Patents Examined by J M Saint Surin
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Patent number: 9645042Abstract: Resonance test machine for vibration strength testing of a test body which is clamped between a cross member and a vibration head. The vibration head, test body and cross member are part of a second sub-oscillatory system which is vibratable in an axis x, in which the test body and a resonator containing the vibration head, a vibration spring and a vibration body are arranged successively in series along the x axis. A first sub-oscillatory system, which is also vibratable in axis x, is present in series to the second sub-oscillatory system and the resonator, wherein the first sub-oscillatory system contains the vibration body, spring elements, a seismic mass and electromagnetic vibration exciters.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: RUSSENBERGER PRÜFMASCHINEN AGInventor: Jürg Berchtold
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Patent number: 9645047Abstract: A method wherein the possible abnormal noisiness and vibrations of a rolling bearing for a wheel hub unit are detected by fixing a first one of the inner and outer rings of the bearing integral on a support provided with a first and a second accelerometer so that the first and second accelerometers have respective measurement axes (X, Y) arranged at a right angle relative to each other on a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (A) of the bearing. A second ring of the bearing is angularly coupled with means for rotating it at a predetermined speed, calculated beforehand based on operating parameters of the bearing; processing means detect in a predetermined time interval a first and a second electric signal (T1, T2) emitted by the first and second accelerometers and, through a frequency analysis, obtain a frequency spectrum (P) of the amplitude of any vibrations detected.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventors: Raffaele Montagnoni, Luca Volpato
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Patent number: 9632063Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic apparatus 1 for detecting delamination in the thickness of a panel of laminated composite. The diagnostic apparatus can be used to inspect a panel having a non-constant thickness along its length. The diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe 30 intended to be brought into contact with the front face of the panel to be inspected, an electronic device 40 for controlling the emission and reception of ultrasonic pulses 51 by the ultrasonic probe 30, and a display device 41 having, notably, indicators showing the presence or absence of delamination in the panel.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignees: Airbus Operations (SAS), European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company Eads FranceInventors: Patrick Metayer, Marion Pages
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Patent number: 9631964Abstract: A material flow sensor for a harvesting machine comprising an acoustic chamber comprising an impact plate and a housing, microphone, a pneumatic impulse line connecting the housing and the microphone, and an electronics module, wherein the housing is shaped so as to direct sound waves created by crop matter striking the impact plate into the pneumatic impulse line, wherein the sound waves move through the pneumatic impulse line into the microphone, which detects the sound waves and converts them into an electrical signal that is a representation of the sound power derived from the sound waves, which in turn is a representation of the mass of the crop matter striking the material flow sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLCInventors: Joshua N. Gelinske, Barry D. Batcheller, Paul A. Nystuen, Adam A. Reich, Bradley R. Thurow, Bradley K. Schleusner
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Patent number: 9625425Abstract: A bond inspection system may include a material that reacts to applied activation energy by creating a compression wave, the material positioned adjacent a surface of a structure having a bond to be inspected and shaped in a predetermined pattern, such that reaction of the material causes compression waves to travel through the surface and structure; a source of activation energy capable of directing the activation energy at the material; and a controller programmed to actuate the source of activation energy to direct the activation energy at discrete portions of the predetermined pattern of material in a predetermined sequence selected to create a plurality of the compression waves so that the compression waves reflect from an opposite side of the structure as a plurality of tension waves that combine at substantially the same time at a bondline of the structure to be inspected.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Alan Frank Stewart, Marc Joel Piehl, Douglas Allen Frisch, Kevin R. Housen, William J. Sweet
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Patent number: 9625421Abstract: A scanner system and method for acquisition of position-based ultrasonic inspection data are described. The scanner system includes an inspection probe and a first non-contact linear encoder having a first sensor and a first scale to track inspection probe position. The first sensor is positioned to maintain a continuous non-contact interface between the first sensor and the first scale and to maintain a continuous alignment of the first sensor with the inspection probe. The scanner system may be used to acquire two-dimensional inspection probe position data by including a second non-contact linear encoder having a second sensor and a second scale, the second sensor positioned to maintain a continuous non-contact interface between the second sensor and the second scale and to maintain a continuous alignment of the second sensor with the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: U.S. Department of EnergyInventor: Charles Keith Sword
