By Pressure Of The Gas Patents (Class 73/19.05)
  • Patent number: 11828281
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a piston compressor (100) having a reciprocating piston (111) in a cylinder (110), wherein an inlet valve (112) and an outlet valve (113) are provided in the cylinder (110) on the side of a medium (b) which is to be compressed and conveyed, wherein the reciprocating piston (111) is moved to and fro by way of a hydraulic drive (120, 121) with a hydraulic piston (120) with the use of a hydraulic medium (a) in a first volume (141), with which the reciprocating piston (111) is loaded on the side of the hydraulic drive (120, 121), wherein, if required, hydraulic medium (a) is fed into the first volume (141) and/or is discharged from the first volume (141) in a manner which is dependent on a position of the hydraulic piston (120) and/or a rotational angle ((p) of a shaft (121) which is provided for moving the hydraulic piston (120) in relation to a position (x) of the reciprocating piston (120) and/or a pressure (p) in the first volume (141), and to a piston compresso
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Dorner, Christoph Nagl, Johannes Fritzer, Klaus Fischer
  • Patent number: 11747231
    Abstract: A heat-loss pressure microsensor for measuring a gas pressure is disclosed that includes a plurality of pressure gauges arranged proximate to one another on a substrate. The gauges may include a pair of gauges, each gauge including a thermistor having an electrical resistance that varies with its temperature, the thermistor's temperature being responsive to the gas pressure, a platform to receive the thermistor, and a support structure to hold the platform above the substrate. Each gauge may be configured to produce a gauge output signal related to the electrical resistance of its thermistor. The two gauges are configured with their platforms having equal nominal perimeters and different nominal surface areas, and their support structures having the same nominal geometry. A differential signal may be obtained from the two gauge output signals. The differential signal conveys information about the gas pressure and exhibits reduced sensitivity to fabrication-related dimensional variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventors: Bruno Tremblay, Alex Paquet
  • Patent number: 11415439
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a solenoid valve and a pressure sensor disposed in a water pipe in this order from an upstream end, and a control unit controlling open/close of the solenoid valve and receives a sensor signal outputted from the pressure sensor. The controller obtains a difference between a water pressure measured by the pressure sensor when it is determined that the decreased degree of opening is increased, and a water pressure measured by the pressure sensor when a flow velocity is zero, and calculates a loss coefficient of an upstream water pipe located upstream from the solenoid valve based on the pressure difference and a flow velocity calculated based on a loss coefficient of the solenoid valve. The controller estimates a flow velocity of the water currently flowing in the water pipe based on the loss coefficient and the difference between water pressures of the last and present measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Yotaro Murakami
  • Patent number: 10563784
    Abstract: Aspects and techniques of the present disclosure relate to a process of evaluating a pressurized fluid system including an automatic bleed valve arrangement therein for undesirable air leakage by diagnostically operating the automatic bleed valve arrangement. The disclosure also relates to methods of evaluating air presence in a pressurized fluid system sufficient to warrant bleed valve operation. Further, apparatus and features thereof are characterized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Vishal Pramod Mande, Aniket Pravin Pataskar, Ashwin Mrityunjayagoud Patil, Barry Benaway
  • Patent number: 10514332
    Abstract: Systems and methods for profiling a material property are provided. A plurality of measurement devices can be configured to measure at least a portion of the material property. A controller including at least one processor can be in communication with one or more of the plurality of measurement devices. At least one measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices can measure at least one segment of the material property, and at least one additional measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices can measure at least one additional segment of the material property. The at least one segment and the at least one additional segment can be combined to provide at least a partial profile of the material property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Micromeritics Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Preston Hendrix, Samuel Varner
  • Patent number: 10173817
