Patents by Inventor Gary Pickrell
Gary Pickrell 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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Publication number: 20240053415Abstract: A magnetic field sensor in the form of a multi-material optical fiber is described. The magnetic sensing optical fiber of the present disclosure can leverage optics and magnetostriction to sense an external magnetic field adjacent to the fiber. The magnetic sensing optical fiber can be customized to achieve various desired sensing sensitivities for various applications, including measuring while drilling and unconventional oil and gas applications. In one example, an optical fiber can include a cladding that can extend from a first end to a second end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber can further include an optical core within the cladding. The optical core can extend along the optical fiber between the first end and the second end. The optical fiber can also include a magnetostrictive element within the cladding. The magnetostrictive element can extend along the optical fiber between the first end and the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Zachary Daniel Hileman, Daniel Homa, Gary Pickrell, Eileen Martin
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Publication number: 20230249316Abstract: Techniques for abrasively blasting (e.g., grit blasting) components, such as ceramic or CMC components. In some examples, based on a comparison of component geometry to a target geometry, a blasting path over the surface of the component may be generated for a selected traverse speed. A computing device may control a blasting device to blast the component according to the generated blasting path with the selected traverse speed. In some examples, based on a comparison of a component geometry to a target geometry, a respective traverse speed for a blasting device relative the component for each section of a plurality of sections over a surface of the component may be generated. A computing device controls the blasting device to blast the component according to the respective traverse speeds relative over a surface of the component to remove material from the surface of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2022Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Taylor K. Blair, Matthew R. Gold, Austin Scherbarth, Gary Pickrell
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Patent number: 10724999Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process possessing a plurality of process attributes, and a computing device including an acoustic data signal processing module configured to receive the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal, and transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum, wherein each process attribute of the plurality of process attributes is associated with at least one respective frequency band, and a correlation module configured to determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Michael Cybulsky, Raymond J. Sinatra, Matthew R. Gold, Taylor K. Blair, Gary Pickrell, Romesh Batra
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Patent number: 10695783Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process associated with a plurality of process attributes. The example system includes a computing device including an acoustic data signal module and a control module. The acoustic data signal processing module may transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum. The control module may determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes that deviates from a predetermined operating range by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum, selecting at least one component of the thermal spray system based on the process attribute, and controlling the thermal spray system to adjust the process attribute toward the predetermined operating range by sending a control signal to the at least one component.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Commonwealth Center for Advanced ManufacturingInventors: Taylor K. Blair, Michael Cybulsky, Gary Pickrell, Benjamin Zimmerman, Romesh Batra, Matthew R. Gold
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Patent number: 10274364Abstract: A characteristic of a component having an engineered internal space can be analyzed by recording acoustic signals produced by fluid flow through the internal space at controlled flow rates, and determining one or more acoustic frequencies and acoustic intensities that are indicative of the characteristic of the component. A state and/or a source of the component can be predicted based on the results of such analysis.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignees: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Taylor Blair, Gary Pickrell, Michael Cybulsky, Raymond John Sinatra, Romesh Batra
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Patent number: 10241091Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system comprising a flowstream, a computing device, and an acoustic data signal processing module operable by the computing device to determine an ignition attribute of the thermal spray system by analyzing at least a pre-ignition window of the acoustic data signal received by the computing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce PLC, Turbine Surface Technologies Limited, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State UniversityInventors: Michael Cybulsky, Raymond J. Sinatra, Roy Peter McIntyre, Taylor K. Blair, Gary Pickrell, Romesh Batra, Mark Hudson
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Publication number: 20180154377Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process associated with a plurality of process attributes. The example system includes a computing device including an acoustic data signal module and a control module. The acoustic data signal processing module may transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum. The control module may determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes that deviates from a predetermined operating range by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum, selecting at least one component of the thermal spray system based on the process attribute, and controlling the thermal spray system to adjust the process attribute toward the predetermined operating range by sending a control signal to the at least one component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Taylor K. Blair, Michael Cybulsky, Gary Pickrell, Benjamin Zimmerman, Romesh Batra, Matthew R. Gold
