Patents Assigned to LOCI
  • Publication number: 20240109111
    Abstract: A method for use by a system coupled to at least one sensor and at least one flow control mechanism of a gas extraction system, the system comprising at least one controller and configured for use in connection with a landfill gas extraction process for extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via the gas extraction system, the method comprising: using the at least one controller to perform: obtaining, based on at least one measurement made by the at least one sensor, at least one current value indicative of a selected characteristic of the landfill gas extraction process, determining, at discrete time intervals, whether the at least one current value satisfies at least one compliance criterion for the selected characteristic, and when it is determined that the at least one current value does not satisfy the at least one compliance criterion for the selected characteristic, performing a corrective action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Jack Rowbottom, Nicole Neff
  • Publication number: 20240109110
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system comprising well piping, the landfill gas having a first temperature when extracted, the control system comprising: a gas composition chamber coupled to the well piping and comprising at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of a landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber; a temperature control mechanism configured to heat the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber to a second temperature at least a threshold amount greater than the first temperature; and a controller configured to control the at least one sensor to measure the one or more characteristics of the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber when a temperature of the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber is at least the threshold amount greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Joseph G. Michels, Melinda Sims
  • Publication number: 20240100578
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20240091831
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system comprising a plurality of wells are provided herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises obtaining a concentration of a greenhouse gas measured a distance above a surface of a region comprising the plurality of wells; determining whether the measure of the concentration of the greenhouse gas is greater than a first threshold; and in response to determining that the measure of the concentration of the greenhouse gas is greater than the first threshold, increasing a flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from at least one well of the plurality of wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Nicole Neff, Jack Rowbottom
  • Publication number: 20240066573
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20240066572
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11885784
    Abstract: An apparatus for sampling landfill gas from a landfill flowing through a pipe. The apparatus may comprise: an enclosure configured to receive a section of the pipe; a gas sampling port in the section of the pipe; at least one sensor device disposed in a region of the enclosure, the at least one sensor being coupled to the section of the pipe through the gas sampling port; and thermal insulation positioned to retain heat from the section of the pipe in the region of the enclosure. A method of operating a landfill gas recovery system. The method may comprise: flowing gas from a well riser pipe through a sampling subsystem to a collection system; and heating a portion of the sampling subsystem with the gas flowing from the well riser pipe to the collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Ian Martin, Joseph G. Michels, Nathan Pallo, Peter Quigley
  • Patent number: 11883864
    Abstract: A method for use by a system coupled to at least one sensor and at least one flow control mechanism of a gas extraction system, the system comprising at least one controller and configured for use in connection with a landfill gas extraction process for extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via the gas extraction system, the method comprising: using the at least one controller to perform: obtaining, based on at least one measurement made by the at least one sensor, at least one current value indicative of a selected characteristic of the landfill gas extraction process, determining, at discrete time intervals, whether the at least one current value satisfies at least one compliance criterion for the selected characteristic, and when it is determined that the at least one current value does not satisfy the at least one compliance criterion for the selected characteristic, performing a corrective action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Jack Rowbottom, Nicole Neff
  • Publication number: 20240017311
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system are provided herein. According to some aspects of the technology, there is provided site-level control methods for globally controlling one or more wells based on one or more characteristics of aggregate landfill gas collected from a plurality of wells at a gas output. According to some aspects of the technology, there is provided well-level control methods for locally controlling a first well based on or more characteristics of landfill gas collected from the first well. According to further aspects of the technology, there is provided hybrid control methods for making adjustments to a respective well based on both site-level and well-level control methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Jack Rowbottom, Nicole Neff
  • Patent number: 11872610
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system comprising well piping, the landfill gas having a first temperature when extracted, the control system comprising: a gas composition chamber coupled to the well piping and comprising at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of a landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber; a temperature control mechanism configured to heat the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber to a second temperature at least a threshold amount greater than the first temperature; and a controller configured to control the at least one sensor to measure the one or more characteristics of the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber when a temperature of the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber is at least the threshold amount greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Joseph G. Michels, Melinda Sims
  • Patent number: 11865594
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system comprising a plurality of wells are provided herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises obtaining a concentration of a greenhouse gas measured a distance above a surface of a region comprising the plurality of wells; determining whether the measure of the concentration of the greenhouse gas is greater than a first threshold; and in response to determining that the measure of the concentration of the greenhouse gas is greater than the first threshold, increasing a flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from at least one well of the plurality of wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Quigley, Ian Martin, Nicole Neff, Jack Rowbottom
  • Patent number: 11850639
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11845115
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20230324353
    Abstract: An apparatus for sampling landfill gas from a landfill flowing through a pipe. The apparatus may comprise: an enclosure configured to receive a section of the pipe; a gas sampling port in the section of the pipe; at least one sensor device disposed in a region of the enclosure, the at least one sensor being coupled to the section of the pipe through the gas sampling port; and thermal insulation positioned to retain heat from the section of the pipe in the region of the enclosure. A method of operating a landfill gas recovery system. The method may comprise: flowing gas from a well riser pipe through a sampling subsystem to a collection system; and heating a portion of the sampling subsystem with the gas flowing from the well riser pipe to the collection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Ian Martin, Joseph G. Michels, Nathan Pallo, Peter Quigley
  • Publication number: 20230311175
    Abstract: A system for extracting landfill gas from a landfill is provided. According to some embodiments, a control system for landfill gas extraction is provided. The control system uses a throttle to control flow of landfill gas extracted from the landfill. The throttle is actuated in use to vary the flow of gas between a well and a gas collection system, in accordance with a control algorithm that adjusts flow as a parameter in controlling gas extraction. The throttle is configured to ensure that there is at least some flow of landfill gas from the landfill to a gas output throughout operation. The extraction system provides an efficient system for landfill gas extraction, while mitigating a risk of creating undesired or unpleasant conditions and/or of violating regulations during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Hale, Keith Hale, Melinda Sims
  • Publication number: 20230302509
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20230302508
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20230271234
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11712340
    Abstract: A hemi-arthroplasty bone joint implant has a first part (120) with a stem (111) tor intramedullary implanting into a metacarpal, mid a second part (110) to engage the trapezium is a translational manner, a hemi-arthroplasty articulating coupling (121). This allows multi-axial motion with translational movement of the second part over the trapezium and rotation of the first part (110) about the articulating coupling (121, 103). There is also a converter to convert the implant to a total arthroplasty implant in situ during revision surgery. The second part (110) and the hemi-arthroplasty coupling (100, 123, 121) are removable in situ during revision surgery. The first part (120) has an engagement threaded socket (117) for, after removal of the second part and the hemi-arthroplasty coupling, engaging the replacement coupling (200) and allowing mutual articulation of the first (120) and replacement parts (220). This forms a total arthroplasty joint implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Loci Orthopaedics Limited
    Inventors: Filip Stockmans, Gerry Clarke, Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, Amy L. Ladd, Brendan Boland
  • Patent number: D994617
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Melinda Sims, Mike Hale, Brian Hale