Leak Or Flaw Detection Patents (Class 374/4)
  • Patent number: 11810288
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic detection of defects in a coating of a component are provided. In one aspect, a coating inspection system is provided. The coating inspection system includes a heating element operable to impart heat to the component as it traverses relative thereto. An imaging device of the system captures images of the component as the heating element traverses relative to the component and applies heat thereto. The images indicate the transient thermal response of the component. The system can generate a single observation image using the captured images. The system can detect and analyze defects using the generated single observation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Majid Nayeri, Venkata Vijayaraghava Nalladega, Bernard Patrick Bewlay
  • Patent number: 11802383
    Abstract: A method for controlling a quality of a paving material distributed along a paving area using a paver includes: receiving a thermal profile of a portion of the paving area in which the paving material is distributed, and the thermal profile includes a plurality of temperature values of respective measurement points, and analyzing the thermal profile to detect segregation spots of the paving material within the portion. Analyzing includes determining a first zone of measurement points arranged adjacent to each other and having temperature values within a predetermined range, the first zone being at least partially surrounded by measurement points having temperature values out of the predetermined range, and analyzing an orientation of the first zone with respect to a travel direction of the paver. The last substep of analyzing is assigning an indication, in particular an error indication, to the portion based on the analyzing of the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MOBA MOBILE AUTOMATION AG
    Inventors: David Shelstad, Paul Angerhofer, Marcus Watermann
  • Patent number: 11788894
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting a characteristic of a ground engaging product on earth working equipment are described. The apparatus is operable to: measure a temperature profile at a ground engaging product location; compare the measured temperature profile with an expected temperature profile for that ground engaging product; and indicate a characteristic of the ground engaging product based on the comparison. Thermal inserts for use with ground engaging products on earth working equipment are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Jason W. Betournay, Noah D. Cowgill, Steven D. Hyde, Christopher M. Carpenter, John M. Anderton
  • Patent number: 11650173
    Abstract: A method and system for grading pistons with deposits is disclosed. In an embodiment, a piston with an outer surface and deposits upon the outer surface is increased in temperature and thermally scanned. The deposits are identified based on the temperature differences measured with respect to the temperature of the outer surface of the piston. Deposit characteristics can be generated from the identified locations of deposits and the magnitude of temperature difference with respect to the outer surface. The deposit characteristics are recorded and used to grade the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Seth C. Studnicka, Alex T. Edwin
  • Patent number: 11598425
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mechanical seal for sealing a fluid-conducting channel and/or space extending in a stationary component and/or a rotating component from the environment, having a slide ring which is supported in the axial direction against a counter ring in a sealing manner and, to compensate for wear on its front-end seal face or on a counter face, is supported against the counter ring elastically and movably in the axial direction with this seal face; having a position sensor to detect the position of the slide ring in the axial direction. The disclosure is characterized in that a temperature sensor is provided on a leakage side of the seal face facing away from the channel and/or space, which sensor at least indirectly detects a temperature which is dependent on the magnitude of a leakage flow passing from the channel and/or space via the seal face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Christian Maier GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gunther Schwenk
  • Patent number: 11551956
    Abstract: According to the various examples, a fully integrated system and method for failure analysis using RF-based thermometry enable the detection and location of defects and failures in complex semiconductor packaging architectures. The system provides synchronous amplified RF signals to generate unique thermal signatures at defect locations based on dielectric relaxation loss and heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chandrashekara Shashank Kaira, Phillip C. Miller, Purushotham Kaushik Muthur Srinath, Deepak Goyal
  • Patent number: 11320353
    Abstract: A creep strength analysis and assessment method includes comparing whether a maximum value of a local strain and a membrane strain are less than a corresponding allowable strain, and if less, determining that a component is safe; otherwise, performing the following steps: performing stress linearization on a path to obtain a local primary membrane stress PL and a local primary bending stress Pb; averaging shear stress components on the path to obtain an average shear stress ?m; obtaining a strength limit Smt, a time-independent minimum stress strength value Sm and a temperature- and time-dependent stress strength limit St for a given material, a design lifetime and a design temperature; comparing whether PL, PL+Pb and PL+Pb/Kt are less than Smt, KSm and St; and comparing whether ?m is less than 0.6Sm and 0.6St, and if less, the component is safe, otherwise, the component is unsafe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: East China University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Fuzhen Xuan, Tianye Niu, Jianguo Gong
  • Patent number: 11237118
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and monitoring defects in a sealing region of a container, including imaging at least part of the sealing region of the container using a camera operative at a wavelength in the range of 0.76 ?m-14 ?m; during and/or after the filling of the container with a filling material and prior to sealing of the container being completed; and identifying, based on at least one frame obtained from the imaging, defects in the sealing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: YORAN IMAGING LTD.
