Patents Examined by Eric S. McCall
  • Patent number: 12292072
    Abstract: In a management system for an attachment state of an attachment object, a sensor capable of detecting a value equivalent to stress of stress loaded, or a predetermined value from which the value equivalent to stress can be calculated, a washer storage unit storing identification information of a sensing washer, and a washer control unit transmitting the value equivalent to stress and the identification information of the sensing washer via a communication unit, are provided in the sensing washer between a bolt and a nut that attach an attachment object to a structural object. A management processing device acquires the value equivalent to stress and identification information of the sensing washer transmitted from the sensing washer, and presents the value equivalent to stress of the sensing washer of the identification information, or a corresponding stress value, as relational information with respect to a reference value stored in a storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Murata, Ryu Arasawa, Jun Asami
  • Patent number: 12292278
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, a system, a device and a medium for measuring gear tooth profile roughness. The method includes: obtaining design parameters of a target gear pair and test parameters of each tooth profile working point; fitting a measured surface profile and a theoretical tooth profile curve to obtain a surface structure curve; calculating a Hertzian contact width according to the design parameters and the test parameters for each tooth profile working point on the theoretical tooth profile curve, and determining an evaluation length of surface roughness according to the Hertzian contact width; filtering the surface structure curve by means of a filter with a set wavelength to obtain a surface roughness profile; and determining surface roughness parameters of each tooth profile working point in a working area according to the surface roughness profile for each evaluation length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jiachun Lin, Xinyu Fan, Peng Wang, Yunfei Li, Baofeng He, Zhaoyao Shi
  • Patent number: 12292316
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus may include a channel structure configured to couple with an external element and a fluid conduit, such that the channel structure may receive a fluid, at least partially drawn through the external element from an ambient environment, and direct the fluid through the fluid conduit. A sensor may generate sensor data indicating a flow rate of the fluid through the fluid conduit based on monitoring a variation in a pressure at a location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and in relation to an ambient pressure of the ambient environment. The sensor apparatus may enable generation of improved topography information associated with flows of fluid drawn from the external element based on measuring a local pressure at the location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and determining the ambient pressure based on monitoring the local pressure over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: David B. Kane, Yezdi B. Pithawalla, Srinivasan Janardhan, Gerd Kobal
  • Patent number: 12281961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test bed and a method for testing a real test object in driving operation, wherein the test object has at least one real component of a vehicle which is capable of applying torque to a wheel hub. The test bed comprises a load machine configured to be connected to the wheel hub so as to transmit torque, an actuator configured to generate a relative movement between the wheel hub on the one hand and a vehicle frame supporting the wheel hub on the other, simulation means for simulating the driving operation, wherein the simulation means is configured to simulate a virtual wheel and dynamics of the virtual wheel as if it were arranged on the wheel hub, and control means configured to operate the real test object in consideration of the simulated dynamics of the virtual wheel on the test bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Rupert Scheucher, Peter Schöggl, Michael Peinsitt, Andreas Haas, Franz Rabel, Ull Thaler
  • Patent number: 12276582
    Abstract: A sampler system for water contaminants. The sampler system includes an adsorptive sampler housed within a cylindrical enclosure, which has a top face, a bottom face and a cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface of the sampler system is fluid-permeable. A cable connects the top face of the cylindrical enclosure to a flotation device. A spring connects the adsorptive sampler to the bottom face of the cylindrical enclosure. The adsorptive sampler includes a housing having a cavity and an adsorptive material disposed inside the cavity. The housing is attached to the spring and includes a front face and a back face. The spring is a cantilever in the form of a rigid film, wherein the rigid film is connected to the bottom face of the cylindrical enclosure along a flat edge of the rigid film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Nabeel Saeed Fuad Abuzaid, Muhammad Hawwa, Mazen Khaled Nazal
  • Patent number: 12276575
    Abstract: A sensor assembly and a refrigerant sensing system for air conditioning systems can include a sensor controller, a sensor electrically connected to the sensor controller and configured to output sensor data to the sensor controller, and a housing having an interior space enclosing the sensor controller and the sensor. The housing includes a first end and a second end and a barrier disposed between the first end and the second end sealingly separating the interior space. The first end supports the sensor and includes a plurality of openings exposing the sensor to an external environment. The second end supports the sensor controller and substantially prevents the sensor controller from being exposed to the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Jared R. Starling
