Patents Assigned to Profile Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7940061
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting anomalies, such as corrosion, on internal surfaces of hollow elongate bodies, such as pipelines. The pipeline is treated as a circular waveguide, and a fast rise time pulse or a spectrum of electromagnetic waves is launched down the waveguide to perform time domain, or equivalent of time domain (e.g., frequency domain), reflectometry. Anomalies in the internal structure of the pipeline cause reflections which can be measured and related to the physical parameters of the pipeline structure and identified to a particular location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Focia, Charles A. Frost
  • Patent number: 7642790
    Abstract: A system or method of analyzing a conductive member for the presence an anomaly. A conductive pipe member is analyzed for the presence an anomaly the electromagnetic properties of which are non-linear. The electromagnetic properties of the pipe member at the anomaly are altered by applying a direct current perturbation signal to the pipe member. At least one test source signal is applied to a first test location on the pipe member remote from the anomaly to cause the at least one test source signal to travel along the pipe through the anomaly. At least one test return signal associated with the at least one test source signal traveling through the anomaly is detected. The at least one test return signal is analyzed for characteristics associated with the anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gale D. Burnett, Charles A. Frost
  • Patent number: 7196529
    Abstract: A system or method of analyzing a conductive member for the presence an anomaly. A test source signal is applied to a first test location on the elongate conductive member remote from the corrosion to cause the test source signal to travel along the pipe through the anomaly. At least one test return signal caused by the test source signal traveling through the anomaly is detected. The at least one test return signal for characteristics associated with the anomaly. Optionally, a perturbation may be applied to the elongate conductive member to place the conductive member in a perturbed state in which the electromagnetic characteristics of the conductive member at the anomaly are altered. The test source signal is applied to the first test location when the conductive member is in the perturbed stated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gale Burnett, Charles A. Frost
  • Patent number: 6472883
    Abstract: Pulse propagation analysis to ascertain whether and anomaly such as surface corrosion exists on a section of conductive member such as pipe. Anomalies such as surface corrosion result in localized velocity changes of pulses propagating along a conductive member. These localized velocity changes exhibit themselves in changes in waveform, rise and fall time, amplitude, and time delay of a pulse with respect to a fixed time reference. To allow such anomalies to be located, two pulses are generated such that they intersect at intersecting locations along the conductive member. The resulting modified pulses are analyzed for perturbations indicative of localized velocity changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gale D. Burnett
  • Patent number: 6339333
    Abstract: This patent application is to use dynamic electromagnetic wave reflection and refraction methods for prospecting for oil directly. The available geophysical methods including the most used seismic reflection method are all prospecting for oil indirectly, viz., aiming at finding the geological structures and stratigraphic traps, etc. The high contrasts of electric permittivity between oil cord the surrounding geological formations of rocks including gas, water (fresh and salt), on the other hand, make it possible to use the dynamic electromagnetic wave reflection and refraction methods for prospecting for deep seated oil directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Kuo
  • Patent number: 6072316
    Abstract: Pulse propagation analysis to ascertain whether and anomaly such as surface corrosion exists on a section of conductive member such as pipe. Anomalies such as surface corrosion result in localized velocity changes of pulses propagating along a conductive member. These localized velocity changes exhibit themselves in changes in waveform, rise and fall time, amplitude, and time delay of a pulse with respect to a fixed time reference. To allow such anomalies to be located, two pulses are generated such that they intersect at intersecting locations along the conductive member. The resulting modified pulses are analyzed for perturbations indicative of localized velocity changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gale D. Burnett
  • Patent number: 6065348
    Abstract: A method of detecting corrosion on an elongate member, such as a pipe. Far side and near side electric pulses (waves) are transmitted into a magnetically permeable pipe at spaced locations to travel toward one another. These are synchronized to intersect at various locations on the pipe. The resulting wave forms are analyzed by combining adjacent wave forms resulting from pulses intersection at spaced locations. Two combined wave forms are analyzed by subtracting one from the other to produce a difference wave form and the difference wave forms are compared to detect corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gale D. Burnett
  • Patent number: 5719503
    Abstract: Pulse propagation analysis to ascertain whether an anomaly such as surface corrosion exists on a section of conductive member such as pipe. Anomalies such as surface corrosion result in localized velocity changes of pulses, due to inherent nonlinearities, propagating along a conductive member. These localized velocity changes exhibit themselves in changes in waveform, rise and fall time, amplitude, and time delay of a pulse with respect to a fixed time reference. To allow such anomalies to be located, two pulses are generated such that they intersect at intersecting locations along the conductive member. The resulting modified pulses are analyzed for perturbations indicative of localized velocity changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gale D. Burnett