    Inventors: Yoav Weinstein, Eran Sinbar
  • Patent number: 11211787
    Abstract: An electrical protection circuit breaker comprises a microprocessor chip part, a circuit breaker part connected between a power line and a power supply, a temperature detection part for detecting a temperature of the power line, a current detection part for detecting a current of the power line, and a voltage detection part for detecting a voltage of the power line. A memory of the microprocessor chip part stores a data collection S=f(temp, I, V, ?time), wherein S represents a diameter of the power line, temp represents the temperature, I represents the current, V represents the voltage, and ?time represents a set time period. The microprocessor chip part matches electronic data of real-time temperature changes, electronic data of an import current, and electronic data of a voltage with data sets in the data collection, and sets a corresponding safety protection current according to matching results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Yaoya Li
  • Patent number: 11137294
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to detect a failed thermocouple. A temperature in a gas path of a gas turbine engine may be measured, where the temperature is based on a signal generated by a thermocouple during a startup of the gas turbine engine and/or during an idle period that immediately follows the startup, and the thermocouple protrudes into the gas path. A failure of the thermocouple may be detected if the temperature is determined to be less than a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Spangler, John V. Watkin, Timothy C. Keeney, Neil James Dunaway
  • Patent number: 11119005
    Abstract: A method and system for grading pistons with deposits is disclosed. In an embodiment, a piston with upon its outer surface deposits is three dimensionally scanned and compared to a reference model to detect the location and geometry of the deposits. The location and geometry of the deposits are recorded and used to grade the pistons. The piston is increased in temperature and thermally scanned. The deposits are identified based on the temperature differences measured with respect to the temperature of the outer surface of the piston. Deposit characteristics can be generated from the identified locations of deposits and the magnitude of temperature difference with respect to the outer surface. The deposit characteristics are recorded and used to grade the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Seth C. Studnicka, Christopher S. Meeks, Nien L. Lee, Michael S. Radovanovic
  • Patent number: 11004620
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a temperature detection system that is configured to detect a measured temperature of at least one of a line conductor, a load conductor, a movable contact, and a stationary contact during operation of the circuit interrupter. The measured temperature is representative of an extent of wear of the set of separable contacts. In one embodiment the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is an infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure within the circuit interrupter and therefore additionally employs a voltage filter that filters a line voltage from the signal from the temperature sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system employs a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure, but a wireless transceiver is used to wirelessly communicate the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: James Jeffery Benke
  • Patent number: 10970796
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hybrid processing of construction site images are provided. For example, image data captured from a construction site using at least one image sensor may be obtained. The image data may be analyzed to attempt to recognize an object depicted in the image data. In response to a failure to successfully recognize the object, at least part of the image data may be presented to a user, and a feedback related to the object may be received from the user. For example, the attempt to recognize an object may be based on a construction plan associated with the construction site, and the failure to successfully recognize the object may be identified based on a mismatch between the suggested object type from the attempt to recognize the object and types of objects selected from the construction plan based on the location of the object in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: CONSTRU LTD
    Inventors: Michael Sasson, Ron Zass, Shalom Bellaish, Moshe Nachman
  • Patent number: 10954002
    Abstract: Methods for thermographic inspection of structures are disclosed. An example method includes positioning at least one of a heat source or a camera in a cavity defined by a first side of a structure of an aircraft and positioning the other one of the heat source or the camera at a second side of the structure opposite the first side; applying heat to the least one of the first side or the second side of the structure; measuring thermal energy emitted from the other one of the first side or the second side opposite the heat source; and identifying a defect or inclusion of the structure based on the measured thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Jeffrey G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10816434
