Patents Examined by Tamiko Bellamy
  • Patent number: 8316694
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for detecting and locating fluid leakage from a hydraulic work, the device being characterized in that it comprises a geotextile fabric (12) made of yarns or fibers and provided with: at least one first optical cable (14) in contact with said geotextile (12) and formed by a protective tube within which at least one multimode optical fiber (141) is placed, said multimode optical fiber (141) being suitable for detecting a temperature variation and transmitting a signal that is modified when temperature varies and at least one second optical cable formed by a sheath receiving tightly at least one monomode optical fiber (142) suitable for detecting a deformation of the geotextile (12) and for transmitting a signal that is modified when the deformation is detected in that said second optical cable being bonded to the geotextile (12). The invention is applicable to detecting and locating leakage from hydraulic works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Tengate Geosynthetics France, Electricite de France, Fiber Optics Sensors & Sensing Systems BVBA, Universite Joseph Fourier
    Inventors: Olivier Artieres, Cyril Guidoux, Jean-Jacques Fry, Jean-Marie Henault, Sylvain Blairon, Gauthier Vercoutere, Marc Voet, Johan Vlekken, Yves-Henri Faure, Paul Royet, Alain Bernard, Fabrice Daly
  • Patent number: 8316711
    Abstract: An apparatus including: a mechanically oscillatable unit; an exciting/receiving unit; and an electronics unit having an input amplifier and an output amplifier. The amplification factors of the output amplifier and the input amplifier are tunable. The control unit tunes the amplification factor of the output amplifier as a function of damping of the mechanically oscillatable unit in such a manner that the amplitude of the electrical, input signal lies within an amplitude band and that the amplification factor of the output amplifier decreases in the case of lessened damping by the medium and increases in the case of greater damping by the medium, and the control unit tunes the amplification factor of the output amplifier and the amplification factor of the input amplifier in such a manner that the total amplification factor of the electronics unit equals a predeterminable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Müller, Sascha D'Angelico, Walter Rombach
  • Patent number: 8312780
    Abstract: An in situ autosampling method and associated sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Methods of the present invention make use of a sampling device having an extendable sample capture element with a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. Ports in the sample capture pocket may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element to allow for the in situ processing of a material sample, and the subsequent discharge of the sample to an analyzer or another downstream location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, Jr., Joel Michael Hawkins, Howard William Ward, II
  • Patent number: 8302478
    Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting the presence of a substance comprising providing a cantilever (30) comprising a magnetostrictive material (34) and having an original resonant frequency. The method also comprises receiving the substance on the cantilever (30, 36) causing the resonant frequency of the cantilever (30) to change. The method also comprises applying a magnetic field to the cantilever (30) causing the resonant frequency to change to a reference resonant frequency and sensing when the resonant frequency becomes the reference resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Sheffield
    Inventor: Michael Richard John Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8302474
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a fuel tank assembly and fuel pump module for a vehicle. One embodiment disclosed herein comprises fuel pump module with a body portion having an outer surface and a fuel level sender located on the body portion. The fuel level sender comprises a float arm movable along a movement range between an empty position and a full position and a fuel level sender protector. The protector comprises a guard portion positioned at a predetermined distance from the float arm such that the float aim is positioned between the guard portion and the outer surface of the body portion and configured to maintain the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Himeki, Jon Sussman
  • Patent number: 8297112
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes: at least one mechanically oscillatable unit; a driving/receiving unit, which, starting with an electric, excitation signal, excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations, and which receives the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit and converts them into an electric, received signal; and an electronics unit, which, starting with the electric, received signal, generates the electric, excitation signal and sends it to the driving/receiving unit. The electronics unit is embodied in such a way that it generates the excitation signal, such that a predeterminable phase difference exists between the excitation signal and the received signal. Present in the electronics unit is at least one all-pass filter for tuning the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexander Müller
  • Patent number: 8286486
