Oil Testing (e.g., Contamination) Patents (Class 356/70)
  • Patent number: 11976974
    Abstract: A spectroscopic camera includes a spectroscopic element and a light receiver, and a method for correcting the spectroscopic camera includes causing light having a first wave number from a spectroscopic light source to be incident on the spectroscopic element, causing the light receiver to receive light having a second wave number and outputted from the spectroscopic element, generating a matrix representing the spectral characteristics of the light having the second wave number based on the output from the light receiver, and generating a correction matrix based on the inverse matrix of the matrix and storing the correction matrix in a storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsugio Gomi
  • Patent number: 11852294
    Abstract: Provided is a diagnosis technique with high reliability when a state of lubricating oil of a rotary machine such as a wind power generator is diagnosed by a state monitoring sensor. A diagnosis system of lubricating oil includes a lubricating oil utilization device, a lubricating oil tank for storing lubricating oil to be supplied to the lubricating oil utilization device, and a sensor which measures characteristics of the lubricating oil. In this system, the state of the lubricating oil is diagnosed by using sensor data obtained after a time required for air bubbles in the lubricating oil generated at the time of use of the device disappear elapses since the lubricating oil utilization device is regularly or irregularly stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoko Kojima, Mitsuru Saeki, Shinichiro Aikawa
  • Patent number: 11846582
    Abstract: Among other things, the present invention is related to devices and methods for improving optical analysis of a thin layer of a sample sandwiched between containing between two plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Essenlix Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Y. Chou, Wei Ding, Ji Qi, Jun Tian, Wu Chou
  • Patent number: 11828743
    Abstract: A controller includes at least one processor coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: perform operations comprising: determining a concentration of a plurality of wear metal particles in a lubricant for an engine system; determining a filtered concentration of the plurality of wear metal particles using a baseline concentration of the plurality of wear metal particles; setting a diagnostic threshold based on the filtered concentration of the wear metal particles; and, responsive to determining that the concentration of the wear metal particles exceeds the diagnostic threshold, providing a notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Travis A. Anderson, Neha Chandrachud, Renae Christianson, Lorraine H. Myers, Pallav Pathak, Patrick J. Shook
  • Patent number: 11603759
    Abstract: Asphaltene onset pressure of a formation fluid is determined by subjecting the fluid to a plurality of tests where depressurization is conducted at a different depressurization rate for each test while optically monitoring the fluid for asphaltene flocculation. The pressures at which asphaltene flocculation are detected in each test are fit to a curve as a function of depressurization rate, and the curve is extrapolated to a pressure (e.g., 0 psi) to provide the asphaltene onset pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew T. Sullivan, Christopher Harrison, Elizabeth Jennings Smythe
  • Patent number: 11499454
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses relate to a system comprising a controller comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: determining a concentration of a plurality of wear metal particles in a lubricant for an engine system; determining a confidence parameter regarding the concentration determination; determining a filtered concentration of the plurality of wear metal particles using a baseline concentration of the plurality of wear metal particles; setting a diagnostic threshold for the plurality of wear metal particles based on the confidence parameter; and, responsive to determining that the diagnostic threshold is exceeded, providing a notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Travis A. Anderson, Neha Chandrachud, Renae Christianson, Lorraine H. Myers, Pallav Pathak, Patrick J. Shook
  • Patent number: 11484891
    Abstract: A fluid separation device includes a centrifuge in which a fluid is separated into at least two components, with an interface therebetween. At least a portion of one of the separated fluid components is removed from the centrifuge and flows through a vessel. Light is reflected off of the separated fluid component in the vessel and received and analyzed to determine its main wavelength. If the main wavelength is higher than a maximum value, a target location of the interface is changed. If the main wavelength is less than the maximum value, then the location of the interface is compared to the target location. When the interface is sufficiently close to the target location, the optical density of the separated fluid component in the vessel is compared to a minimum value. If the optical density is less than the minimum value, the target location of the interface is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Kusters, Richard I. Brown, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 11209300
