Patents by Inventor William M. McDowell
William M. McDowell 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: 11768092Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a housing having a measurement channel extending along the housing axis and through a portion of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, an outer cup portion positioned at least partly within the housing, and a transducer positioned within the outer cup portion and sealed from fluid flow past the outer cup portion, the transducer having a width perpendicular to the housing axis and greater than the width of the measurement channel, the transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, Patrick M. Murphy, William M. McDowell
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Publication number: 20230287881Abstract: A method of calibrating a pump system can include providing a pump, calibrating a pump input with an input device connected to the pump, and calibrating a pump output with an output device connected to the pump. Calibrating the pump input can include selecting a first input signal value, generating a transmitted input signal corresponding to the first input signal value, and setting a nominative pump input value to the first input signal value. Calibrating the pump output can include receiving a received output signal outputted from the pump, and setting a nominative pump output value to the first input signal value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Patrick Michael Murphy, Robert E. Gledhill, III, William M. McDowell, Quang Phan, Jonathan Trong Dinh
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Publication number: 20220276082Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a housing having a measurement channel extending along the housing axis and through a portion of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, an outer cup portion positioned at least partly within the housing, and a transducer positioned within the outer cup portion and sealed from fluid flow past the outer cup portion, the transducer having a width perpendicular to the housing axis and greater than the width of the measurement channel, the transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2021Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, Patrick M. Murphy, William M. McDowell
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Patent number: 11402248Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen, Patrick Michael Murphy, Keith R. Petros, Jennifer A. Tsuyuki, Taylor L. Gledhill, Jason Alan Woolard, William M. McDowell, Darrell B. Freeman, Raul Vazquez
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Publication number: 20220034693Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Robert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen, Patrick Michael Murphy, Keith R. Petros, Jennifer A. Tsuyuki, Taylor L. Gledhill, Jason Alan Woolard, William M. McDowell, Darrell B. Freeman, Raul Vazquez
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Patent number: 11150118Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a housing having a measurement channel extending along the housing axis and through a portion of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, an outer cup portion positioned at least partly within the housing, and a transducer positioned within the outer cup portion and sealed from fluid flow past the outer cup portion, the transducer having a width perpendicular to the housing axis and greater than the width of the measurement channel, the transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, Patrick M. Murphy, William M. McDowell
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Patent number: 10948320Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen, Patrick Michael Murphy, Keith R. Petros, Jennifer A. Tsuyuki, Taylor L. Gledhill, Jason Alan Woolard, William M. McDowell, Darrell B. Freeman, Raul Vazquez
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Publication number: 20190101936Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Robert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen, Patrick Michael Murphy, Keith R. Petros, Jennifer A. Tsuyuki, Taylor L. Gledhill, Jason Alan Woolard, William M. McDowell, Darrell B. Freeman, Raul Vazquez
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Patent number: 9996089Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen, Patrick Michael Murphy, Keith R. Petros, Jennifer A. Tsuyuki, Taylor L. Gledhill, Jason Alan Woolard, William M. McDowell, Darrell B. Freeman, Raul Vazquez
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Publication number: 20180087942Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a housing having a measurement channel extending along the housing axis and through a portion of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, an outer cup portion positioned at least partly within the housing, and a transducer positioned within the outer cup portion and sealed from fluid flow past the outer cup portion, the transducer having a width perpendicular to the housing axis and greater than the width of the measurement channel, the transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, Patrick M. Murphy, William M. McDowell
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Publication number: 20170139430Abstract: A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Robert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen, Patrick Michael Murphy, Keith R. Petros, Jennifer A. Tsuyuki, Taylor L. Gledhill, Jason Alan Woolard, William M. McDowell, Darrell B. Freeman, Raul Vazquez
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Patent number: 9374024Abstract: Transducer assemblies and associated methods are provided for facilitating alignment of ultrasonic transducers with respect to pipes onto which the transducers are installed. The transducer assembly can include a transducer housing having a track on along which the transducers can be slidingly engaged. The transducer assembly can include attachment structures having alignment features used to align the transducers parallel to the axial centerline of the pipe while ensuring that the reception/emission sides of the transducers are oriented normal to the outer surface of the pipe. In some embodiments a transducer assembly alignment system can be used to align two transducer assemblies on circumferentially opposite sides of a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: John T. Nguyen, Jason A. Woolard, William M. McDowell, Robert E. Gledhill, III