    Abstract: The concentration of a material covering a surface is controlled via an equilibrium process. Equilibrium parameters such as a concentration of the provided material, the exposure time of the material to the surface, and the surface area of an attractor applied to the surface are determined utilizing a millimeter sized piezoelectric cantilever sensor. In an example embodiment, the material is provided at a low concentration to the surface until equilibrium is attained. The amount of material accumulated on the surface is determined utilizing the cantilever sensor. The surface area of the attractor and the measured amount of material are utilized to determine the amount of the attractor surface area having the material bound thereto. Knowledge of the equilibrium parameters allows controlled surface coverage of the material on the attractor for any application. The concentration of the material adsorbed on the surface is precisely determinable and repeatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Rajakkannu Mutharasan, David L. Delesdernier, Kishan Rijal
  • Patent number: 8281647
    Abstract: A device for measuring physical and/or chemical parameters of water circulating in a treatment circuit of a leisure pool comprises: a main body (12) through which a measurement channel (13) passes; a connector (14a, 14b) for connecting the measurement channel (13) to the treatment circuit (8); at least two measurement sensors (18a, 18b) fitted to the main body in order to be in contact with the inside of the measurement channel (13); and an acquisition unit (20) connected to the measurement sensors and comprising a self-contained electric power source (32) and wireless communication means (45) for communicating with a central unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Boutet, Omar Saaid
  • Patent number: 8276469
    Abstract: A stack-gas measuring apparatus includes a sample introducing unit (sampling unit and heating conduit pipe) for introducing stack-gas, a cooling unit (containing wet filter) in which dust components in the stack-gas are agglomerated, a filter column containing a filter element made of a polymer material for collecting the dust components, a mist scrubber which is disposed downstream of the filter column and which contains an adsorbent for removing acid mist in the stack-gas, and an analyzer in which the cleaning-processed gas is introduced to measure a particular component in the stack-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Akiyama, Atsushi Yamamoto, Takuji Oida
  • Patent number: 8276470
    Abstract: Gas is supplied from positive pressure (105 Pa or more) to an analysis device of high vacuum (10?2 Pa or less) precisely and stably, while keeping conditions constant and replicating the conditions, and performing switching to a desired gas within a short time. According to a gas introducing device and a method, a plurality of types of gases are synthesized in a mixing chamber, the synthesized gas is introduced and the pressure of the gas is reduced by a pressure reducing pump to a pressure ranging from 0.1 Pa to 0.1 MPa, and the depressurized gas is introduced to a gas analysis device through a switching operation using a gas switching valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Kishita, Hisashi Sakai
  • Patent number: 8276432
    Abstract: A transport pod interface in one example including a sampling probe connected to a gas analyzer and an actuator coupled with an access door on the transport pod in the coupling position, and that moves said door towards the base of the interface in an retracted position in which the volume of gas to be analyzed contained within the transport pod is accessible by the sampling probe, characterized in that it includes at least one sealing joint configured such that at least when the interface is in the retracted position, the space between the actuator and said base is sealed in such a way as to isolate the volume of gas to be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Erwan Godot
  • Patent number: 8272281
    Abstract: Remotely readable valve position indicators and related methods are described. An example valve position indicator includes a wireless identifier device coupled to a valve stem or shaft to move with the valve stem or shaft. The wireless identifier device is to convey information indicative of the position of the valve stem or shaft to a remote wireless electronic reader. The example valve position indicator also includes a shielding body to prevent the wireless identifier device from conveying the information to the remote wireless electronic reader when the valve stem or shaft is in a first position and to permit the wireless identifier device to convey the information to the remote wireless electronic reader when the valve stem or shaft is in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Wildie McCarty
  • Patent number: 8272246
    Abstract: Self-calibration of a multiple channel clearance sensor system, which in one embodiment includes at least one sensor for measuring at least one clearance parameter signal between a stationary object and a rotating object of a rotating machine. The sensor output is processed as a clearance parameter by an offset correction section configured to determine an offset error in the clearance parameter signal which is used by a level shifter. The level shifter is also switchably coupled to the clearance parameter signal wherein the output of the level shifter, which may be amplified and digitally converted, is processed by a signal level analyzer to determine a channel gain signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Wayne Charles Hasz, David So Keung Chan, David Mulford Shaddock, John Harry Down, Samhita Dasgupta, David Richard Esler, Zhiyuan Ren, Mahadevan Balasubramaniam, Ibrahim Issoufou Kouada
