Patents Assigned to Hydroacoustics
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Patent number: 11906336Abstract: A fluid sensor, and associated monitoring and control system, employing a cylindrical venturi to eliminate stratification of fluid passing therethrough, and a capacitive sensor operatively coupled with the cylindrical venturi to facilitate the sensing of the fluid while in the venturi.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, John H. Benton, Ricardo P. Quintanilla
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Patent number: 11821293Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves in a medium to stimulate oil recovery within an oil reservoir, the apparatus being operable with a single moving part—a central rotor.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Hydroacoustics. Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, John H. Benton, Ricardo P. Quintanilla, Kenneth Wittlief
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Publication number: 20230151717Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves in a medium to stimulate oil recovery within an oil reservoir, the apparatus being operable with a single moving part—a central rotor. The apparatus being suitable for use in association with a system to facilitate the co-generation of geothermal energy or sequestration and storage of CO2.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: John H. Benton, Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, Ricardo P. Quintanilla, Kenneth Wittlief
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Publication number: 20220364893Abstract: A fluid sensor, and associated monitoring and control system, employing a cylindrical venturi to eliminate stratification of fluid passing therethrough, and a capacitive sensor operatively coupled with the cylindrical venturi to facilitate the sensing of the fluid while in the venturi.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, John H. Benton, Ricardo P. Quintanilla
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Patent number: 11346186Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves within a medium to stimulate oil recovery within an oil reservoir. The apparatus is operable with a single moving part—a central rotor, and the rotor further includes a “conduit” through which the supply fluid passes.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Hydroacoustics, Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto
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Publication number: 20210372245Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves in a medium to stimulate oil recovery within an oil reservoir, the apparatus being operable with a single moving part—a central rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, John H. Benton, Ricardo P. Quintanilla, Kenneth Wittlief
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Patent number: 10704938Abstract: A fluid sensor, and associated monitoring and control system, employing a 2-dimensional venturi to eliminate stratification of fluid passing therethrough, and a capacitive sensor operatively coupled with the 2-dimensional venturi to facilitate the sensing of the fluid while in the venturi.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Hydroacoustics, Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Ricardo P. Quintanilla, Frederick J. Cookhouse
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Publication number: 20200032624Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves within a medium to stimulate oil recovery within an oil reservoir, the apparatus being operable with a single moving part—a central rotor, and where the rotor further includes a “conduit” through which the supply fluid passes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto
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Publication number: 20190234777Abstract: A fluid sensor, and associated monitoring and control system, employing a 2-dimensional venturi to eliminate stratification of fluid passing therethrough, and a capacitive sensor operatively coupled with the 2-dimensional venturi to facilitate the sensing of the fluid while in the venturi.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Ricardo P. Quintanilla, Frederick J. Cookhouse
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Patent number: 9095122Abstract: Acoustic tags have been used for years in fisheries research to study survival and behavior of fish in various aquatic environments. The described techniques, devices and systems enhance the ability of researchers to understand the effect on fish mortality by predators through an acoustic tag that includes a digestible fuse. When the implanted acoustic tag comes in contact with the digestive fluids in a predator's stomach, the fuse coating is dissolved causing the fuse to disintegrate and result in an open circuit. The open circuit in turn signals the electronics in the acoustic tag that the tagged fish has been consumed. In response, the electronics alter the tag transmit signal to indicate that predation has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: HYDROACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: William W. Allen, Scott E. Hemmings, Samuel V. Johnson
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Publication number: 20140211594Abstract: Acoustic tags have been used for years in fisheries research to study survival and behavior of fish in various aquatic environments. The described techniques, devices and systems enhance the ability of researchers to understand the effect on fish mortality by predators through an acoustic tag that includes a digestible fuse. When the implanted acoustic tag comes in contact with the digestive fluids in a predator's stomach, the fuse coating is dissolved causing the fuse to disintegrate and result in an open circuit. The open circuit in turn signals the electronics in the acoustic tag that the tagged fish has been consumed. In response, the electronics alter the tag transmit signal to indicate that predation has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: HYDROACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: William W. Allen, Scott E. Hemmings, Samuel V. Johnson
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Patent number: 8113278Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for enhanced oil recovery using at least one in-situ seismic energy generator for generating seismic acoustic waves. More particularly the system and method employ a downhole electro-hydraulic seismic pressure wave source to enhance the recovery of oil from reservoirs.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert F. DeLaCroix, Dennis R Courtright
