Patents Assigned to Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Québec
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Patent number: 9248711Abstract: A safety system for containment of explosion when servicing a tire mounted on a rim includes an enclosure capable of receiving the tire and provided with openings to allow passage of air upon tire explosion, and a support device attached to the enclosure for contacting the tire to secure thereof in a servicing position within the enclosure and without contacting the rim. The system also includes a first energy absorbing unit attached to and located within the enclosure to face a first rim side and capable of substantially absorb kinetic energy of first rim parts ejected upon tire explosion. The system further includes a second energy absorbing unit attached to and located within the enclosure to face a second rim side and capable of substantially absorb kinetic energy of second rim parts and any portion of the tire ejected upon tire explosion.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventors: Sylvain Bilodeau, Jean-Claude Ouellet, Denis Hotte, Bertrand Maheux
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Patent number: 9120188Abstract: A rotary tool (11) for use with a rotary driving unit (12) for inserting a component (14,14?,14?) through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, includes a tool body (22) having a working end (24) defining a shoulder portion (26) and a securing device (28,28?) for selectively engaging the component to impart rotation thereof in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The shoulder portion is provided with a deburring device (34) capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body (22) in the first rotation direction (30), to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction (30?), to provide deburring of the workpiece surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventor: Denis Hotte
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Patent number: 8943783Abstract: A system and method for handling wicket bags involve a wicket bag holder for transporting wicket bags to a working position along a transport path, the bag holder including one or more holding devices each being operable between an open position allowing receipt of an upper tab of the wicket bag and a closed position whereby the bag is held suspended within a working zone. Also involved are one or more main gripping devices each being operable between an open position allowing receipt of a suspended wicket bag and a closed position whereby the bag is gripped to form a bag neck portion. The system and method may be used for bag filling applications.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du QuebecInventors: Jean-Claude Ouellet, Sylvain Bilodeau, Olivier Marcotte, Denis Lépine, Nicolas Deschênes, Denis Hotte, Bertrand Maheux
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Publication number: 20140356931Abstract: Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicants: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBEC, INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUEInventors: Yann LE BIHAN, Marc DAIGLE, Paul GRENIER, Marc LEVESQUE
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Publication number: 20140307119Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filtering noise of low frequency from an image of the surface characteristics of an object expressed with reference to orthogonal first and second axis and obtained with linear light scanning, involve calculating a difference between pixel values of an image column vector along the second axis adjacent a selected reference image column vector and respective pixel values of the selected reference image column vector to obtain a pixel difference vector. The pixel difference values not mainly associated with a corresponding atypical change of surface characteristics as compared with noise are then selected, and a mean value from the selected pixel difference values are calculated as an estimated value of the noise. The estimated noise value are subtracted from the adjacent image column vector to obtain a corrected image column vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventors: Richard GAGNON, Jean-Pierre COUTURIER
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Publication number: 20140215797Abstract: A method for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material uses friction-induced plasticity of the latter to attach the component to the workpiece. The component includes a head portion having a base and a working end being threaded, and an insert portion having a penetrating end and provided with a threaded bore closed at its penetrating end, to initially receive the threaded working end. The outer surface of the insert portion being made of a second material harder than the first material, a rotary tool can be used to insert the component through the workpiece surface, by rotating the rotary tool in a first direction while applying an axial force onto the head portion base to produce substantially full insertion of the insert portion, and by maintaining the axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce the attachment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventor: Denis Hotte
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Publication number: 20140218504Abstract: An apparatus and a method for scanning a surface of an article such as a wooden piece transported along a travel path axis, are capable of generating two complementary color image frames representing the surface of the article in an efficient way. While the sensing field of an imaging sensor is directed transversely toward the travel path axis, a first linear-shaped light beam characterized by a first wavelength is directed toward the scanning zone to form a first reflected line onto the article surface. A second linear-shaped light beam characterized by a second wavelength is directed toward the scanning zone to form a second reflected line onto the article surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventors: Jean-Pierre COUTURIER, Richard GAGNON, Gregory DORVAL
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Publication number: 20140219740Abstract: A component for use with a rotary tool is designed to be inserted through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material showing friction-induced plasticity for attachment to the workpiece. The component has a head portion having a base and a working end being threaded at its outer surface, and further has an insert portion having a penetrating end and extending along an insertion axis. At least an outer surface of the insert portion is made of a second material harder than the first material. The insert portion is provided with a threaded bore closed at its penetrating end and extending along the insertion axis to initially receive the threaded working end.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventor: Denis Hotte
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Patent number: 8723945Abstract: An optical apparatus and method for simultaneously scanning the profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article such as a wooden board moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane transverse to the travel path axis, involve first and second scanning zones sufficiently spaced one with another along the travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between the profile sensors used, while providing a compact arrangement of profile sensors. For so doing, one the first sensing field and the first laser beam of the first profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the first sensing field and the first laser beam, and one the second sensing field and the second laser beam of the second profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the second sensing field and the second laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du QuebecInventor: Denis Lessard
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Patent number: 8708628Abstract: A component for use with a rotary tool and to be inserted through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, is rotated in a first direction while an axial force of a sufficient magnitude is applied onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The component includes a connection portion and an insert portion having a penetrating end defining a maximum outer diameter, and an outer surface forming at least one generally circular anchoring recess defining a minimum diameter. The connecting portion is adapted not to substantially deform upon insertion of the insert portion, and a ratio of minimum diameter and maximum diameter is between about 65% and 90%.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du QuebecInventor: Denis Hotte
