Surface Wave Patents (Class 73/170.31)
  • Patent number: 11714027
    Abstract: A measuring device for testing wave dissipation characteristics of a comb-typed permeable breakwater with arc-shaped walls in a flume is provided. The measuring device comprises three parts: a comb-typed permeable breakwater with arc-shaped walls, wave height measuring instrument fixing and adjusting devices, and a wave height measuring instrument data collecting and processing equipment. The comb-typed permeable breakwater with arc-shaped walls is formed by fixedly connecting upright arc-shaped caissons, a back plate, partition plates, L-shaped connecting plates and a bottom plate. The wave height measuring instrument fixing and adjusting devices are configured for accurately fixing the wave height measuring instrument and adjusting its horizontal position and vertical height. The wave height measuring instrument data collecting and processing equipment is configured for processing, outputting and displaying the data collected by the wave height measuring instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: LUDONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xueyan Li, Zhenhua Zhang, Zhi Cheng, Xiaomin Xie, Xiang Wan
  • Patent number: 11642442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (2) comprising a connector (4), a baby bottle (6) which can be coupled thereto having a bottle body (8) and a bottle base (10), and a sensor unit (34) arranged in the bottle base (10) for determining the filling quantity of milk in the baby bottle (6). An object of the present invention is to improve handling and maintenance of the apparatus, as well as determining the content quantity. It is characterized in that the bottle base (10) is releasably attachable to the bottle body (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MEDELA HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Armin Felber, Martin Thüring, Sebastian Höner
  • Patent number: 11619490
    Abstract: A measuring device for wave energy conversion performance of a comb-typed permeable breakwater with arcuate walls is provided. The measuring device includes four parts: the comb-type permeable breakwater with arcuate walls, a wave height measuring instrument and pressure sensor fixing and adjusting apparatus, a wave height measuring instrument data collecting and processing apparatus and a pressure sensor data collecting and processing apparatus. The comb-typed permeable breakwater includes combined arc-shaped caissons, partition plates, a back plate, a fixing bottom plate and fixing screws. The wave height measuring instrument data collecting and processing apparatus processes data collected by a wave height measuring instrument and outputs for display. The pressure sensor data collecting and processing apparatus analyzes data collected by a pressure sensor and outputs for display. The measuring device has a stable structure, convenient operation and high experimental accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: LUDONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xueyan Li, Qing Wang, Fang Hou, Jing Peng, Yanxin Ding
  • Patent number: 10889355
    Abstract: Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Marine Depth Control Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Craig Sinclair, Christopher Charles Webb
  • Patent number: 10732064
    Abstract: Immersion depth measurement device comprising a first absolute pressure sensor and a second differential pressure sensor, wherein the first and the second pressure sensor are arranged to measure ambient pressures, and wherein the second differential pressure sensor connects to the ambient through two separate channels, at least one of which is closable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FNV IP B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Nicolaas Looijen, Henk Nebbeling
  • Patent number: 10611437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to profiler systems and methods for observing and sensing aspects of a body of water at a plurality of depths. A water profiler is disclosed comprising, generally, a vessel body connected to an external mooring cable via an attachment means, a drive means for maneuvering the vessel body longitudinally about the mooring cable; an articulating mechanism; and a sensor array capable of measuring a parameter for study wherein the vessel body is capable of articulating about the mooring cable. In alternate embodiments, the articulation allows the vessel body to be placed in relation with the three dimensional current such that at least one sensor is positioned into the current so as to sample or measure undisturbed water. In alternate embodiments, hydrofoils or wings are mounted to the vessel body that can be manipulated to harness the current force and maneuver the vessel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Inventors: John M. Toole, Kenneth W. Doherty, Jeffrey K. O'Brien, Frederik T. Thwaites
  • Patent number: 10550845
    Abstract: A liquid level sensing system is disclosed. The liquid level sensing system includes a float system and an accelerometer. The accelerometer is configured to provide an output signal representative of a position of the float system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: S. J. Electro Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Corey Lee Steinke
  • Patent number: 9828075
    Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems are provided that can include a first accelerometer operatively associated with the hull of the wakeboat to measure the acceleration of the hull along a first axis; a second accelerometer operatively associated with the hull of the wakeboat to measure the acceleration of the hull along a second axis, the first axis being non-parallel to the second axis; and processing circuitry calculating the rotation of the hull of the wakeboat about a third axis based on the acquired measurements. Wakeboat hull control methods are provided that can include using the processing circuitry to calculate the rotation of the hull of the wakeboat about a third axis based on the acquired measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 9303986
