Patents by Inventor Alan D. Wilks
Alan D. Wilks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10093875Abstract: A system for producing a syngas from a biomass material. The system compacts a loose biomass material to form a compacted biomass material at an entrance of a reactor tube, and then heats the compacted biomass material within the tube to form ash and a fuel gas mixture. The fuel gas mixture is withdrawn from the tube and the ash is removed from the tube through an exit thereof. Ingress of air into the tube is inhibited by forming a plug of the biomass material at the entrance of the tube and a plug of ash at the exit of the tube. A neutral atmospheric pressure is maintained in the reactor tube relative to pressure outside the reactor tube by monitoring and adjusting a volumetric rate of the fuel gas mixture withdrawn from the reactor tube based on pressures at the entrance and the exit of the reactor tube.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Paganessi, Peter J. Schubert, Alan D. Wilks
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Publication number: 20160319207Abstract: A system for producing a syngas from a biomass material. The system compacts a loose biomass material to form a compacted biomass material at an entrance of a reactor tube, and then heats the compacted biomass material within the tube to form ash and a fuel gas mixture. The fuel gas mixture is withdrawn from the tube and the ash is removed from the tube through an exit thereof. Ingress of air into the tube is inhibited by forming a plug of the biomass material at the entrance of the tube and a plug of ash at the exit of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Joseph E. Paganessi, Peter J. Schubert, Alan D. Wilks
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Patent number: 9416326Abstract: A system and process capable of promoting the energy content of a syngas produced from a biomass material. The system and process entail compacting a loose biomass material and simultaneously introducing the compacted biomass material into an entrance of a reactor tube, and then heating the compacted biomass material within the tube to a temperature at which organic molecules within the biomass material break down to form ash and a fuel gas mixture. The fuel gas mixture is withdrawn from the tube and the ash is removed from the tube through an exit thereof. The entrance and exit of the tube, the compaction step, and the removal step cooperate to inhibit ingress of air into the tube by forming a plug of the biomass material at the entrance of the tube and a plug of ash at the exit of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Paganessi, Peter J. Schubert, Alan D. Wilks
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Publication number: 20140021028Abstract: A system and process capable of promoting the energy content of a syngas produced from a biomass material. The system and process entail compacting a loose biomass material and simultaneously introducing the compacted biomass material into an entrance of a reactor tube, and then heating the compacted biomass material within the tube to a temperature at which organic molecules within the biomass material break down to form ash and a fuel gas mixture. The fuel gas mixture is withdrawn from the tube and the ash is removed from the tube through an exit thereof. The entrance and exit of the tube, the compaction step, and the removal step cooperate to inhibit ingress of air into the tube by forming a plug of the biomass material at the entrance of the tube and a plug of ash at the exit of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Indiana University Research and Technology CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Paganessi, Peter J. Schubert, Alan D. Wilks
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Patent number: 8046946Abstract: A device for counting shots fired by a firearm including a permanent magnet mounted to moving portion of the firearm and electrically coupled to a coil mounted on a relatively stationary portion of the firearm. Movement of the magnet relative to the coil induces an electromotive force within the coil. The induced electromotive force can be used increment a shot-count indictor and thereby record the number of shots fired by the firearm. The electromotive force can also be measured by a verification circuit to determine the strength of a shot and thereby verify whether a round was actually discharged by the firearm. In some embodiments, information regarding the number of shots discharged and the strength of the shots can be transmitted to an external device.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Packer Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth F. Packer, Alan D. Wilks, Peter J. Schubert, Thomas E. Long
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Publication number: 20100275514Abstract: A system and process capable of promoting the energy content of a syngas produced from a biomass material. The system and process entail compacting a loose biomass material and simultaneously introducing the compacted biomass material into an entrance of a reactor tube, and then heating the compacted biomass material within the tube to a temperature at which organic molecules within the biomass material break down to form ash and a fuel gas mixture. The fuel gas mixture is withdrawn from the tube and the ash is removed from the tube through an exit thereof. The entrance and exit of the tube, the compaction step, and the removal step cooperate to inhibit ingress of air into the tube by forming a plug of the biomass material at the entrance of the tube and a plug of ash at the exit of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: PACKER ENGINEERING, INC.Inventors: Joseph E. Paganessi, Peter J. Schubert, Alan D. Wilks
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Publication number: 20100251586Abstract: A device for counting shots fired by a firearm including a permanent magnet mounted to moving portion of the firearm and electrically coupled to a coil mounted on a relatively stationary portion of the firearm. Movement of the magnet relative to the coil induces an electromotive force within the coil. The induced electromotive force can be used increment a shot-count indictor and thereby record the number of shots fired by the firearm. The electromotive force can also be measured by a verification circuit to determine the strength of a shot and thereby verify whether a round was actually discharged by the firearm. In some embodiments, information regarding the number of shots discharged and the strength of the shots can be transmitted to an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2007Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: Packer Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth F. Packer, Alan D. Wilks, Peter J. Schubert, Thomas E. Long
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Patent number: 7739096Abstract: System and method for selection of appropriate modeling data from a general data set to characterize a modeled process. The data is typically correlated sensor data, representing a multitude of snapshots of a sensed machine or process. The invention accommodates selection of greater amounts of general data for inclusion in the modeling data where that data exhibits greater dynamics, and selects less data from regions of little change. The system can comprise a computer running a software program, or a microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: SmartSignal CorporationInventors: Stephan W. Wegerich, Alan D. Wilks, Andre Wolosewicz
