Patents Assigned to Controls, Inc.
  • Method for detecting faults in a combplate and sensor combplate
    Patent number: 7334672
    Abstract: A combplate closes the terminal ends of a continuous belt transport system having grooved carrier plates. The combplate has a plurality of protrusions and a communications board. The plurality of spaced apart projections are located along the one lateral edge with a portion thereof extending forward of the one lateral edge, shaped to align with and pass between the carrier plate grooves, and provided with a detector that senses a break in its integrity and a circuit for communicating its status externally. The communications board is in electrical contact with each of the projections for repeatedly monitoring the status of each projection to detect a break in a projection's integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Motor Drives & Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sheehan, Paul J. Gandolfo, Lou Filo
  • Method and System of Message Prioritization in a Control System
    Publication number: 20080043766
    Abstract: A method and related system of message prioritization in a control system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising receiving a first packet-based message from a first software package across a high bandwidth channel (the first packet-based message directed to a first software port), receiving a second packet-based message from a second software package across the high bandwidth channel (the second packet-based message directed to a second software port), selecting the first packet-based message based on the first packet-based message being directed to the first software port, forwarding the first packet-based message across a low bandwidth channel (the bandwidth channel of the high bandwidth channel higher than the bandwidth of the low bandwidth channel), and then forwarding the second packet-based message across the low bandwidth channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Bryngelson, Damon J. Ellender, Scott A. Griffin
  • Programmable controller having reduced control key set
    Patent number: 7334067
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a wall-mountable, programmable controller having control keys (e.g., less than eight keys or another small number of keys), a subassembly including circuitry, and a control key insert removably mountable to the subassembly and including at least one of the control keys. The controller can have first and second key sets in distinct regions of the controller's surface and programmable switches that are actuatable by pressing control keys in the key sets. At least one switch actuatable by pressing a key of the first key set is programmed to perform a control operation of a first type (e.g., a power control operation), at least one switch actuatable by pressing a key of the second key set is programmed to perform a control operation of a second type (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: SP Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Anson Brown, Aaron Daniel Thieme
  • EVAPORATOR PRESSURE REGULATOR CONTROL AND DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20080034771
    Abstract: A method includes cycling an electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve fluidly coupled to a refrigeration circuit to regulate flow through the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve and sensing a current drawn by the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve during cycling of the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve. The method further includes determining a valve condition of the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve based on the sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Computer Process Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Maier, John Aggers, Robert Kensinger, Richard Vogh, Timothy Campbell, Scott Gelber
  • Disconnect switch with early break feature
    Patent number: 7324314
    Abstract: A disconnect switch that provides a simple and economical means for preventing the possibility of stray/surge current from damaging the solid state components of an inverter drive is provided. The disconnect switch includes early break auxiliary contact(s) that open before the standard power contacts when the switch is turned off by an operator and close after the standard power contacts when the switch is turned on by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Advance Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Panuce
  • Restricted motion motor control with visual indication
    Patent number: 7321212
    Abstract: A visual indication for a motor controlled shaft, especially useful for retrofitting hand controlled printing presses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Motor Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Dina M. Lewis, legal representative, Clarence A. Lewis, deceased
  • Integrated gas spring actuator strut assembly with threaded nut in gas spring
    Patent number: 7320198
    Abstract: An integrated gas strut actuator assembly particularly adapted for providing power actuation of a motor vehicle lift gate or other opening closure. The assembly integrates the function of a counterbalancing gas spring and that of a electrically powered actuator. The integrated gas strut assembly includes a gas charged cylinder, internal plunger and a threaded rod. Rotation of the threaded rod through a cable drive system causes the internal plunger to be advanced or retracted within the cylinder. Other features of the invention are various embodiments of couplers between the plunger and rod and connectors for connecting the assembly to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis William Berklich, Jr., Jose Maria Garcia, Gregory Alan Miller, Bradley William Semp, Charles Leroy Hazel
  • Method and System of Determining Orifice Plate Parameters
    Publication number: 20080011821
    Abstract: A method and system of determining orifice plate parameters. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising installing an orifice plate in a metering tube, and reading parameters of the orifice plate by a flow computer. In some embodiments, the orifice plate comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and a flow computer responsible for calculating flow rate and volume reads the RFID tag to determine parameters of the orifice plate, such as aperture diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Damon J. Ellender, Duane B. Toavs
  • Fuel-control manifold with broad-range temperature and pressure capability
    Patent number: 7318426
    Abstract: A fuel-control manifold has a non-integral body with at least three pieces joined together. The fuel-control manifold has a tank port, an engine supply port, a fueling port, and a shutoff valve, all in the upper body segment. The shutoff valve includes a controllable shutoff valve closure having a shutoff-valve first side in fluid flow communication with the tank port and a shutoff-valve second side in fluid flow communication with the engine supply port and with the fueling port. There are a defueling port in a lower body segment, a vent port in the upper body segment, and a defuel/vent valve in a middle body segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Circle Seal Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Thao Hoang
  • Method and System of Diagnosing Production Changes