    Abstract: Visual codes are scanned to assist navigation. The visual code may be a Quick Response (QR) code that contains information useful to calibrating a variety of navigation-based sensors such as gyroscopes, e-compasses, and barometric pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Deric Wayne Waters, Tarkesh Pande
  • Publication number: 20140338441
    Abstract: A system and method for determining and displaying the suitability of water conditions in a zone for the launch or recovery of a smaller craft (10) from or to a host ship (12) is disclosed. The system and method detect one or more external environment parameters such as the height, direction and period of the swell, and one or more parameters relating to the ship operating conditions such as the heading, speed, pitch and roll angles, and processes these to determine the suitability of the conditions for launch or recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Craig Sutherland
  • Patent number: 8509489
    Abstract: A computer based method for estimating surface velocity based on a time series of at least two images of a same portion of the ocean surface by solving a heat equation having unknown parameters of heat source s and surface velocity components u and v. The images can be infrared or thermal images from the AVHRR or other images. Assign a pattern of sub-arrays with number of pixels in each sub-array sufficient to overdetermine the heat equation without the need to apply divergence and vorticity constraints. Define the heat equation for each interior pixel using bilinear interpolation at each interior based on solutions at the corner pixels. Use linear regression to solve for the unknown parameters u, v, and s for each corner pixel by minimizing total error of the heat equation in finite difference form at all pixels, and find the parameters at each remaining point with bilinear interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8494697
    Abstract: A ship motion prediction system is described that includes a plurality of surface platforms and a central computer having a communications interface. The platforms each include a propulsion system for movement of the platform, a plurality of sensors operable for gathering sensor data relating to an environment proximate the platform, a processing device communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and the plurality of sensors, and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processing device. The central computer includes a communications interface, and the processing device is programmed to transmit sensor data to the central computer via the transceiver and the communications interface. The central computer is programmed to transmit commands for operation of the propulsion system to the processing device via the communications interface and transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ballou, Henry Chen
  • Patent number: 8220325
    Abstract: The method of measuring the current below an offshore vessel by suspending a flexible member in the currents from the vessel, adding reflectors or signal generators to the flexible member, adding an adjustable weight to the bottom of the flexible member, determining the horizontal position of each reflector in comparison to the reflector above and below it, and using this information to determine the ocean currents at various levels below the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Benton Frederick Baugh
  • Patent number: 8074513
    Abstract: A fluid measuring instrument carrier structure includes a carrier main body assembled from three axially connected steel pipes. The carrier main body is provided from front to back at predetermined positions with a current meter, a front current-guiding holding-down plate, and a rear current-guiding holding-down plate. The front current-guiding holding-down plate has a gravity-center adjuster connected thereto. By employing the principles of fluid mechanics, the carrier main body with the front and rear current-guiding holding-down plates and the gravity-center adjuster is able to submerge in water and slightly horizontally sway leftward and rightward in water currents to maintain at a stable and balanced state, allowing a user to easily and quickly measure river water depth and current velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Chou, Jen-Hsin Chen
  • Patent number: 8019546
    Abstract: A system of detecting tsunami conditions using communications for a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The SCADA system comprises an enterprise server, and a RTU. The RUT includes a sensor that continuously collect information. The system includes a buoy adapted communicate with the RTU. The buoy can include a transceiver, and wherein the transceiver communicates with the enterprise server. Communication software (AES) links the enterprise server to the buoy. The communication software can be adapted to simultaneously handle multiple types of telemetry and different SCADA protocols of the buoys; and wherein the communication software initiates an alarm when the information associated with oceanic conditions signifies tsunami conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: DJ Inventions, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas C. Osburn, III
  • Patent number: 7467545
    Abstract: Fluid current measurement by means of resistance differentials in thermistor. Input parameters to micro-processor like fluid temperature, depth, change in electrical resistance, direction sensors. Output calculation of fluid current, current direction, temperature, danger level and recommended safe distance from the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Yaron Ankori
  • Publication number: 20080276702
    Abstract: Fluid current measurement by means of resistance differentials in thermistor. Input parameters to micro-processor like fluid temperature, depth, change in electrical resistance, direction sensors. Output calculation of fluid current, current direction, temperature, danger level and recommended safe distance from the boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Yaron Ankori