    Abstract: A fluid monitoring system for monitoring a volume of a fluid source. The system includes a flow sensor coupled to a fluid line in hydraulic communication with the fluid source. The system includes a fluid monitor having a unit counter configured to: receive a flow signal from the flow sensor; and transmit a unit signal to a processor based on the flow signal and an adjustable unit value. The processor configured to determine a remaining volume value of the fluid source based on a first volume value and the unit signal. The monitor configured to calibrate the remaining volume value through adjustment of the unit value via a first set of binary rotary switches and adjustment of the first volume value via a second set of binary rotary switches. The system further includes a control panel having a plurality of flow monitors in communication with a plurality of flow sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: William Arthur Johnson
  • Patent number: 11077552
    Abstract: A control system for an actuator includes a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a database in which first information, second information and third information are stored and correlated with each other, and processing circuitry that performs machine learning based on the first information, the second information and the third information stored in the database. The first information is associated with a rotational speed of a reducer in the actuator, the second information is associated with a torque acting on the reducer, the third information indicates a concentration of iron powder in grease in the reducer, and the machine learning builds a concentration estimation model indicating a relationship between the first information, the second information and the third information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi Wakamatsu, Yutaro Uchida
  • Patent number: 10900857
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fluid leak diagnostic. In one example, a method may include intrusively increasing a fluid pump displacement to determine if an internal fluid leak is occurring. The method may further include adjusting a parking routine to determine if an external fluid leak is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10843702
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an oil diagnostic. In one example, a method may include intrusively increasing an oil pump displacement to determine if an internal oil leak is occurring. The method may further include adjusting a parking routine to determine if an external oil leak is determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 10753865
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying that light absorption is caused by a targeted gaseous chemical compound. A first transmittance of light, either generated at, or filtered to, a first wavelength range and a second transmittance of light, either generated at, or filtered to, a second wavelength range are measured by first and second photon detectors. A ratio of the first and second measured transmittance is determined and that ratio is compared to a transmittance ratio associated with a targeted gaseous chemical compound to verify that the light absorption is caused by the targeted gaseous chemical compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Stambaugh
  • Patent number: 10564035
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvement in accuracy in a device and a method for determining whether a spectrum of a target sample coincide with a standard spectrum or not. A spectrum determination device 10 determines whether a sample spectrum coincides with a reference spectrum or not by the reference spectrum obtained from a spectrum group. The spectrum determination device 10 comprises a storage unit 26 for storing the reference spectrum, and a determination unit 28 for comparing the reference spectrum and the sample spectrum to determine a sample 20 from the comparison result. The reference spectrum is set with a differing weighting for each point. The determination unit 28 calculates an individual coincidence with the sample spectrum for each point of the reference spectrum, and calculates a coincidence of the sample spectrum with the reference spectrum by the individual coincidence and the differing weighting to determine the sample 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: JASCO Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kondo, Koshi Nagamori
  • Patent number: 10481042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the function of a machine element lubricated by a lubricant. The method includes receiving measured values concerning the lubricant, determining a current chemical composition of the lubricant on the basis of the measured values, comparing the current chemical composition with chemical compositions known in advance, which are stored in a database, wherein function failure tendency values for the use of lubricants having the chemical compositions known in advance in connection with machine elements composed of materials known in advance are stored in the database, identifying a function failure tendency value on the basis of the comparison step, and outputting the function failure tendency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Walter Holweger, Marcus Wolf, Matthias Goss
  • Patent number: 10473506
    Abstract: The present invention relates to oil level visualization system that is used in place of a conventional dipstick to measure oil level. The system may include a strip that has a tube attached thereto comprising an oil absorbent material. Oil from the oil reservoir is configured to absorb to the oil absorbent material and absorbing of the oil to the oil absorbent material is configured to provide a stain on the oil absorbent material visible to the naked eye. The present invention also relates to methods of using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Douglas Joseph Salerno
  • Patent number: 10386650
