By Abrasion, Milling, Rubbing, Or Scuffing Patents (Class 73/7)
  • Patent number: 11879874
    Abstract: A TBM-mounted surrounding rock wear resistance testing system and method, the system including: a fixing module, arranged on a TBM, the module has a movable end for extending to the surrounding rock of a tunnel; a surrounding rock polishing module on the movable end, the module includes a polishing mechanism for test area; a surrounding rock wear resistance testing module on the movable end, follows the movable end moving the test area, and including a mechanism for testing the wear resistance of the polished test area and a drive mechanism thereof; and a central control module, configured to control the motion states and operations of the fixing module, the surrounding rock polishing module and surrounding rock wear resistance testing module, and determine the wear resistance of the surrounding rock according to the wear resistance test result. The system can polish tunnel surrounding rock during TBM excavation and test wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shucai Li, Zhenhao Xu, Heng Shi, Peng Lin, Tengfei Yu, Huihui Xie, Yichi Zhang, Ruiqi Shao
  • Patent number: 11867666
    Abstract: A measuring device for detecting measuring signals during either a scanning across a surface to determine a surface profile or a penetration movement of an indenter into a surface of the specimen to determine hardness, and, scanning with sufficient force to determine the scratch resistance of the specimen is described. All of the measurements can be done on the same specimen without unmounting the specimen from a holder. A camera mounted to the same framework as the measuring device enables further documentation of the specimen being tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Helmut Fischer
  • Patent number: 11846612
    Abstract: A compact material testing system is configured to expose multiple samples housed within separate sample chambers to simulated fluid, thermal, and mechanical loading conditions. The system includes multiple independent load actuators positioned to extend actuator rods into corresponding sample chambers to apply mechanical loading to the test sample within. A fluid control system is included to bathe each test sample in a fluid medium and replenish the fluid medium within its sample chamber as needed. Each sample chamber includes a gas inlet and gas outlet to provide non-turbulent circulation and control of atmospheric composition above the fluid medium inside the chamber. A logic programmable controller is provided for input of test parameters and automated simultaneous control of mechanical loading, fluid flow, and temperature in the sample chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Oregon Health & Science University
    Inventors: Jack Ferracane, Carmem Pfeifer, Rafael Tiago Patzlaff
  • Patent number: 11774336
    Abstract: A friction and wear testing platform capable of simulating high-pressure, silt-containing and turbid submarine environment, including a tank, a loading device, a partition plate, a partition cylinder, a top sealing sleeve, a bottom sealing sleeve, a rotating shaft, an inner magnetic cylinder, an outer magnetic cylinder and a centering table. The partition plate and the partition cylinder divide an inner chamber of the tank into a test chamber and a pressure compensation chamber. The rotating shaft penetrates the pressure compensation chamber; two ends of the rotating shaft are sealed by the top and bottom sealing sleeves, respectively, as well as sealing bearings and rings therein. The loading device drives the rotating shaft to rotate, and the rotating shaft drives the inner magnetic cylinder to rotate. The centering table is driven through the magnetic coupling between the inner and outer magnetic cylinders to install a test piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HUNAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yongping Jin, Zhaodong Tong, Buyan Wan
  • Patent number: 11731058
    Abstract: A ride system includes a base, a ride vehicle, a platform assembly positioned between the base and the ride vehicle, and an extension mechanism coupled to the platform assembly and positioned between the base and the ride vehicle. The platform assembly includes a first platform, a second platform, and six legs extending between the first platform and the second platform, and the platform assembly is configured to actuate each of the six legs so as to move the first platform relative to the second platform in different configurations based on which of the six legs is actuated. The extension mechanism is configured to extend and contract so as to move the ride vehicle away from and toward, respectively, the base of the ride system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Blum, Steven King
  • Patent number: 11709117
    Abstract: A method and an assembly for testing a shipping package are described. The assembly includes a scuff test sub-assembly, a belt burn test sub-assembly, and multiple conveyors positioned between to the sub-assemblies to convey a shipping package through the assembly. The scuff test sub-assembly includes an inclined plane and multiple objects which extend outward from the inclined plane. The belt burn test sub-assembly includes a plate that moves over a portion of one of the conveyors. The plate moves between a first position which obstructs movement of the shipping package but permits movement of the one of the conveyors relative to the shipping package and a second position where movement of the shipping package along the conveyor is not obstructed. At least two of the conveyors meet at a junction to change an orientation of the shipping package as the shipping package is conveyed across the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
    Inventor: Yongquan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11583865
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for more efficient utilization of comminution mills. Sensors are provided in the liners placed within the mill shell. The sensors may include RFID tags, liner wear profile sensors (e.g., such as an ultrasonic sensor), an inertial sensor (preferably included both an inclinometer and an accelerometer, and an acoustic sensor, among others. When the liners are installed in the shell, the RFID tag is used to register the location of the liner within the shell. In operation, the information provided by the sensors is collected by a data transmission unit and sent by transmitter over the air to a computer having an antenna and receiver for such data. The data is correlated and a processor generates data for display in regions on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAÑÍA ELECTRO METALÚRGICA S.A.