    Abstract: A device for measuring liquid volume in a container, wherein the measuring device includes a compression member, which is in sealed connection with a container to be detected, forms a sealed space in the container, and compresses gases in the sealed space under the effect of an external force, and the compressed volume value of the gases is a predetermined value; a pressure detector, which is disposed on the compression member, and configured to measure the pressure values of the gases in the container before and after compression; and a controller. A container and a method for measuring liquid volume in a container is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MECARE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaoliang Li
  • Patent number: 9989551
    Abstract: A method of confirming volume during dispensing of a liquid using pressure. The method includes attempting to dispense a volume of the liquid from a dispense port, measuring a pressure associated with the attempted dispense of the liquid and providing a measured pressure signal, determining a liquid dispensing start time and a stop time based on a slope of the measured pressure signal, integrating the measured pressure signal between the start time and the stop time to provide an integrated pressure value, and comparing the integrated pressure value to one or more preset threshold values. Liquid dispensing apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Litao Wang, Pei-Ying Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9962067
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to detecting insufficient volume of a fluid aspiration. During aspiration of fluids, a pressure trace is obtained using a pressure transducer. An algorithm is applied to detect short shot (i.e., insufficient aspiration) instances utilizing characteristics of the pressure trace. In addition, the fluid probe geometry may be optimized to improve the accuracy of the detection, and temperature may be obtained to correct the pressure trace to account for fluid viscosity and thereby further improve the accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Ying Hsieh, Qiang Huang
  • Patent number: 8839658
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor assembly for determining the concentration of hydrogen in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein communicating with the fluid, a hydrogen sensor disposed in the housing and responsive to the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid and generating a signal related to the concentration of hydrogen, and a pressure sensor disposed in the housing responsive to the fluid and generating a second signal indicative of the pressure of the fluid in the equipment. The assembly further includes a signal processor disposed in the housing and connected to the hydrogen sensor and the pressure sensor and responsive to the first and second signals for generating a third signal representing the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Qualitrol Company, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua J. Herz, David Billings
  • Publication number: 20140047827
    Abstract: Generally, example systems and methods for measuring aeration level of a liquid may involve measuring the pressure at two points in the liquid reservoir. The aeration level of the liquid in the liquid reservoir may be calculated based on the pressure differential between the two points in the liquid reservoir. Optionally, the aeration level of the liquid may be compared to a threshold value of the liquid aeration level, and a machine action may be commanded if the aeration level exceeds the threshold value. Example machine actions may include warning the operator. In addition, data relating to the level of aeration of the liquid may be stored, along with other machine parameters, and the data correlated for analysis and machine diagnostics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Abdul Karim Maoued, Russell Ross Henderson, JR., Randall Alan Harlow, Mohamed Ibrahim Daoud, Daniel Waite Uphoff
  • Patent number: 8551788
    Abstract: A method of selecting pipetting parameters of a pipetting device for dispensing or pipetting a specific volume of a liquid sample, includes a fluid column of a fluid chamber of the pipetting device set into oscillation at the beginning of the aspiration, the pressure is monitored with the pressure transducer in the fluid chamber, and the pressure changes generated during aspiration into measuring signals are recorded. These measuring signals are processed by a computer or micro-processor and reproduced as a pressure curve, which is characteristic for the fluid column with the aspirated liquid sample, and which is compared with known pressure curves. Based on this comparison, pipetting parameters of the pipetting device are selected for the dispense or for pipetting a specific volume of the liquid sample. Selectable pipetting parameters include a speed of a movement of a pump piston of the pipetting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Ingenhoven, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Werner Hälg
  • Publication number: 20130209316