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide same results of leak judgments even if conditions such as temperature and pressure vary as long as sizes of sealing defects are same. A leak device 5 that generates regular leakage under regular temperature and pressure is made communicable with a test path 19 through which a test pressure is provided. A device actual measurement leak value of the leak device 5 is actually measured by a leakage measuring instrument 33. An object actual measurement leak value of a test object 9 is actually measured by the leakage measuring instrument 33. The object actual measurement leak value is converted into a regular-conditions-converted leak value based on the device actual measurement leak value and a leakage is judged based on the regular-conditions-converted leak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FUKUDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satsuo Fukushima, Yusuke Mochizuki, Masakazu Ito
  • Patent number: 10539380
    Abstract: A method for thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger comprises: applying vibrations to the heat exchanger as a part of a vibration testing process; capturing a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst the heat exchanger is undergoing vibrations; analysing the thermographic image; and determining a status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HS MARSTON AEROSPACE LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Phillips
  • Patent number: 10506193
    Abstract: An example method is performed by a thermal imaging device. The method includes capturing a thermal image of a vehicle and displaying the thermal image within a first region of a display of the thermal imaging device. The method further includes displaying information related to servicing the vehicle within a second region of the display that is distinct from the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy Ruther, Gary Stefanik, Joshua Covington, Steven Miskovic, Oswaldo Neri
  • Patent number: 10436371
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe structure including: a pipe through which a gaseous body having a higher temperature than a temperature of a surrounding atmosphere flows; a cover that covers an outer peripheral portion of the pipe, and defines a plurality of vents from which the gaseous body leaking from the pipe flows out; and a line-shaped sensor that passes a position corresponding to each of the plurality of vents, and is sensitive to a temperature or a concentration of the gaseous body outside the cover, wherein the sensor includes a range in which the sensor rises upward from the position corresponding to the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Tadahiko Suzuta, Kei Takao, Ichiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 10261025
    Abstract: A detecting method for a workpiece surface includes the following steps. Firstly, a workpiece is provided with a first environment, wherein the first environment has a first environmental temperature higher than a first saturation temperature corresponding to an environmental-relative humidity. Then, the workpiece is provided with a second environment, wherein the second environment has a second environmental temperature lower than the first environmental temperature, such that a itself-temperature of the workpiece reduces to a mist temperature, wherein the mist temperature is substantially equal to or higher than the second environmental temperature. Then, the workpiece is provided with a mist environment, wherein the mist environment has a mist-saturation temperature corresponding to a mist-environmental relative humidity is equal to or higher than the mist temperature for misting a surface of the workpiece. Then, the surface of the misted workpiece is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wei-Yao Chiu, Kuo-Feng Hung, Yu-Ting Lin, Keng-Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 10174876
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe structure including a pipe that is disposed along an approximately horizontal direction, and has a plurality of ducts through which a gaseous body having a higher temperature than a temperature of a surrounding atmosphere continuously flows, and a plurality of couplings each connecting the ducts together; and a cover covering an outer periphery of the pipe. The cover defines a plurality of vents from which the gaseous body leaking from the pipe flows out of the cover at an interval in a length direction of the pipe. As the plurality of vents, the cover includes at least first vents located corresponding to the couplings. Respective positions of the first vents are substantially set within a range from a two o'clock position to a ten o'clock position through a six o'clock position in a cross sectional surface of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiko Suzuta, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Kei Takao, Ichiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 9857228
    Abstract: A diagnostic field device for detecting a condition of a process conduit includes an infrared detector comprising a plurality of pixels configured to receive infrared radiation from the process conduit and responsively provide a plurality of pixel outputs. A first pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to receive infrared radiation from a first location on the process conduit. A second pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to receive infrared radiation from a second location on the process conduit. A memory contains thermal profile information which relates an output from the first pixel to a first temperature at the first location and relates an output from the second pixel to a second temperature at the second location. A microprocessor identifies a process anomaly based upon outputs from the first and second pixels. Output circuitry provides a diagnostic output indicative of the identified process anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Harold Rud
  • Patent number: 9835675