    Inventors: Amit Saxena, Jason S. Melville, Ariel Medina
  • Patent number: 11408471
    Abstract: A wear debris collection device includes a rotation body that is connected to a rotation shaft and performs rotating movement in accordance with rotation of the rotation shaft, a braking member that brakes the rotating movement of the rotation body, a hood covering the rotation body and the braking member and to prevent dust from entering from outside, a blower that blows air into the hood, a collection apparatus that suctions air in the hood and collects wear debris of the braking member contained in the air, and an air pressure adjuster that measures air pressure in the hood and external air pressure and adjusts an air quantity of at least one of the blower and the collection apparatus so that the air pressure in the hood equals the external air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigetomo Suzuki, Taro Matsuda, Hidehiko Nakagawa, Yasuko Yamazaki, Atsushi Ueno, Ayumu Okunari
  • Patent number: 11333592
    Abstract: Provided is a rubber wear testing device including a holding portion for holding a test sample of rubber, and a compression bonding mechanism for applying an additional force oriented to a circular circumferential surface of a rotation body rotating such that the test sample is pressed to the circular circumferential surface at a predetermined fixed position and the movement of the test sample in a direction opposite to the additional force is always allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Susumu Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11154244
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus that is automated to measure controlled and applied forces to sport surfaces allowing for safety assessment of athletic apparel and athletic surfaces, such as natural or artificial turf. The apparatus is capable of using not only horizontal and vertical forces, but also rotational moments, and all prescribed forces and moments in combination at the same or different times. The apparatus and related system can apply horizontal and vertical forces, and rotational moments, and link these forces and moments together and combine them to more closely mimic behavior of human foot during an athletic movement, thereby applying and measuring interactions between all forces and moments at the same or different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: BioCore LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Crandall, Richard Kent, Edward Meade Spratley, Jared Yoder, Thomas Cisneros, Philipe Aldahir, Jeff Lipari
  • Patent number: 10989641
    Abstract: Provided is a rubber wear resistance evaluation method including compressing and bonding a test sample of rubber with additional force to a circular circumferential surface of a rotation body rotated by a drive motor at a predetermined fixed position, holding the test sample in a state where movement of the test sample in a direction opposite to the addition force is always allowed, performing a wear test in which the test sample is worn, and using, at the time of evaluating wear resistance, an index based on at least one item out of two items including power required for driving and rotating the drive motor and a temperature of the test sample during the wear test, in addition to an amount of wear of the test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Susumu Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 10983037
    Abstract: A synthetic turf testing apparatus includes a test element, wherein the test element has a contact surface for contacting a synthetic turf surface, wherein the test element includes a temperature sensor for measuring a time dependent surface temperature of the contact surface; a pedestal attached to the test element, wherein the pedestal is configured for applying force to the test element; a carriage for translating the pedestal along a translational path; a guide structure for supporting the carriage and guiding the carriage along the translational path; and an actuator for moving the carriage relative to the guide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH, Labosport International
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Bernd Jansen, Ivo Lohr, Dirk Sander, Pascal Haxaire, Loïc Dreau, Roberto Armeni, Aurelien Le Blan
  • Patent number: 10976237
    Abstract: A shoe traction testing and measuring device, comprising a base frame, a rear leg assembly, a front leg assembly, a hip joint, and a piston. The piston is connected to the base frame and the rear leg assembly. A lower portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to the base frame and an upper portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to an upper portion of the front leg assembly at the hip joint. The front leg assembly comprises an articulating ankle and a replica foot, which is configured to don a shoe to be tested. When the piston actuates forward, the upper portion of the rear leg assembly tilts forward, which causes the front leg assembly to move forward and downward, simulating a step of a human, which causes the shoe on the replica foot to contact a force plate or a surface that is on top of the force plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Heeluxe, LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey Gray
