Patents by Inventor Richard P. Kovacich

Richard P. Kovacich 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).

  • Patent number: 11119290
    Abstract: An alignment device having two angular degrees of freedom is provided. The alignment device is adjustable such that it is suitable for aligning a first apparatus with respect to a second apparatus. The first apparatus may emit one or more of electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves and matter towards the second apparatus and for detection by the second apparatus. The first and second apparatuses may be disposed in a harsh environment such as is found in the vicinity of an industrial process stack. In some embodiments the first apparatus is a laser, preferably a tunable diode laser, and the second apparatus is a receiver incorporating a detector. In these embodiments the apparatuses may be used to perform laser absorption spectroscopy on a process gas flowing through an industrial process stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Ian C. Gaskin, James D. Hobby, Richard P. Kovacich, Martin Lopez, Graham R. Terry
  • Patent number: 9546902
    Abstract: A method and system for correcting the effect of intensity fluctuations of the transmitted light in an absorption spectroscopy system used for the detection or measurement of chemical species in a medium, whereby one or more modulation bursts are imposed onto a light beam that passes through the medium. This burst signal may be obtained by modulating the bias current of a tunable diode laser, and the modulation burst signal may be optimally at the second harmonic of the modulation frequency of a wavelength modulated beam to allow usage of the same signal path processing used for the spectroscopic detection of the measurand for a second harmonic detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Richard P. Kovacich, Bahram Alizadeh, Ian C. Gaskin, James D. Hobby, Martin Lopez
  • Publication number: 20160041359
    Abstract: An alignment device, having two angular degrees of freedom is provided. The alignment device is adjustable such that it is suitable for aligning a first apparatus with respect to a second apparatus. The first apparatus may emit one or more of electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves and matter towards the second apparatus and for detection by the second apparatus. The first and second apparatuses may be disposed in a harsh environment such as is found in the vicinity of an industrial process stack. In some embodiments the first apparatus is a laser, preferably a tunable diode laser, and the second apparatus is a receiver incorporating a detector. In these embodiments the apparatuses may be used to perform laser absorption spectroscopy on a process gas flowing through an industrial process stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Ian C. Gaskin, James D. Hobby, Richard P. Kovacich, Martin Lopez, Graham R. Terry
  • Publication number: 20150268095
    Abstract: A method and system for correcting the effect of intensity fluctuations of the transmitted light in an absorption spectroscopy system used for the detection or measurement of chemical species in a medium, whereby one or more modulation bursts are imposed onto a light beam that passes through the medium. This burst signal may be obtained by modulating the bias current of a tunable diode laser, and the modulation burst signal may be optimally at the second harmonic of the modulation frequency of a wavelength modulated beam to allow usage of the same signal path processing used for the spectroscopic detection of the measurand for a second harmonic detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Richard P. Kovacich, Bahram Alizadeh, Ian C. Gaskin, James D. Hobby, Martin Lopez
  • Patent number: 9091658
    Abstract: This present invention relates to a device for the measurement of the amount of oxygen in a gas mixture, or other gas with significantly different magnetic susceptibility than the background gas mixture, by the use of a suspended test body in a magnetic field that experiences force due to the magnetic susceptibility of the measurand gas. In order to enable a fast time response for the system with a change in oxygen concentration, a flow regime is presented which allows a fast sweep of the measurement volume combined with adjustable, balanced pressure drops via a flow balancing element (or elements) within the flow channels to independently minimise flow related uncertainties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Ian C. Gaskin, Richard P. Kovacich, Christopher R. Edwards, James D. Hobby, Martin Lopez
  • Patent number: 8847579
    Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of the magnetic susceptibility of a gas mixture comprises: a gas sample chamber (8) adapted to receive the gas mixture; a test body (1) rotatably suspended within the gas sample chamber; magnets (10) within the gas sample chamber; a compact optical system for detecting rotation of the test body (1) including a light source (12), photodetectors (13) arranged to detect a light signal, and a mirror (5) attached to the test body (1). An actuation system is arranged to keep the test body (1) substantially at a null position. The optical system comprises at least one photodetector positioned on each side of the light source. The light source is arranged to emit a light beam towards the test body. The photo detectors are arranged to each detect an edge of a light beam reflected from the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Richard P. Kovacich, Colin G. Stocks, Christopher R. Edwards, James D. Hobby
