Patents by Inventor Andre Fortier
Andre Fortier 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: 9004449Abstract: A conical rotary valve for chromatographic applications is provided, including a valve stator, a valve rotor, a drive adaptor and a pair of stoppers each mounted to the stator. The drive adaptor is rotatable and coupled to the valve rotor for transmitting a rotating force thereto. The drive adaptor has a body and a pair of radial arms projecting from the body radially outward from the axis of rotation on opposite sides thereof. Each of the pair of radial arms is movable along a respective arcuate travelling course with respect to the stator. The stoppers are each positioned to obstruct one of the radial arms at an end of the corresponding travelling course. The stoppers are positioned to simultaneously engage the radial arms, thereby balancing the reaction forces created within the valve when the radial arms reach the ends of their travelling courses.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: 8851452Abstract: Plungers and plunger assemblies for a diaphragm-sealed valve are provided. Each plunger is adapted to be received in a passage of the valve body and includes a base member and an upper member having a transversal play in this passage with respect to the base member. A resilient middle element is provided between the upper and base member. The base member is connected to a plunger actuating mechanism within the valve body. The upper member may therefore be self-aligning within the passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: 8794594Abstract: Plungers and plunger assemblies for a diaphragm-sealed valve are provided. Each plunger is adapted to be received in a passage of the valve body and includes a base member and an upper member having a longitudinal play in this passage with respect to the base member. A resilient middle element is provided between the upper and base member. The base member is connected to a plunger actuating mechanism within the valve body. Optionally, the upper member may be self-aligning within the passage. The plunger can be used to compensate for temperature variations experienced by the valve in use.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, Andre Fortier
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Patent number: 8469057Abstract: A valve includes a valve cap, a valve body, a diaphragm, biasing means and a locking mechanism. The valve cap includes a plurality of process conduits and process ports. The valve body faces the valve cap and includes a plurality of plunger passages extending therein. The diaphragm is positioned between the valve cap and the valve body. The valve body includes a plunger assembly, a first support structure and a second support structure. The plunger assembly includes a plurality of plungers, each slidable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the plunger deforms the diaphragm in order to block communication between two of the process ports. In the open position, the plunger is retracted away from the diaphragm. Each plunger is either a normally closed plunger or a normally open plunger. The normally closed plungers are mounted upon first support structure and the normally open plungers are mounted upon the second support structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: 8239171Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method of eliminating interference for impurities measurement in noble gases based on emission spectroscopy which provide very stable, sensitive and interference free results. The method mainly relies on the use of a combination of particularly designed means serially connected for cancelling interferences and proper means for correcting linearity issues. The proposed method is particularly advantageous since it offers long-term stability while providing very accurate and reliable results, even at sub-ppb and up to 10,000 ppm levels, whatever the surrounding conditions and the additional impurities that could be present in the gas under analysis.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Panalytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Publication number: 20120181466Abstract: A conical rotary valve for chromatographic applications is provided, including a valve stator, a valve rotor, a drive adaptor and a pair of stoppers each mounted to the stator. The drive adaptor is rotatable and coupled to the valve rotor for transmitting a rotating force thereto. The drive adaptor has a body and a pair of radial arms projecting from the body radially outward from the axis of rotation on opposite sides thereof. Each of the pair of radial arms is movable along a respective arcuate travelling course with respect to the stator. The stoppers are each positioned to obstruct one of the radial arms at an end of the corresponding travelling course. The stoppers are positioned to simultaneously engage the radial arms, thereby balancing the reaction forces created within the valve when the radial arms reach the ends of their travelling courses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Publication number: 20120025120Abstract: Plungers and plunger assemblies for a diaphragm-sealed valve are provided. Each plunger is adapted to be received in a passage of the valve body and includes a base member and an upper member having a transversal play in this passage with respect to the base member. A resilient middle element is provided between the upper and base member. The base member is connected to a plunger actuating mechanism within the valve body. The upper member may therefore be self-aligning within the passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: 8104506Abstract: A diaphragm-sealed valve having communication mechanisms operatively connecting neighboring pairs of grooves is provided. Each communication mechanism has a communication port opening in an interface of a valve cap, between the neighboring grooves. The communication mechanism also has a communication conduit extending within the valve cap and connecting the communication port and one of the neighboring grooves. It also has a recess within a valve body aligned with the communication port and with the other one of the neighboring grooves, a flexible sealing surface of the diaphragm being seated within the recess and resiliently biased away from the interface of the valve cap. A plunger assembly is also provided, including plungers movable to push flexible sealing surface towards the communication port.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, Andre Fortier
