Patents Examined by Christopher W. Fulton
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Patent number: 11414985Abstract: Tools and methods are described to measure dimensions of wellbores. Downhole caliper tools include a downhole collar and an uphole collar having a running position and a sensing position. The uphole collar is farther from the downhole collar in the running position than in the sensing position. A caliper sensor assembly includes: a sensor module defining tracks extending parallel to an axis of the caliper tool, the sensor module positioned towards an uphole end of the caliper tool relative to the uphole collar; and a caliper disposed between the downhole collar and the uphole collar including: a flexible mesh extending from the downhole collar to the uphole collar. Movement of the uphole collar from the running position to the sensing position axially compresses and radially expands the flexible mesh. The annular sensor module can measure dimensions of the flexible mesh relative to the axis of the caliper tool.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Bandar S. Al-Malki, Bodong Li, Guodong Zhan, Timothy Eric Moellendick
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Patent number: 11415415Abstract: An effective inexpensive, compact and easy-to-use self-leveling laser level capable of projecting at least two laser beams at any desired angle dialed on a 360-degree format.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2022Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Inventor: David Uribe
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Patent number: 11415412Abstract: A measurement probe is described that includes a probe body, a stylus that is deflectable relative to the probe body, and a plurality of sensor elements for generating a sensor signal indicative of stylus deflection. An analyser is provided, optionally as part of a trigger unit, to analyse the sensor signals and issues a trigger signal to indicate the stylus has contacted an object. The analyser is arranged to combine a plurality of the sensor signals to generate a resultant deflection signal for comparison to a deflection threshold and is also arranged to detect oscillatory motion of the stylus by analysing at least one of the sensor signals. The analyser only issues a trigger signal when the resultant deflection signal crosses the deflection threshold and no oscillatory motion of the stylus is detected. The measurement probe may be used on a machine tool or other coordinate positioning apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Jamie John Buckingham, Michael John Wooldridge, Ben Richard Holden, Stephen Peter Ewen
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Patent number: 11408184Abstract: A tile spacing device and accompanying system and method are disclosed for spacing multiple tiles. In one embodiment, a central body has four arms extending therefrom with a releasably frangible connection. Each of the four arms has a cellular sheet structure defined by multiple cells, including at least one hexagonal cell. The central body and the four arms provide a four-tile engagement configuration. By selectively breaking and removing an arm, a three-tile engagement configuration may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Acufloor, LLCInventors: Clinton D. Bunch, Joshua A. Bunch
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Patent number: 11397063Abstract: An improved jig for manufacturing a firearm lower receiver is comprised of a power tool mount; an adapter; a guide plate with plate screws; a rear support with mounting screws; a front support; and at least one of a carriages with at least one locating pin. A guide plate is disposed below the top surface of a lower receiver in conjunction with an adapter. The jig is a universal fitment and includes a bearing to support a rotary tool and at least one guiding feature can be used to facilitate in the guidance of the rotary tool without placing the rotary tool in direct contact with any of the guidance features. A removable locating pin is situated a long the front and rear takedown pin holes of a firearm receiver that is not threaded and is provided with at least one of a pull, string or other handle.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: BlackHawk Manufacturing Group Inc.Inventor: Wayne R. Partington
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Patent number: 11391565Abstract: Provided are a marker that enables, within a smaller area size, measurement of the position or the attitude of an object, and a marker manufacturing method. The marker is provided with a variable moire pattern 3 that includes a striped pattern 9 which is formed on a two-dimensional plane and a lens array 7 in which a plurality of lenses are arranged on the two-dimensional plane on which the striped pattern 9 is formed.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventor: Hideyuki Tanaka
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Patent number: 11385055Abstract: Various aspects of a laser level interfacing with a modular storage system are shown. The laser level couples to a storage unit and/or a stand that itself couples to the storage unit. The stand extends past the front of the storage unit and permits the laser level to emit line in the downward direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventor: Christopher R. Millane
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Patent number: 11385052Abstract: There is provided a surveying instrument including a tripod which is installed on an installation surface and a surveying instrument main body which is provided on the tripod and laterally rotatable around a longitudinal axis, wherein the tripod includes a reference leg has a known relationship between a lower end of the reference leg and a machine reference point which is a machine center of the surveying instrument main body, and two auxiliary legs, the reference leg is installed in such a manner that a lower end of the reference leg coincides with a reference point, wherein the surveying instrument main body calculates a position of the machine reference point with respect to the reference point based on the positional relationship between the lower end of the reference leg and the machine reference point.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: TOPCON CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Nishita, Fumio Ohtomo