  • Patent number: 8272260
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating a formation include conveying a formation evaluation tool in a borehole on a tubular carrier extending from a surface location at least to the formation evaluation tool. A cable is conveyed to the formation evaluation tool and communication between the formation evaluation tool and the cable is established after the formation evaluation tool is moved to a selected borehole location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles R. Jackson, Robert K. Moore
  • Patent number: 8261607
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, David W. Beck, M. Clark Thompson
  • Patent number: 8245585
    Abstract: The current invention provides a modulated pressure wave vapor generator suitable for use outside of the laboratory. The vapor generator of the current invention produces a controlled analyte vapor sample without using bulk movement of gas. Additionally, the current invention compensates for changes in the environment to ensure discharge of the preferred volume of analyte from the vapor generator. Finally, the current invention provides a method for generating a controlled volume of analyte vapor suitable for calibrating vapor sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Szabo, Matthew Laurence Dock, Craig Allen Aker
  • Patent number: 8225662
    Abstract: An acceleration sensing device includes: an outer frame; a first drive arm having both ends supported by sides of the outer frame through respective base parts, the sides opposing each other; a second drive arm extending from one of the base parts of at least one of the sides toward the other side; and a sensing arm that is disposed midway between the first drive arm and the second drive arm and extends form the one base part of the one side toward the other side, the sensing arm having an electrode in order to extract electric charge generated in the sensing arm. In the device, the first drive arm and the second drive arm have excitation electrodes for a flexural vibration and form a tuning fork type resonator, and center positions in thicknesses of sections that are located in the base parts and on an extension line of the first drive arm differ from a center position in a thickness of the first drive arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8220310
    Abstract: A gas analyzer that can be miniaturized and detect a wide variety of gases with high sensitivity, and a method of gas analysis. A separation column is configured so as to pass a sample gas together with a carrier gas through the inside thereof. A surface acoustic wave device has a base material with an annularly continuous annular surface formed of at least a part of a spherical surface; a surface acoustic wave generating means capable of generating a surface acoustic wave that propagates along the annular surface; and a plurality of reaction parts provided along the annular surface so as to change a predetermined physical quantity of the surface acoustic wave in response to the components of the sample gas. The surface acoustic wave device is arranged so that the sample gas passing through the separation column is reacted with the reaction parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Kazushi Yamanaka, Toshihiro Tsuji, Naoya Iwata
  • Patent number: 8215157
    Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for determining the viscosity of a fluid within a fluid flow path. Such method may comprise flowing fluid through the fluid flow path and past a fixed flow restriction therein. The method may also comprise first sensing of a fluid pressure within the fluid flow path at a selected location upstream of the flow restriction. The method may also include limiting fluid flow in the fluid flow path upstream of such selected location. The method may further comprise second sensing of a fluid pressure within the fluid flow path at such selected location after such limiting. Such method includes determining the viscosity of the fluid based, at least in part, on any pressure difference from such first and second sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Jong H. Wang, Siddharth B. Desai
  • Patent number: RE43732
    Abstract: Dynamic monitoring of the amount of fuel remaining in an aircraft fuel tank is effected by delivering a constant volume flow of an inert gas into the fuel through the respective open distal ends of a sensor conduit tube and a reference conduit tube, each of which extends from a proximal end exterior of the tank to its respective distal open end located within the fuel tank. The sensor conduit tube distal end is fixed closely proximate the bottom of the tank, and the reference conduit tube distal end is fixed proximate but at a vertical spacing h from the sensor conduit tube distal end. The pressure at which the gas is delivered into the fuel at the constant volumetric rate through each of the sensor and reference conduit tubes is monitored. The pressure difference between the monitored pressure in the sensor conduit tube and the pressure in the free space in the fuel tank above the surface of the remaining fuel is directly proportional to the weight of the fuel lying above the sensor conduit tube distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Innovative Solutions and Support, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. M. Hedrick