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting deteriorated junctions within an electrical circuit includes a voltage channel circuit, a load circuit, and a microcontroller. The voltage channel circuit is connectable to the electrical circuit and includes a multiplier circuit, a peak detector circuit, and a filter circuit. The multiplier circuit is configured to square a line voltage of the electrical circuit. The peak detector circuit is configured to detect peak voltages of the line voltage based on an output of the multiplier circuit. A DC output voltage is provided from the filter circuit based on the output of the multiplier circuit. The load circuit is connectable to the electrical circuit and includes a plurality of resistors and a plurality of switches controlled by the microcontroller to enable current flow through the plurality of resistors to control the line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Lectrispect, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Graves
  • Patent number: 9810580
    Abstract: A diagnostic field device for detecting a condition of a process conduit includes an infrared detector comprising a plurality of pixels configured to receive infrared radiation from the process conduit and responsively provide a plurality of pixel outputs. A first pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to receive infrared radiation from a first location on the process conduit. A second pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to receive infrared radiation from a second location on the process conduit. A memory contains thermal profile information which relates an output from the first pixel to a first temperature at the first location and relates an output from the second pixel to a second temperature at the second location. A microprocessor identifies a process anomaly based upon outputs from the first and second pixels. Output circuitry provides a diagnostic output indicative of the identified process anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Harold Rud
  • Patent number: 9482582
    Abstract: An inspection system, in particular, a sewer inspection system is provided, comprising a temperature measurement device, whereby the temperature measurement device is a pyrometer for contact-free measurement of a surface temperature of an object, in particular, a pipe wall. Advantageously, the pyrometer is configured as an infra-red temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: iPEK International GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Kreutzer
  • Patent number: 9383303
    Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out high cycle fatigue tests of a specimen under high pressure, including: a pressure vessel; a load train including a first horn and a second horn between which a specimen is to be arranged, wherein the load train is arranged within an internal chamber of the pressure vessel; and a converter configured to apply ultrasonic waves into the load train by exciting the first horn to apply a dynamic stress to the specimen. A base part of the second horn is movably seated in the pressure vessel such that two separated chambers are formed within the pressure vessel with the first chamber for the specimen, wherein both chambers can be fed with gas and charged with different gas pressures in order to apply a static stress to the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: SNECMA, THE EUROPEAN UNION represented by the European Commission
    Inventors: Matthias Bruchhausen, Peter Hahner, Burkhard Fischer, Daniel Cornu, Christophe Hurel, Jean-Pierre Lecornu
  • Publication number: 20150146758
    Abstract: A method and system of monitoring environmental exposure of stents using radiofrequency identification is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Abigail Freeman, David C. Gale, Bin Huang, Daniel Castro
  • Publication number: 20150139268
    Abstract: A method for managing a temperature anomaly in a hydrogen tank includes a temperature checking step for defining temperature values detected by temperature, a temperature comparing step for comparing the temperature values with each other and then checking whether there is a specific temperature difference among the temperature values, a temperature sensor judging step for judging the temperature sensor in which the specific temperature difference is generated as an abnormal temperature sensor, and judging the temperature sensor in which the specific temperature difference is not generated as a normal temperature sensor, and an abnormal temperature sensor managing step for applying the temperature value of the temperature sensor judged as the normal temperature sensor when the hydrogen tank in which the temperature sensor judged as the abnormal temperature sensor is provided is filled or amount of fuel in the hydrogen tank is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyung-Ki Kim, Chang-Ho Kim, Ji-Hyun Shim
  • Publication number: 20150124850
    Abstract: Generally discussed herein are techniques, software, apparatuses, and systems configured for detecting an anomaly in a temperature sensor. In one or more embodiments an apparatus can include one or more computer processors configured to: (1) receive a series of temperature sensor readings from a temperature sensor, (2) determine if the temperature sensor is exhibiting behavior consistent with experiencing oscillations as a function of the received sensor readings, and (3) in response to determining that the temperature sensor is exhibiting behavior consistent with experiencing oscillations, recording in a memory data indicating that the temperature sensor is exhibiting behavior consistent with experiencing oscillations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Girija Parthasarathy
  • Publication number: 20150124849
