Patents Assigned to Hach Company
  • Patent number: 12326398
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for cleaning a sample cell of a turbidimeter, including: introducing an apparatus comprising a cleaning component into the sample cell, wherein upon introduction of the apparatus into the sample cell a secondary flow path out of the sample cell is opened; engaging a functionality of the apparatus to clean the sample cell; and removing a plurality of particles from the sample cell via the secondary flow path. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Richard Edward Leggett, Sebastiaan Cornelis Petrus de Heij, Vadim B. Malkov
  • Patent number: 12210007
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for stirring a sample in a cell, including: providing a cell comprising a sample chamber; placing a boron-doped diamond electrode on an inner surface of the sample chamber, placing a removable stir bar in the sample chamber, the removable stir bar directly contacting and touching the boron-doped diamond electrode; and wherein the stir bar can be operated to rotate within the sample chamber upon the boron-doped diamond electrode. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Corey Alan Salzer, Dan Jonathan Kroll
  • Patent number: 11796549
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for real-time management of analyte recovery within a system for measuring at least one parameter of a fluid within the system by monitoring signals from the system against a set of conditions, the method including: receiving, from the system, signals providing information regarding the system, wherein the system includes at least one reagent flowing into the system and recovers analytes within the fluid, wherein the analytes provide an indication of a value of the at least one parameter; identifying, by analyzing the signals, whether the analyte recovery of the system is meeting the set of conditions identifying a desired analyte recovery of the system; and modifying, based upon the analyte recovery not meeting the set of conditions, conditions of the system for recovery of the analyte, wherein the modifying includes adjusting at least one parameter of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Vishnu Vardhanan Rajasekharan, Cary Burton Jackson, Russell Young
  • Patent number: 10794883
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring aluminum concentration in an aqueous sample, including: preparing a chromeazurol S indicator solution; placing the chromeazurol S indicator solution in a sample containing aluminum, wherein the placing causes the chromeazurol S to chelate aluminum within the sample creating a colored complex; and measuring, using colorimetric techniques, a concentration of aluminum within the sample, wherein the measuring comprises measuring an absorbance at a wavelength for the colored complex. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Melanie Ann Roth, Angella NIcholle Greenawalt
  • Patent number: 9746012
    Abstract: A self-centering vial clamp is provided. The self-centering vial clamp includes a clamp body including a vial aperture and two or more jaw slots spaced around the vial aperture, two or more clamp jaws spaced around the vial aperture, with a clamp jaw including a vial contact face and one or more jaw projections configured to engage a jaw slot of the clamp body, and two or more lever arms coupled to the two or more clamp jaws. A lever arm of the self-centering vial claim is configured to be manually pivoted, wherein the lever arm translates the pivoting motion into a sliding motion of the corresponding clamp jaw. Interacting lever gears formed on the lever arms constrain the two or more clamp jaws to move substantially in unison during the manual pivoting, aligning the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Bret Warrick, Keith Bender
  • Patent number: 9719914
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: operating a motor to position sample fluid within a fluid channel of a cuvette; transmitting light through an optical chamber of the cuvette; measuring a value of received light that has been transmitted through the optical chamber; comparing the measured value of light to one or more thresholds; determining a position of the sample fluid within the fluid channel based on a comparison from the comparing step; and generating a response based upon the position of the sample fluid with the fluid channel. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Jim Duncan, Aria Farjam, Jim Harbridge, Brian Harmon, Ulrich Lundgreen, Darren MacFarland, Leon Moore, Perry Palumbo, William Louis Pherigo, Jr., Robert Stoughton, Luke Waaler
  • Patent number: 9625434
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a permanent sealing assembly for a container, such as a reagent bottle. The permanent sealing assembly allows for drip-less reagent container exchange for liquid analysis instruments. The permanent sealing assembly may be integrated into a container, such as a reagent bottle, and provides an outflow tube that extends into the container. The permanent sealing assembly and the outflow tube thereof remain in the container such that, on an exchange of regent containers, a removable cap assembly of the liquid analysis instrument may be affixed to a new container of reagent without the risk of reagent from the old container contacting the surroundings. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Nelson Dervaes
  • Patent number: 9625295
    Abstract: A fluid flow measurement instrument is provided. The measurement instrument includes a sensor producing a time domain signal representative of reflections of an emitted signal; and a meter being coupled to the sensor and configured to: receive the time domain signal; create two or more spectral estimates for the time domain signal, wherein said two or more spectral estimates have different frequency ranges and resolutions; determine a frequency offset value using one or more of the two or more spectral estimates; and convert the frequency offset value into a fluid velocity. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: David Langley Rick
  • Patent number: 9618495
    Abstract: A carbon quantifying cell (20) configured to receive a fluid is provided, including two or more electrodes (22) positioned at least partially in the fluid, and meter electronics (21) configured to place an electrical oxidization, polarization, and/or adsorption program across the two or more electrodes (22) and at least partially oxidize carbon materials in the fluid, apply an AC voltage of a predetermined amplitude across the two or more electrodes (22), measuring the resulting AC current across the two or more electrodes (22), wherein a ratio of amplitudes and a phase angle difference provides information for calculating a fluid impedance, receive an electrical response of the fluid to the electrical oxidization, polarization, and/or adsorption program, quantify the carbon materials in the fluid using the electrical response, and detect interfering materials in the fluid using the fluid impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Vishnu Rajasekharan
