Patents by Inventor Ralph H. Hill
Ralph H. Hill 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: 10485223Abstract: A kit for converting a multi-stage egg incubator to a single stage egg incubator. The single-stage egg incubator conversion kit includes an air intake system, an exhaust/ventilation system, a heating source, a cooling source, an environmental control system, and humidity system all being capable of incorporation into an egg incubator. Components of the air intake system, exhaust/ventilation system, heating source, cooling source, and humidity system are operatively connected to the environmental control system to provide environmental control within a setter of the egg incubator, including selective cooling capacity, selective heating capacity, selective air flow between the setter internal environment and an external environment, and selective air flow from the external environment into two or more zones within the setter internal environment.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Incubation Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Cull, Ralph H. Hill
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Publication number: 20170142939Abstract: A kit for converting a multi-stage egg incubator to a single stage egg incubator. The single-stage egg incubator conversion kit includes an air intake system, an exhaust/ventilation system, a heating source, a cooling source, an environmental control system, and humidity system all being capable of incorporation into an egg incubator. Components of the air intake system, exhaust/ventilation system, heating source, cooling source, and humidity system are operatively connected to the environmental control system to provide environmental control within a setter of the egg incubator, including selective cooling capacity, selective heating capacity, selective air flow between the setter internal environment and an external environment, and selective air flow from the external environment into two or more zones within the setter internal environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Thomas J. Cull, Ralph H. Hill
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Patent number: 9105363Abstract: A method for collecting volatile radioactive substances. The method includes irradiating a volatile radioactive substance on or under a contaminated material surface using microwave radiation and vaporizing the volatile radioactive substance, wherein the volatile radioactive substance comprises at least one of cesium and iodine. The method further includes recovering the vaporized volatile radioactive substance from the contaminated material. The method may be accomplished with and/or without physically collecting or isolating the contaminated material.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Roland R. V. Benke, Ralph H. Hill, Jr., Roberto T. Pabalan, James A. Moryl, Jeremy R. Pruitt
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Patent number: 7002079Abstract: A composite insulator containing means for providing early warning of impending failure due to stress corrosion cracking, flashunder, or destruction of the rod by discharge activity conditions is described. A composite insulator comprising a fiberglass rod surrounded by a polymer housing and connected with metal end fittings on either end of the rod is doped with a dye-based chemical dopant. The dopant is located around the vicinity of the outer surface of the fiberglass rod. The dopant is formulated to possess migration and diffusion characteristics, and to be inert in dry conditions and compatible with the insulator components. The dopant is positioned within the insulator such that upon the penetration of moisture through the housing to the rod through a permeation pathway in the outer surface of the insulator, the dopant will become activated and will leach out of the same permeation pathway or diffuse through the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Electric Power Research InstituteInventors: Joseph N. Mitchell, Spring M. Haby, Dennis S. Rushforth, Mark E. Van Dyke, Henry W. Oviatt, Jr., Andrew J. Philips, Ralph H. Hill, Jr., Mary C. Marshall
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Patent number: 6930254Abstract: A composite insulator containing means for providing early warning of impending failure due to stress corrosion cracking, flashunder, or destruction of the rod by discharge activity conditions is described. A composite insulator comprising a fiberglass rod surrounded by a polymer housing and fitted with metal end fittings on either end of the rod is doped with a dye-based chemical dopant. The dopant is located around the vicinity of the outer surface of the fiberglass rod. The dopant is formulated to possess migration and diffusion characteristics correlating to those of water, and to be inert in dry conditions and compatible with the insulator components. The dopant is placed within the insulator such that upon the penetration of moisture through the housing to the rod through a permeation pathway in the outer surface of the insulator, the dopant will become activated and will leach out of the same permeation pathway.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Electric Power Research InstituteInventors: Andrew J. Philips, Ralph H. Hill, Jr., Mary C. Marshall, Joseph N. Mitchell, Stephen J. Hudak, Jr.
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Patent number: 6586745Abstract: An ultraviolet target designator and methodology that utilizes ultraviolet radiation from a laser designator to remotely designate targets for various applications. In one embodiment, the ultraviolet laser designator is used to remotely designate a target for insects to fly to so as to collect environmental information. In another embodiment, the ultraviolet laser operates in the solar blind region to remotely designate a target. When used in conjunction with a solar blind camera, the targeting can be performed without detection by infrared or visible detection devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Ralph H. Hill, Jr., James R. Keys, Jr.
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Publication number: 20020190222Abstract: An ultraviolet target designator and methodology that utilizes ultraviolet radiation from a laser designator to remotely designate targets for various applications. In one embodiment, the ultraviolet laser designator is used to remotely designate a target for insects to fly to so as to collect environmental information. In another embodiment, the ultraviolet laser operates in the solar blind region to remotely designate a target. When used in conjunction with a solar blind camera, the targeting can be performed without detection by infrared or visible detection devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Ralph H. Hill, James R. Keys
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Patent number: 5850285Abstract: A method and apparatus based on the exploitation of quantum effects related to stimulated emission for detecting the presence of aircraft or missile exhaust plumes in the atmosphere. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed toward detecting electromagnetic radiation due to the presence of chemical compounds existing in the exhaust plume which occur in areas of the spectrum not normally interrogated; that is, in the regions of 0.2-200 microns and 1 KHz-1000 GHz.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Ralph H. Hill, Jr., James R. Keys
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Patent number: 5198871Abstract: An optical inspection system for using laser-induced luminescence to detect the quality of materials, such as fuel. The inspection system comprises an excitation means for illuminating a specimen to cause it to produce fluorescent radiation. The spectral representation of the fluorescence produced by the specimen is compared to a reference spectrum to obtain an indication of the physical characteristics of the specimen.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1991Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Ralph H. Hill, Jr., David W. Naegeli
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Patent number: 4866283Abstract: An optical inspection system for using laser-induced luminescence to detect the quality of organic materials, such as peanuts. The inspection system comprises an excitation means for illuminating a specimen to cause it to produce fluorescent radiation. The spectral representation of the fluorescence produced by the specimen is compared to a reference spectrum to obtain an indication of the physical characteristics of the specimen. In a preferred embodiment, the system identifies and removes peanuts contaminated with aflatoxin from a stream of peanuts by determining fluorescence at a predetermined wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1988Date of Patent: September 12, 1989Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventor: Ralph H. Hill, Jr.
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Patent number: 4852579Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical diagnosis and treatment of abnormal cells through the use of hormone-specific chemical markers which are preferential to genital tissues. Abnormal cells can be differentiated from normal cells by the amount of fluorescent or thermal radiation produced by the chemical marker retained in the respective cells when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined wavelength. Once the abnormal cells have been detected, they can be treated through the use of an optical technique based on photochemical or thermal reactions which can be controlled to destroy the abnormal cells, while leaving normal cells unharmed.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1987Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: Karl Storz Endoscopy GmbH and CompanyInventors: Dennis W. Gilstad, Ronald L. Branstetter, Ralph H. Hill, Jr.
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Patent number: 4802762Abstract: An optical inspection system for using laser-induced luminescence to detect deterioration of a polymer-based material. The inspection system comprises an excitation means for illuminating a specimen of the polymer material to cause it to produce fluorescent radiation. The spectral representation of the fluorescence produced by the specimen is compared to the spectrum of a reference sample of known quality in order to obtain an indication of the physical characteristics of the specimen.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1986Date of Patent: February 7, 1989Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventor: Ralph H. Hill, Jr.