    Publication number: 20080010020
    Abstract: Method and system of diagnosing production changes. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a plurality of devices configured to measure production parameters associated with a hydrocarbon producing well, and a processor proximate to a wellhead of the hydrocarbon producing well and electrically coupled to the plurality of devices. The processor is configured to diagnose a cause of a change of a production parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Damon J. Ellender, Duane B. Toavs
  • Apparatus and method for blast suppression
    Patent number: 7313994
    Abstract: An improved method of blast suppression involves forming a foam barrier in proximity to a bomb or other suspicious device. The foam is maintained in position by a containment structure which is inflated and kept in an inflated state by the foam used to form such barrier. Various containment structures and methods are disclosed for suppression of compression waves and combustion effects caused by an explosive event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Burner Fire Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Lacombe, Keith Scott, Jeffrey Lynn Hildreth
  • Multi-function fluid component
    Patent number: 7306006
    Abstract: Apparatus for dampening pulsations in a fluid system has a radially expandable tube connected in the fluid system. A flexible outer shell surrounds the tube to form with the tube an annular chamber. The annular chamber is pressurized by a compressed gas or other fluid to dampen fluid pulsations that act upon the tube. Annular end caps connect the tube and the shell. At each end, the tube has an extension with a threaded connection to a bushing; the bushing has a threaded connection to the inner annulus of the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Blacoh Fluid Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Cornell
  • System and method for commissioning addressable lighting systems
    Patent number: 7307542
    Abstract: A system for commissioning ballasts comprising a wireless device that can be easily transported to any location served by an addressable lighting system. The wireless device allows a user to cycle through a list of uncommissioned ballasts and send a command to a control system to flash the lights connected to each of the ballasts on the list one by one. When a light is observed to flash by the user, the user of the wireless device may then commission the correct ballast with the wireless device. In addition, the user may assign the ballast to a group. In this way, the commissioning of ballasts in, for example, a building is greatly facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Vantage Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Chandler, Daniel Patten, Paul T. Clegg, Peter L. Taylor
  • Transducer assembly for an ultrasonic fluid meter
    Patent number: 7307373
    Abstract: A transducer assembly for an ultrasonic fluid meter. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are transducer assemblies comprising an elongated outer housing defining an interior and an exterior, the elongated outer housing having an axis along its elongated direction, a piezoelectric element coupled to and at least partially occluding a first end of the elongated outer housing, a pin holder coupled to and at least partially occluding a second end of the elongated outer housing, the pin holder comprising a first electrical pin, and a first wire coupling the first electrical pin to the piezoelectric element (wherein the first wire runs through the interior of the elongated outer housing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Charles Straub, Jr., Charles R. Allen
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM OF FIELD DEVICE PROTOCOL MASKING
    Publication number: 20070280285
    Abstract: A method and related system of a method and system of field device protocol masking. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising receiving a message in a first protocol format from a field device of a control system, modifying the message to create a modified message (the modified message in a second protocol format), and forwarding the modified message to an upstream device that communicates using the second protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: DANIEL MEASUREMENT & CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: RICHARD J. VANDERAH, RYAN A. BRYNGELSON, SCOTT A. GRIFFIN
  • Hydraulic shock absorber and method
    Patent number: 7299907
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber has an outer body with a central bore. A first piston is telescopingly received in the central bore adjacent a closed end thereof, and has a generally annular shape with an inner surface defining a central piston bore, and an outer surface disposed adjacent the sidewall of the central body bore to define a first annularly-shaped metering aperture. A second piston is telescopingly received in the central bore of the first piston, and has an outer surface disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the first piston to define a second annularly-shaped metering aperture therebetween. Hydraulic fluid is disposed in the central body bore between the closed end thereof and the pistons, such that inwardly directed impact forces on the pistons displace the hydraulic fluid through the metering apertures to progressively dampen the impact forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ace Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Ferkany
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AN UNCERTAINTY VALUE
    Publication number: 20070271043
    Abstract: A method and system for generating an uncertainty value. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a device in fluid communication with a conduit (wherein the device is configured to collect parametric data regarding fluid flow through a conduit, and wherein the device is configured to generate an accuracy value of the parametric data), and a flow computer electrically coupled to the device (wherein the flow computer is configured to receive the parametric data and the accuracy value from the device). The flow computer is configured to generate a flow value based on the parametric data, and the flow computer is configured to generate an uncertainty value of the flow value based on the parametric data and on the accuracy value received from the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Damon J. Ellender, Duane B. Toavs, Randy R. Page
  • Linkage and sensor assembly
    Patent number: 7296487
    Abstract: A link and sensor assembly includes a first rod, a second rod received telescopingly within the first rod, a force sensor attached between the rods and a motion limiter. The force sensor has a longitudinal range of motion. The limiter limits longitudinal motion between the rods to the range of motion and limits angular motion between the rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Curtiss Wright Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Mayer, Nicholas Helmut Hesse, Arthur Degenholtz
  • Fan speed control
    Patent number: D561117
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Use Lighting Control, Inc.
    Inventor: LiDong Ni
  • Dimmer
    Patent number: D561118
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Use Lighting Control, Inc.
    Inventor: LiDong Ni