    Abstract: A sample may be illuminated in such a way that light passes through the sample, reflects from a set of reflectors, passes through the sample again and travels to a light sensor. The reflectors may be staggered in depth beneath the sample, each reflector being at a different depth. Light reflecting from each reflector, respectively, may arrive at the light sensor during a different time interval than that in which light reflecting from other reflectors arrives—or may have a different phase than that of light reflecting from the other reflectors. The light sensor may separately measure light reflecting from each reflector, respectively. The reflectors may be extremely small, and the separate reflections from the different reflectors may be combined in a super-resolved image. The super-resolved image may have a spatial resolution that is better than that indicated by the diffraction limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Barmak Heshmat Dehkordi, Albert Redo-Sanchez, Gordon Moseley Andrews, Ramesh Raskar
  • Patent number: 9952350
    Abstract: Evaluating a fluid, including transmitting a light beam through the fluid to a detector while oscillating a path length traveled through the fluid by the light beam at a first frequency of oscillation; measuring a time-dependent intensity of incident light at the detector responsive to an interaction of the light beam with the fluid to produce a time-dependent intensity signal; filtering the time-dependent intensity signal to recover a path-dependent signal oscillating at the first frequency and indicative of an absorbance property of the fluid; and estimating a parameter of interest of the fluid using the path-dependent signal. The time-dependent intensity may be indicative of the true absorbance at multiple wavelengths of the fluid or fluids over the maximum path length difference so as to permit quantification of the percentages of each of these fluids. Filtering may include frequency filtering alone or using a phase-sensitive lock-in amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 9897582
    Abstract: Methods and systems for failure prediction using analysis of oil or other lubricant. Raw data about feature(s) of each of a plurality of particles filtered from a fluid sample are used to categorize each particle into one of a plurality of categories, each category being defined by one or more of: chemical composition, size and morphology. Particle physical characteristics in each category are quantified to obtain a set of categorized data. The categorized data are compared with historical data. Results of the comparing are evaluated to generate a prediction of any failure or mechanism of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Maurice Jean, Daniel Meilleur
  • Patent number: 9804124
    Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of measuring electric and magnetic properties, and specifically relates to a sample holder (1) to be connected to a device (2) for supporting a sample holder in order to measure the dielectric and/or magnetic properties of a sample (3), said supporting device (2) comprising: first and second connectors (4, 5) suitable for allowing an electromagnetic wave to pass therethrough, and for being connected to a means (6) for transmitting the electromagnetic wave and to a means (7) for circulating the electromagnetic wave after passing through the supporting device (2) and the sample holder (1), respectively, which is suitable for transmitting all or part of the electromagnetic wave from the first connector (4) to the second connector (5) according to a reference axis (x) and for being removably arranged therebetween, the sample holder (1) comprising an outer tubular body (11) that is coaxial to said reference axis (x), and a cavity (8) in which the sample (3) is to be hou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE D'AIX-MARSEILLE
    Inventor: Pierre Sabouroux
  • Patent number: 9453938
    Abstract: A method for spectroscopic analysis of a fluid using electromagnetic radiation from lasers is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes sampling formation fluid within a well and determining formation fluid properties for the sampled formation fluid through downhole fluid analysis. Determining formation fluid properties for the sampled formation fluid can include using a spectrometer having a plurality of quantum cascade lasers to determine optical properties of the formation fluid and determining levels of multiple chemical species in the formation fluid using the determined optical properties of the formation fluid. Various other methods, systems and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arjun Vijayakumar
  • Patent number: 9261471
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a urea solution in a tank of a motor vehicle tank includes a light source capable of emitting a light beam, a photodetector capable of detecting a portion of a light beam emitted by the light source, and a part made of a material allowing the propagation of a light beam emitted by the light source. The part includes a surface intended to be in contact with the urea solution. The light source, the photodetector, and the part are arranged in such a way that a light beam emitted by the light source is propagated by the surface of the part, by refraction, toward the photodetector. A tank including such a monitoring device is provided. A process for monitoring a urea solution in a tank of a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Philippe Lucien Valmy Georis
  • Patent number: 9201055
    Abstract: In a state determination method for determining the state of degradation of lubricating oil in a speed reducer and the state of breakage of the speed reducer, white light emitted by a white LED is transmitted through the lubricating oil, causing an RGB sensor to detect the color of the light transmitted through the lubricating oil by the white LED. The brightness of the color detected by the RGB sensor is calculated. A color component maximum difference that is the difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among the R value, G value, and B value of the color detected by the RGB sensor is calculated. The states on the basis of the calculated brightness and the calculated color component maximum difference are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ohnuma, Takuya Shirata, Yasuhito Ida