  • Patent number: 9588094
    Abstract: An Anti-Terrorism water quality monitoring system for continuously monitoring a potable water treatment system and related potable water distribution network that provides potable water to a municipality, city, housing development or other potable water consumer. The system includes the collection of data from the water distribution system and from the water treatment facility and from advanced separation processes which are integrated into analytical instruments. The data collected are stored in a remote database on a remote server computer or bank of computers and accessible by Homeland Security or its designated agency. Preferred parameters of monitoring include the turbidity and disinfectant such as chlorine, hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ozone, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Thomas D. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9545781
    Abstract: A test element (10) used to determine concentration levels of free and total chlorine in a water sample comprises a test pad (12) adhered to a substrate (14), wherein the test pad (12) is impregnated with a stabilized DPD solution. The test pad (12) is color responsive to different concentration levels of chlorine in the water and compared to a color chart to determine the level of free chlorine and/or total chlorine in the water. The stabilized DPD solution may include N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxalate salt, a polymeric anhydride such as a methyl-vinyl anhydride and an organo-sulfate such as dimethylsulfone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim A. Ismail, Matthew Hertel, Teresa Lynn Swanson
  • Patent number: 9513146
    Abstract: Described herein is an insertion mount, including a threaded cylindrical mount with a hollow inner diameter and a lengthwise slot cutout for receiving a probe; and a drive assembly further comprising a drive nut, wherein the drive nut has threads that engage the threaded outer diameter of the threaded cylindrical mount which allows the drive nut to be moved the length of the cylindrical mount by screwing the drive nut of the drive assembly onto the threads of the threaded cylindrical mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Ralf Leidner
  • Patent number: 9476866
    Abstract: Apparatuses for analyzing total carbon and chemical oxygen demand in a sample are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for analyzing carbon and chemical oxygen demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Vishnu V. Rajasekharan, John Lee, Richard E. Leggett
  • Patent number: 9453853
    Abstract: One aspect provides a fluid flow measurement instrument, comprising: a sensor producing a signal representative of reflections of an emitted signal; and a meter being coupled to the sensor and configured to: produce two or more sub-measurements from said signal representative of reflections of an emitted signal; and compute a fluid flow velocity estimate using the two or more sub-measurement signals. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: David Langley Rick
  • Patent number: 9329054
    Abstract: One aspect provides a system including a sensor adjustment component comprising: a memory device having adjustment information stored therein; signal source capable of producing a signal detectable by a sensor to be adjusted; and one or more processors; wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute program instructions to operate the signal source to produce a predetermined signal pattern detectable by a measurement component of the sensor to be adjusted; and wherein the predetermined signal pattern comprises the adjustment information. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: David T. Crook, Areef A. Moin
  • Patent number: 9323035
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an annular optical device, comprising: an annular meso-optic having a substantially triangular cross section and including an annulus centered about an axis of revolution; and a secondary optical structure substantially coaxial within the annulus of the annular meso-optic, wherein the secondary optical structure and the annular meso-optic are separated by a media comprising a media refractive index that is lower than a secondary optical structure refractive index, with the secondary optical structure being configured to hold a specimen to be radiated by impinging electromagnetic radiation directed into the secondary optical structure substantially along the axis of revolution, wherein re-directed radiation from the specimen is allowed into the annular meso-optic by the secondary optical structure if an angle of incidence of the re-directed radiation exceeds the angle of Total Internal Reflectance. Other embodiments are descried and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Perry A. Palumbo
  • Patent number: 9274076
    Abstract: An aspect includes a low slope electrode device, including: at least one electrode; at least one container at least partially enclosing the at least one electrode and having at least one ion sensitive region; an external buffer container having at least one separating element that separates said at least one ion sensitive region into: a first ion sensitive area separating an internal buffer solution bathing the at least one electrode and an external sample solution; and a second ion sensitive area separating the internal buffer solution bathing the at least one electrode and an external buffer solution; wherein the at least one separating element, the first ion sensitive area, and the second ion sensitive area establish a charge flow circuit. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Karl Lewis King
  • Patent number: 9182353
    Abstract: Described is a lab-on-a-chip device and a method employing a lab-on-a-chip device for determining the concentration of species present in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Corey Alan Salzer, Vishnu Vardhanan Rajasekharan, Isabel Nicola Huenig, Rainer Froemel, Markus Lenhard, Rolf Dieter Uthemann, Aria Farjam
  • Patent number: D768872
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Huhta, Steven J. Takacs, Robert Stoughton, Rainer Frömel, Markus Lenhard, Isabel Hünig, Ulrich Lundgreen, Aria Farjam
  • Patent number: D806826
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Michael John Larsen, Jonathan Paul Janney, Paul Perlic, Alexander Evan Roeca