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Publication number: 20110176391Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide an acoustic deterrent system and a method for repelling sea mammals from a region of water. The system consists of one or more acoustic impulse sources spatially distributed underwater around the perimeter of the fish farm or other region to be protected. Each source is capable of generating an acoustic signal and a controller determines the firing time for each source to produce signals, which may include precisely timed wave trains of superimposed tones on a broadband low frequency signal, which are believed most effective in deterring seals, sea lions and other carnivorous mammals. The system may further include a sensing device to determine the presence of marine mammals so that the acoustic deterrent can be initiated on demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert F. DeLaCroix, Joel Wojciechowski
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Publication number: 20090200019Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for generating seismic acoustic waves, and more particularly a downhole electro-hydraulic seismic pressure wave source to enhance oil recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: Robert F. DeLaCroix, Dennis R. Courtright
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Patent number: 6870795Abstract: A small boat or launch such as a motorized reinforced hull inflatable boat provides a platform for an acoustic source array of airguns. The array is made up as a ladder structure in which the airguns are disposed horizontally between vertical support and umbilical lines, preferably with their discharge ports in laterally offset or staggered relationship to minimize undesirable interactions between the acoustic transmissions released into the water by the sources and to help maximize the acoustic output of the array for a given array length. A structure stows the array on the boat for transport when the array is not deployed for use. If desired, the stowed array may be substantially enclosed by the hull of the boat. The stowage structure is preferable defined by a track or rails on the top of the deck. Umbilical cables attached to the array are translated, as by being wound on a drum and unwound therefrom, to deploy or retrieve the array over the stern of the boat.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: John V. Bouyoucos, Dennis R. Courtright
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Patent number: 6771561Abstract: In order to optimize detection of targets from a broadband return, a multiplicity of narrow bands are matched-filter processed simultaneously in parallel. The band or bands which provide the best joint combination of target and propagation in response are used for target detection.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventors: John V. Bouyoucos, Dennis R. Courtright, David P. Hollinger
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Patent number: 6606958Abstract: A marine towed array has a plurality of tow bodies of positive buoyancy each containing a marine acoustic source, such as a vibrator source. Each tow body uses a reel containing an electro-mechanical tow cable connecting the sources, whereby reeling and unreeling of the cable, controlled from a towing ship, changes the spacing of the tow bodies. One of the tow bodies at an end of the array is attachable to the towing ship.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc.Inventor: John V. Bouyoucos
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Patent number: 6378951Abstract: An electrohydraulic pavement breaker system having cavities (28, 30) which are filled with hydraulic fluid (oil) or gas, and which provide mass spring system which is resonant at a frequency which is especially adapted for breaking and rubblizing concrete pavement. The resonant mass (18) is in impacting relationship with the pavement through a shoe (12), which shoe (12) may be part of an assembly which is pivotally mounted on the support structure (10) of the breaker and is vibrated with the mass (18) to repeatedly impact the pavement at the rate of the resonant frequency. An electrohydraulic control system is responsive to the motion and average position of the mass of the vibrator and controls the driving force so as to be at the resonant frequency of the mass spring system and have the amplitude and energy suitable for breaking the pavement.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Hydroacoustics, Inc.Inventors: John V. Bouyoucos, Dennis R. Courtright
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Patent number: 6185156Abstract: An acoustic transmission in an underwater environment having a spectrum (amplitude/frequency signature) of interest is generated by cyclically releasing energy which forms impulses which individually have spectral amplitudes principally near one end of the desired spectrum, but which impulses are repeated at a rate near the opposite end of the desired spectrum, which rate may be varied to smooth the spectral response. A multiplicity of impulses may be generated synchronously, the number depending upon the desired amplitude of the spectrum. A multi-port air gun having a stator with a series of ports, which are valved by a rotor coaxial with the stator provides the energy in the form of the release of compressed air bubbles. The rate at which the impulses are produced is controlled by controlling the speed of rotation of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Hydroacoustics-Inc.Inventor: John V. Bouyoucos
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Patent number: 5995452Abstract: An array system, which provides a unipolar acoustic impulse with a broad spectral response underwater, utilizes a vertical array of airgun or electrical spark sources whose individual peak source strengths are essentially constant over the array length, but whose individual source periods vary with depth. The array of sources produces in each instance a near-unipolar, impulsive signature with a broad pedestal-like spectrum. The system may be used for underwater object location and also for seismic exploration.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1998Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Hydroacoustics, Inc.Inventor: John V. Bouyoucus