    Abstract: Discussed generally herein are systems, apparatuses, techniques, and software for determining if a temperature sensor is properly located. In one or more embodiments, a technique can include receiving a series of temperature readings from a temperature sensor, determining if the temperature sensor is properly located as a function of the received temperature readings, and in response to determining that the temperature sensor is not properly located, recording data indicating that the temperature sensor is not properly located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Girija Parthasarathy
  • Publication number: 20150103160
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for detecting defective brakes are disclosed. For example, the method detects that a wheel of a vehicle is in a position to be read by an infrared (IR) thermometer, signals the IR thermometer to take a temperature measurement of a brake of the wheel, receives the temperature measurement of the brake and determines that a defective brake condition exists when the temperature measurement of the brake is outside a temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: EDUL N. DALAL, Wencheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20150101990
    Abstract: A filtering system is provided that includes at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a filter cartridge. The temperature measurements can used to determine whether the filter cartridge is at an increased risk of suffering a leak due to a crack of other material failure caused by exposure to certain temperatures. More than one temperature sensor may be used. The temperature measurements can also be used to determine whether one or more corrective actions should be taken such as e.g., providing a notification to a user and/or shutting of a flow of fluid to the filter cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Andrew Reinhard Krause, Mariano Pablo Filippa
  • Publication number: 20150092810
    Abstract: A wrapped-product quality control method and a wrapped-product packing method include providing a wrapped product including a product in a wrapper; supplying the wrapped product on a measuring background in a capture range of an infrared-sensitive imaging device, the product having a product temperature different from a measuring background temperature of the measuring background, and the wrapper having a wrapper temperature; capturing with the infrared-sensitive imaging device infrared radiation from the wrapped product and the measuring background; providing an image of the product or of the wrapped product from the infrared radiation captured with the infrared-sensitive imaging device; and analyzing the image for quality control of the wrapped product. A corresponding wrapped-product quality control device and a corresponding wrapped-product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: BLUEPRINT HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Joseph Crompton, Nicolaas Prakken
  • Publication number: 20150092809
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for determining a health value of a catalyzed diesel particulate filter using a midbed temperature of the catalyzed diesel particulate filter and a reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Nassim Khaled, Richard A. Booth
  • Publication number: 20150085894
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a fault within a evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method monitors the carbon canister temperature during a system leak test. The leak test here is undertaken with the engine running, and engine vacuum is employed to evacuate the EVAP system. If the evacuation succeeds in reaching a target vacuum, and a temperature gain in the canister is observed, then the system infers proper system operation. Failure to achieve a target vacuum causes the system to determine a likely cause of the failure based on the temperature response of the carbon canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: DENNIS SEUNG-MAN YANG, AED M. DUDAR
  • Patent number: 8985848
    Abstract: The method and apparatus to automatically inspect or pre-screen the Equipment of passing CMVs employs the novel application of acquiring, processing and analyzing the temperature data from areas of interest on passing wheels using a computer based imaging system to improve the efficiency of current CMV inspecting and/or pre-screening manual methods that require an inspection system operator. The inspection system includes a triggering device, thermographic camera(s), computer based image acquisition hardware, image processing and analysis software, user interface and operator workspace (herein referred to as the “Inspection System”). The components of the apparatus are not limited to the list above nor are all components required to embody the method for inspection or pre-screening of equipment of passing CMVs. The method is a means of collecting the thermal information of the Equipment as it passes through an Inspection Area and analyzing it to determine or estimate its condition or fitness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: BDC Capital Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Heath, Tse Young (Fred) Ko, Gurcharn Lotey
  • Publication number: 20150063404
    Abstract: A method of detecting a leak in a battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, calculating a predicted amount of thermal energy at a position, measuring an actual amount of thermal energy at the position, and comparing the predicted amount to the actual amount to identify if a battery pack is leaking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Chang, Xu Wang, Josephine S. Lee, Chuan He
  • Patent number: 8967185