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Patent number: 8679293Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a process for refining lignocellulosic granular matter such as wood chips use a predictive model including a simulation model based on relations involving a plurality of matter properties characterizing the matter such as moisture content, density, light reflection or granular matter size, refining process operating parameters such as transfer screw speed, dilution flow, hydraulic pressure, plate gaps, or retention delays, at least one output controlled to a target such as primary motor load or pulp freeness, and at least one uncontrolled output such as specific energy consumption, energy split, long fibers, fines and shives. An adaptor is fed with measured values of matter properties and measured values of controlled and uncontrolled outputs, to adapt the simulation model accordingly. An optimizer generates a value of the target according to a predetermined condition on a predicted uncontrolled output parameter and to one or more process constraints.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du QuebecInventors: Feng Ding, Ilich Lama, Richard Gagnon, Claude Lejeune
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Patent number: 8655048Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring size distribution of bulk matter consisted of randomly orientated granules, such as wood chips, make use of scanning the exposed surface of the granular matter to generate three-dimensional profile image data defined with respect to a three-coordinate reference system, The image data is segmented to reveal regions associated with distinct granules, and values of the size-related parameter for the revealed regions are estimated. Then, a geometric correction to each ones of estimated size-related parameter values is applied, to compensate for the random orientation of corresponding distinct granules. Finally, the size distribution of bulk matter is statistically estimated from the corrected size-related parameter values.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Centre de Recherche industrielle du QuebecInventors: Feng Ding, Richard Gagnon, Claude Lejeune
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Publication number: 20140013657Abstract: The present document describes a system and a process for the thermochemical treatment a matter containing organic compounds such as biomass in the form of animals droppings. The system and process may be used for the production of useful energetic products such as biochar, bio-oil and gases from non-condensed vapors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicants: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUÉBEC (CRIQ), INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE ET DE DÉVELOPPEMENT EN AGROENVIRONNEMENT INC. (IRDA)Inventors: Mausam Verma, Stéphane Godbout, Olga Solomatnikova, Dan Zegan, Jean-Pierre Larouche, Frédéric Pelletier
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Publication number: 20130333805Abstract: A method and system for detecting and controlling the quality of debarking at the surface of a wooden log provide information on main parameters related to the debarking quality of the log surface, including fiber loss and residual bark. The debarking quality detecting method and system involve measurement of three-dimensional profile of at least a portion of the log surface to generate corresponding profile image data, which is processed to generate data indicative of the texture of the log surface. The texture data is then analyzed to generate resulting data on the debarking quality parameters. That quality indicative information can be generated on a continuous basis to provide an objective assessment of the quality performance in real-time in view of target productivity, and may then be used to perform optimal adjustments of the debarker operating parameters, either manually by the operator or automatically through feedback control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUÉBECInventors: Richard Gagnon, Jean-Pierre Couturier, Philippe Gagné, Feng Ding, Fadi Ibrahim
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Publication number: 20130239397Abstract: A rotary tool (11) for use with a rotary driving unit (12) for inserting a component (14,14?,14?) through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, includes a tool body (22) having a working end (24) defining a shoulder portion (26) and a securing device (28,28?) for selectively engaging the component to impart rotation thereof in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The shoulder portion is provided with a deburring device (34) capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body (22) in the first rotation direction (30), to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction (30?), to provide deburring of the workpiece surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventor: Denis Hotte
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Publication number: 20130219781Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor system for use in an open-ended photo-bioreactor having an aqueous liquid for a photosynthetic culture, comprising: at least one light distributor each including a concentrator supporting section with a light entry surface adapted to receive sunlight rays, an elongated rod section with a light distribution surface adapted to redirect the received sunlight rays within the aqueous liquid, a light concentrating element provided at the light entry surface which concentrates within the elongated rod at least a portion of the sunlight rays received at the light entry surface; a displacement system operatively connected to the light distributors and adapted to change an orientation of the light entry surface of the light distributors to track a solar position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicants: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBEC, INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUEInventors: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE, CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBEC
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Patent number: 8502180Abstract: An apparatus and method for scanning a surface of an article moving along a travel path axis provide a compact sensor configuration. A first sensor unit has a first sensing field transversely directed toward the travel path axis and defining a first scanning zone. A second sensor unit has a second sensing field transversely directed toward the travel path axis and defining a second scanning zone. The first and second sensing fields are crossing one with another at a location sufficiently remote from the first and second scanning zones so as to not adversely affect the generation of sensor output data, while providing a compact arrangement of sensor units.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du QuebecInventors: Michel R. Bouchard, Yvon Legros, Jean-Yves Garneau, Guy Dion
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Patent number: 8400628Abstract: An enclosure for an optical inspection apparatus for scanning the profile of at least one surface of an article moving along a travel path axis, which apparatus having a frame for mounting a profile sensor unit using a laser source, includes a peripheral portion connected to the frame and forming spaced apart peripheral edges defining a space in which the frame and the profile sensor unit are contained, and front end and rear end portions each having an opening aligned with the travel path axis to allow the movement of the article through the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Centre de Recherche Industrielle du QuebecInventor: Denis Lépine
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Publication number: 20120274758Abstract: An optical apparatus and method for simultaneously scanning the profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article such as a wooden board moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane transverse to the travel path axis, involve first and second scanning zones sufficiently spaced one with another along the travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between the profile sensors used, while providing a compact arrangement of profile sensors. For so doing, one the first sensing field and the first laser beam of the first profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the first sensing field and the first laser beam, and one the second sensing field and the second laser beam of the second profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the second sensing field and the second laser beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventor: Denis Lessard
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Publication number: 20120274930Abstract: An enclosure for an optical inspection apparatus for scanning the profile of at least one surface of an article moving along a travel path axis, which apparatus having a frame for mounting a profile sensor unit using a laser source, includes a peripheral portion connected to the frame and forming spaced apart peripheral edges defining a space in which the frame and the profile sensor unit are contained, and front end and rear end portions each having an opening aligned with the travel path axis to allow the movement of the article through the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBECInventor: Denis Lépine