Patents Examined by Freddie Kirkland, III
  • Patent number: 11915530
    Abstract: In one aspect, a wheel end monitoring apparatus comprising a wheel hub configured to receive a wheel rim and be clamped therewith. The wheel end monitoring apparatus further includes a power source, at least one sensor, and communication circuitry that are rotatable with the wheel hub. The at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one property of the clamped wheel hub and the wheel rim. The at least one property is indicative of the clamping of the clamped wheel hub and the wheel rim. The communication circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate data associated with the at least one property to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Consolidated Metco, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Mortensen, Brian Bove, Kaustubh Deshmukh, Timothy James Reddington, II
  • Patent number: 11906485
    Abstract: The invention relates to an indenter receptacle for a measuring device, having a receptacle for detachably fastening an indenter, having an interface for mounting a measuring device, wherein a solid body joint arrangement is provided, which at least three solid body joints are provided between the interface and the receptacle and which are aligned offset at 90° to one another with respect to their flexibility in only one spatial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Helmut Fischer GmbH Institut für Elektronik und Messtechnik
    Inventors: Tanja Haas, Henry Thiele, Josef Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11898922
    Abstract: A torque sensor includes: a strain body; and an optical sensor configured to detect a deformation of the strain body. The strain body includes an outer peripheral portion having a ring shape, and an inner peripheral portion of which at least a part is disposed inside the outer peripheral portion in a radial direction. The optical sensor includes a scale fixed to one of the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion, and disposed between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion, and a detector fixed to a remaining one of the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion, and disposed to face the scale between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Fei Zhao, Kumiko Toma, Takehito Soga, Kenichi Sadakane, Yasushi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11898980
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a feedback circuit part and a sensor circuit part. The feedback circuit part includes a reference resistor and a first temperature sensing element which are connected in series, a first heater resistor that heats the first temperature sensing element, and a first amplifier circuit that controls the amount of current to flow in the first heater resistor based on an internal potential. The sensor circuit part includes a second temperature sensing element and a second heater resistor that heats the second temperature sensing element. A current according to the output of the first amplifier circuit flows in the second heater resistor. With this configuration, it is possible to automatically change the amount of current to flow in the second heater resistor according to ambient temperature without digital processing to thereby heat the second temperature sensing element to a constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11890760
    Abstract: A balancer abnormality detection system includes: a robot; a motor configured to operate the robot; a balancer provided in the robot and configured to generate assist torque which assists power of the motor with force generated by elastic bodies; and a controller configured to detect abnormality of the balancer by measuring a current value of the motor operated to keep a posture of the robot during standby of the robot and comparing the current value with a current command value of the motor necessary for keeping the posture of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuusei Onodera
  • Patent number: 11885699
    Abstract: An optical fiber system for a body part of an anthropomorphic test device is disclosed that includes at least one body part and at least one optical fiber that has a plurality of cores in a spaced and helical relationship with one another that extend between ends of the optical fiber for sensing positions of the at least one body part. Each of the cores have a plurality of grating sensors disposed along a length thereof capable of determining a position and orientation of the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Humanetics Innovative Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Rogerio Tadeu Ramos, Christopher Emslie
  • Patent number: 11885701
    Abstract: A bicycle torque detector includes a crank shaft formed with a first ring section and a second ring section; the first ring section serving for receiving a deformation sleeve accommodating ring and a deformable sleeve; the second ring section serving for receiving a circuit board ring; a circular casing serving to enclose all the crank shaft, the elastic ring, the sleeve, and the circuit board ring; wherein the first ring section of the crank shaft is formed with at least one resisting portion; the deformable sleeve has at least one resisting portion; the resisting portion of the crank shaft resists against one end of the deformation sleeve accommodating ring; another end of the deformation sleeve accommodating ring resists against the resisting portions of the deformable sleeve. A rear end of the deformable sleeve is engaged to a chain sleeve. The deformation sleeve accommodating ring is adhesive with sensing sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NEW KAILUNG GEAR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jen-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 11879863