  • Patent number: 9182422
    Abstract: When a flow of a liquid body around a measuring object is visualized, a first liquid body as a tracer is supplied from a nozzle hole into a flow field of a second liquid body, and a laser beam having a wavelength optically absorbed by the first liquid body is irradiated in a manner such that the laser beam traverse across the flow field. At this point, the irradiation position of the laser beam is controlled in such a manner that the flow field is scanned with the laser beam. On the other hand, the laser beam that has passed through the flow field is received and a position where the first liquid body traverses the laser beam is obtained using the scan intensity signal of the received laser beam so that the flow of the second liquid body is visualized. The position where the first liquid body traverses the laser beam can be obtained based on a position on a time axis where a value of the scan intensity signal is less than a set threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING
    Inventors: Kazuteru Hoshishima, Noriaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 8842281
    Abstract: A spectrometric system, including: a solid rocket fuel; an illuminating source including at least two wavelengths within a spectral range from 100 nm to 200,000 nm, a first wavelength or range of wavelengths having a distinguishably greater or lesser absorbance for the stabilizer than for components of the propellant, and a second wavelength or range of wavelengths having an absorbance for the stabilizer not distinguishably different than the absorbance for the components of the propellant, an illuminating fiber to illuminate a surface of a solid rocket fuel; a collecting fiber to collect back scattered, reflected or transmitted light being given off from the surface of the solid rocket fuel; and a spectrometer to determine the light intensities of the two wavelengths of the back scattered, reflected or transmitted light collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Paul B. Ruffin, Eugene Edwards, Christina L. Brantley, Fang Luo
  • Patent number: 8817241
    Abstract: An oil in water analyzer for measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an effluent stream. The oil in water analyzer has a valve system for acquiring a sample from an effluent stream. An extraction device is used for mixing a known volume of a solvent and the sample to produce a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture. A second valve is used for transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell. It is at the spectroscopic cell where the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. LaFrancois, James F. Stewart, Gregory C. Allred, Marion Ash
  • Publication number: 20140208826
    Abstract: Techniques for sampling a subsurface reservoir include lowering a downhole logging tool comprising one or more samplers, a cleaner system, and a sample probe bit into a borehole until at least one sampler is positioned correctly in a subterranean reservoir; advancing the cleaner system into the reservoir cleaning mud filtrate and contaminated reservoir material away into a mud column; advancing the sample probe bit into the reservoir; and solvent is injected into the reservoir from the solvent reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Gushor Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Larter, Barry Bennett, Lioyd Ross Snowdon
  • Publication number: 20140146307
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for determining the degradation of a used oil. The method of the invention is based on calculating the components in the red, green and blue transmission spectral bands IR0, IG0 and IB0 of the unused oil, carrying out a number of measurements of the transmittance of the same oil after use, calculating the colour indices of the used oil and the reference colour index as CI=1×IR+0.5×I0+0.5IBCIREF=1×IR00.5×IG0+0.5IB0 and obtaining the overall degradation value as OD(%)=100?100×log10 (CIREF/CI). By virtue of the method and the corresponding device, real-time monitoring of oil degradation is facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: FUNDACION TEKNIKER
    Inventors: Eneko Gorritxategi Arrondo, Aitor Arnaiz Irigaray, Ana Aranzabe Garcia, Jesús Ma Terradillos Azqueta
  • Patent number: 8730168
    Abstract: A contaminant-neutralizing cradle comprises a base and a support surface configured to removably receive a coherently-illuminated mouse. A neutralizing element is disposed on the support surface for alignment with at least one exposed surface of an optics module of the mouse and is configured to neutralize the optical effect of a contaminant on the at least one exposed surface. A method of neutralizing contaminants for an optical mouse comprises providing a mouse containing an optics module having at least one surface exposed to an opening of the mouse and interposing a barrier in the mouse between a contaminant and the at least one exposed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent C. Moyer, Mark M. Butterworth, Michael J. Brosnan, Roopinder Singh Grewal, Paul Michael Welch, Marshall T. Depue, Tong Xie
  • Publication number: 20140036255
    Abstract: An oil in water analyzer for measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an effluent stream. The oil in water analyzer has a valve system for acquiring a sample from an effluent stream. An extraction device is used for mixing a known volume of a solvent and the sample to produce a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture. A second valve is used for transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell. It is at the spectroscopic cell where the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture is evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. LaFrancois, James F. Stewart, Gregory C. Allred, Marlon Ash
