Patents Assigned to VLN Advanced Technologies, Inc.
-
Patent number: 11179732Abstract: An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventor: Mohan Vijay
-
Patent number: 11027306Abstract: A pulsed waterjet apparatus comprising a water pump for generating a pressurized waterjet, an ultrasonic signal generator for generating an ultrasonic signal and an ultrasonic nozzle comprising an ultrasonic transducer for converting the ultrasonic signal into vibrations that pulse the pressurized waterjet to generate a pulsed waterjet, an exit orifice through which the pulsed waterjet exits and an inflow inlet axially aligned with the exit orifice.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: VLN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew H. Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels, Meishing M. Xu
-
Patent number: 10640383Abstract: A graphene preparing apparatus for exfoliating graphite includes a high-pressure water pump for generating a high-pressure flow of water, a waterjet nozzle for receiving the water and for generating a pulsed or cavitating waterjet, a graphite supply vessel having a supply duct for supplying graphite powder, an exfoliation chamber that has a first inlet for receiving the waterjet and a second inlet for receiving the graphite powder, an outlet through which a graphite slurry is expelled from the exfoliation chamber, a filtering unit downstream of the exfoliation chamber for separating graphene from the slurry and a graphene collection tank for collecting the graphene.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Wenzhuo Yan, Mohan Vijay, Andrew Tieu, Meisheng Xu, Bruce Daniels
-
Patent number: 10532373Abstract: A method of prepping a cylindrical inner surface of a bore using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet apparatus entails generating a pressurized waterjet using a high-pressure water pump, generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip to vibrate to thereby generate the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet, and rotating the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle inside the bore to prep the inner cylindrical surface of the bore using the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjets exiting from the angled exit orifices of the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 10272468Abstract: An integrated liquidjet system capable of stripping, prepping and coating a part includes a cell defining an enclosure, a jig for holding the part inside the cell, an ultrasonic nozzle having an ultrasonic transducer for generating a pulsed liquidjet, a coating particle source for supplying coating particles to the nozzle, a pressurized liquid source for supplying the nozzle with a pressurized liquid to enable the nozzle to generate the pulsed liquidjet to sequentially strip, prep and coat the part, a high-voltage electrode and a ground electrode inside the nozzle for charging the coating particles, and a human-machine interface external to the cell for receiving user commands and for controlling the pulsed liquidjet exiting from the nozzle in response to the user commands.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Meisheng M. Xu, Emilio Panarella, Wenzhuo Yan, Andrew Hung Tieu, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 10226776Abstract: An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventor: Mohan Vijay
-
Patent number: 10189046Abstract: A method of prepping a cylindrical inner surface of a bore using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet apparatus entails generating a pressurized waterjet using a high-pressure water pump, generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip to vibrate to thereby generate the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet, and rotating the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle inside the bore to prep the inner cylindrical surface of the bore using the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjets exiting from the angled exit orifices of the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 10024635Abstract: A landmine-neutralization system has a vehicle including a water supply tank and an electrical power supply and an electro-discharge apparatus. The electro-discharge apparatus includes one or more electro-discharge nozzles each having a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply tank and an outlet, a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber and being electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors that are connected to, and chargeable by, the electrical power supply, a second electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes and a switch to cause the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes through one or more exit orifices of the one or more nozzles ahead of the plasma bubble to thereby neutralize a landmine.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: VLN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Mohan Vijay, Emilio Panarella, Meisheng Xu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce Daniels, Andrew Tieu
-
Patent number: 9829283Abstract: A landmine-neutralization system has a vehicle including a water supply tank and an electrical power supply and an electro-discharge apparatus. The electro-discharge apparatus includes one or more electro-discharge nozzles each having a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply tank and an outlet, a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber and being electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors that are connected to, and chargeable by, the electrical power supply, a second electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes and a switch to cause the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes through one or more exit orifices of the one or more nozzles ahead of the plasma bubble to thereby neutralize a landmine.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan Vijay, Emilio Panarella, Meisheng Xu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce Daniels, Andrew Tieu
-
Patent number: 9821337Abstract: An integrated liquidjet system capable of stripping, prepping and coating a part includes a cell defining an enclosure, a jig for holding the part inside the cell, an ultrasonic nozzle having an ultrasonic transducer for generating a pulsed liquidjet, a coating particle source for supplying coating particles to the nozzle, a pressurized liquid source for supplying the nozzle with a pressurized liquid to enable the nozzle to generate the pulsed liquidjet to sequentially strip, prep and coat the part, a high-voltage electrode and a ground electrode inside the nozzle for charging the coating particles, and a human-machine interface external to the cell for receiving user commands and for controlling the pulsed liquidjet exiting from the nozzle in response to the user commands.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Meisheng M. Xu, Emilio Panarella, Wenzhuo Yan, Andrew Hung Tieu, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 9770724Abstract: An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: VLN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventor: Mohan Vijay
-