  • Patent number: 10948085
    Abstract: A secondary seal support template gauge, for determining whether a secondary seal support 50 is distorted, includes a plate, rectangular downward projections, and a rectangular finger. The plate has a first end and a second end, and has apertures that correspond to protruding screws of the secondary seal support. There are preferably two pairs of rectangular downward projections attached to the plate. The two pairs of rectangular downward projections are juxtapositioned such that, in operation, each pair of rectangular downward projections grip the secondary seal support and center the template gauge on the secondary seal support and each protruding screw enters an aperture when the secondary seal support is undistorted. The rectangular finger disposed on the second end of the plate such that, in operation, the finger can enter the support slot when the secondary seal support is undistorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jan Herzog, Loyd Broom
  • Patent number: 10846952
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring wheel hub temperatures and odometry in trailer axles. The system includes a spindle (118), an inner bearing (114), an outer bearing (116), a wheel hub (106) engaging the spindle (118) via the inner and outer bearings (114, 116), a thermocouple (108) positioned within the spindle (118), and an electronic control unit (112). The electronic control unit (112) is electrically coupled to the thermocouple (108) and configured to receive from the thermocouple (108), a temperature signal. The electronic control unit (112) is configured to determine, from the temperature signal, a temperature. The electronic control unit (112) is configured to compare the temperature to a predetermined threshold. The electronic control unit (112) is configured to, when the temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold, indicate a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Roder, Trevor P. Hunt, Daniel S. Maitlen, Travis D. Hunt
  • Patent number: 10761070
    Abstract: A flow controller including a flow channel resistance disposed in a carrier gas supply flow channel, a control valve, pressure detecting portion 22 and a pressure difference detecting portion, a storage part storing a first calibration curve indicating a correlation between a pressure difference ?p and a total flow volume ftemp1 at the first set supply pressure Pin, ref1 and a second calibration curve indicating a correlation between a pressure difference ?p and the total flow volume ftemp2 at a second set supply pressure Pin,ref2 larger than the first set supply pressure Pin,ref1 is provided. A total flow volume f of the carrier gas is calculated based on the supply pressure pin detected by the pressure detecting portion, pressure difference ?p information detected by the pressure difference detecting portion, the first calibration curve and the second calibration curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Masuda, Kiyonori Koga, Daiki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10760634
    Abstract: A brake pad apparatus having a conductivity sensor disposed thereon operable to generate conductivity data corresponding to the remaining thickness of the brake pad's friction lining. The conductivity data may be analyzed by a processor to estimate the remaining life of the brake pad for purposes of maintenance, diagnostic, or repair. The conductivity sensor may utilize a conductivity probe that comprises one or more insulation coatings to insulate conductive material from the friction lining. The brake pad apparatus may further comprise a wireless transmitter to transmit data to a processor external to the brake pad apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: Robert Bosch LLC, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hamidreza Mohseni, Mark Phipps
  • Patent number: 10690576
    Abstract: An experiment device for aiding in measuring abrasion of a conveyer, and a method for detecting abrasion of a conveyer, are provided. The device includes a rack, a reciprocation sliding mechanism, a speed adjusting mechanism and a crankshaft. The reciprocation sliding mechanism can include scrapers and scraper chains, and the scraper chains can be arranged between an upper-layer scraper and a lower-layer scraper. The speed adjusting mechanism can include a motor, a friction driving wheel and a friction driven wheel, and the motor is connected with the friction driving wheel through a motor shaft. The friction driving wheel slides on a shaft in an axial direction, and speed adjustment can be achieved by changing the distance between the centers of the friction driving wheel and the friction driven wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TAIYUAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Junxia Li, Ziming Kou, Yuan Wang, Qipeng Ma, Xiaobing Yang, Tenglong Hou, Bin Feng, Jixin Wang
  • Patent number: 10688618
    Abstract: A part comprising a one or more removable wear indicators is provided. The part may be a stator segment comprising a plurality of airfoils. The stator segment may also comprise one or more mock airfoils at each end of the stator segment. Each of the mock airfoils may comprise an indicator configured to wear during a polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Micah Beckman, David Masiukiewicz, Edward Marchitto, Daniel Livchitz
