Patents Assigned to Hach Company
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20160025530
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a controller; memory accessible to the controller; a bus operatively coupled to the controller; sensor circuitry operatively coupled to the bus where the sensor circuitry generates measurement information representative of an environmental condition; and where the controller determines codes, each of the codes representative of an individual operational state of the apparatus, and where the controller associates, in the memory, at least a portion of the measurement information with at least one of the codes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: HACH COMPANY
    Inventors: Tom Benson, Dennis Clark, Erik Host-Steen, Scott David Janson, Ken Labar
  • 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: 9180449
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a cuvette apparatus including: a lid and a body, the body including a fluid channel disposed therein; and the lid including at least one opening aligned with a portion of the fluid channel, thereby providing access to the fluid channel in the body. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    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
  • Publication number: 20150260970
    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: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: HACH COMPANY
    Inventor: Perry A. Palumbo
  • Patent number: 9116060
    Abstract: One aspect provides a method including determining that an absolute pressure sensor is not submersed in a fluid; measuring an atmospheric pressure with the absolute pressure sensor to determine an offset pressure measurement; submersing the absolute pressure sensor in a fluid; and measuring pressure with the absolute pressure sensor; wherein a compensated pressure measurement of the fluid is determined. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: David Alan Ashman, Timothy Alan Higgins, Lawrence B. Marsh
  • Patent number: 9100728
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method employing one or more environmental instruments in communication with a communication server that monitors the operation of the environmental instruments based on a task schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Timothy Alan Higgins, Samuel Wallace Kent Miller, IV
  • Publication number: 20150198575
    Abstract: A kit for determining if a shock treatment is required for a water source may comprise a test strip having at least two chemically treated test areas. One of the areas is responsive in color to a concentration of free chlorine in the water and another test area is responsive in color to a concentration of total chlorine in the water. A chlorine indicator scale may be provided on a substrate, such as a label, and comprises a plurality of pairs of colored indicia and each pair of colored indicia representing a color pattern indicating a concentration, or range of concentrations, of total chlorine and free chlorine in the water. An alphanumeric designation may be provided adjacent to each pair of indicia indicating whether a shock treatment is required for the water source based on a color pattern the associated indicia pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: HACH COMPANY
    Inventors: Teresa Lynn Swanson, Ronald P. Merwin
  • Patent number: D741927
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: Yue Li, Mark Mao, Fan Zhao, Thomas Coerper
  • 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