Patent number: 9757756Abstract: A method of prepping a cylindrical inner surface of a bore using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet apparatus entails generating a pressurized waterjet using a high-pressure water pump, generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip to vibrate to thereby generate the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet, and rotating the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle inside the bore to prep the inner cylindrical surface of the bore using the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjets exiting from the angled exit orifices of the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: VLN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 9739574Abstract: A landmine-neutralization system has a vehicle including a water supply tank and an electrical power supply and an electro-discharge apparatus. The electro-discharge apparatus includes one or more electro-discharge nozzles each having a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply tank and an outlet, a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber and being electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors that are connected to, and chargeable by, the electrical power supply, a second electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes and a switch to cause the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes through one or more exit orifices of the one or more nozzles ahead of the plasma bubble to thereby neutralize a landmine.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan Vijay, Emilio Panarella, Meisheng Xu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce Daniels, Andrew Tieu
-
Patent number: 9718091Abstract: A method of stripping, prepping and coating a surface comprises first stripping the exiting coating from a surface, using continuous or pulsed fluid jet, followed by prepping the surface by the same fluid jet. The method also provides entraining particles into a fluid stream, if desired to generate a particle-entrained fluid stream that is directed at the surface to be stripped and prepped. The particles act as abrasive particles for prepping the surface to a prescribed surface roughness required for subsequent application of a coating to the surface. The method then entails coating the surface by electrically charging particles having the same chemical composition as the particles used to prep the surface. Finally, a charged-particle-entrained fluid stream is directed at high speed at the charged surface to coat the surface. The particles form both mechanical and electronic bonds with the surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Meisheng M. Xu, Emilio Panarella, Wenzhuo Yan, Andrew Hung Tieu, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 9512531Abstract: A method of stripping, prepping and coating a surface includes first stripping the exiting coating from a surface, using continuous or pulsed fluid jet, followed by prepping the surface by the same fluid jet. The method also provides entraining particles into a fluid stream, if desired to generate a particle-entrained fluid stream that is directed at the surface to be stripped and prepped. The particles act as abrasive particles for prepping the surface to a prescribed surface roughness required for subsequent application of a coating to the surface. The method then entails coating the surface by electrically charging particles having the same chemical composition as the particles used to prep the surface. Finally, a charged-particle-entrained fluid stream is directed at high speed at the charged surface to coat the surface. The particles form both mechanical and electronic bonds with the surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Meisheng M. Xu, Emilio Panarella, Wenzhuo Yan, Andrew Hung Tieu, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Publication number: 20140252107Abstract: A method of prepping a cylindrical inner surface of a bore using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet apparatus entails generating a pressurized waterjet using a high-pressure water pump, generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip to vibrate to thereby generate the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet, and rotating the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle inside the bore to prep the inner cylindrical surface of the bore using the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjets exiting from the angled exit orifices of the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 8691014Abstract: Prepping a surface entails entraining a coating particle into a fluid stream, directing the fluid stream containing the coating particle at the surface to be prepped to thereby prep the surface using the coating particle. The prepped surface can then be coated using the same or substantially similar coating particle. This technique can be used with a continuous airjet, a forced pulsed airjet, a continuous waterjet or a forced pulsed waterjet as the carrier stream. This invention solves the problem of foreign blasting particles becoming embedded in the atomic matrix of the surface to be prepped, which can result in unpredictable behavior of the surface properties and even catastrophic failure.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventor: Mohan M. Vijay
-
Publication number: 20140008453Abstract: A method of prepping a cylindrical inner surface of a bore using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet apparatus entails generating a pressurized waterjet using a high-pressure water pump, generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip to vibrate to thereby generate the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet, and rotating the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle inside the bore to prep the inner cylindrical surface of the bore using the high-frequency forced pulsed waterjets exiting from the angled exit orifices of the rotatable ultrasonic nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 8550873Abstract: A method of prepping a surface using a high-frequency forced pulsed waterjet entails generating a high-frequency signal having a frequency f using a high-frequency signal generator, applying the high-frequency signal to a transducer having a microtip to cause the microtip of the transducer to vibrate to thereby generate a forced pulsed waterjet through an exit orifice of a nozzle having an exit orifice diameter d and a length L. The forced pulsed waterjet prepares the surface to within a predetermined range of surface roughness. The surface roughness is determined by selecting operating parameters comprising a standoff distance (SD), a traverse velocity VTR of the nozzle, a water pressure P, a water flow rate Q, a length-to-diameter (L/d) ratio, a microtip-to-orifice distance (a), the frequency f, and an amplitude A of the high-frequency signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Andrew Hung Tieu, Wenzhuo Yan, Bruce R. Daniels
-
Patent number: 8389066Abstract: An innovative method of prepping a surface entails entraining a coating particle into a fluid stream, directing the fluid stream containing the coating particle at the surface to be prepped to thereby prep the surface using the coating particle. The prepped surface can then be coated using the same or substantially similar coating particle. This method can be used with a continuous airjet, a forced pulsed airjet, a continuous waterjet or a forced pulsed waterjet as the carrier stream. This invention solves the problem of foreign blasting particles becoming embedded in the atomic matrix of the surface to be prepped, which can result in unpredictable behavior of the surface properties and even catastrophic failure.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Mohan M. Vijay