Patents Assigned to Francois Couillard
  • Patent number: 5755561
    Abstract: A pumping system in accordance with the invention comprises n (n.gtoreq.1) piston or diaphragm primary pumping modules (P1 to Pn) including each at least one pumping unit, connected by means of unidirectional valves (V11-V1n) respectively to n tanks (R1-Rn) containing fluids, a collecting head (CH) receiving the fluids delivered by the various primary modules, and a secondary piston pumping unit (S) for discharging the mixture of fluids collected in this head with a substantially constant flow rate. The pistons are shifted alternately for example by the translation motion of endless screws (9) driven by motors (12). A control set (17-20) associated with position detectors (AC1-ACn) and pressure detectors (C1 to Cn, Cs) proportion the fluids injected and adjust the phases, the piston strokes and their velocities in order to obtain a substantially constant discharge rate. Each primary module can also comprise a second pumping module also allowing a constant rate to be obtained during the suction phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: Francois Couillard, Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Couillard, Dominique Garnier
  • Patent number: 5483344
    Abstract: The invention relates to the measurement of the difference between refractive indexes of two media, traversed by a light beam the beams produce an interference figure consisting of fringes having a displacement which is measured.According to the invention, the displacement of the fringes of the interference figure is detected with a photosensitive device and a phase modulation is performed on at least one of the beams and the modulation is controlled in order to obtain a movement of the fringes of the interference figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Francois Couillard
    Inventors: Didier Frot, Claude Beauducel, Pierre Gonzalez, Francois Couillard