method includes introducing a tool string into a wellbore having annular material disposed in an annulus defined between casing and the wellbore. Obtaining acoustic refracted waveform measurements of the annular material from a cement bond logging tool, obtaining ultrasonic measurements of the annular material from a circumferential acoustic scanning tool, obtaining gamma radiation measurements scattered from the annular material from a spectral density logging tool, and obtaining thermal neutron radiation measurements scattered from the annular material from a dual spaced neutron logging tool. Obtained measurements may then be collected and computed with a computer and a deliverable is generated that includes one or more cross plots providing a compositional equivalent of the annular material.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip Fox, Fnu Suparman, Gary James Frisch, John Douglas Lauchner
-
Patent number: 10527606Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for breath gas analysis when determining the difference in the concentrations of at least one gas in the exhaled breathing air on the one hand and in the ambient air on the other hand. The device may include at least one gas sensor, by means of which the concentration of a gas can be determined, and a line system, through whose lines the exhaled air to be examined, the ambient air and a calibrating gas can be selectively pumped to the gas sensor. The method may include feeding ambient air; feeding calibrating gas to the gas sensor; feeding exhaled air to the gas sensor; feeding calibrating gas to the gas sensor again; and feeding exhaled air to the gas sensor again.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: VYAIRE MEDICAL GMBHInventor: Juergen Reinstaedtler
-
Patent number: 10508345Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gas sensor in an IOT. The gas sensor includes a substrate, a conductor disposed above the substrate, and a sensing film disposed over the conductor. The conductor has a top-view pattern including a plurality of openings, a minimal dimension of the opening being less than about 4 micrometer; and a perimeter enclosing the opening. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a gas sensor. The method includes receiving a substrate; forming a conductor, over the substrate; patterning the conductor to form a plurality of openings in the conductor by an etching operation, and forming a gas-sensing film over the conductor. The openings are arranged in a repeating pattern, and a minimal dimension of the opening being about 4 micrometer.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Ming-Ta Lei, Chia-Hua Chu, Hsin-Chih Chiang, Tung-Tsun Chen, Chun-Wen Cheng
-
Patent number: 10495607Abstract: A dissipation-based sensor includes a single resonator with a nano-structured surface. The sensor exhibits improved sensitivity, up to about 2 orders of magnitude higher than a single resonator without a nano-structured surface. The sensor operates by measuring and estimating the fluid friction per oscillation cycle, operating in normal conditions without vacuum (e.g., in air or other ambient gas) at room temperature. The sensor can provide measurement data at a speed that is orders of magnitude faster than pre-existing resonance-based methods, as it is based on measurements from a few cycles only. The dissipation-based sensor may be utilized in a broad range of fast, inexpensive, hand-held measuring devices. Additionally, the sensor is capable of operating at standard temperature and pressure.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: 2033668 ALBERTA LTDInventors: Vakhtang Putkaradze, Arindam Phani, Prashanthi Kovur, Thomas Thundat
-
Patent number: 10494915Abstract: A wellbore leakage detection tool and method for assembling such tool includes a longitudinal tool element, including a through bore perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal tool element, an acoustic insulator or damper arranged in the through bore, and an acoustic sensor assembly arranged suspended in the acoustic insulator or damper inside the through bore. The acoustic insulator or damper has an acoustic impedance different from an acoustic impedance of the tool element.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: BERGEN TECHNOLOGY CENTER ASInventor: Morten Ivar Andersen
-
Patent number: 10488319Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing gas permeability in concrete are provided. The apparatus is used for testing gas permeability of a concrete test sample, and includes a gas supply apparatus, an instrument body and a gas flow meter. The instrument body includes a frame body. A gas inlet ring, a gas outlet ring and a connection plate are successively arranged on the frame body from inside to outside. An input end of the gas inlet ring is connected with the gas supply apparatus, and an output end is connected with an input end of the gas outlet ring through the concrete test sample. An output end of the gas outlet ring is connected with the gas flow meter. The connection plate is connected with the concrete test sample.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Inventors: Zhongping Wang, Xiaoxu Ni, Ronglong Sun, Long Zhou, Fei Cheng
-
Patent number: 10473632Abstract: A sample injector configured to introduce a sample fluid into a mobile phase, wherein the mobile phase is to be driven by a mobile phase drive through a separation unit for separating compounds of the sample fluid in the mobile phase, wherein the sample injector comprises a metering device being operable for displacing fluid and for intaking a metered amount of the sample fluid into the sample injector, an injector valve being switchable for operating the sample injector selectively in a sample intake mode in which the metering device is operable to intake the sample fluid from a sample container, or a separation mode in which intaken sample fluid is driven between the mobile phase drive and the separation unit for separating the compounds, and a flow direction controller configured for defining an enabled flow direction of fluid displaced by the metering device and for defining a disabled flow direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Thielsch, Thomas Ortmann
-
Patent number: 10473573Abstract: A particulate matter sensor and an exhaust gas purification system using the same are provided. A particular matter sensor according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a first insulation layer including a first electrode unit exposed on a first side thereof, which includes a plurality of first electrodes not electrically connected to each other, a second insulation layer arranged in parallel to the first insulation layer with a space therebetween, including a second electrode unit on a first side thereof, which includes a plurality of second electrodes electrically connected to each other, a temperature sensing unit formed on a first side of a third insulation layer located on a second side of the second insulation layer, and a heater unit formed on a first side of a fourth insulation layer located on a second side of the third insulation layer, the heater unit configured to heat the first and second electrode units.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: AMOTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Yeon-Soo Chung, Soo-Min Oh, Eun-Ji Kim, Sung-Eun Jo, Yang-Joo Ko, Jung-Taek Kim, Heon-Joon Park, Tae-Kwan Yi
-
Patent number: 10473687Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer that has high sensitivity to motion along the z axis is discussed. The device includes two symmetrical sets of bilateral, diametrically opposed high aspect ratio flexures that tether a movable proof mass to the frame of the device. The flexures are designed in such a way as to restrict movement of the proof mass along the x and y axes but readily allow motion along the z axis. More specifically, when the device experiences an acceleration along the x or y axes, the proof mass is restricted from moving because some of the bilateral, diametrically opposed flexures are in compression and others are in tension.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLCInventors: Paul J. Resnick, Brian D. Homeijer, Thomas A. Friedmann, Michael Wiwi