  • Patent number: 12276569
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an error in a sensor signal during operation of a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. In the method, a switch valve of the fuel injector is activated with the aid of an activation signal, and the sensor signal is detected as a signal of a sensor, which is provided for the purpose of detecting characteristic operating points of the fuel injector, in a respectively predefined time window of the sensor signal, which includes a point in time of a characteristic operating point of the fuel injector. At least one property of the sensor signal is determined, which includes a signal level and/or a rise time. It is determined, based on the at least one property of the sensor signal, whether an error is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lars-Oliver Rack, Ralph Kober, Andreas Schmitt, Egbert Fuchs
  • Patent number: 12265010
    Abstract: A particle measuring device includes a probe including a nozzle spraying a gas on a surface of an object and an inlet inhaling the gas and particles scattered from the surface by the gas; a main pipe including an inflow hole through which the gas flows and a discharge hole through which the gas is discharged; a first manifold provided to connect the main pipe to the nozzle, and supplying the gas to the nozzle; a second manifold provided to connect the main pipe to the inlet between a connecting portion of the first manifold and the discharge hole, and supplying the particles and the gas to the main pipe; a third manifold branched from the second manifold and supplying the particles and the gas; and a particle counter connected to the third manifold, and counting the particles included in the gas supplied through the third manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: KOMICO LTD.
    Inventors: Si Young Park, Seong Min Cho, Su Kyung Son
  • Patent number: 12264989
    Abstract: A wheel test device includes a rail wheel support rotatably supporting a rail wheel, a wheel support rotatably supporting a test wheel in contact with the rail wheel, a first electric motor, a power distributor distributing power generated by the first electric motor to the rail wheel and the test wheel, and a torque generator generating torque to be applied to the test wheel. The torque generator includes a rotating frame rotationally driven by the first electric motor, and a second electric motor mounted on the rotating frame. One of or both the rail wheel and the test wheel is connected to the first electric motor via the torque generator. A rated output of the second electric motor is equal to or more than 3 kW, and moment of inertia of a rotating part of the second electric motor is equal to or less than 0.01 kg·m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: KOKUSAI KEISOKUKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sigeru Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Murauchi, Shuichi Tokita
  • Patent number: 12264951
    Abstract: A fuel flow measuring system includes an ultrasonic fuel flow sensor. The fuel flow sensor includes a first transducer and a second transducer. The first transducer is excited at multiple different excitation frequencies and a voltage, an electric current, and a phase difference between the voltage and the electric current is sensed at the first transducer during excitation. Data points are generated based on the sensed readings and a model is fit to the data points to determine a complex impedance spectrum. The complex impedance spectrum indicates a range of excitation frequencies within a range of a peak resonance frequency of the first transducer. One or more characteristics of excitation signals directed to the second transducer are set based on the determined complex impedance spectrum. In this manner, the signal to noise ratio of ultrasonic signals emitted by the second transducer and received by the first transducer can be maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Ryan Reepmeyer, Cameron Roy Nott, Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Kirk Dennis Wallace
  • Patent number: 12264588
    Abstract: A liquid fuel system for a turbine engine may include one or more sensors configured to generate sensor outputs corresponding to one or more phase properties of a fuel supplied to the turbine engine through a fuel pathway, and a controller configured to generate control commands configured to control one or more controllable components of the liquid fuel system based at least in part on the sensor outputs. The one or more sensors may include one or more phase detection sensors. The fuel may include hydrogen. The fuel may have a liquid phase state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 12259093
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a multiphase production fluid include a fluidic supply and analysis unit configured to transition the fluidic separation chamber to a static state after a complete gaseous phase column and a complete oil phase column are formed within the fluidic separation chamber; communicate with the fluidic separation detector to measure the absolute or relative sizes of the complete gaseous phase column and the complete oil phase column; and calculate an oil/gas volume fraction as a function of the measured sizes of the gaseous phase and oil phase columns in the fluidic separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 12253402
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor 1 comprises a sleeve 2 disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction, a float 3 configured so as to move along said sleeve according to fluctuation of liquid level, a resistor string 4, a plurality of grounding means 5 disposed inside the sleeve 2 and a liquid level signal output means 6 to take out an electric signal detected between a positive electrode side end part 4a and a junction part grounded by the grounding means 5 as a liquid level signal that is a signal corresponding to the liquid level, and further comprises a warning signal output means 7 to output a warning signal when the float 3 is located within a predetermined distance from a warning position that is a predetermined position within a movable range of the float 3. Thereby, a compact and reliable liquid level sensor is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kuwana Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Sasaki
