Patents Assigned to ADS, LLC
  • Patent number: 11029190
    Abstract: A velocity sensor and housing therefore, the velocity sensor provides a measurement of the velocity in a sewer manhole or chamber. The velocity sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer that emits a signal to measure the liquid below and may use an additional transducer or it is used by itself to detect the signal reflected from the surface. A parabolic reflector is designed and arranged to direct the emitted ultrasonic signal from the transducer to the surface with a linear beam while minimizing the beam spread. The return echo may either be measured directly or with the same transducer that was used to transmit the ultrasonic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: James S. Schutzbach
  • Publication number: 20210088369
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for detecting the presence or formation of a blockage in a sewer system using a machine learning (ML) model. The ML model may be trained using a supervised learning method; and may be used to analyze various inputs from a sewer system to automatically sense developing sewer blockages. The systems and techniques described herein may also indicate the type of blockage that is forming, such as silt accumulation; sediment buildup; ragging; root intrusion; fats, oils, and grease (FOG), etc.) prior to a full blockage to allow preventative cleaning operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Redmond
  • Patent number: 10648847
    Abstract: A level sensor and housing therefor, the level sensor provides a measurement of the depth in a sewer manhole or chamber. The level sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer that emits a signal to measure the liquid below and may use an additional transducer or it is used by itself to detect the signal reflected from the surface. A parabolic reflector is designed and arranged to direct the emitted ultrasonic signal from the transducer to the surface with a linear beam while minimizing the beam spread. The return echo may either be measured directly or with the same transducer that was used to transmit the ultrasonic signal. The narrow ultrasonic beam with limited spread will allow measuring level in a sewer manhole or confined chamber or any sewer where the level is measured close to a vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: James S. Schutzbach
  • Patent number: 8627843
    Abstract: A gate valve is disclosed that may be installed in a pressurized pipe or conduit. The gate valve includes a cylindrical gate housing that has a slot through which a rectangular gate slides between an open and closed position. The gate and gate housing provide seals between the gate valve and the housing section that houses the gate housing when the gate valve is in either an open or a closed position. The bottom seal that engages the pressurized pipe may be equipped with stiffening shields for a higher pressure rating. The operating torque to raise and lower the seal assembly has been substantially reduced by the design of the sliding gate within the gate housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Brian J. Ries
  • Publication number: 20130319542
    Abstract: A gate valve is disclosed that may be installed in a pressurized pipe or conduit. The gate valve includes a cylindrical gate housing that has a slot through which a rectangular gate slides between an open and closed position. The gate and gate housing provide seals between the gate valve and the housing section that houses the gate housing when the gate valve is in either an open or a closed position. The bottom seal that engages the pressurized pipe may be equipped with stiffening shields for a higher pressure rating. The operating torque to raise and lower the seal assembly has been substantially reduced by the design of the sliding gate within the gate housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Brian J. Ries
  • Patent number: 8215183
    Abstract: A system and method for measurement of flow parameters in a sewer pipe that may be partially or completely filled. Flow parameters may include flow velocity, flow volume, depth of flow and surcharge pressure. Measurements are taken from a sensor head installed on the inside of the pipe at the top of the pipe approximately the larger of at least 1 foot or 1 pipe diameter upstream of a pipe opening. Flow velocity may be measured by two different technologies. The technology employed depends on whether or not the pipe is full. If the pipe is not full then flow velocity may be measured, for example, using a wide beam, ultrasonic, diagonally downward looking Doppler signal that interacts with the surface of the flow. If the pipe is full, then flow velocity may be measured using, for example, an average velocity Doppler sensor, a peak velocity Doppler sensor or an ultrasonic velocity profiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Alan M. Petroff
  • Patent number: 8037629
    Abstract: A display mounting kit, system, and method are disclosed utilizing first and second primary releasable attachment elements that are secured about the periphery of a display panel and in a substantially corresponding relationship on a mounting surface, respectively. At least one supplementary fastening element having a stiff core and first and second substantially planar surfaces for respective engagement with the display panel and the mounting surface provides secure mounting between the display panel and the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Truck Ads, LLC
    Inventor: Rod Harris
  • Patent number: 8037631
    Abstract: A display mounting kit, system, and method are disclosed utilizing first and second primary releasable attachment elements that are secured about the periphery of a display panel and in a substantially corresponding relationship on a mounting surface, respectively. At least one supplementary fastening element having two interlocking component pieces for selective engagement with each other provides secure mounting between the display panel and the mounting surface. The at least one supplementary fastening element can also be utilized as a stand-alone primary fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Truck Ads, LLC
    Inventor: Rod Harris
  • Patent number: 7672797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for measurement of flow velocity using the transmission of a sequence of coherent pulsed ultrasonic signals into the flow, and sampling the received response signal at a predetermined delay time relative to the pulse transmission that does not correspond to the signal transmission time. The sampling may be coherent with a frequency offset from the coherency frequency of the pulses. The received signal samples are then spectrally processed, typically by a Fourier process, to generate a frequency domain data set. A threshold technique is used on the frequency domain data set to determine a peak Doppler shift. Average velocity is then obtained by multiplying the peak Doppler shift by a factor, for example, 0.90. In one embodiment, the transmit pulse and receive samples are interleaved by alternating between transmitting a pulse and, after a delay, sampling the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Alan M. Petroff
  • Patent number: 7424374
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer system determines a first flow velocity at a first location and a second flow velocity at a second location. Using a processor, the travel time between the two locations is determined using only the flow velocities and a constant. The travel time may then be used to provide a substantially accurate determination of net flow between the two locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ADS, LLC
    Inventors: James S. Schutzbach, Patrick L. Stevens