Patents Examined by Anthony V. Ciarlante
  • Patent number: 4400973
    Abstract: This invention provides a rugged dip-type viscometer suitable for use in a rotogravure printing plant, for example. The capillary of the viscometer is joined to a slotted protective collar and gives high precision measurements with inks that contain air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Allan J. Hegedus
  • Patent number: 4399685
    Abstract: A device for measuring both force and kinetic energy includes a first cylindrical tube with one end closed, which tube is positioned over a calibrated spring that has one of its ends adjacent the closed end of the first tube. The other end of the spring extends beyond the open end of the first tube and is received within a second cylindrical tube mounted to slide over the first tube and having one closed end adjacent the other end of the spring. For measuring kinetic energy an indicator member is positioned about the first tube in such a manner that it is displaceable by contact with the open end of the second tube during compression of the spring and remains on the first tube at the point of maximum displacement when the compression of the spring is relieved. The position of the indicator with respect to the first tube is a measure of the kinetic energy that compressed the spring and the position of the second tube with respect to the first tube is a measure of that static compression force on the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Dover Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Atkey
  • Patent number: 4399689
    Abstract: A cell for photoacoustic spectroscopy has a metal heat conductive rod immersed at one end in a liquid coolant and another end forming part of the sample-receiving cell for accurate control of the temperature to eliminate thermal distortion of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Kernforschungsanlage Julich GmbH
    Inventors: Paul S. Bechthold, Johann Chatzipetros
  • Patent number: 4398425
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic scanning transducer for use in an ultrasonic scanning system that examines an object by directing a series of ultrasonic waves into the object, receiving electrical signals related to the echoes generated by the ultrasonic waves when they strike acoustical interfaces within the object, and displaying the information borne by the electrical signals relating to the nature and location of acoustical interfaces within the object. The ultrasonic scanning transducer includes transducer elements secured to a permanent magnet mounted for rotational movement within the housing of the transducer and a stator assembly for rotating the transducers and magnet continuously in a single direction. The stator assembly receives a periodic signal having a zero average value and creates therefrom a unidirectionally rotating magnetic field which exerts a force on and rotates the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Dymax Corporation
    Inventor: Terrance Matzuk
  • Patent number: 4398422
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic applicator for line-by-line ultrasonic scanning supplies echo signals to a device for displaying a layer image. The aim of the disclosure is to produce an imaging system which does not cause any coupling problems in any position of the application location; in addition, application should also be possible, in particular, in the chest area for obtaining subcostal sectional images. This aim is achieved by a line-by-line scanning applicator being also additionally pivotally or rotatably mounted, for the purpose of oscillation or rotation of the scanning surface, about such an oscillating-or rotating-axis, e.g. over a specifiable angular range and by a motor drive, with the applicator being firmly assigned to the selected application location during the angular movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Haerten
  • Patent number: 4395909
    Abstract: An array of acoustic receiving transducers is placed next to the body to be imaged. Acoustic energy is initially projected through the body, picked up by these receiving transducers, and processed to determine any time domain deviations which exist in the paths actually followed by that energy from those paths which would have been followed if the body were substantially homogeneous and the transducer array substantially fixed. Further acoustic energy is also picked-up by the transducers, after reflection within the body to be imaged. The image of any given point within the body is then formed by selecting from each transducer output signal that portion which corresponds to the image forming energy emanating from that point, as corrected in accordance with the previously determined deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Imaging Associates
    Inventors: Bernard D. Steinberg, Earl N. Powers
  • Patent number: 4393711