  • Patent number: 10662766
    Abstract: A dynamic testing system for sealing devices includes a shaft that is reciprocated in a bore through a body. The shaft includes a first seal assembly and a second seal assembly disposed a distance apart on the shaft. When the shaft is inserted into the bore, the first seal assembly and the second seal assembly form a fluid-tight seal between the external surface of the shaft and the internal surface of the bore—this forms a fluid-tight cavity between the seal assemblies. Sealing devices in each of the first seal assembly and the second seal assembly experience chemical attack and mechanical wear. One or more axial force measurement sensors measure the force applied by a prime mover to reciprocate the shaft within the bore. Data acquisition circuitry collects the force information and generates a graphical output that plots friction force against reciprocating cycle count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Nigil Satish Jeyashekar, Peter Mark Lee
  • Patent number: 10655306
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting heavy machine wear. One system includes a heavy machine tooth of an industrial machine having a working end and a mounting end opposite the working end. The system also includes a wear indicator included in the tooth. The wear indicator includes a conductive tip, a conductive outer body extending along at least a length of the tooth, a conductive inner core positioned within the outer body, and insulating material positioned between the outer body and the inner core. The conductive tip is positioned between the working end of the tooth and the outer body and electrically couples the outer body and the inner core to form an electric circuit. The system also includes a transmitter included in the tooth. The transmitter transmits a state of the electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc
    Inventors: Keith Pomerenke, Richard Nicoson, James R. Popp, Daniel Schlegel
  • Patent number: 10607635
    Abstract: A module according to one embodiment includes a body having a tape bearing surface, and a coating on the tape bearing surface. The module is nonfunctional for reading and writing. The module is useful for abrasiveness testing of magnetic recording tapes and/or coating wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Jason Liang, Calvin S. Lo
  • Patent number: 10578177
    Abstract: Provided is a device for detecting thickness of a brake pad, comprising a support body, a conducting wire or a resistor body, further comprising a conducting wire provided outside the support body, and possibly further comprising a resistor, some or all of the conducting wire, resistor body, and resistor are connected to form a circuit in a certain structure, and the conducting wire or the resistor body on the support body is rubbed together with the brake pad within a certain thickness range of the brake pad. By the present invention, the range of the thickness dimension of the brake pad can be determined, or the thickness dimension of the brake pad can be continuously reflected within a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TONGREN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wei Huang, Wei Shi, Senlin Leng, Renhui Zhang, Yu Long, Jingjing Jiang, Lei Guo, Yingchang Yang, Qiang Wang, Shuai Huang
  • Patent number: 10570703
    Abstract: System and methods for monitoring casing wear for a well during a drilling operation are provided. Casing design parameters for a planned well are determined during a planning phase of the drilling operation. A wear factor along a length of the planned well is computed based on the casing design parameters. A casing wear map is generated based on the computed wear factor along the length of the planned well relative to one or more of the casing design parameters. The generated casing wear map is visualized via a display of a computing device. The visualized casing wear map enables a user of the computing device to estimate casing wear for the planned well and determine an appropriate casing design for the planned well based on the estimated casing wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robello Samuel, Aniket Aniket
  • Patent number: 10531968
    Abstract: A prosthetic limb test fixture is configured to mimic a human stride. An electronic management system can control the test fixture to follow the position and pattern of a particular selected gait cycle during testing. A proposed prosthesis can be attached to the test fixture. Sensor data collected during testing can be evaluated to determine whether the proposed prosthesis is likely to appropriately fit an amputee patient. Iterative adjustments may be made to the prosthesis based on test data in order to maximize the likelihood of a good fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Joseph Coggins
  • Patent number: 10450825