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Publication number: 20140091675Abstract: Transducer assemblies and associated methods are provided for facilitating alignment of ultrasonic transducers with respect to pipes onto which the transducers are installed. The transducer assembly can include a transducer housing having a track on along which the transducers can be slidingly engaged. The transducer assembly can include attachment structures having alignment features used to align the transducers parallel to the axial centerline of the pipe while ensuring that the reception/emission sides of the transducers are oriented normal to the outer surface of the pipe. In some embodiments a transducer assembly alignment system can be used to align two transducer assemblies on circumferentially opposite sides of a pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: John T. Nguyen, Jason A. Woolard, William M. McDowell, Robert E. Gledhill, III
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Patent number: 8639363Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing a plurality of components. The system can comprise a first component having a first operational parameter and a second component having a second operational parameter. The operational parameters of the first and second components can be modified in response to signals regarding the other one of the first and second components. Further, a component of the system can operate with a delay period during which an operational parameter of the component does not change in response to an operational parameter of the other component, but after which the operational parameter of the other component can cause a change in the operational parameter of the component.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, William M. McDowell
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Patent number: 8418364Abstract: A method is provided for extending useful life of tubing of a peristaltic pump. The method can comprise switching inlet and discharge hoses between respective inlet and outlet ends of the tubing of the peristaltic pump, and reversing a direction of rotation of a rotor of the peristaltic pump. In implementations of methods disclosed herein, the useful life of the tubing of a peristaltic pump can be approximately doubled.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: William M. McDowell, John Nguyen, Robert E. Gledhill
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Patent number: 8215931Abstract: A peristaltic pump is provided that is configured to facilitate safe maintenance of the pump. The pump can comprise a pump body having a pump head and a head cover and a safety switch mechanism. The safety switch mechanism can comprise one or more sensors that allow the pump to detect whether the head cover is in an open or closed position. When the pump is powered-on, the pump can be configured to enter a maintenance mode when the safety switch detects that the head cover is in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: William M. McDowell, John Nguyen, Robert E Gledhill
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Publication number: 20110153031Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing a plurality of components. The system can comprise a first component having a first operational parameter and a second component having a second operational parameter. The operational parameters of the first and second components can be modified in response to signals regarding the other one of the first and second components. Further, a component of the system can operate with a delay period during which an operational parameter of the component does not change in response to an operational parameter of the other component, but after which the operational parameter of the other component can cause a change in the operational parameter of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, William M. McDowell
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Publication number: 20100008793Abstract: A peristaltic pump is provided that is configured to facilitate safe maintenance of the pump. The pump can comprise a pump body having a pump head and a head cover and a safety switch mechanism. The safety switch mechanism can comprise one or more sensors that allow the pump to detect whether the head cover is in an open or closed position. When the pump is powered-on, the pump can be configured to enter a maintenance mode when the safety switch detects that the head cover is in the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: BLUE-WHITE INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: William M. McDowell, John Nguyen, Robert E. Gledhill
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Publication number: 20100008755Abstract: A method is provided for extending useful life of tubing of a peristaltic pump. The method can comprise switching inlet and discharge hoses between respective inlet and outlet ends of the tubing of the peristaltic pump, and reversing a direction of rotation of a rotor of the peristaltic pump. In implementations of methods disclosed herein, the useful life of the tubing of a peristaltic pump can be approximately doubled.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: BLUE-WHITE INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: William M. McDowell, John Nguyen, Robert E. Gledhill
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Patent number: 7284964Abstract: A pump leak monitor for use with a peristaltic pump comprises a pump housing and a pair of electrical contacts disposed along a bottom end of the pump housing. The electrical contacts are located such that the contacts are immersed in fluid when the pump is leaking. The fluid conducts electricity across the contacts and thereby closes an electrical circuit for providing an indication that a leak has been detected. By measuring an electrical parameter in the circuit, the pump leak monitor is capable of measuring the conductivity of the fluid in the pump housing. As a result, the pump leak monitor is capable of differentiating between different types of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Blue-White IndustriesInventors: William M. McDowell, John T. Nguyen