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Publication number: 20070221579Abstract: Methods for reducing the transport of contaminants in groundwater and methods for reducing the contamination of groundwater are disclosed. The methods may include adding a reagent to groundwater and contacting a contaminant with the reagent to form a precipitate and compiling the precipitate to form a barrier to groundwater flow. Systems for reducing the transport of contaminants in groundwater including an arrangement for adding a reagent to a groundwater flow path and a formed barrier comprising contaminant precipitate in the groundwater flow path are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Inventors: Alan D. Wilks, Kenneth F. Packer, Daniel Grant Greene
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Patent number: 6999899Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a Sequential Probability Ratio Test (“SPRT”) methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2004Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: ARCH Development CorporationInventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan W. Wegerich, Cynthia Criss-Puszkiewicz, Alan D. Wilks
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Patent number: 6952662Abstract: A system for detecting subtle differences in a signal in a set of linearly and/or non-linearly related signals that characterize a sensor-instrumented machine, process or living system. The system employs an improved similarity operator for signal differentiation. Signals or data representative of several linearly and/or non-linearly related parameters that describe a machine, process or living system are input to the inventive system, which compares the input to acceptable modeled states. If one or more of the input signals or data are different than expected, given the relationships between the parameters, the inventive system will indicate that difference. The system can provide expected parameter values, as well as the differences between expected and input signals; or the system can provide raw measures of similarity between the collection of input signals and the collection of acceptable modeled states. The system can be embodied in software or in a micro-controller.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2001Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: SmartSignal CorporationInventors: Stephan W. Wegerich, Alan D. Wilks, John D. Nelligan
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Patent number: 6804628Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a Sequential Probability Ratio Test (“SPRT”) methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: ARCH Development CorporationInventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan W. Wegerich, Cynthia Criss-Puszkiewicz, Alan D. Wilks
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Publication number: 20040162685Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a Sequential Probability Ratio Test (“SPRT”) methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2004Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: ARCH Development CorporationInventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan W. Wegerich, Cynthia Criss-Puszkiewicz, Alan D. Wilks
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Patent number: 6553334Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a Sequential Probability Ratio Test methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Arch Development Corp.Inventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan Wegerich, Cynthia Criss-Puszkiewicz, Alan D. Wilks
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Publication number: 20020188423Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a SPRT methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephen W. Wegerich, Cynthia Criss-Puszkiewicz, Alan D. Wilks
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Publication number: 20020087290Abstract: System and method for selection of appropriate modeling data from a general data set to characterize a modeled process. The data is typically correlated sensor data, representing a multitude of snapshots of a sensed machine or process. The invention accommodates selection of greater amounts of general data for inclusion in the modeling data where that data exhibits greater dynamics, and selects less data from regions of little change. The system can comprise a computer running a software program, or a microprocessor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Inventors: Stephan W. Wegerich, Alan D. Wilks, Andre Wolosewicz
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Publication number: 20020055826Abstract: A system for detecting subtle differences in a signal in a set of linearly and/or non-linearly related signals that characterize a sensor-instrumented machine, process or living system. The system employs an improved similarity operator for signal differentiation. Signals or data representative of several linearly and/or non-linearly related parameters that describe a machine, process or living system are input to the inventive system, which compares the input to acceptable modeled states. If one or more of the input signals or data are different than expected, given the relationships between the parameters, the inventive system will indicate that difference. The system can provide expected parameter values, as well as the differences between expected and input signals; or the system can provide raw measures of similarity between the collection of input signals and the collection of acceptable modeled states. The system can be embodied in software or in a micro-controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2001Publication date: May 9, 2002Inventors: Stephan W. Wegerich, Alan D. Wilks, John D. Nelligan
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Publication number: 20020042692Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a SPRT methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2001Publication date: April 11, 2002Inventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan Wegerich, Cynthia Criss, Alan D. Wilks
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Patent number: 6240372Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one of a system, a process and a data source. A method and system have been developed for carrying out surveillance, testing and modification of an ongoing process or other source of data, such as a spectroscopic examination. A signal from the system under surveillance is collected and compared with a reference signal, a frequency domain transformation carried out for the system signal and reference signal, a frequency domain difference function established. The process is then repeated until a full range of data is accumulated over the time domain and a SPRT sequential probability ratio test methodology applied to determine a three-dimensional surface plot characteristic of the operating state of the system under surveillance.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1997Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Arch Development CorporationInventors: Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan W. Wegerich, Cynthia Criss-Puszkiewicz, Alan D. Wilks
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Patent number: 6107919Abstract: A method and system for analyzing a source of data. The system and method involves initially training a system using a selected data signal, calculating at least two levels of sensitivity using a pattern recognition methodology, activating a first mode of alarm sensitivity to monitor the data source, activating a second mode of alarm sensitivity to monitor the data source and generating a first alarm signal upon the first mode of sensitivity detecting an alarm condition and a second alarm signal upon the second mode of sensitivity detecting an associated alarm condition. The first alarm condition and second alarm condition can be acted upon by an operator and/or analyzed by a specialist or computer program.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: ARCH Development CorporationInventors: Alan D. Wilks, Stephan W. Wegerich, Kenneth C. Gross