    Abstract: A technique includes determining a streamline field in a geologic region that contains a wellbore, based at least in part on a reservoir model of the region. The streamline field includes streamlines that intersect a fluid contact of interest in the region and intersect the wellbore. The technique includes determining arrival times at points along the wellbore associated with the fluid contact boundary of interest based at least in part on fluid travel for the boundary being constrained to occur along the streamlines; and determining partitions associated with isolated completion zones based at least in part on the determined arrival times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vadim Blekhman, Kim Fah Goh
  • Patent number: 10303842
    Abstract: A product testing assembly is described. The product testing assembly may include a substrate, at least one measuring device, and at least one data processing system. The substrate has at least one surface configured to receive an application of a product to be tested. The at least one measuring device is configured to sense measured quantities as product is applied to the substrate and output one or more signals representative of a sequence of forces and/or moments being applied to the surface of the substrate by the application of the product to be tested. The at least one data processing system has one or more processors configured to receive the one or more signals representative of the sequence of forces and/or moments being applied to the surface of the substrate, and to convert the one or more signals into an output signal representative of one or more application performance characteristics of the product to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hercules LLC
    Inventors: Konstantin Abraham Vaynberg, Jennifer M. Buckley, Matthew Reuben Durst, Brian Owens, Stephen James Weathers, Daniel Appel Wilkins
  • Patent number: 10267717
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the anti-wear nature of a surface of given article to test the article or coating thereon for wear and abrasion resistance. A selected abrasive paper strip or tape is pulled under controlled tension from a first feed reel which can control tension on the strip onto another second reel controlled at a selected speed and torque. The test part apparatus is capable of repetitive cycles. For example, a test cycle process may include the steps of pushing a finger probe against the moving selected abrasive paper in contact with a the test sample surface having a selected surface area, holding the finger probe against the paper which between the finger probe and surface of the article for a selected time and distance, and removing the finger probe pressure from the paper and the test article surface. The number of cycles required to wear through the coating on the sample is recorded and compared to other test samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Scott H Norman
  • Patent number: 10161840
    Abstract: A device for evaluating working surface fretting wear characteristics comprises a bottom holder with a sample secured thereto, springs displacing in the X and Y direction, multilayer piezo elements moving in the X, Y, and Z directions, a housing, a top plate/holder, a linear air bearing housing, a spherical upper sample, a linear air bearing shaft, a three-way force sensor, a moving support of the flat air bearing and the flat air bearing housing, a high frequency generator, an amplifier, a controller, an electrical filter, a computer, a force sensor signal amplifier, and a flat air bearing. Instead of springs, it can comprise additional multilayer piezo elements moving in the X and Y directions. The device performs testing surface wear under conditions nearer to actual fretting wear conditions, continuously observing friction pair condition changes during testing and evaluating wear characteristics of the tested material more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Aleksandras Stulginskis University
    Inventors: Juozas Padgurskas, Albinas Andriusis, Ramutis Bansevicius, Algimantas Bubulis, Vytautas Jurenas, Audrius Zunda
  • Patent number: 10145782
    Abstract: The mechanical testing apparatus comprises a wheel and a platform. The wheel is configured to hold a first specimen and rotate relative to a second specimen to apply torque to the second specimen using the first specimen. The platform is biased towards the wheel and configured to hold the second specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Timothy John Franklin Luchini
  • Patent number: 10126281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe device for analyzing physical properties of food, having a teeth form, and more specifically, to a probe device for analyzing physical properties of food, having a teeth form, capable of objectively analyzing various physical properties felt by a person when chewing food, selecting and using a probe corresponding to a molar, a front tooth or a canine tooth, allowing a vertical motion of a press to be interlocked with a motion of the jaw joint, and allowing chewing experiments similar to real chewing of the human body to be carried out by enabling smooth occlusion of the upper jaw and the lower jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA FOOD RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Dong June Park, Dong Man Kim, Chang Ho Lee, Yong Gi Chun, Ah Ra Cho, Kook Nam Pyun
  • Patent number: 10041869