    Abstract: A method is provided for estimating the degree of saturation (S) of a reversible solid ammonia storage material (3) in a storage unit (1). The storage unit (1) is equipped with a heater (2) to release ammonia and a connected tube (4) for ammonia flow. The initial temperature (TINIT) is measured with a sensor (9) in or around the storage unit (1) before any heating is initiated. Heating is initiated while recording the active time of heating (t) or the amount of energy (Q) released by the heater. The desorption pressure created by solid storage material in the storage unit (1) is measured via a pressure sensor (8) in fluid communication with the storage unit (1). The time (tTARGET), or the heat (QTARGET) where the pressure reaches a certain target pressure (PTARGET) is recorded. The values of the target-pressure time (tTARGET), or the target-pressure heat (QTARGET), and the initial temperature (TINIT) are used to compute an approximate degree of saturation (S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Amminex A/S
    Inventors: Tue Johannessen, Johnny Johansen, Jacob Hjerrild Zeuthen, Henning Schmidt, Ulrich Joachim Quaade
  • Patent number: 8408421
    Abstract: A dispenser using a stopcock valve has a first and second chamber. The first chamber has a flow material and is pressurized with air. The first chamber is connected to a stopcock valve that holds a second chamber which has a pressure sensor when the stopcock valve is rotated to the proper orientation. The stopcock valve is then rotated to a dispensing position where the flow material is dispensed under pressure to an outlet. By using the air pressure sensor and by taking into consideration the volume of the second chamber, the amount of flow of material can be dosed out consistently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M DiPerna
  • Patent number: 8357544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classifying a liquid (1) in a known pipetting system for this liquid (1), the method being characterized in that the changes of a selected, measurable, and physically founded virtual parameter are detected as a data set typical for this liquid (1); this typical data set of the selected virtual parameter is compared to corresponding data sets of known liquids, and the liquid (1) is classified on the basis of this comparison. An especially preferred method and a device for classifying a liquid (1) relate to a device which comprises a fluid chamber (2), to which a measuring chamber (3) is connected, whose internal pressure is monitored using a pressure transducer (4). At least a first part (5) of this fluid chamber (2) may be brought into fluid connection with a sample (6) of this liquid (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Ingenhoven, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Werner Hälg
  • Publication number: 20120302945
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the determination of gas in a fluid, wherein the mixture of gas and fluid both is delivered by a pump and is subjected to a change in volume and pressure, operating parameters of the pump, which represents the change in volume and pressure, are detected, and from the operating parameters of the pump the gas content is determined in consideration of a system compressibility, wherein the system compressibility in the pumping device filled with gas is determined by sequence of process steps. The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for performing this method into a dialysis machine which contains a corresponding apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: corporation Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Frank HEDMANN, Torsten Hochrein
  • Patent number: 8122756
    Abstract: An explosive and narcotics detection system detects the presence of trace particles of those materials that are adhering to surfaces. The particles are removed from the surface, transported and collected in a particle collection medium, and then provided to detection instrument. Narcotics and explosive particles are often bound tenaciously to the surface, and simple techniques, such as blowing air, will either remove only the largest particles or none at all. Techniques for the removal of narcotics and explosives particles are described which utilize an aerosol mixture of aerosol particles in a gas stream to impact and more efficiently remove the target narcotics and explosives particles from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen N. Bunker
  • Publication number: 20110267198
    Abstract: Pressure fluctuations are sampled at fixed time intervals and subjected to arithmetic processing, using as a trigger the event (or a sign temporally close to that event) of the reverse motor rotation for the backlash correction, thereby discriminating normal suction from suction of sample liquid with undesirable air bubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi OHGA, Masato ISHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110072881
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a functioning of a gas bleed valve in a primary reservoir for a medium for a hydraulic system. The method comprising: connecting a testing apparatus with a separate reservoir of the medium to the primary reservoir; pumping the medium from the separate reservoir to the primary reservoir; measuring the volume of the medium pumped from the separate reservoir to the primary reservoir; and, determining the functioning of the gas bleed valve by comparing the volume of the medium pumped to the primary reservoir with: a change of the medium volume measured in the primary reservoir, or a change of the pressure of the medium pumped to the primary reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Sun Test Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Klaus Leonard WITT