    Abstract: A leak detector for an insulated duct carrying pressurized hot air comprises a cover secured over a circumferential cut in the insulation of the duct, or over a joint connecting duct sections, thereby creating a reservoir of hot air which has leaked from the duct or joint, a manifold block defining a conduit therein in communication with the hot air reservoir and a cap for securing heat sensitive wires to manifold at the end of the conduit such that the hot air from the hot air reservoir impinges directly on the heat sensitive wires. The leak detector includes flow control mechanisms in the body of the manifold block, to prevent false alarms arising from nominal leakage resulting from ordinary operation of the duct system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Senior IP GmbH
    Inventors: Leslie Fernandes, Arnaud Amy
  • Patent number: 8950936
    Abstract: In a prior-art nail puncture test, it has been difficult to measure the temperature at a short-circuiting portion, which is closely related to the scale of an accident which occurs. As a solution, A nail puncture test device having a temperature measurement function, a sheath thermocouple, and a fixing portion 6 of the sheath thermocouple, wherein a bottomed hole through which the sheath thermocouple is inserted is bored in the axial direction from a head portion to the vicinity of the distal end at the center part of the outer frame, and the sheath thermocouple is fixed to the outer frame by the fixing portion 6 in a state where the sheath thermocouple is inserted into the bottomed hole and the distal end thereof having a temperature measurement point is in contact with the bottom of the hole is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Company Limited, Okazaki Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Masaji Sawa, Naoki Maruno, Masaru Yamana
  • Patent number: 8911145
    Abstract: A method of generating a function that correlates semiconductor temperature with semiconductor lifetime including applying resonant frequency laser illumination to the semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Ceber Simpson
  • Publication number: 20140355644
    Abstract: A system for measuring a physical characteristic of a bearing includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic sensor. The permanent magnetic is coupled to at least a portion of a bearing, and has a magnetic field that changes as a function of the physical characteristic. For example, the permanent magnet has a magnetic characteristic that changes as a function of temperature. The magnetic sensor is operably disposed in a magnetic field sensing relationship with the permanent magnet, and is configured to generate a voltage signal and/or current signal corresponding to a sensed magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Lokesh Anilkumar Gupta, Dimitrios Peroulis
  • Publication number: 20140341249
    Abstract: A diagnosis device for a temperature sensor provided to a power transmission device transmits driving force generated by a driving power source of a vehicle. The diagnosis device includes: an output voltage estimating unit to calculate an output voltage estimation value of the temperature sensor, based on the operating state of the vehicle; and an output voltage stuck malfunction determining unit to determine an output voltage stuck malfunction of the temperature sensor, in a case where the amount of change of the output voltage estimation value is equal to or above a first threshold value, and the amount of change of output voltage of the temperature sensor is equal to or below a second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro KINOSHITA
  • Patent number: 8858075
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for remote monitoring that includes immersing a first temperature sensor at least partially into a heat transfer material situated in a thermo-well of a mobile container housing a material for transport, wherein the first temperature sensor includes a conductor routed through a first passage of a fitting, while providing access to the thermo-well for the insertion of a second temperature sensor through a second passage of the fitting, and receiving a signal from the first temperature sensor at a remote communication unit secured at least indirectly to the mobile container, wherein the signal is representative of the temperature of the material being transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Indorama Ventures (Oxide & Glycois) LLC
    Inventors: Dave Douglas, Jim Trippett
  • Patent number: 8845188
    Abstract: In a method for determining a state of an apparatus, detected temperatures are received from a plurality of sensors and are compared to at least one preset condition. The state of the apparatus is determined based upon the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cullen E. Bash, Ratnesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 8770834
    Abstract: A thermostat diagnostic apparatus is provided with a cooling medium temperature sensor, an engine operating condition sensor and a malfunction diagnosing device. The malfunction diagnosing device is configured to diagnose a stuck-open malfunction of a thermostat provided in a coolant flow passage of an engine installed in a mobile body based on a comparison of a real cooling medium temperature detected by the cooling medium temperature sensor and an estimated cooling medium temperature estimated based on an engine operating condition of the engine detected by the engine operating condition sensor. The malfunction diagnosing device determines that the thermostat is stuck in an open state upon determining that either the estimated cooling medium temperature or the real cooling medium temperature exceeds a prescribed reference value during a period in which an increased heat exchange rate condition of a radiator is satisfied continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140185648