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Patent number: 11385040Abstract: Portable shaft wear measurement devices for, and methods of, measuring gage wear of driving elements, e.g., splines or keyways, on drive shafts, having at least one standard having a profile matching the profile of the driving element, the device being capable of disposing over the shaft when it is still attached to the machine that provides the driving force, so that when the device is installed over the shaft, the standard is capable of some angular rotation around a central axis, the degree of angular rotation being limited by the amount of wear of the driving elements, an indicator mechanism magnifying the amount of indication of wear by disposing the indicator radially outwardly of the central axis. A method of measurement using such a device, and a method of statistical regression analysis of wear of a shaft over time alerts when the shaft requires replacement.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Inventor: Baker Verdin Gregory
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Patent number: 11378379Abstract: A tool cutting edge measuring device that is mounted on a horizontal lathe and multitasking machine includes contact type sensors and an arm. The sensors are configured to measure cutting edge positions of tools in a machining chamber and the arm is movable between an advance position and a retracted position. The arm advances into the machining chamber at the advance position and retracts from the machining chamber at the retracted position. The arm has distal ends provided with two branching units branched into the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction at the advance position and the sensors are mounted to the respective branching units.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Okuma CorporationInventor: Shinya Naruse
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Patent number: 11378395Abstract: An electro-optical level employs a bubble tube with opposite first and second ends. First and second light emitters are disposed respectively beyond the first and second axial ends of the tube and direct light toward the ends of the bubble in the tube. Electro-optical detectors are aligned substantially parallel to the axis of the tube and are spaced from the tube. First and second beams from the respective first and second light emitters scatter as the beams impinge upon the bubble. However, the scattered light from each light emitter will form a bright spot on the respective electro-optical detector at a point corresponding to the end of the bubble. The locations of the bright spots are detected by the electro-optical detectors and precisely determine the locations of the opposite ends of the bubble regardless of dimensional changes of the tube or the bubble due to temperature variations.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2021Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Hamar Laser Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Martin R. Hamar, Carlos Araujo
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Patent number: 11378374Abstract: An inspection and measurement device includes a body defining a first planar face within a first bounded area, a first reference feature disposed on the first planar face within the first bounded area and corresponding with a first measurable parameter, and at least a second reference feature disposed on the first planar face within the first bounded area and corresponding with a second measurable parameter. The first and second reference features are positioned within the first bounded area for placement adjacent an element bearing the respective one of the first and second measurable parameters. The first and second reference features overlap within the first bounded area in at least one direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Inventor: Gregory E. Lowitz
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Patent number: 11371821Abstract: A method for extracting a gear tooth profile edge based on an engagement-pixel image edge tracking method includes defining a transmission ratio relationship between a cutter and an envelope tooth profile, setting a cutter profile step size and an envelope step size, acquiring instantaneous contact images at different engaging times, and performing a binarization processing on each curve envelope cluster image; sweeping a boundary of an envelope curve cluster, acquiring pixel points of the edge; preliminarily tracking a tooth profile edge, and then performing a secondary extraction and compensation on the pixel points; calibrating coordinates of a cutter profile; extracting a pixel coordinate of an instantaneous engaging point; converting the pixel points among different instantaneous engaging images; extracting a final tooth profile coordinate of the gear, and performing a tooth shape error analysis and a contact line error analysis.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: XIAMEN UNIVERSITYInventors: Bin Yao, Zhiqin Cai, Binqiang Chen
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Patent number: 11371820Abstract: The present invention relates measuring tapes and methods for making thereof. In particular, the measuring tape of the present invention contains a wipe mechanism for cleaning the tape as it retracts into its housing. The wipe mechanism contains a top wipe and a bottom wipe for removing debris from the top and bottom surfaces of the tape, respectively, when it is retracted after use.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: MUCKTAPE LLCInventor: Joseph P. Zelenack, Jr.