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Publication number: 20110233440Abstract: A valve includes a valve cap, a valve body, a diaphragm, biasing means and a locking mechanism. The valve cap includes a plurality of process conduits and process ports. The valve body faces the valve cap and includes a plurality of plunger passages extending therein. The diaphragm is positioned between the valve cap and the valve body. The valve body includes a plunger assembly, a first support structure and a second support structure. The plunger assembly includes a plurality of plungers, each slidable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the plunger deforms the diaphragm in order to block communication between two of the process ports. In the open position, the plunger is retracted away from the diaphragm. Each plunger is either a normally closed plunger or a normally open plunger. The normally closed plungers are mounted upon first support structure and the normally open plungers are mounted upon the second support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: 7931043Abstract: A diaphragm-sealed valve provided with a valve cap and a valve body, a diaphragm and a plunger assembly. The diaphragm is compressibly positioned between the valve cap and the valve body. The valve body comprises a process purging channel extending along a main recess of the valve body, under a pre-formed deformation of the diaphragm. A process purging inlet passage and a process purging outlet passage, both opening on the process purging channel, allow for a purging gas to flow in the process purging channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Mécanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: 7824471Abstract: The present invention provides a chromatographic method for eliminating interference from interfering agents, coming from the gas sample itself or from the system material used to perform the impurities measurements, on impurities to be quantified in a gas sample. The method advantageously relies on the use of an additional valve and an additional sample loop particularly arranged in a G. C. system, and also on an additional supporting gas inlet operatively connected to the system through the additional sample loop for providing the system with a supporting gas comprising at least a predetermined portion of a predetermined active gas that will react with the unwanted interfering impurities, if any, or with the column material to cancel out unwanted active sites. Thus, the method of the present invention can advantageously be used in gas chromatographic systems to improve sensitivity thereof by acting on column separation material.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Panalytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, Andre Fortier
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Publication number: 20100059699Abstract: Plungers and plunger assemblies for a diaphragm-sealed valve are provided. Each plunger is adpted to be received in a passage of the valve body and includes a base member and an upper member having a longitudinal play in this passage with respect to the base member. A resilient middle element is provided between the upper and base member. The base member is connected to a plunger actuating mechanism within the valve body. Optionally, the upper member may be self-aligning within the passage. The plunger can be used to compensate for temperature variations experienced by the valve in use.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Publication number: 20090165642Abstract: The present invention provides a chromatographic method for eliminating interference from interfering agents, corning from the gas sample itself or from the system material used to perform the impurities measurements, on impurities to be quantified in a gas sample. The method advantageously relies on the use of an additional valve and an additional sample loop particularly arranged in a G. C. system, and also on an additional supporting gas inlet operatively connected to the system through the additional sample loop for providing the system with a supporting gas comprising at least a predetermined portion of a predetermined active gas that will react with the unwanted interfering impurities, if any, or with the column material to cancel out unwanted active sites. Thus, the method of the present invention can advantageously be used in gas chromatographic systems to improve sensitivity thereof by acting on column separation material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2006Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Yves Gamache, Andre Fortier
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Publication number: 20090152481Abstract: A diaphragm-sealed valve provided with a valve cap and a valve body, a diaphragm and a plunger assembly. The diaphragm is compressibly positioned between the valve cap and the valve body. The valve body comprises a process purging channel extending along a main recess of the valve body, under a pre-formed deformation of the diaphragm. A process purging inlet passage and a process purging outlet passage, both opening on the process purging channel, allow for a purging gas to flow in the process purging channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: MECANIQUE ANALYTIQUE IN.Inventors: Yves Gamache, Andre Fortier
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Publication number: 20090132206Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method of eliminating interference for impurities measurement in noble gases based on emission spectroscopy which provide very stable, sensitive and interference free results. The method mainly relies on the use of a combination of particularly designed means serially connected for cancelling interferences and proper means for correcting linearity issues. The proposed method is particularly advantageous since it offers long-term stability while providing very accurate and reliable results, even at sub-ppb and up to 10,000 ppm levels, whatever the surrounding conditions and the additional impurities that could be present in the gas under analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: PANALYTIQUE INC.Inventors: Yves Gamache, Andre Fortier
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Patent number: 7503203Abstract: There is provided a rotary valve for fluid analytical systems. The present valve provides improved characteristics such as an extended lifetime. The valve can fulfil different fluid analytical functions and can be a multi-ports and/or multi-positions valve. The valve is provided with extra recesses in the rotor and extra ports in the stator. These recesses allow to cancel the effect of any possible leaks by evacuating them. Such a valve then prevents cross-port leaks and can advantageously be used in highly critical applications. Moreover, the present valve can be used in an analytical system which is advantageously self-diagnostic.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Mecanique Analytique Inc.Inventors: Yves Gamache, André Fortier
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Patent number: D592920Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Garant GPInventors: David Boies, Andre Fortier, Marie-Claude Guay
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Patent number: D594727Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Grant GPInventors: Andre Fortier, Patrick Julien, Simon Lamarre, Marie-Claude Guay
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Patent number: D596906Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2009Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Garant GPInventors: David Boies, Andre Fortier, Marie-Claude Guay
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Patent number: D602751Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Garant GPInventors: David Boies, Andre Fortier, Marie-Claude Guay