  • Patent number: 7902306
    Abstract: Methods for polymerization of an olefin monomer and polymers formed therefrom are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventor: Giacomo Conti
  • Patent number: 7866201
    Abstract: A method and device for the measurement of dissolved gas within a fluid. The fluid, substantially a liquid, is pumped into a pipe. The flow of the fluid is temporally restricted, creating one or more low pressure regions. A measurement indicative of trapped air is taken before and after the restriction. The amount of dissolved air is calculated from the difference between the first and second measurements. Preferably measurements indicative of trapped air is obtained from one or more pressure transducers, capacitance transducers, or combinations thereof. In the alternative, other methods such as those utilizing x-rays or gamma rays may also be used to detect trapped air. Preferably, the fluid is a hydraulic fluid, whereby dissolved air in the fluid is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Narinder Kumar Tutu
  • Publication number: 20100262078
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting insulin infusion volume based on air in an infusion set tube includes inputting at least one location and length of an air bubble along the infusion set tube. An air bubble volume is determined in the infusion set tube. An insulin infusion volume is determined based on a desired insulin infusion. A determination is then made whether the desired insulin infusion would include the air bubble volume based on the inputted location and length of the air bubble. The air bubble volume is added to the insulin infusion volume to make an adjusted insulin infusion volume if the insulin infusion volume includes the air bubble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Blomquist
  • Publication number: 20100133189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dialysis liquid circuit with conduits for conducting dialysis liquid and with means for detecting air in the dialysis liquid, wherein the means comprise at least one gas sensor traversed continuously by the dialysis liquid, which is configured such that it measures at least one property of the dialysis liquid which depends on the presence of air bubbles in the dialysis liquid, and which is arranged downstream of a region to be monitored of the dialysis liquid circuit, in which during operation of the dialysis liquid circuit a negative pressure exists with respect to atmospheric pressure, wherein the means comprise an evaluation unit which is connected with the gas sensor and which is configured such that the property measured by means of the gas sensor is evaluated with regard to the presence of air bubbles in the dialysis liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Maierhofer, Alfred Gagel, Malte Gross
  • Patent number: 7674624
    Abstract: A preferred method for determining the flow fraction of a mixture of water, gas and oil in a hydrocarbon reservoir includes measuring pressure and density of the mixture over time, determining a function which approximates a relationship between the density and pressure measurements, calculating a derivative of the function over time, and determining flow fraction based, in part, on the derivative. Preferably, transient data points are eliminated and the remaining set of data points are weight averaged to improve signal to noise ratio. Bubble point pressure, bubble point density and molecular weight and density of the liquid portion of the mixture are also used in the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Stephenson, Lalitha Venkataramanan
  • Publication number: 20090178460
    Abstract: A gas amount measuring device including a vacuum container, a first pipe, an air release valve being attached to the first pipe, a second pipe, a calibration gas generator being attached to the first pipe, a third pipe, a vacuum gauge, a first valve, a leak valve, a second valve, a turbomolecular pump, a third valve, and a roughing pump being attached to the third pipe in order from a vacuum container side, a first bypass pipe connecting the third pipe between the vacuum container and the first valve to the third pipe between the leak valve and the second valve, a fourth valve being attached to the first bypass pipe, and a second bypass pipe connecting the third pipe between the leak valve and the second valve to the third pipe between the third valve and the roughing pump, a fifth valve being attached to the second bypass pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Tetsuya Abe, Toshihisa Hatano, Hajime Hiratsuka, Koichi Hasegawa, Yasuhide Tajima, Soichiro Omachi
  • Patent number: 7559223
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining entrained and/or dissolved gas content of gas-liquid mixtures. Data generated is used to control the True (air-free) or Apparent (air-containing) Density or Entrained Air content of liquids within optimum ranges, e.g. in paper coating processes and in the manufacture of food products, personal care products, pharmaceutical products, paints, petroleum blends, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Appleton Papers Inc.