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing a liquid sample that solves a problem of a kinetically slow equilibrium at a liquid-solid interface, the problem occurring when liquid sample analysis is performed with a chemical sensor. In the method for analyzing a liquid sample according to an embodiment of the present invention, a component to be analyzed in a liquid sample is adsorbed on a receptor layer of a chemical sensor, one or more kinds of gases are then supplied to the chemical sensor, and a response thereof is measured. As a result, since a slow equilibrium at a liquid-solid interface is not used, a high-sensitivity measurement can be performed in a short time, and existing findings regarding analysis of gas samples on which much progress in research has been achieved can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Kosuke Minami, Genki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11874183
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for testing a force or strain sensor in a continuous fashion. The method employs a sensor, a test fixture, a load cell, a mechanical actuator and tester hardware and software to simultaneously record signal outputs from the sensor and load cell as functions of time. The method provides time synchronization events for recording data streams between, for example, a linear ramp of the force on, or displacement of, the sensor and for extracting performance characteristics from the data in post-test processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: NextInput, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dueweke, Allan Liu, Dan Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11874190
    Abstract: A simulation device for the screw joint simulation of a nutrunner includes a test connecting element rigidly connected to a brake unit. The nutrunner can be coupled to the test connecting element and activated to exert a torque that rotates the test connecting element about an axis of rotation. Activation of the brake unit brakes the test connecting element. A torque transducer includes a rotational angle transducer for measuring a rotational angle by which the test connecting element rotates about the rotation axis. The simulation device includes a zero mark, and the brake unit can be adjusted to a zero angle with respect to the zero mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Gerald Neumann, Siegfried Fischer
  • Patent number: 11868099
    Abstract: Cracks in foundations may be detected by sensing motion within the foundation. Depth sensors may be applied to a foundation, and the depths of the sensors may be read. At subsequent points in time the depths of the sensors may be read again. If the depths of the sensors are changing in a way that suggests that portions of the foundation are moving apart from each other, then it may be inferred that a crack is forming in the foundation. The formation of cracks may be used to take various actions. For example, the owner of the building that rests on the foundation may be information of the crack so that he or she may take remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Bradly Jay Billman
  • Patent number: 11859493
    Abstract: A device includes a pressure measuring segment, a connecting rod, a hydraulic pump, a pressure gauge, a high-pressure oil pipe, a pressure control valve, a tray, a push rod and a connection casing. The pressure measuring segment is on the connecting rod, a front end of the push rod is connected with the connecting rod, the tray is at a rear end of the push rod, the connection casing is connected with the tray. The pressure measuring segment includes a main pipe, a hydraulic bladder, a fixing ring, a barrier sheet, an outer pillow housing and a connection sleeve. Both ends of the hydraulic bladder are sleeved on the main pipe, an oil inlet is in communication with the hydraulic bladder, the outer pillow housing is sleeved on the main pipe, the connection sleeve is wrapped around the outer pillow housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Fenghai Yu, Kai Zhou, Yunliang Tan, Xuepeng Gao, Wei Zhao
  • Patent number: 11860050
    Abstract: A load detector includes a housing having a height direction, and a load sensor provided within the housing. The load detector further includes a base platform, an elastic beam and an elastic member, the base being floatingly supported on the housing by the elastic beam, and the elastic member being provided on the base platform for receiving a load force. With the load force is applied to the elastic member, the elastic beam and the elastic member are simultaneously elastically deformed in the height direction, and the load force is transmitted to the load sensor via the base platform. The base platform is floatingly supported on the housing by the elastic beam, so that a high sensitivity of the load sensor may be enabled and the load sensor may be prevented from damage caused by excessive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd., TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Hai Mei, Xuetang Zhao, Qineng Hu, Guohua Wu
  • Patent number: 11860054
    Abstract: A force testing machine (FTM) validation apparatus is disclosed for validating a test process involving a force testing machine to measure forces involved in operation of a syringe arrangement. Particularly a syringe arrangement that includes a staked-in needle prefilled syringe and a needle safety device cooperating with the staked-in needle prefilled syringe. The FTM validation apparatus includes a syringe arrangement surrogate, and a holder arranged to support the syringe arrangement surrogate in a predefined position and orientation in the force testing machine. The syringe arrangement surrogate includes a break loose part arranged to mimic a break loose force of the syringe arrangement and an injection force part arranged to mimic an injection force of the syringe arrangement. Methods are also disclosed for validating a test process that measures forces involved in operation of a syringe arrangement and for measuring forces involved in operation of the syringe arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE INC.
