Patents Assigned to Southwest Research Institute
  • Systems, methods and apparatus for analysis of multiphase fluid mixture in pipelines
    Patent number: 9689802
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to measure water content and water pH of multiphase fluid mixtures of water and oil. The apparatus employs a water content sensor containing an infrared light source and a photodetector. The pH sensor includes a pH indicator that exhibits a color change in an oleophobic coating including an image recording device. The apparatus and method may be applied to measure water fraction and pH within oil/water pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Leonardo J. Caseres, James F. Dante
  • Magnetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles, applications and methods of preparation thereof
    Patent number: 9675640
    Abstract: Magnetic calcium phosphate particles are provided including particles comprising iron oxide and calcium phosphate. A chitosan coating is present on the particles, wherein the particles are less than or equal to 1,000 nm, are magnetic and exhibit a positive charge in the range of 1 mVolts to 60 mVolts. The particles are provided by preparing a calcium hydroxide solution and filtering the calcium hydroxide solution in a membrane filter. An iron chloride solution is formed and combined with the filtered calcium hydroxide solution. In addition, the phosphoric acid solution is combined with the combined solutions of iron chloride and calcium hydroxide, forming a mixture including particles comprising iron oxide and calcium phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Xingguo Cheng, Qingwen Ni, Thomas B. Potter
  • Internal combustion engine utilizing two independent flow paths to a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder
    Patent number: 9657692
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and corresponding method for improved combustion efficiency of an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders, comprising one or more main cylinders connected to an intake manifold and one or more cylinders operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder(s). The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) have two independent intake flow paths for where one flow path provides only intake air and one flow path provides air and recirculated exhaust gas. The exhaust gas output of the one or more dedicated EGR cylinders are connected to an exhaust gas recirculation loop which delivers the exhaust gas output to the main cylinder intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: James P. Chiu
  • Strain measurement based battery testing
    Patent number: 9660299
    Abstract: A method and system for strain-based estimation of the state of health of a battery, from an initial state to an aged state, is provided. A strain gauge is applied to the battery. A first strain measurement is performed on the battery, using the strain gauge, at a selected charge capacity of the battery and at the initial state of the battery. A second strain measurement is performed on the battery, using the strain gauge, at the selected charge capacity of the battery and at the aged state of the battery. The capacity degradation of the battery is estimated as the difference between the first and second strain measurements divided by the first strain measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jeff Qiang Xu, Joe Steiber, Craig M. Wall, Robert Smith, Cheuk Ng
  • Encapsulation of active agents for on-demand release
    Patent number: 9650468
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming microcapsules. The method may include combining an active agent in a first solvent S1 and forming a dispersed phase of the active agent in the first solvent, wherein the dispersed phase of active agent has a surface. A reactant may be added to the first solvent, wherein the reactant reacts with the surface of the active agent dispersed phase and encapsulates the active agent wherein at least a portion of the active agent remains unreacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: James D. Oxley
  • EGR rate control for internal combustion engine with dual exhaust-ported cylinders
    Patent number: 9650949
    Abstract: A method of using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. At least two of the cylinders are “dual exhaust-ported cylinders” having two exhaust ports. For each of these cylinders, one of the exhaust ports is connected to the EGR loop and the other of the exhaust ports is connected to the main exhaust line. These cylinders are controlled such that one exhaust port is open and the other exhaust port is closed during each engine cycle, and are operated, on a cycle-by-cycle basis so that all of the exhaust produced by a cylinder may be delivered to the EGR loop at any cycle. The number of cylinders operating as EGR cylinders per engine cycle is in response to a desired EGR rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jess W. Gingrich, Raphael F. Gukelberger
  • Brush damper rings for radial fluid bearing
    Patent number: 9651086
