Patents Examined by David A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11000801
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide (CO2) separation membrane plant abnormality detection system includes: an entrance unit through which gas containing CO2 enters a plant including a CO2 separation membrane module; a separation membrane module; a permeation unit configured to discharge the gas with the relatively high CO2 concentration, which is discharged from the separation membrane module, to the outside of the plant; a residue unit configured to discharge the gas with the relatively low CO2 concentration, which is discharged from the separation membrane module, to the outside of the plant; a measurer configured to measure information; and a controller configured to determine the presence of an abnormality, wherein the controller determines whether the plant is in an abnormal situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignees: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION, ARSTROMA CO., LTD., KOREA EAST-WEST POWER CO., LTD., KOREA SOUTH-EAST POWER CO., LTD., KOREA WESTERN POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Sub Kim, Jung Bin Lee, Joong Won Lee, Ky Yeong Shin, Gwan Shig Kim
  • Patent number: 10996158
    Abstract: In the present invention, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. In a preferred embodiment, an enhanced evapoporometry (EP) technique is provided to determine pore size distribution of continuous pores of a porous structure. In this enhanced EP technique, a volatile liquid, such as isopropoyl alcohol or water, is supplied to one side of a porous structure in order to enable the volatile liquid to penetrate and saturate the porous structure through capillary force. Thereafter, an immiscible non-volatile liquid, such as glycerol, mineral oils, silicon oils or hydrophilic ionic liquid, is supplied to the one side of the porous structure. As the volatile liquid evaporates progressively from the filled pores, the emptied pores may be immediately filled by the non-volatile liquid drawn upwards by capillary action. This prevents formation of a t-layer formed from the adsorption of vapour emanating from the volatile liquid that is used to saturate the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: William Bernard Krantz, Jia Wei Chew, Farhad Zamani
  • Patent number: 10989328
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the erosion of internal components of a valve having a valve (200, 300, 400) which in turn comprising a body (44, 17, 24), a trim (46, 19, 26) and a seat (21, 28, 48) and at least an ultrasonic probe (22, 40, 29) able to transmit ultrasonic waves through the internal components and receive waves reflection through. In this system, the gaps between the internal components of the valve are closed and the distances between them are almost equal to zero so that the continuity between components is able to transfer the waves determining therefore the distance between the ultrasonic probe (22, 40, 29) and the internal component to be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CCI Italy S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabio Giove
  • Patent number: 10988602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of testing silanization, which permits inline control of the in situ silanization of light-colored fillers, especially precipitated silicas. This enables continuous in situ silanization in the production of rubber mixtures comprising silanized light-colored fillers, and representative control of the rubber mixture under production conditions. The process is additionally nondestructive and has a high tolerance for carbon black as an additional constituent of the rubber mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schroeder, Lars Wawrzinski, Ludwig Graeff, Juergen Schilling
  • Patent number: 10983244
    Abstract: Methods of scanning an object using a pendulum gravimeter are disclosed. The pendulum gravimeter may include an interferometer, such as a Sagnac interferometer, to determine a displacement on the pendulum by way of a mirror attached to the pendulum. Scanning of the object may be performed in 1D, 2D, or 3D, and may result in an image of the object. In another aspect, a mass may be tracked while in motion using a pendulum gravimeter to detect the gravitational attraction of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell
  • Patent number: 10976212
    Abstract: Provided are a leak inspection assistance device and a leak inspection method using the same which enable using a normal leak inspection device in a leak inspection of filters in a clean room, have a small cost burden since a scanning robot, large-scape equipment, an incidental work, and the like are not required, and enable performing the accurate leak inspection with a small number of workers. A projection device which projects a suction point of a suction probe adjunct to a leak inspection device which performs a leak inspection onto a surface of a filter in a clean room in such a manner that the suction point moves in X-Y axis directions orthogonal to each other along the surface of the filter at a fixed interval and a fixed speed is provided, and a worker uses the suction probe for scanning in accordance with movement of the suction point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10969296
    Abstract: Leak-detection systems for detecting fluid leaks in component(s) included in an apparatus are disclosed. The leak-detection systems may include an inspection vehicle for inspecting the component(s) of the apparatus. The inspection vehicle may include at least one camera positioned on a housing, and a fluid-detection tool coupled to the housing. The fluid-detection tool may detect fluids leaking from the component(s) of the apparatus. The leak-detection system may also include a leak-detection device in electronic communication with the fluid-detection tool of the inspection vehicle. The leak-detection device may be configured to identify a specific component of the apparatus leaking a fluid using fluid detection data generated by the fluid-detection tool of the inspection vehicle, and predetermined component data relating to each component of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aarthi Sivarkkamani, Brian Kenneth Bassett, Luis Armando Sanchez Del Valle