  • Publication number: 20140009751
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a concentration of an additive in a mixture is provided. The apparatus for determining the concentration of an additive in a mixture comprises a distillation system, a filtration system, a detection system and a fluid transportation system. An alternative apparatus is a portable apparatus comprising a distillation system, a filtration system, a detection system and a fluid transportation system removably coupled to a portable container. A method for determining the concentration of the additive in the mixture includes concentrating the additive in the mixture, removing the additive from a fraction of the mixture and measuring a spectral signature of both the non-additive fraction of the mixture and the mixture. A spectral signature value of the non-additive fraction of the mixture to the mixture is determined and then compared to spectral signatures of a plurality of reference mixtures containing known concentrations of the additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: KnowFlame, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Larry Pezzaniti
  • Patent number: 8570497
    Abstract: An oil in water analyzer for measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an effluent stream. The oil in water analyzer has a valve system for acquiring a sample from an effluent stream. An extraction device is used for mixing a known volume of a solvent and the sample to produce a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture. A second valve is used for transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell. It is at the spectroscopic cell where the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. LaFrancois, James F. Stewart, Gregory C. Allred, Marlon Ash
  • Publication number: 20130250281
    Abstract: A speed reducer for an industrial robot includes a speed reducer main body and a lubricant deterioration sensor for detecting deterioration of a lubricant in the speed reducer main body. The lubricant deterioration sensor includes a light emitting element for emitting light, a color light receiving element for detecting a color of received light, a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, and a support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member. The clearance forming member is transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element transmits therethrough. The oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Shirata
  • Publication number: 20130242288
    Abstract: A method for measuring saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions of a hydrocarbon fluid includes separating maltenes from the hydrocarbon fluid and separating saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions from the maltenes. The method further includes determining an optical density of each of the saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions at a predetermined wavelength and correlating the optical density of each of the saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions to predetermined data to determine each of the saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Abdel M. Kharrat, shahnawaz Hossain Molla, Farshid Mostowfi
  • Patent number: 8362429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of hydrocarbons near an unmanned offshore oil platform. The method steps include monitoring reflected atmospheric and thermal radiation, detecting the presence of hydrocarbons, and generating an alert based on the presence of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Ballard Andrews, Wei-Chuan Shih, Matthew Clayton, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Patent number: 8195405
    Abstract: A new method is presented for characterizing the associative properties of a solution of macromolecules at high concentration. Sample aliquots spanning a range of concentrations are injected sequentially into a light scattering photometer. Equilibrium association constants and association stoichiometry are derived from an analysis of the angular and concentration dependence of the scattering signals. Thermodynamic nonideality, which becomes important at high concentrations, is dealt with in the analysis in a simplified manner which is applicable to multiple associated species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Wyatt Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel I. Some
  • Patent number: 8179242
    Abstract: A method for diagnosis of oil quality within an internal combustion engine includes analyzing input data from an oil level sensor and generating a warning if the input data includes an oil level change indicative of a sub-standard oil quality condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Eric W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 8155891
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an oil monitoring apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an oil monitoring apparatus includes a probe and an analyzing module in-line connected to the probe. The probe includes: a first sensor for measuring respective optical intensities of a light passing through the oil at respective red, green and blue wavelength ranges; a second sensor for measuring a water content; and a third sensor for measuring a temperature of the oil. The analyzing module calculates and monitors chemical deterioration of the oil, total contamination of the oil, a relative saturation of the oil by water and temperature of the oil based on the output signals of the first and third sensors. The oil monitoring apparatus monitors various parameters relating to the deterioration of the oil and to the physical properties of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ho Sung Kong, Hung Gu Han, Liubou Vasilievna Markova, Vladimir Mikhailovich Makarenko, Mikhail Savich Semenyuk