    Inventors: Qingyuan Chen, Robert Josef Franda
  • Publication number: 20090084156
    Abstract: An object is to offer a method that can efficiently measure the oxygen content of both the headspace and fluid within a hermetically sealed container by taking advantage of the characteristics of a fluorescent-type oxygen concentration meter. A container 2 is pierced using a hollow needle 28 with the interior space 28a sealed from the outside and the tip of said hollow needle 28 removed, and the interior space 28a is made continuous with the headspace within the container 2; a probe 11 of a fluorescent oxygen concentration meter 10 is inserted through the hollow needle 28 to the interior of the container 2; the fluorescent material of the probe 11 is positioned in the headspace 3 within the container 2, and the oxygen concentration of the headspace 3 is measured; and the probe 11 is inserted further so that the fluorescent material is submerged in the fluid 4 inside the container 2, and the dissolved oxygen concentration inside the fluid 4 is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Matsuda, Toshihiro Akihisa
  • Publication number: 20090027638
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate. The projection system includes a first gas-conditioned sub-environment and a second gas-conditioned sub-environment. The apparatus includes a gas control unit configured to control the feeding of conditioned gas into the first sub-environment and into the second sub-environment via the first sub-environment so as to prevent contamination from the second sub-environment to the first sub-environment. The apparatus includes a gate configured to leak the conditioned gas at a rate from the second sub-environment to ambient atmosphere, and a detector configured to detect at least one property of the second gas-conditioned environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicants: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V., Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Tjarko Adriaan Rudolf Van Empel, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Antonius Johannes Van Der Net, Yuri Johannes Gabriel Van De Vijver, Bernhard Gellrich, Bauke Jansen, Rens Sanderse
  • Patent number: 7467540
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a composition including live crude includes separating the composition into a vapor phase and a liquid phase. A composition of the vapor phase is determined with a gas chromatograph. At least a portion of the liquid phase is deposited in a vessel, and a headspace vapor phase is collected from the vessel. A composition of the headspace vapor is determined with the gas chromatograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Kriel
  • Publication number: 20080289396
    Abstract: A gas separation system suited for extraction of gas dissolved in pressurized fluid. The system includes a semi-permeable membrane in the form of tubing having an inner core volume with an internal support present within the inner core volume. The internal support provides multiple cylindrical supporting surfaces which are presented to the inside tubing wall surface to prevent collapse of the tubing wall against external pressure. Internal supports may include a coil of spring-like configuration fitted coaxially within the tubing; or multiple filaments that form a longitudinal bundle within the core of the tubing. The response time of the system may be enhanced by the presence of an outer tubular conduit surrounding the semi-permeable membrane tubing and providing a flow path for the external fluid to increase the rate of diffusion of dissolved gases through the semi-permeable membrane. Gas pressures may be a sensed, both total and partial, as well as the identity of respective sampled gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Johnson, Craig McNeil
  • Patent number: 7434446
    Abstract: A gas separation system for extraction of gas from pressurized fluid has a gas sampling interface and gas circulation tubing to pass sampled gas to a gas sensor to determine the character or a property of the gas. The gas sampling interface includes a semi-permeable membrane in the form of tubing having an inner core volume with an internal support that provides multiple supporting surfaces to prevent collapse of the tubing wall against external pressure and provides interstitial spaces for the flow of gas. Internal supports may include a coil of spring-like configuration fitted coaxially within the tubing; or multiple filaments that form a longitudinal bundle within the core of the tubing, or both. An outer tubular conduit surrounding the semi-permeable membrane tubing provides a flow path for the external fluid to increase the rate of diffusion of dissolved gases through the semi-permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Pro-Oceanus Sytems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Johnson, Craig McNeil
  • Patent number: 7380438
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a fluid cut measurement of a multi-liquid mixture includes a first device configured to sense at least one parameter of the mixture to determine a fluid cut of a liquid in the mixture. A second device is configured to determine a concentration of gas in the mixture in response to a speed of sound in the mixture; and a signal processor is configured to adjust the fluid cut of the liquid using the concentration of the gas to determine a compensated fluid cut of the liquid. The parameter of the mixture sensed by the first device may include a density of the mixture (e.g., by way of a Coriolis meter), a permittivity of the mixture (e.g., by way of a resonant microwave oscillator), or an amount of microwave energy absorbed by the mixture (e.g., by way of a microwave absorption watercut meter). The signal processor may employ different correction factors depending on the type of fluid cut device used. The second device may include a gas volume fraction meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Douglas H. Loose
  • Publication number: 20080118418