  • Patent number: 12253493
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to measure gas concentration with a high degree of accuracy. A gas sensor is provided with: a sensor enclosure: an ultrasonic transducer provided at one end of the sensor enclosure; an ultrasonic wave reflecting surface which is provided at the other end of the sensor enclosure and which intersects an axial direction of the sensor enclosure; and a plurality of ventilation holes provided in a side wall of the sensor enclosure. The plurality of ventilation holes are provided at positions such that one side of the sensor enclosure cannot be seen from the other side thereof when viewed from a side surface side of the sensor enclosure, and each ventilation hole has a shape extending in the axial direction of the sensor enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignees: Nisshinbo Holdings Inc., Japan Radio Co., Ltd., Ueda Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Seo, Yasuhiro Toriyama
  • Patent number: 12253398
    Abstract: A flow sensor system for detecting the presence or absence of flow of a liquid nutrient formula through a conduit of an enteral feeding system. The flow sensor system includes a channel configured to retain the conduit therein, a heat source disposed at a first location at a first portion of the conduit, and a heat detector disposed at a second location at a second portion of the conduit. The heat source may include an IR LED, and the heat detector may include a thermopile sensor. A method for using the flow sensor system to detect the presence or absence of flow of a liquid nutrient formula through a conduit of an enteral feeding system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: AMSINO MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Sacchetti, Hannu Pulli
  • Patent number: 12253393
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for leak detection/identification are provided herein. Also provided are devices, systems and methods for monitoring and/or measuring fluid usage. In some aspects, a system comprising a sensor, a processing system, and a platform are provided. In some aspects, the sensor may be coupled to a spinning device. The sensor can be configured to detect fluid data, which can comprise, for example, displacement data of liquid and/or movement data associated with the liquid in a container and/or flow data associated with a flow of fluid in a conduit. The processing system can be coupled with the sensor and configured to communicate the fluid data. The platform can comprise an application communicatively coupled to one or more databases storing evaluation data (e.g., known pattern data) and configured to receive the fluid data and determine if there is a leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: IOT Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Abraham Greenboim
  • Patent number: 12253453
    Abstract: Technical equilibrium can be used to measure a single gas isotherm in a relatively fast and continuous manner rather than, for example, in a batch manner. Further, an expansion vessel can be used for successive desorption a multicomponent gas in combination with determining the composition of the multicomponent gas in combination with a calculation that provides both qualitative and quantitative information about the multicomponent gas. Moreover, a multicomponent gas can be flowed through an adsorbent bed and the and the flow of the multicomponent gas flow is shut off and isolated when equilibrium is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Yuguo Wang, Md Ashraful Islam, Ameen Alabdulaal
  • Patent number: 12253157
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel slew drive components and systems. In some cases, a slew drive system can comprise a sensor configured to measure deformation in a deformation element of a sensor carrier component, which can result from axial displacement of a worm gear of the slew drive system. In some cases, measured deformation of a deformation element can be used to determine torque applied to a worm gear by a slew drive worm wheel, as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Kinematics, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Plesniak, Peter Hruby, Brandon Larson
  • Patent number: 12246855
    Abstract: An interface assembly for connecting an on-board propulsion system to a testing facility includes a support member configured for coupling to a manipulation system and a mounting member configured for coupling to the on-board propulsion system. A plurality of channels extends between and couples the mounting member to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, ORBION SPACE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Lyon B. King
  • Patent number: 12247899
    Abstract: An excitation device exciting a vehicle by applying a vibration to at least one of a plurality of tires of the vehicle, which includes: a first restricting part arranged in one of a front and rear direction of at least one of the plurality of tires to restrict a movement of the vehicle in the front and rear direction, a second restricting part arranged in another of a front and rear direction of the one of tires to restrict a movement of the vehicle in the front and rear direction, and an actuator configured to be able to drive at least one of the first restricting part and the second restricting part so as to increase or decrease a distance between each other in a front and rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Inagawa, Susumu Akutsu