  • Patent number: 8068218
    Abstract: A method for determining an amount of polar substance in a non-polar media includes adding a surfactant to increase a dispersion of the polar substance in the non-polar media and to increase the optical absorbance of the polar substance in the non-polar media to create a sample, passing an initial optical spectrum through the sample, measuring a resultant optical spectrum exiting the sample, relating the resultant optical spectrum to a predetermined quantitative calibration, and determining a concentration of the polar substance in the non-polar media based on the relation of the resultant optical spectrum to the quantitative calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Higgins, John A. Seelenbinder
  • Patent number: 7911595
    Abstract: A liquid fuel property detection apparatus includes a fuel passage, a light emitting device for emitting a light including a plurality of predetermined wavelengths toward the fuel in the passage, a light receiving device for receiving the light passing through the fuel, and a calculation unit for calculating the concentration of at least one of aroma, paraffin and olefin, which are hydrocarbon component components contained in the fuel. The calculation unit calculates the concentration of a specific component, which is one of aroma, paraffin and olefin, based on the reference transmittance of light in the specific component and the actual transmittance calculated from the amount of light emitted by the light emitting device and the amount of light received by the light receiving device with respect to each wavelength of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Serai, Kazuki Matsuo, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7875458
    Abstract: Rapid determination of low temperature residual wax contamination in basestock oil provides a basis for real time correlation of basestock quality with the low temperature viscometric properties of fully formulated oils made using said basestock oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James Douglas Eagan, James William Gleeson, Lisa I-Ching Yeh, Charles Lambert Baker, Jr., Christine A. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 7869010
    Abstract: Methods for evaluation of fish oil, oils, omega-3 fatty acid compositions, and dietary supplements containing omega-3 essential fatty acids and other fats are provided herein. The relative purity and/or concentration of oil-containing aliquots can be determined by cooling approximately equal volumes of two or more aliquots to a temperature near or below 0 degrees Celsius. When cooled, the most opaque aliquots are the least pure. The invention also provide a method for determining whether an omega-3 fatty acid supplement is greater than 90% pure, which includes cooling the supplement to less than 0 degrees Celsius and a determining that the supplement is 90% pure if its appearance is essentially unchanged from its appearance and room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Cenestra LLC
    Inventor: Vladimir Coric
  • Patent number: 7839492
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting fuel in oil includes an excitation light source in optical communication with an oil sample for exposing the oil sample to excitation light in order to excite the oil sample from a non-excited state to an excited state and a spectrally selective device in optical communication with the oil sample for detecting light emitted from the oil sample as the oil sample returns from the excited state to a non-excited state to produce spectral indicia that can be analyzed to determine the presence of fuel in the oil sample. A method of detecting fuel in oil includes the steps of exposing a oil sample to excitation light in order to excite the oil sample from a non-excited state to an excited state, as the oil sample returns from the excited state to a non-excited state, detecting light emitted from the oil sample to produce spectral indicia; and analyzing the spectral indicia to determine the presence of fuel in the oil sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Parks, II, William P. Partridge, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100208241
    Abstract: A measuring device for analyzing a lubricant of a bearing. The measuring device has an electromagnetic radiation emitter, a receiving element and a test area that is arranged between the emitter and the receiving element. The measuring device allows for current information on the condition of the lubricant in the bearing to be obtained. At least some sections of the test area are inside the bearing and the receiving element supplies a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation captured by the test area. Also, a bearing and a seal for the bearing and a method for detecting and monitoring the condition of the lubricant of a bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicants: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG, CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Joerg Franke, Joachim Hering, Martin Kram, Joachim Schleifenbaum, Alexander Weiss, Gerhard Roehner, Sven Floesser, Marcel Schreiner, Thomas Otto, Thomas Gessner
  • Patent number: 7764360
    Abstract: A fuel property sensor is provided with three bypass passages and a measure passage. The measure passage is located inside of a closed loop which is comprised of common tangential lines of adjacent bypass passages and a part of profile line of each bypass passage in a cross section perpendicular to the measure passage. Even if the fuel property sensor is rotated around the axis of a fuel pipe in assembling the fuel property sensor to the fuel pipe, at least one of two bypass passages is always located above the measure passage in a vertical direction. Hence, bubbles included in the fuel are restricted from flowing into the measure passage. The fuel property sensor can detect the concentration of ethanol contained in the fuel with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Noguchi, Rie Osaki, Hiroshi Nakamura, Hitoshi Uda, Yukihiro Tsukasaki, Hiroki Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20100182591