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to wear measurement. A system according to one embodiment includes a transport mechanism for running a tape across a wear structure and a measuring device for optically measuring an extent of wear of the wear structure by directly optically detecting a back of the tape. A method according to one embodiment includes positioning a tape across a wear structure and optically determining a first position of a back of the tape by directly optically detecting the back of the tape. The tape is rim across the wear structure for a period of time, and a second position of the back of the tape is optically determined by directly optically detecting the back of the tape after the period of time. A difference between the first and second positions is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Jason Liang
  • Patent number: 9801461
    Abstract: The electric toothbrush holder for laboratory use is a holder for the testing of dental appliances. The electric toothbrush holder for laboratory use includes a base having opposed upper and lower surfaces. A sample receptacle is mounted on the upper surface of the base and defines an open interior region for removably receiving a dental sample. At least one support is mounted on the upper surface of the base for releasably supporting a gripping portion of an electric toothbrush. At least one bracket is pivotally secured to the at least one support for releasably securing the gripping portion of the electric toothbrush to the at least one support. In use, the gripping portion of the electric toothbrush is releasably secured to the at least one support such that bristles of a head portion thereof contact the dental sample received within the sample receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Afnan Fouzan Alfouzan
  • Patent number: 9400171
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes first and second parts having outer surfaces located adjacent to each other to create an interface where wear occurs. A wear probe is provided for monitoring wear of the outer surface of the first part, and includes an optical guide having first and second ends, wherein the first end is configured to be located flush with the outer surface of the first part. A fiber bundle includes first and second ends, the first end being located proximate to the second end of the optical guide. The fiber bundle includes a transmit fiber bundle comprising a first plurality of optical fibers coupled to a light source, and a receive fiber bundle coupled to a light detector and configured to detect reflected light. A processor is configured to determine a length of the optical guide based on the detected reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Getnet S. Kidane, Upul P. Desilva, Chengli He, Nancy H. Ulerich
  • Patent number: 9389442
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an array substrate comprising a structure to be detected disposed on a base substrate. An additional layer for detecting the structure to be detected is broken is disposed below the structure to be detected. The additional layer has a color different from that of the structure to be detected and a same pattern shape as that of the structure to be detected. The present disclosure also provides a detecting method and detecting apparatus of the array substrate described above. According to the array substrate, the detecting method and the detecting apparatus of the present disclosure, an early detection of the breakage defect occurred during the fabrication process of the array substrate can be achieved so as to discover and eliminate those defects as early as possible, which improves throughput and yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinyou Ji, Jian Guo
  • Patent number: 9310244
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer metrology technique which corrects for the effect of electrostatic forces on an atmospheric buoyancy compensated weight force measurement of a semiconductor wafer. In one aspect a wafer is weighed in a faraday cage whose is measured independently. A change in the measured weight of the faraday cage can be used to correct the measure weight the wafer. In another aspect a direct electrostatic measurement can be converted into a weight correction using a predetermined correlation between an electrostatic charge measured by the charge meter and a weight error force. In another aspect the electrostatic measurement may be indirect, e.g. derived from varying the distance between the wafer and a grounded plate parallel to the wafer to effect a change in an electrostatic force between the grounded plate and the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: METRYX LIMITED
    Inventor: Robert John Wilby
  • Patent number: 9228623
    Abstract: A wear distance sensor detects wear distance of a brake pad, in particular of a friction brake, and includes a housing having a friction side and a connecting side and a probe having two electrical conductor elements in combination with at least one electrical resistance element. Two dimensions of the resistance element are not constant depending on the wear distance. A third dimension of the resistance element, which has a three-dimensional design, is not constant depending on the wear distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Eichler
  • Patent number: 9170237