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft, with brush rings on both sides of the bearing mechanism for damping bearing motion. In a foil gas bearing embodiment, the bearing itself comprises a hollow sleeve, a compliant layer, and a top foil layer. These bearing elements are arranged in a conventional manner except that the top foil layer extends beyond the sleeve. A sleeve extension extends over the extended portion of the top foil layer. Two opposing brush rings, an inner brush ring and an outer brush ring, are attached to the top foil layer extension and the sleeve extension, respectively. The bristles of an inner brush ring and the bristles of an outer brush ring are interposed and provide damping during operation of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Aaron M Rimpel
  • Electrical power transmission line length measurement and average temperature estimation
    Patent number: 9651974
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring length of an electrical power transmission line, and for estimating the average temperature of the line over the measured length. A signal is applied to the line and reflected from a reflection point to obtain a present measure of the line's length. A modified catenary equation uses the length measurement and other variables to estimate average temperature. This temperature measurement can then be used to determine how much power the line is presently capable of safely carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Patrick R. Heenan, Ben A. Abbott, Gary L. Ragsdale
  • Engine fuel control for internal combustion engine having dedicated EGR
    Patent number: 9650976
    Abstract: A method of controlling the amount of fuel delivered to an engine having at least one dedicated EGR cylinder. The method is typically performed on an engine cycle-by-cycle basis. A fueling control unit receives, from the engine's main control unit, fueling requirement data representing a current fueling requirement suitable for the main cylinders. The fueling control unit then calculates a current amount of fuel to be delivered to the dedicated EGR cylinder as a function of the number of dedicated EGR cylinders, the number of main cylinders, the current equivalence ratio for the dedicated EGR cylinder, and the fueling requirement data. With the amounts of fuel for both the dedicated EGR cylinder and the main cylinders now having been determined, the fueling control unit generates appropriate control signals to the cylinder fuel delivery mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jess W. Gingrich, Raphael Gukelberger, Jacob R. Zuehl
  • Encapsulation of high temperature molten salts
    Patent number: 9650556
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of encapsulating microcapsules containing relatively high temperature phase change materials and the microcapsules so produced. The microcapsules are coated with an inorganic binder, film former and an inorganic filler. The microcapsules may include a sacrificial layer that is disposed between the particle and the coating. The microcapsules may also include an inner coating layer, sacrificial layer and outer coating layer. The microcapsules are particularly useful for thermal energy storage in connection with, e.g., heat collected from concentrating solar collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: James D. Oxley, Anoop Kumar Mathur
  • Detection of coating defects on buried pipelines using magnetic field variations within the pipeline
    Patent number: 9638667
    Abstract: A method for in-situ detection of coating defects on a buried pipeline. The pipeline is under cathodic protection or otherwise carries a current applied to its pipe walls. A magnetic field sensor array is placed within the pipeline and moved along its length. As the sensor array travels, it detects the magnetic fields within the pipeline. The sensor output is compared with “expected” data, which represents interior magnetic fields of the pipeline without coating defects. Because electrical current leaks through a coating defect, the current is altered on the pipe wall at the defect. This in turn alters the interior magnetic fields, and a change in the interior magnetic fields indicates a coating defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jay L. Fisher, Pavan K. Shukla
  • Unmanned ground/aerial vehicle system having autonomous ground vehicle that remotely controls one or more aerial vehicles
    Patent number: 9625904
    Abstract: An unmanned vehicle system, having at least one autonomous ground vehicle (A-GV) and at least one remote controlled aerial vehicle (RC-AV). The A-GV autonomously navigates across the ground, and on-board perception sensors, whose field of view that contains at least a portion of the ground ahead of the direction of travel of the ground vehicle as well as the RC-GV. The RC-AV flies in response to commands received from the control system of the A-GV. The RC-AV has on-board in-sky perception sensors having a field of view that contains at least a portion of the ground path to be followed by the ground vehicle. The control system of the A-GV locate the aerial vehicle, receives perception data from the on-ground perception sensors and the in-sky perception sensors, and uses combined perception data to determine a ground path for itself and for the RC-AV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ryan D. Lamm, Christopher I. Mentzer, Kristopher C. Kozak, Marc C. Alban, Jason C. Gassaway, Richard D. Garcia
  • Internal Combustion Test Engine With System And Method For Adjusting Cylinder Offset
    Publication number: 20170101930