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Patent number: 11366448Abstract: A method that corrects an error in positioning in a positioning mechanism by using a measurable length value measured by a laser interferometer and a measured value for spatial coordinates measured by the positioning mechanism. The method includes a measurement step in which a retroreflector affixed to a displacer is displaced to a plurality of measurement points, and the measured length value and the measured value at each of the measurement points is acquired; and a parameter calculation step in which a correction parameter is calculated based on the measured value, the measured length value, and the coordinates of a rotation center of the tracking-type laser interferometer. A first correction constant is applied to the measured length value for each measurement line, and a second correction constant different from the first correction constant is applied to the coordinates of the rotation center of the interferometer for each measurement line.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichiro Yanaka, Masayuki Nara
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Patent number: 11366447Abstract: A spatial accuracy correction apparatus performs a spatial accuracy correction of a positioner displacing a displacer to a predetermined set of spatial coordinates using a measurable length value measured by an interferometer and a measurable value of the set of spatial coordinates of the displacement body that is measured by the positioner. The measured length value and the measured value for each measurement point are acquired by displacing the displacement body to a plurality of measurement points in order, one or more repeated measurements are conducted for at least one of the plurality of measurement points being measured after conducting measurement of the measured length value and the measured value for each of the plurality of measurement points, and the plurality of points are measured again when a repeat error of the measured length value is equal to or greater than a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichiro Yanaka, Masayuki Nara
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Patent number: 11357222Abstract: A fish measurement device including a hinged rigid bump board in combination with a slidably engageable cradle and a method for verification of fish measurement when using the device. The device having a QR tag used during the verification method authenticating fish size during a Catch, Photo, Release fishing tournament using a Tournament Management System.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Ketch Products, Inc.Inventors: Robert Weskamp, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 11360494Abstract: A system, apparatus and method of cleaning tubes of a heat exchanger or a tube bundle that includes disengaging the heat exchanger or bundle from a use-position in a process or a plant; moving the heat exchanger or bundle to a cleaning station remote from the use-position; positioning the heat exchanger or tube bundle in front of a cleaning apparatus; providing water jet cleaning equipment on the cleaning apparatus; responding to programming in a computing device and controlling the water jet cleaning equipment and a cleaning operation; providing a pattern of tube openings defined in an end plate of the heat exchanger or bundle to the computing device; actuating the water jet cleaning equipment with the computing device; and manually or automatically performing a cleaning operation with the water jet cleaning equipment under control of the programming of the computing device and by following the provided pattern of tube openings.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: TERYDON, INC.Inventors: Terry D. Gromes, Sr., Terry D. Gromes, Jr., Kristen E. Griffin, Jon M. Shockey, Jr., Gordon W. East, William C. Jackson
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Patent number: 11359906Abstract: A system and a method for uniformed surface measurement are provided, in which a sensor is provided to perform measurements on a carrier in a polishing machine, and a measuring trajectory of the sensor on the carrier is adjusted by controlling the pivoting of a sensor carrier carrying the sensor and the rotation of a rotating platform in the polishing machine in order to achieve uniformed surface measurements of the carrier and real-time constructions of the surface topography. This allows the polishing state of the carrier to be monitored in real time, thereby improving the efficiency of the polishing process. A sensing apparatus for uniformed surface measurement is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: TA LIANG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Chao-Chang Chen, Jen-Chieh Li, Yong-Jie Ciou, Hsien-Ming Lee, Jian-Shian Lin, Chun-Chen Chen, Ching-Tang Hsueh
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Patent number: 11353310Abstract: A tile square includes a right isosceles triangular substantially rigid transparent sheet with ruler indicia adjacent to the hypotenuse and one of the equal sides. A fence is provided along the other equal side. A plurality of templates are formed in the sheet between the sides and hypotenuse. The templates include a plurality of holes for a range of pipe sizes and a series of arcs defining peripheral boundaries of a closet or toilet flange. The equal sides of the tool are at least 18 inches in length.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Inventor: Ashton Travis Johnson