  • Patent number: 10969320
    Abstract: A method and a device for the online determination of the viscosity of a polymer in pasty to liquid form undergoing processing, such as extrusion is disclosed. It is provided that for the online determination of the viscosity of the polymer, at least a portion of the polymer undergoing processing is diverted and conveyed to the measurement volume of a measuring module, a predetermined volume of the respective batch is expelled from the measurement volume through a measurement nozzle by subjecting the batch to a predetermined pressure, the time required for expelling the predetermined volume of the batch is measured, the measured values are used for calculating the viscosity of the polymer, and prior to the filling of the measurement volume with the polymer to be measured, the measurement volume is flushed at least once with a quantity of the polymer being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: EREMA ENGINEERING RECYCLING MASCHINEN UND ANLAGEN GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventors: Sebastian Sochor, Florian Schieder
  • Patent number: 10962455
    Abstract: A method for testing the rigidity of a particular disposable for volumetric balancing, for a blood treatment device. The method includes filling the disposable or portion thereof with a liquid, enclosing the filled liquid, so that a certain volume of liquid is present in the disposable unit or the portion thereof, supplying and/or discharging a certain volume of liquid, and measuring the change in pressure caused by the supply and/or discharge of the volume of liquid. A blood treatment device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Arne Peters, Christoph Wiktor
  • Patent number: 10962465
    Abstract: Devices to determine the filtration behavior of a device for filtering gaseous fluid. These devices are characterized by unchanged reproducibility during further tests. To this end, the device comprises a first device for setting a particular differential pressure, a second device having a certain degree of filtration efficiency of the gaseous fluid, which flows through the devices, of the filter test system such that a differential pressure and/or filtration efficiency are adjustable in a variable fashion and independently of one another, and the first device (2) and the second device (3) are normal for filtration, with permanently constant characteristics with regard to the differential pressure that is set and the filtration efficiency that is set as a reference device for simulation of a filtering separator, a first adapter for coupling on the inflow side, and a second adapter for coupling on the outflow side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Topas GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Adam, Andreas Rudolph, Franziska Mayer, Stephan List
  • Patent number: 10955378
    Abstract: A method for detecting an analyte comprises providing a first carbon-based material comprising reactive chemistry additives, providing conductive electrodes connected to the first carbon-based material, exposing the first carbon-based material to an analyte, applying a plurality of alternating currents having a range of frequencies across the conductive electrodes, and measuring the complex impedance of the first carbon-based material using the plurality of alternating currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: LytEn, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Stowell, Bruce Lanning, Sung H. Lim, Shreeyukta Singh, John Chmiola
  • Patent number: 10948467
    Abstract: Provided is an online centralized monitoring and analysis system using an electronic nose instrument for multi-point malodorous gases, and the system includes an electronic nose instrument, which connects with multiple monitoring points through pipes. On-site malodorous gases in the maximum range of 2.5 km are drawn into the electronic nose instrument within 1 min by the external vacuum pump, and forced to flow through an annular working chamber of a gas sensor array for 30 s by the internal vacuum pump periodically. The modular convolution neural networks online learn the recent time-series responses of the gas sensor array and predict their coming responses, and the modular deep neural networks offline set up the relationship between the responses and multiple concentration items according to odor big data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: East China University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Daqi Gao, Xiaoqin Zhang, Zejian Wang, Liming Zhao
  • Patent number: 10948473
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus (18) are described for assessing fat in whey in the making of a dairy product in accordance with a dairy product recipe. The method comprises the steps of: a. using one or more optical sensors (61, 62, 63, 64) to sense at least one stream (22, 24, 27, 29) of whey separated from curd in dairy product making apparatus (18) and generate one or more signals indicative of the degree of occlusion of the stream (22, 24, 27, 29) of whey; b. converting or processing one or more said signals as a measure of the specific mass of fat lost from curd in a dairy product making plant (18) in the stream of whey; c. assessing whether the value of specific mass of fat lost obtained in Step b lies within or outside a predetermined fat loss range; and d. if the said value of specific mass of fat lost is outside the predetermined range, adjusting the recipe so that the value of specific mass of fat lost lies within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Arla Foods Limited
    Inventor: Ian Jarvis
  • Patent number: 10948475