    Abstract: A floor test apparatus is provided, including a base having an upper surface and defining an output shaft opening, a frame disposed in the base, having a main vertically projecting channel in communication with a supplemental, generally horizontally projecting channel having an access opening in a sidewall of the base. A main drive shaft passes through the supplemental channel and being coupled to a gearbox disposed in the main channel. A secondary shaft projects generally from the gearbox and is connected for common rotation with the main drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Cavaliero, Robert Peddle
  • Patent number: 9134214
    Abstract: A device to measure the influence of friction force on wear characteristics of a material surface comprises a case with a cover. A moveable element (MFE) of a friction pair is fixed on a shaft installed in the case or is made flat. A holder of another, pressed, element of the friction pair (NMFE) and a clamp which applies a regulated load on the NMFE holder are attached to the cover. The NMFE is fixed to a NMFE holder installed using separate piezo sensors for pressing force and friction force in a sensor holder, which is installed using two pairs of lateral piezo actuators and their preload devices in an actuator holder, which is installed using two pairs of horizontal piezo actuators and their preload devices in the holder, which is installed in the cover of the device with membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventors: Juozas Padgurskas, Albinas Andriusis
  • Patent number: 9116079
    Abstract: A text fixture apparatus for testing structures with a compression testing machine. The test fixture apparatus includes a support plate assembly and a load plate assembly. The support plate assembly includes two parallel support plates and has sloped surfaces to support a first and second structures and angles of equal magnitude and opposite slope. The load plate assembly is configured to oppose the support plate assembly, includes at least one load plate, and allows the load plate assembly to apply a load to the structures in response force on the support plate assembly, load plate assembly, or a combination thereof in a direction other than perpendicular to the sloped surfaces. A vertical force applied by the assemblies results in substantially equal and opposite horizontal components of force on the first structure and the second structure. Methods of testing and of making the apparatus are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ABT, INC.
    Inventor: Charles E. Gunter
  • Publication number: 20150107329
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. The apparatus includes a controller that diagnoses piston wear by driving the pump to achieve a predetermined pressure, stopping the pump with the piston in a home position, and measuring pressure at a preselected time interval after the step of stopping the pump. The amount of piston wear is approximated based on a difference between the predetermined pressure and the measured pressure at the predetermined time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Lincoln Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Paul G. Conley, Nathan D. Donovan
  • Publication number: 20150101391
    Abstract: The present wear limit determining gauge is a wear limit determining gauge to be used in determining whether or not a wear loss of a track-related component of a tracked vehicle exceeds a predetermined amount, and includes a main body formed in a plate shape, a contact surface and a wear limit determining part. The contact surface is located on an end of the main body, and makes contact with a reference surface serving as a reference in determining the wear loss of the component. The wear limit determining part is disposed on a worn side of the component while the contact surface is contacted to the reference surface, and includes first, second and third determining portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Naoaki Kita, Hitoshi Fujisaki
  • Publication number: 20150093059
    Abstract: A bearing can include a ball member, a race, and a liner located on an interior surface of the race, the liner having a first surface bonded to an interior surface of the race, the liner having a second surface that is adjacent to the ball member. The bearing also includes a wafer having a wear surface that is aligned with the second surface of the liner, the wafer being an electrically conductive member. Operational wear of the liner can be calculated by comparing a measured resistance of the wafer to an original known resistance of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Hunter J. Davis
  • Patent number: 8991244
    Abstract: A testing device for checking the quality of a paint or lacquer layer includes at least one friction element moving device. To prevent an impression on a test region, the friction element moving device is configured to (i) initially move at least one friction element in frictional contact along a defined path, e.g., a circular path, over a test region of a paint or lacquer layer, and (ii) subsequently eliminate the frictional contact between the friction element and the test region during the movement of the friction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rafael Küster, Olaf Eistert, Tobias Burk, Roland Emmerich