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Publication number: 20160354796Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process possessing a plurality of process attributes, and a computing device including an acoustic data signal processing module configured to receive the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal, and transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum, wherein each process attribute of the plurality of process attributes is associated with at least one respective frequency band, and a correlation module configured to determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cybulsky, Raymond J. Sinatra, Matthew R. Gold, Taylor K. Blair, Gary Pickrell, Romesh Batra
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Publication number: 20160356747Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system comprising a flowstream, a computing device, and an acoustic data signal processing module operable by the computing device to determine an ignition attribute of the thermal spray system by analyzing at least a pre-ignition window of the acoustic data signal received by the computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicants: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Michael Cybulsky, Raymond J. Sinatra, Roy Peter McIntyre, Taylor K. Blair, Gary Pickrell, Romesh Batra, Mark Hudson
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Patent number: 8983258Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Jeong I. Kim, Daniel Kominsky, Gary Pickrell, Ahmad Safaai-Jazi, Roger Stolen, Anbo Wang
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Patent number: 8861912Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Jeong I. Kim, Daniel Kominsky, Gary Pickrell, Ahmad Safaai-Jazi, Roger H Stolen, Anbo Wang
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Publication number: 20140200837Abstract: A characteristic of a component having an engineered internal space can be analyzed by recording acoustic signals produced by fluid flow through the internal space at controlled flow rates, and determining one or more acoustic frequencies and acoustic intensities that are indicative of the characteristic of the component. A state and/or a source of the component can be predicted based on the results of such analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Inventors: Taylor Blair, Gary Pickrell, Michael Cybulsky, Raymond John Sinatra, Romesh Batra
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Publication number: 20140013808Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, IncInventors: Jeong I. KIM, Daniel KOMINSKY, Gary PICKRELL, Ahmad SAFAAI-JAZI, Roger STOLEN, Anbo WANG
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Publication number: 20130223804Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Jeong I. KIM, Daniel KOMINSKY, Gary PICKRELL, Ahmad SAFAAI-JAZI, Roger H. STOLEN, Anbo WANG
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Publication number: 20110117338Abstract: Open pore foams are coated with metal or metal alloys by electrolytic or electroless plating. The characteristics of the plating bath are adjusted to decrease the surface tension such that the plate bath composition can pass into the pores of the foam, preferably at least two and most preferably more than five pores in depth from the surface of the foam matrix. This can be accomplished by adding a surfactant, solvent or other constituent to reduce the surface tension of the plate bath. In addition, heat and pressure can be used to drive in the plate bath composition into the passage ways of connected open pores in the foam matrix. The net result is to plate the inside surfaces of the pores in the foam matrix, while maintaining the passageways through the foam. Pretreatment of the pore surfaces can be used to promote adhesion of the metal. Particularly advantageous results are achieved when the foam matrix is a ceramic foam.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Ben Poquette, Jennifer Mueller, Michael Asaro, Patrick Dykema, Stephen Kampe, Gary Pickrell
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Patent number: 7567742Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Gary Pickrell, Daniel Kominsky, Roger Stolen, Jeong I. Kim, Anbo Wang, Ahmad Safaai-Jazi
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Publication number: 20090056383Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Gary Pickrell, Daniel Kominsky, Roger Stolen, Jeong I. Kim, Anbo Wang, Ahmad Safaai-Jazi
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Patent number: 7444838Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2004Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Gary Pickrell, Daniel Kominsky, Roger Stolen, Jeong I. Kim, Anbo Wang, Ahmad Safaai-Jazi
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Publication number: 20080056657Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Gary Pickrell, Daniel Kominsky, Roger Stoleh, Jeong Kim, Anbo Wang, Ahmad Safaai-Jazi
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Publication number: 20070042455Abstract: Porous polymers are made by adding biologically active agent and growth substrates (e.g., yeast and sugar, preferably in the presence of water or other suitable fluid) to a polymer forming material, which may be a liquid. The yeast acts on the sugar, forming carbon dioxide gas bubbles. The material is then polymerized so that the gas bubbles create permanent pores within the polymeric material. The polymer can be an epoxy for example. The pores will contain residue of the yeast. Also, porous metals can be made by combining a metal powder with yeast, sugar, and water. The porous metal paste is then sintered. Porous ceramics and semiconductors can be made by combining the yeast and sugar with a ceramic forming liquid such as polysilazane. Polysilazane converts to silica when heated, which helps to bind the ceramic or semiconductor powder particles at a reduced temperature. Biological agents other than yeast (e.g. bacteria, enzymes), and growth substrates other than sugar can also be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Inventor: Gary Pickrell