    Abstract: Products and processes are provided herewith for analyzing octane content in a fuel sample that include the step or steps of receiving an octane measurement of a fuel sample from a octane analyzer, rounding the octane measurement to a nearest recognized octane rating, comparing the rounded octane measurement with a listed octane rating for the fuel sample, and communicating results of the comparison to a user of the octane analyzer. The octane analyzer may be incorporated into a fuel pump or a vehicle. The results of the comparison may also be used to adjust the vehicle operating parameters to account for the actual octane rating of the fuel dispensed into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Antonio Papageorgiou
  • Patent number: 10948104
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a device for regulating the flow of a gas, the device having a flow conduit and a shutter assembly that defines a restriction in the flow conduit. The method includes: causing the transit of gas through the flow conduit; defining a sequence of time intervals (Z1 . . . Zn) of corresponding durations (t1 . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Pietro Fiorentini S.P.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco De Feo
  • Patent number: 10948319
    Abstract: An electrical process control sensor assembly 10 for sensing a process or machine parameter, the assembly 10 including a sensor body 12 and a head 14, the body 12 defining a body interior 20. The assembly includes a sensing device 22 at least partially located in the body interior 20. The head 14 defines a head interior 24 which communicates with the body interior 20. The assembly 10 includes a connector arrangement 26 located in the head interior 24. The assembly 10 includes internal communicating members 28 extending between the sensing device 22 and the connector arrangement 26, the connector arrangement 26 connecting, in an installed condition, the internal communicating members 28 to external communicating members 30 to permit electrical communication therebetween. The head 14 defines a port 34 through which the external connecting members 30 are located in the installed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LONGVALE LIMITED
    Inventors: Ben Hiron-Jones, Nathan Dear
  • Patent number: 10942045
    Abstract: A portable sensor calibration target includes a frame assembly, a first panel, and a second panel. The frame assembly may include three legs and a plurality of frame edges that is configured to form a first frame and a second frame and is configured to be held at a pre-selected height above ground by the legs. The first panel is removably attached to the first frame in an unfolded position, and includes a plurality of boards and a plurality of hinges connecting the plurality of boards. The first panel is configured to fold at the plurality of hinges into a folded position. The second panel is removably attached to the second frame adjacent to the first frame. The first panel and the second panel meet to form an edge, which is detectable by a detection system of a vehicle for calibrating the detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Crawford, Rikard Grunnan
  • Patent number: 10928289
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved viscosity measuring assemblies, and related methods of use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous measuring assemblies configured to measure the viscosity of samples/fluids (e.g., opaque or transparent liquids) using microchannels. The present disclosure provides for a viscosity measuring assembly (e.g., hand-held electronic measuring assembly) that is configured to measure the viscosity of samples/fluids (e.g., opaque or transparent Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids, including blood, etc.), in a short period of time (e.g., within a couple of minutes) utilizing only about a droplet of fluid. The viscosity measuring assembly can include a substrate having a microchannel, a light source (e.g., a collimated low coherence light source), and a sensor (e.g., photodiode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: George Lykotrafitis, Kostyantyn Partola
  • Patent number: 10930954
    Abstract: In an inspection method for inspecting occurrence of a deformation in a fuel cell, a change amount between a pressure loss parameter value before an impact and a pressure loss parameter value after the impact is found, and when the change amount is a reference value determined in advance or more, it is determined that the deformation occurs inside the fuel cell. It is determined that the deformation occurs inside the fuel cell due to the impact, in at least either of a case where the change amount of a first pressure loss parameter value that is a pressure loss parameter value in a gas passage is a first reference value or more and a case where the change amount of a second pressure loss parameter value that is a pressure loss parameter value in a refrigerant passage is a second reference value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Enomoto, Toshiyuki Tonuma, Shinya Sano, Kento Ida
  • Patent number: 10926523
    Abstract: Techniques for modifying surfaces of electrodes are provided. An electrode surface can be processed by applying an abrasive material or chemical solution to or against the surface to modify the surface to reduce the amount of roughness on, and/or alter the shape of, the surface. The shape of the surface can be altered by rounding or doming the surface. During surface processing, flexible or compressible support material can be applied to the back of an abrasive material, such as sandpaper, to desirably distribute pressure from the support material to the sandpaper and/or mold the shape of the sandpaper to facilitate maintaining desirable contact by the sandpaper on electrode surfaces. With regard to a flexible circuit board on which electrodes are formed, a vacuum chuck component or a temporary abrasive can be used to hold the circuit board in a flat and stationary position during surface processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sensel, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Gregory Isaacson, Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, Stephanie Jeanne Oberg, Brogan Carl Miller