    Abstract: A method of in-service ultrasonic detection of intergranular stress corrosion cracking conditions in pipe sections of nuclear power plants. A plurality of ultrasonic return signal features and an associated general form of algorithmic combination are selected on the basis of ultrasonic pipe studies to use in distinguishing return signals from cracking conditions and geometric reflectors. A calibration pipe sample having a prearranged configuration with geometric reflectors substantially corresponding to the unknown pipe section and at least one known cracking condition is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin E. Lapides
  • Patent number: 4392381
    Abstract: Driver bar assembly for vibration test apparatus, comprising a bar element and a retainer element separably connected thereto; the bar element having a normally vertically disposed base attachable to a pivotally mounted shaker head and a normally horizontally disposed flange adapted to lie in a common plane with and spaced from a slip plate to be driven by the shaker head; the retainer element having a first bracket in which the bar element flange is bracketable, and a second bracket in which the slip plate is bracketable opposite the bar element flange, whereby the flange and slip plate spacing is bridged in vibration transmitting relation between the shaker head and the slip plate; the retainer element being separable from the slip plate and the bar element flange without relative movement of the slip plate and shaker head, the bar element and shaker head being freely angularly movable relative to the slip plate in the separated condition of the retainer element and the bar element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Kimball Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Martin
  • Patent number: 4391143
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for inspecting the interface between the walls of a double-wall tube comprises a cylindrical body member having two cavities axially spaced apart thereon. The probe is placed in the tube and ultrasonic energy is transmitted from a transducer in its body member to a reflector in one of its cavities and thence into the inner wall of the tube. A second transducer in the probe body member communicates with the second cavity through a collimation passage in the body member, and the amount of ultrasonic energy reflected from the interface between the walls of the tube to a second reflector through the collimation passage to the second transducer depends upon the characteristics of said interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kenneth V. Cook, Robert A. Cunningham, Jr., Horace T. Murrin
  • Patent number: 4391144
    Abstract: An ultrasonic test probe comprises a transducer and an electrical circuit, particularly means for generating the high voltage transmit pulse to the transducer, all disposed within the probe housing. The high voltage transmit pulse is produced by current flow through an electrical inductor. Other circuit components are also arranged within the probe housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Krautkramer-Branson, Inc.
    Inventor: Rolf Diederichs
  • Patent number: 4391142
    Abstract: A tracking generator 21 is slaved to a spectrum analyzer 23 to produce an input signal having a frequency that follows the frequency of the spectrum analyzer sweeping local oscillator 22. The input signal is gated to a transducer 26 by a transmitter gate 25 to produce ultrasonic waves in the sample 28. The resulting ultrasonic echoes are converted into electrical signals by the transducer and then gated into the spectrum analyzer by receiver gate 29. This arrangement produces spectra that are equivalent to shock-exciting the transducer with a true delta function shock-excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John H. Cantrell, Jr., Joseph S. Heyman
  • Patent number: 4391135
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining the location of the liquid level in a well or borehole. A source of acoustic pressure pulses is coupled to the surface casing so that they are transmitted down the well and reflected by the gas-liquid interface. A transducer is also coupled to the well to produce an electrical signal in response to direct and reflected acoustic pulses occurring in the well. Gating circuitry responds to the transducer for starting and stopping the counting of clock pulses by a digital counter. A digital readout device is used to indicate the depth to the liquid level in the well. The acoustic pulse source is automatically actuated at predetermined times, and the depth to the liquid level and the time are automatically recorded. This produces a record of time and liquid depth which can extend over a period of several days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Godbey, Billy G. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4389891
    Abstract: A system for measuring resonance frequencies in turbine and compressor vanes and propeller blades in which a vane or blade is excited at its base by a vibration generator and the phase of the excitation signal coming out of an acoustic transducer placed at the base is compared to that of the signal coming from a displacement transducer placed at the blade tip. The resulting phase error signal serves to pilot a variable-frequency oscillator which itself feeds the vibration generator, the frequency of which is noted by a frequency meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation, "S.N.E.C.M.A."