    Abstract: A set of mechanisms, for use with an internal combustion test engine, for testing cylinder offset during operation of the engine. The test engine specifics may vary, but it is assumed to have a crankcase base that supports a cylinder barrel and cylinder head. During engine operation, a transit plate is secured to the top surface of the crankshaft base, and a pair of wedge plates is secured between the transit plate and the bottom of the cylinder barrel. When the engine is not in operation, the transit plate can be slid in a direction normal to the crankshaft axis (for cylinder offset adjustment), and the wedge plates can be moved relative to each other (for cylinder height adjustment).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Riccardo Meldolesi, Roy Granville
  • Oxy-combustor operable with supercritical fluid
    Patent number: 9612015
    Abstract: An oxy-combustor is provided which comprises a combustion vessel including at least one solid fuel slurry inlet port, at least one oxygen inlet port and at least one supercritical fluid inlet port, wherein the combustion vessel is operable at an operating pressure of at least 1,100 psi; an interior of the combustion vessel comprises a combustion chamber and a supercritical fluid infusion chamber surrounding at least a part of the combustion chamber, the supercritical fluid infusion chamber and the combustion chamber are separated by a porous liner surrounding the combustion chamber, and the supercritical infusion chamber is located between the porous liner and an outer casing of the combustion vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Klaus Brun, Aaron M. McClung, Rebecca A. Owston
  • Compact dual ion composition instrument
    Patent number: 9613789
    Abstract: A relatively compact dual ion composition instrument and associated methodology for measuring plasma and ion populations in a variety of interplanetary and planetary environments. The unitary device can measure mass and ionic charge state compositions and 3D velocity distributions of 10 eV/q to 40 keV/q plasma and pick-up ions; and (2) mass composition, energy spectra and angular distributions of 30 keV to 10 MeV energetic ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Mihir I. Desai, Keiichi Ogasawara, David J. McComas, Stefano Livi
  • Coordinated control of engine and after treatment systems
    Patent number: 9605613
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus to reduce fuel consumption while remaining in NOx compliance by simultaneous and coordinated control of the engine and the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. More particularly, the present disclosure identifies methods and apparatus to increase NOx output within a diesel engine to optimize the performance of a given SCR system while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption at a selected and targeted intake oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Ryan C. Roecker
  • Method and apparatus to propagate crack growth in a workpiece
    Patent number: 9573284
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a starter notch along the length of a work-piece for subsequent fatigue testing. The starter notch is formed with a cutting wire such that it will promote fatigue-cracking in the work-piece in one defined direction and avoids cracking in directions other than the length direction of the starter notch. Improved fatigue-testing analysis may therefore be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Clinton J. Thwing, Don E. Mahoney
  • Balloon system
    Patent number: 9568918
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a balloon system that includes a flexible volume balloon hull configured to contain a lifting gas, a flexible volume ballonet contained within said balloon hull configured to contain a refrigerant gas and a refrigerant gas transfer device in fluid communication with the ballonet to control the balloon's vertical ascent and descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: William D. Perry
  • Bone cements containing magnetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles
    Patent number: 9566216
    Abstract: A bone cement formulation comprising: (a) magnetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles present in an amount of 5.0-95 wt. % and having a largest linear dimension of 150 nm to 50 microns; (b) polymerizable acrylate monomer present in an amount of 5.0-95 wt. %; and (c) polyacrylate polymer present in an amount of 0-80 wt. % and having a largest linear dimension from 5.0 to 500 microns. Upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field the formulation is heated which results in polymerization of the acrylate monomer component. The formulation may also be polymerized via the use of chain polymerization initiators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Xingguo Cheng, Daniel P. Nicolella, Todd L. Bredbenner
  • Hybrid silicon and carbon clathrates
    Patent number: 9564633
    Abstract: A composition comprising a Type 1 clathrate of silicon having a Si46 framework cage structure wherein the silicon atoms on said framework are at least partially substituted by carbon atoms, said composition represented by the formula CySi46-y with 1?y?45. The composition of may include one or more guest atoms A within the cage structure represented by the formula AxCySi46-y wherein A=H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca. Sr, Ba, Ra, Eu, Cl, Br, or I or any metal or metalloid element and x is the number of said guest atoms within said cage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kwai S. Chan, Michael A. Miller