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cell for measuring the amount of insoluble particles in a fluid that comprises a duct that passes through the cell, a filter for the particles contained in the fluid, the filter being positioned in the duct, an emitter capable of emitting an electromagnetic beam directed towards the insoluble particles concentrated on the filter, and a receiver capable of receiving the electromagnetic beam emitted by the emitter and reflected by the insoluble particles concentrated on the filter. The disclosure also relates to a device comprising this cell, to a method for measuring the amount of insoluble particles in a fluid and to applications thereof, in particular to the study of the oxidation stability of petroleum distillates, to the antioxidant capacity of additives of petroleum products and to the determination of the asphaltene content of petroleum products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Cecile Chambon, André Diot, Frédéric Jose, Leire Oro-Urrea
  • Patent number: 7733490
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to analyze downhole fluids are described herein. A disclosed example method involves obtaining a sample of a downhole fluid, and depressurizing at least a portion of the sample. Additionally, a disclosed example method involves ionizing at least the portion of the sample, and analyzing the ionized portion of the sample to determine a parameter of the downhole fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Goodwin, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20100116991
    Abstract: This patent presents a method for measuring the concentration of biodiesel in a homogeneous biodiesel-diesel oil mixture using mid infrared radiation for use as fabrication monitor, quality control, law enforcement and multi-fueled vehicles. The method is characterized by the use of mid infrared absorption measurement in the range from 1870 to 1600 cm?1 (5347.6 to 6250.0 nm) which corresponds to the carbonyl group absorption peak (C?O) that is only present in biodiesel. Both intensity and area of the carbonyl absorption peak present power law dependence with the biodiesel percentile in the biodiesel-diesel oil mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: INSTITUTO DE TECNOLOGIA DO PARANA-TECPAR
    Inventors: Cyro Ketzer Saul, Marcelo Adriano Aliske, Wanderley Veiga
  • Patent number: 7688428
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of a targeted group of hydrocarbons, such as diesel/fuel oil, lube oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil, jet fuel, mineral oil and crude oil in a highly reliable manner even though present at only extremely low concentration. A high power, pulsed light source is focused into a collimated beam that is reduced by a set of filters to a band of pulsed light within a precise set of wavelengths and directed vertically onto a target surface, such as a body of water. All but a precise band of light wavelengths returning to the apparatus are blocked so that substantially all light which then reaches an internal photodetector is within such precise band of wavelengths; as a result receipt of such light programmed intervals following such pulses is indicative of the presence of a member of the targeted hydrocarbon group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: InterOcean Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Pearlman
  • Publication number: 20100020325
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel property detection apparatus that excels in durability and reliability and is capable of accurately detecting the biofuel concentration in a mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and biofuel with a compact and simple configuration. A fuel property sensor 22 includes a light-emitting device 28 and a light-receiving device 32, which detect the optical transmittance of a fuel in a fuel path 26; and a light-emitting device 36 and a position sensitive device 38, which detect the refractive index of the fuel. As the optical transmittance correlates with the RME concentration of the fuel, the RME concentration can be calculated from the detected optical transmittance. As the refractive index correlates with the cetane number of the fuel, the cetane number can be calculated from the detected refractive index. The optical transmittance is detected through the use of light within a wavelength range of 640 nm to 680 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rie Osaki, Naoyo Kato, Noriyasu Amano, Satoshi Taniguchi, Kaori Yoshida, Yukihiro Tsukasaki
  • Publication number: 20100007874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of ensuring the safety of the components of the drive train of a vehicle equipped with a heat engine, before or during its startup phase following a deterioration of the quality of the fuel contained in the tank (2) and the fuel feed system of the engine, said method comprising a step of diagnosing the type and extent of the deterioration of the quality of the fuel, said step being based on the measurement of the interactions between an electronmagnetic radiation and the constituent molecules of the fuel, said measurement being performed by a system of analysis, and a step of activating a system (13) to ensure the safety of the components of the drive train as a function of the results of the analysis step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: SP3H
    Inventors: Alain Lunati, Johan Fournel