    Inventor: Jacques M. A. Fournier
  • Patent number: 4389893
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring an attenuation characteristic in a region of interest using ultrasound wherein two statistically independent set of values are accumulated as a difference between logarithms of pairs of each signal set, and the attenuation characteristic calculated as a central tendency parameter of each set of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Ophir, Nabil F. Maklad
  • Patent number: 4388832
    Abstract: In an apparatus for receiving ultrasonic waves by optical means a laser beam illuminates a workpiece surface at which ultrasonic waves are manifest in the form of cyclically occurring surface deformations. The reflected light is transmitted to an optical interferometer as a measuring light beam and the beam exiting from the interferometer is converted to an electrical signal and amplified to provide a measuring beam responsive electrical signal. A portion of the laser beam immediately before being incident on the workpiece surface is also passed through the interferometer as a comparison beam. The exiting comparison beam light is converted to an electrical signal, amplified and time delayed to provide a comparison beam responsive electrical signal. By means of a subtracting circuit the comparison beam responsive electrical signal is subtracted from the measuring beam responsive electrical signal to provide a difference signal which is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Krautkramer-Branson, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Kaule
  • Patent number: 4388831
    Abstract: A probe is disclosed for the nondestructive inspection of the interior walls of cylindrical recesses, comprising an elongated shaft having an ultrasonic transducer mounted thereon a predetermined distance from the longitudinal axis of the shaft and oriented for directing the axis of radiation of ultrasonic energy emanating from the transducer outwardly in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In another embodiment, the probe comprises a shaft having a lateral extension whereon a first ultrasonic transducer is mounted at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal axis of the shaft and is oriented for directing the axis of radiation of ultrasonic energy emanating therefrom parallel to a line formed by the intersection of planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the shaft and lateral extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ira N. Sherman
  • Patent number: 4388823
    Abstract: The apparatus for measuring the viscosity of liquids comprises an inclined viscosimetric tube (1) enclosing a ball (3). A device is provided for measuring the duration of fall of the ball (3) in the tube (1). An electromagnet (8) adjacent the tube (1) has poles (9) which set up along the tube (1) a gradient of a magnetic field allowing the automatic rising of the ball (3). The apparatus is used mainly for measuring the viscosity and the time of the coagulation of blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Medica-Test
    Inventors: Guy Garnaud, Roger Bouhier
  • Patent number: 4387597
    Abstract: A scanner includes a scan head having a linear array of transducers Xn, and a transmitter 106 which excites the transducers in response to transmit signals TRn from a reference generator 110 so that the transducers emit a plurality of successive bursts of ultrasonic energy, each burst producing a transmitted beam which is steered and focused along a radially-extending scan line. To effect received beam steering and focusing, received signals Sn from the transducers are supplied to a processor 112 along with associated in-phase binary reference signals bn(R) and quadrature binary reference signals bn(I). The received signal is multiplied by a reference signal and the product is integrated for a specific time duration whose time occurrence is used to steer and focus the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marco A. Brandestini
  • Patent number: 4387596
    Abstract: Spherical bodies, such as bearing balls, are tested for machining irregularities or structural defects by subjecting them to supersonic vibrations from two or more ultrasound generators through the intermediary of a coupling liquid in which these bodies are immersed. One ultrasound generator has an axis in line with the body being tested while the other generator or generators have axes including acute angles with the radial directions of that body. The body is subjected to rotation in different planes by injecting the coupling liquid, alternately or simultaneously but at varying relative rates, through two different nozzles into an interspace separating the body from a spherically concave supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer & Co.
    Inventors: Max Fenkner, Hilmar Wehner
  • Patent number: RE31312
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and monitoring the tension on a web or strand as it extends and/or moves over and around a roll including a support assembly for supporting at least one end of the roll, said support assembly including a bridge structure having spaced connected bridge portions aligned with the roll on opposite sides of the axis thereof, a mounting member attached to anchor one end of the bridge structure in fixed position, a diaphragm member attached to the opposite end of the bridge structure, a mounting structure for attaching the diaphragm member to the roll, at least two and preferably four strain sensitive gage members attached to one of said spaced connected bridge portions, and a bridge type electric circuit including circuit connections to said strain sensitivie gage members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: W. J. Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald R. Eddens