    Abstract: A method for measuring the concentration of gas dissolved in a liquid, in which a test liquid is introduced into a liquid phase chamber (3) separated with a gas permeation membrane (2), and the degree of vacuum of the gas phase in equilibrium with the liquid phase is measured while condensed liquid in a gas phase chamber (4) is discharged to the outside continuously; an apparatus for measuring the concentration which has a closed vessel (1), (2) disposed in (1) and separates (1) for introducing the test liquid and (3) and (4) having a pressure gauge (8) and an outlet pipe for discharging condensed liquid (7), the degree of vacuum in (3) being measured by (8); and an apparatus for producing water containing dissolved nitrogen gas. The concentration of gas dissolved in a liquid flowing through a flow route can be measured with stability for a long time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroshi Morita
  • Patent number: 7325439
    Abstract: A system for measuring the permeance of a material. The permeability of the material may also be derived. The system provides a liquid or high concentration fluid bath on one side of a material test sample, and a gas flow across the opposing side of the material test sample. The mass flow rate of permeated fluid as a fraction of the combined mass flow rate of gas and permeated fluid is used to calculate the permeance of the material. The material test sample may be a sheet, a tube, or a solid shape. Operational test conditions may be varied, including concentration of the fluid, temperature of the fluid, strain profile of the material test sample, and differential pressure across the material test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Louis Hallman, Jr., Michael John Renner
  • Patent number: 7257985
    Abstract: Methods and apparati for measuring entrained gas content. One of the disclosed apparatus embodiments includes a chamber and piping for process fluid, the piping including two different sectors each comprising a density and temperature gauge having a pressure gauge located upstream and a second pressure gauge located downstream, the two sectors being operatively joined together by a pressure-changing device. The pressure measurement feature may be incorporated into the combination density and temperature gauge, eliminating the need for separate pressure gauges. Data generated by this invention reduces measurement error caused by the dissolving or exsolving of gases with changes in pressure of a fluid, while providing instantaneous measurement, through apparatuses that measure system conditions at each of two pressure states within a very short period of time. For instance, in the context of continuously coating a substrate, the method of this invention comprises: a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Appleton Papers Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Josef Franda, Qingyuan Chen
  • Patent number: 7087436
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the analysis of blood or other liquids by mass spectrometry to determine the partial pressures of gases and other volatile substances dissolved in the blood or other liquid in a manner independent of the solubility of the gases in the blood or other liquid. A countercurrent membrane exchanger (CCME) is provided for equilibrating a carrier fluid with the sample of blood or other liquid, the output of which is coupled to a tubular direct insertion membrane probe (t-DIMP) type of membrane inlet mass spectrometer. The CCME preferably has complementary spiral grooves on opposing metal plates for the water carrier and sample liquids so as to induce secondary flows which greatly reduce the resistance to equilibration between the liquid sample and water carrier phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: James Baumgardner, Gordon Neufeld
  • Patent number: 7017388
    Abstract: Improved control of continuous processes that handle liquids. Data generated by this invention is used to control gas contents of liquids within optimum ranges, for instance in paper coating processes and in the manufacture of food products (ketchup), personal care products (shampoo), paints, and in any industry where information on entrained and/or dissolved gases, and related parameters such as true density of and gas solubility in process liquids, is employed to optimize processing. The amount of gas in a liquid is determined by subjecting a mixture of an incompressible liquid sample and a compressible gas to three or more different equilibrium pressure states, measuring the temperature and volume of the mixture at each of the pressure states, determining the changes in volume of the mixture between at least two different pairs of pressure states, and calculating the amount of gas in the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Appleton Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingyuan Chen, Robert Josef Franda
  • Patent number: 6945119
    Abstract: A heat loss gauge for measuring gas pressure in an environment includes a resistive sensing element and a resistive compensating element. The resistive compensating element is in circuit with the sensing element and is exposed to a substantially matching environment. An electrical source is connected to the sensing element and the compensating element for applying current through the elements. The current through the sensing element is substantially greater than the current through the compensating element. Measuring circuitry is connected to the sensing element and the compensating element for determining gas pressure in the environment to which the sensing element and compensating element are exposed based on electrical response of the sensing element and the compensating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Bills, Michael D. Borenstein
  • Patent number: 6874351