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the forming of a solid object having a sensor string positionable in a forming structure before the curing process and a communication line extending along a string axis between a first and second end. The string further including a plurality of sensors joined to the communication line between the ends and each sensor being mounted at a set position on the line. Each sensor having a sensor body and a sensor housing and the sensor body including an electrical connecter to electrically join an electrical structure to the communication line at the set position. The electrical structure including a temperature sensor configured to monitor temperature near the set position and further including an electronic identification code corresponding to the set position of the sensor along the axis. The system further including a transmitting device for selectively communicating the temperature and identification code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: PILE DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: George R. Piscsalko, Frank Rausche, Dean A. Cotton, Michael Ference
  • Publication number: 20140185647
    Abstract: A diagnostic device for a temperature sensor is provided in a power transfer device that transfers drive power generated by a drive power source in a vehicle. The diagnostic device includes: a warm-up state determining unit to determine whether the drive power source is in a predetermined warm-up completion state; and a low temperature offset malfunction determining unit to determine a low temperature offset malfunction in the temperature sensor when the warm-up state determining unit determines that the warm-up completion state is established, and the detected value from the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined low temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro KINOSHITA
  • Patent number: 8746968
    Abstract: A sensor (10; 34) for measuring and/or detecting fouling that forms directly or indirectly on a so-called front surface of the sensor, includes the following in the form of a plurality of superimposed layers: —at least one heating element (14) that is able to diffuse, on command, a homogenous, monitored heat flow whose heat output is less than 200 mW, —a heat insulator (11) located on the side opposite the front surface of the sensor to prevent dissipation of the heat flow from the opposite side, —at least one temperature measuring element (16) that is placed in the homogenous heat flow diffused by the at least one heating element and that offers a precision of temperature measurement of better than 0.1° C., and —a substrate (12; 42) on which the layers of the at least one heating element and at least one temperature measuring element are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Neosens
    Inventors: Laurent Auret, Frederic Flourens, Luc Fillaudeau
  • Patent number: 8725430
    Abstract: A correlation is preliminarily obtained between a depth of damage and a ratio between a temperature gradient in temperature distribution on a surface of an area containing the damage and a temperature difference between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature in the temperature distribution. The temperature distribution on the surface of the area containing the damage in the structure is then measured. Once the temperature distribution on the structure surface is obtained, attention is focused on temperature distribution between two points including the damaged area, so that a temperature difference between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature in the distribution is obtained, and further a temperature gradient of an interval exhibiting temperature variation equal to or higher than a predetermined level is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: West Nippon Expressway Engineering Shikoku Company Limited
    Inventors: Yukio Akashi, Kazuaki Hashimoto, Shogo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8717183
    Abstract: A leak detector for detecting and locating leaks in a water supply pipe of plastics, the leak detector comprising a first sensor at a first position arranged to detect a leak signal travelling along a pipe, a second sensor arranged to detect a leak signal travelling along the pipe at a second position spaced from the first position, and a processing device adapted to receive the signals from the first sensor and the second sensor. The processing device may be adapted to determine the velocity of the signals from characteristics of the leak signals. The processing device is adapted to use the velocity and distance between the first sensor and the second sensor to determine the location of a leak. The characteristics may be the relationship between the phase and frequency of the leak signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Severn Trent Water Limited
    Inventors: Maninder Pal, Neil Dixon, James Flint
  • Patent number: 8708554
    Abstract: A leak detection apparatus for aircraft bleed air systems includes a supporting spacer positioned within the shroud and supported upon the bleed air duct of the aircraft. A sleeve supported on the exterior of the shroud further supports a plenum having generally cylindrical sensor tubes through which sensor wire sets pass. A director positioned within the shroud above the bleed air duct is coupled to a generally cylindrical accumulator which in turn is in communication with the plenum. Appropriate apertures are provided to vent and direct bleed air from the shroud interior to the sensor wire sets and thereafter vent outwardly into cooler ambient air. The sensor wire sets respond to the temperature of the bleed air leakage to trigger alarm apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Arrowhead Products Corporation
    Inventors: William W. Thompson, Allen W. Harwood, Glenn Stark