  • Publication number: 20150086334
    Abstract: A device and method for precise measurement of erosion of compressors, without removing an engine, and with easy positioning. A centrifugal compressor of a gas turbine with a radial air inlet includes an impeller including blades and a casing for an air stream to flow in the blades of the impeller. The casing, covered with an abradable coating, includes an annular elbow zone in a substantially median part. Marking depressions of predetermined depths, preferably in groups, are machined in the abradable coating of the zone. Examinations by endoscopy are successively performed to provide an image signal of the markers. Processing the endoscopic signal supplies a number of remaining markers and a criterion for decision on removing the engine is applied thereto. Erosion occurs in the elbow of the casing and evolution thereof may enable monitoring of erosion of other components of the compressor, in particular the blades of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Paul-Etienne Jactat, Pascal Lebrusq, Jerome Sarramea, Lionel Scuiller
  • Publication number: 20150075252
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and techniques for determining wear abrasion resistance of superhard components, such as cutters used in down-hole drilling tools. The methods and techniques provided herein produce an efficiency ratio of a superhard component through data obtained from a vertical turret lathe test. The efficiency ratio is the ratio between the volume of a target cylinder removed by the superhard component during the vertical turret lathe test and the normal force applied onto the superhard component by the target cylinder. The efficiency ratio is indicative of the energy efficiency of the superhard component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., L.P.
    Inventors: Federico Bellin, Vamsee Chintamaneni
  • Publication number: 20150007633
    Abstract: An undercarriage wear measurement tool includes a housing with an elongated passage. A sleeve is attached to the proximal end of the housing for centering over a component, such as, a bolt head therewith and includes a fastener magnet for attaching to a metal component. The undercarriage wear measurement tool includes an elongated measurement pin slidably disposed within the elongated passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Donald Manuel
  • Patent number: 8915117
    Abstract: Intrinsically calibrating friction mensuration device has a drive unit with controllable motive member, configured to receive a controllable propulsion force, and to apply tractive force to a test piece on a surface. A force engine couples to the motive member, and applies the controllable propulsion force. The device includes a controller imposing a propulsion control signal actuating the force engine to produce the propulsion force. A force sensor is between the drive unit and the test piece, producing a force signal responsive to a sensed force between the drive unit and the test piece. The drive unit can self-propelled or stationary. A method includes applying an increasing tractive force to a test piece at rest; measuring the tractive force; identifying the maximum tractive force applied at incipient motion; identifying the transition between the resting test piece and incipient motion; determining the SCOF; continuing motion; and determining the DCOF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventor: Fred M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140360247
    Abstract: Method for producing an extrusion die having a functional surface for metal extrusion material, comprising the following steps: providing a die support body, depositing a weldable substance containing cobalt and/or nickel onto a subsection of the die support body by means of an effective bonding application process to produce an inseparable deposition layer, machining the deposition layer in a chipping and/or material removal process to form the functional surface of the extrusion die, and carrying out a CVD coating process with a reaction gas at least on the functional surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Oliver Maier, Joachim Maier
  • Patent number: 8833136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary-drum hydraulic-impact abrasion testing machine, which is used to process an abrasion test and a damage simulation for a plurality of hydraulics structures and comprises: a rotary-drum supporting framework, a rotary-drum and a plurality of sample fixing assembly. The sample fixing assembly at least comprises a housing, a first spacer and a plurality of first studs. In which, there are a plurality of sample openings formed on the side wall of the rotary-drum for respectively accommodating the hydraulics structure samples, and each sample opening is disposed with a long blocking plate and a short blocking plate on the two sides thereof. In the present invention, the rotary-drum hydraulic-impact abrasion testing machine is used to simultaneously execute the abrasion test and the damage simulation for multi hydraulics structures precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ta-Peng Chang, Chih-Yen Lin, Kuo-Hua Lee, Tzong-Ruey Yang