    Abstract: A method for determining the content quantities, solubilities and/or saturation pressures of gases dissolved in a liquid, which is characterized in that in order selectively to determine the individual content quantities of at least two gases dissolved in a liquid sample, more particularly carbon dioxide, nitrogen and/or oxygen, and/or the solubilities or saturation pressures thereof, the volume of at least one measuring chamber filled with the liquid for testing is increased the volume of at least two steps by volume increase factors differing one from another, each having numerical values greater than 1, in that, after each of the volume increase steps, the equilibrium pressure established in the measuring chamber is ascertained, and in that, on the basis of the at least two measured pressure values obtained in this way, the content quantities of the individual gases dissolved in the liquid, and/or the solubility or saturation pressure thereof, are calculated individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Anton Paar GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Bloder, Josef Gautsch, Klauss Germann, Gerhard Murer
  • Publication number: 20040206157
    Abstract: Improved control of continuous processes that handle liquids. Data generated by this invention is used to control gas contents of liquids within optimum ranges, for instance in paper coating processes and in the manufacture of food products (ketchup), personal care products (shampoo), paints, and in any industry where information on entrained and/or dissolved gases, and related parameters such as true density of and gas solubility in process liquids, is employed to optimize processing. The amount of gas in a liquid is determined by subjecting a mixture of an incompressible liquid sample and a compressible gas to three or more different equilibrium pressure states, measuring the temperature and volume of the mixture at each of the pressure states, determining the changes in volume of the mixture between at least two different pairs of pressure states, and calculating the amount of gas in the liquid sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Appleton Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingyuan Chen, Robert Josef Franda
  • Patent number: 6779378
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the capability of a source container comprising liquid or solid source material to produce vaporized source material comprises extracting vaporized source material from the source container. The source container is then isolated and a property indicative of the partial pressure of the vaporized source material is then measured as a function of time. The partial pressure (or property indicative thereof) as a function of time is compared with a reference partial pressure as a function of time. An alarm is generated when the difference between the measured property (indicative of partial pressure) as a function of time and the reference property value as a function of time is larger than a predetermined property difference limit. The property can be, for example, overall pressure or source material concentration in the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventor: Niklas Bondestam
  • Patent number: 6779405
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fast and accurate method of measuring the vacuum pressure in a sealed glass vial or other electrically non-conductive vessel. In the method the vial or vessel to be tested is placed between a pair of electrodes. The gas contained within the vial or vessel is ionized by applying a high frequency, high voltage potential across the electrodes. The voltage is progressively decreased once ionization has occurred and the termination of ionization is detected by registering either the sudden drop in electrode current or the termination of light emission from the vial. The gas pressure within the vial or vessel is derived as a function of the electrode voltage at the point at which ionization terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: David John Powell
  • Patent number: 6766680
    Abstract: Improved control of continuous processes that handle liquids. Data generated by this invention is used to control gas contents of liquids within optimum ranges, for instance in paper coating processes and in the manufacture of food products (ketchup), personal care products (shampoo), paints, and in any industry where information on entrained and/or dissolved gases, and related parameters such as true density of and gas solubility in process liquids, is employed to optimize processing. The amount of gas in a liquid is determined by subjecting a mixture of an incompressible liquid sample and a compressible gas to three or more different equilibrium pressure states, measuring the temperature and volume of the mixture at each of the pressure states, determining the changes in volume of the mixture between at least two different pairs of pressure states, and calculating the amount of gas in the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Appleton Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingyuan Chen, Robert Josef Franda
  • Publication number: 20040083787
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the capability of a source container comprising liquid or solid source material to produce vaporized source material comprises extracting vaporized source material from the source container. The source container is then isolated and a property indicative of the partial pressure of the vaporized source material is then measured as a function of time. The partial pressure (or property indicative thereof) as a function of time is compared with a reference partial pressure as a function of time. An alarm is generated when the difference between the measured property (indicative of partial pressure) as a function of time and the reference property value as a function of time is larger than a predetermined property difference limit. The property can be, for example, overall pressure or source material concentration in the gas phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Niklas Bondestam
  • Patent number: 6679096