  • Publication number: 20120203529
    Abstract: This present invention relates to a device for the measurement of the amount of oxygen in a gas mixture, or other gas with significantly different magnetic susceptibility than the background gas mixture, by the use of a suspended test body in a magnetic field that experiences force due to the magnetic susceptibility of the measurand gas. In order to enable a fast time response for the system with a change in oxygen concentration, a flow regime is presented which allows a fast sweep of the measurement volume combined with adjustable, balanced pressure drops via a flow balancing element (or elements) within the flow channels to independently minimise flow related uncertainties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Ian C. Gaskin, Richard P. Kovacich, Christopher R. Edwards, James D. Hobby, Martin Lopez
  • Publication number: 20110304322
    Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of the magnetic susceptibility of a gas mixture comprises: a gas sample chamber (8) adapted to receive the gas mixture, and a test body (1) rotatably suspended within the gas sample chamber; means (10) for creating an inhomogeneous magnetic field within the gas sample chamber; means for detecting rotational motion of the test (body 1), comprising a compact optical system including a light source (12) and photodetectors (13) arranged to detect a light signal indicative of the rotational motion; and an actuation system (4) arranged to keep the test body (1) substantially at a null position determined by said optical system, wherein the optical system comprises at least one photodetector (13) positioned on either side of the plane which is normal to the mirror and parallel with the rotation axis of the test body, having the light source (12) positioned in the plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: SERVOMEX GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard P. Kovacich, Colin G. Stocks, Christopher R. Edwards, James D. Hobby
  • Patent number: 8069738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe having an elongated main body with a proximal end for attachment to a wall of a duct or volume and a distal end that is disposed on the interior of the duct, such that the main body forms a measurement space through which the fluid is drawn for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Martin Lopez, James Hobby, Richard P. Kovacich
  • Patent number: 7753582
    Abstract: A sensor for determining the thermal conductivity of a fluid comprising a sensing module located within a housing having inlet and outlet ports for a fluid under test, the sensing module comprising a reference base surface and a sensing element spaced therefrom and having measure and reference sections, and there being provided electrical power monitoring means for monitoring the power through the measure and reference sections in order to generate a signal indicative of the power difference due to thermal conductivity through the fluid. The sensing element is a thick film printed disc with measure and reference resistors printed on it. All changes in the fluid are common to both the measure and reference sections except for the thermal conductivity of the fluid itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Servomex Group Limited
    Inventors: Martin Lopez, James Hobby, Bahram Alizadeh, Richard P. Kovacich
  • Publication number: 20080168851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe having an elongated main body with a proximal end for attachment to a wall of a duct or volume and a distal end that is disposed on the interior of the duct, such that the main body forms a measurement space through which the fluid is drawn for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lopez, James Hobby, Richard P. Kovacich
  • Publication number: 20070223558
    Abstract: A sensor for determining the thermal conductivity of a fluid comprising a sensing module located within a housing having inlet and outlet ports for a fluid under test, the sensing module comprising a reference base surface and a sensing element spaced therefrom and having measure and reference sections, and there being provided electrical power monitoring means for monitoring the power through the measure and reference sections in order to generate a signal indicative of the power difference due to thermal conductivity through the fluid. The sensing element is a thick film printed disc with measure and reference resistors printed on it. All changes in the fluid are common to both the measure and reference sections except for the thermal conductivity of the fluid itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Martin Lopez, James Hobby, Bahram Alizadeh, Richard P. Kovacich