    Inventors: Sascha Dreher, Martin Vogelmann, Thorben Hammerich, Eva Conraths, Paolo Moroni, Georg Cramm
  • Patent number: 11852556
    Abstract: For more accurate load measurement, a load measuring arrangement includes a test object and a load measuring device for measuring a load on the test object. The load measuring device includes at least one magnetic field detection device for detecting a magnetic field parameter changing due to load at a measuring zone of the test object. The test object is work-hardened, at least at the measuring zone and at least in a near-surface region extending from a surface facing the magnetic field detection device to a depth of 20 ?m, in such a way that it has a dislocation density of at least 5e8/cm2 and/or a residual stress of at least 400 MPa in amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Trafag AG
    Inventors: Tobias Ettenauer, Falk von Seggern
  • Patent number: 11852107
    Abstract: A leakage detector includes a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in a detecting target area of the fuel vapor treatment system and a controller. The controller measures the pressure in the detecting target area at a certain point in time. The controller then determines whether the measured pressure satisfies a condition for leakage detection by a vapor pressure device. When the controller determines that the condition is satisfied, the controller selects the vapor pressure device. When the controller determines that the condition is not satisfied, the controller predicts the change in vapor pressure at a subsequent temperature based on a saturated vapor pressure characteristic of the fuel. If it is determined the pressure in the detecting target will satisfy a predetermined condition, the controller selects a pressure application device. If it is determined that the predetermined condition will be satisfied, the controller selects the vapor pressure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Tanida, Mariko Kawase
  • Patent number: 11841197
    Abstract: A data logger device for monitoring operation of a flexible lance drive apparatus is disclosed that includes a cylindrical housing removably connected to an air fluid pressure line to the drive apparatus, a circuit board mounted in the housing, a pressure sensing switch mounted on the circuit board and communicating with the fluid in the pressure line, and a processor and memory on the board operable to log time at which the switch changes state between two predetermined states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Schneider, Joseph Schneider, Rawlin Brown
  • Patent number: 11821472
    Abstract: A power-output torque detection mechanism includes an axle having two ends to which an input assembly and an output assembly drivable by the input assembly are respectively mounted. A torsion coupling assembly is arranged between the input assembly and the output assembly and the torsion coupling assembly is operable to detect a torque value that is transmitted out in a wired manner. As such, it is possible to fulfill fine and precise detection and transmission of a torque value, while avoiding distortion resulting from noise interference to allow subsequent input of assisting power to be more timely and more accurate. Further, the structure is effectively simplified to allow easy production and maintenance for further reducing overall cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: Li-Ho Yao
  • Patent number: 11815416
    Abstract: A displacement detection device and a torque sensor include a movable part that is connected to a first member and to a second member and that changes a gap along with displacement of the second member with respect to the first member in a prescribed direction; and a detection part (detection circuit) that, on the basis of the change in the gap detects displacement of the second member with respect to the first member in the prescribed direction, wherein the movable part is configured to make the amount of N change in the gap greater than the amount of displacement of the second member with respect to the first member in the prescribed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11815498
    Abstract: In the specification and drawings a method for testing a proppant is described and shown that involves: obtaining a proppant sample containing one or more grains of proppant; assigning at least one size value to the one or more grains of proppant contained within the proppant sample, the at least one size value corresponding to a size of one or more grains of proppant; determining the amount of proppant that is in the largest size value of the at least one size value; subjecting at least a portion of the proppant sample to a pressure, thus creating a post-pressure subjected proppant sample; and determining the amount of the post-pressure subjected proppant sample that is in the largest size value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TRUE CRUSH TESTING, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew D. Bryant