    Abstract: A method measures the concentration of the partial pressure of gases, particularly oxygen, in fluids. Know methods for measurements under rough conditions, e.g., measurement of the oxygen partial pressure in grounds, dumps or in the ground water are completely unsuitable. In the present method as described, in the internal area of a hollow vessel closed off to the outside, whose wall consists at least partially of a gas-specific permeable synthetic material that is in contact with the fluid with its external side, the partial pressure change proportional to the gas concentration is measured as a time-scanning of pressure change or as a change of a pressure-dependent physical variable. The measuring principle is very simple and is particularly suitable for the determination and long-time monitoring of the oxygen concentration and of further gases and can also be used in problematic locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventors: Detlef Lazik, Helmut Geistlinger
  • Patent number: 6652732
    Abstract: A fan flow sensor for a gas generating proton exchange member electrolysis cell includes a switching device and a sail disposed in communication with the switching device. The sail is pivotally mounted and movable in response to an airflow from a fan. The sail is further configured to actuate the switching device in response to the airflow from the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Moulthrop, Ricky S. Scott, Charles Bennet McCollough, Richard A. Dubey, Jr., A. John Speranza
  • Patent number: 6598457
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for measuring the amount of entrained gases in a liquid sample. A conduit defining a volume is provided. The conduit has an inlet at a lower end thereof and an outlet at an upper end thereof. Liquid sample is made to flow into the inlet, through the conduit, and out of the outlet. The weight of the liquid sample in the conduit is determined during a flow of liquid sample through the conduit to obtain a first measurement. Thereafter, a difference between the first measurement and a predetermined weight value representing a weight of the same liquid sample flowing through the conduit but containing no entrained gases is determined to obtain a calculated weight of entrained gases in the liquid sample flowing through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond D. Sullivan, Billy R. Landreth
  • Patent number: 6595036
    Abstract: In a volumetric gas adsorption measuring method, an initial dead volume of the sample cell and an initial dead volume of a reference cell at the same time point are preliminarily determined. When the gas adsorption on the solid sample is to be measured, a change in the dead volume of the sample cell is calculated on the basis of an internal gas with the sample cell and reference cell immersed in a pressure of the reference cell measured at this time point cryogenic fluid temperature bath, the initial dead volume of the reference cell, and an initial gas pressure of the reference cell measured at a time point of the measurement of the initial dead volume of the reference cell. Then, the initial dead volume of the sample cell preliminarily measured is corrected on the basis of the change in the dead volume of the sample cell for the calculation of the amount of the gas adsorbed on the solid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bel Japan, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Nakai
  • Publication number: 20030131652
    Abstract: Improved control of continuous processes that handle liquids. Data generated by this invention is used to control gas contents of liquids within optimum ranges, for instance in paper coating processes and in the manufacture of food products (ketchup), personal care products (shampoo), paints, and in any industry where information on entrained and/or dissolved gases, and related parameters such as true density of and gas solubility in process liquids, is employed to optimize processing. The amount of gas in a liquid is determined by subjecting a mixture of an incompressible liquid sample and a compressible gas to three or more different equilibrium pressure states, measuring the temperature and volume of the mixture at each of the pressure states, determining the changes in volume of the mixture between at least two different pairs of pressure states, and calculating the amount of gas in the liquid sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Qingyuan Chen, Robert Josef Franda
  • Patent number: 6581452
    Abstract: Volume measuring apparatus is used in a closed space as in the case of volume measurement of liquid in a container placed on an orbit of an artificial satellite and permits the volume measurement in a state without mixture with gas, liquid, or solid. A volume measuring apparatus is an apparatus for measuring the volume of liquid or solid under microgravity, which has two or more containers coupled to each other by a pipe, a device for separating or fixing a gas phase, a liquid phase, or a solid phase, a pressure fluctuation source, a pressure signal receiver, a pressure gage, and a thermometer, wherein the separating or fixing device, the pressure fluctuation source, the pressure signal receiver, the pressure gage, and the thermometer are placed in the containers and wherein the pressure fluctuation source, the pressure signal receiver, the pressure gage, and the thermometer are connected to a signal analyzing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Japan Space Forum, National Space Development Agency of Japan
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakano, Nobukazu Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6568248
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for thermodynamic analysis of a mixture of fluids, in which the volume of a sample of a given quantity of said mixture is caused to vary step by step and in monotonic manner, and the pressure of the sample is read at each step, the sample being stirred at each step so as to hasten the mixture reaching thermodynamic equilibrium. According to the invention, the sample is stirred by applying ultrasound to said sample by means of transducer (20). The sample can be contained in a bag (19) of flexible material immersed together with the transducer in a control fluid inside a rigid container (10). The invention can be used to determine the bubble point of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Guieze, Pierre Le Foll