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Patent number: 9618482Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for remotely determining the impulse response of an object irradiated by a pulse train with low-intensity pulses of electromagnetic radiation. A complete representation of the pulse train transmitted towards the object is known in advance, and a convolution between the signal representation of the pulse train and the signal of the detected response from the object is performed, which provides a signal representation of the impulse response. Said signal representation can then be used, e.g., to analyze possible defects in the structure of the object.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: TOTALFORSVARETS FORSKNINGSINSTITUT (FOI)Inventors: Claes Vahlberg, Joakim Vikström
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Patent number: 9618405Abstract: A piezoelectric acoustic resonator based sensor is presented herein. A device can include an array of piezoelectric transducers and an array of cavities that has been attached to the array of piezoelectric transducers to form an array of resonators. A resonator of the array of resonators can be associated with a first frequency response corresponding to a first determination that the resonator has been touched, and a second frequency response corresponding to a second determination that the resonator has not been touched. The array of piezoelectric transducers can include a piezoelectric material; a first set of electrodes that has been formed a first side of the piezoelectric material; and a second set of electrodes that has been formed on second side of the piezoelectric material.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.Inventors: Fang Liu, Julius Ming-Lin Tsai, Xiang Li, Mike Daneman
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Patent number: 9618384Abstract: An acoustic measurement system for detecting locked blade assemblies in a gas turbine having a plurality of blade assemblies. The system includes at least one acoustic sensor for detecting acoustic energy generated as a result of movement of the blade assemblies during a turning gear operation. In addition, the system includes a housing for holding the acoustic sensor, wherein the housing is mounted to an outer diffuser of the gas turbine. The housing also includes a rotatable joint for enabling rotation of the acoustic sensor. Further, the system includes a data acquisition unit that detects an absence of acoustic energy wherein the absence of acoustic energy is indicative of locked blade assemblies. The blade assemblies are locked due to wedging of a sealing pin between the blade assemblies. The acoustic energy is detected in a frequency range of approximately 0.9 kHz to 10 kHz.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Clifford Hatcher, Jr., Forrest R. Ruhge, John E. Junkin, Mark L. Kamphaus
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Patent number: 9612226Abstract: A method for measuring the degree of fusion involves: a step for creating a dividing pulse amplitude curve by using a probe that emits ultrasound beams; a step for scanning the probe that emits ultrasound beams at a predetermined angle on a surface that has weld beads of multiple welding specimens having different degrees of fusion and for obtaining beam path length information from the dividing pulse amplitude curve and the height of an F echo that returned to the probe after hitting the fused section of a welding site; and a step for obtaining a regression formula expressing the relationship between the beam path length information and the degree of fusion.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignees: IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd., IHI CorporationInventors: Yuji Takeda, Takahiro Yamagami, Kunio Yonekura, Hiroaki Hatanaka, Hiroki Kawai, Arisa Yanagihara
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Patent number: 9606087Abstract: An ultrasonic near-surface inundation testing (UNIT) device includes a soil cell device, a head tank feeding fluid into the soil cell and a reservoir tank feeding fluid into the head tank. The soil cell device includes a substantially planar base, at least one removable top plate with at least one pressure equalization port, at least one bottom plate, at least one sample chamber holding a soil sample, bender ports and a bender sensor pair. The base connects to chamber posts. The top plate connects to the chamber posts and has a cell inlet receiving fluid from the head tank. The bottom plate connects to the chamber posts and has a cell outlet passing fluid to the reservoir tank. The sample chamber, including at least one removable chamber plate, is located between the top and bottom plates. The bender sensor pair extend into the sample chamber through the bender ports.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMYInventors: Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor, Katie E. Martin
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Patent number: 9605995Abstract: The embodiments relate to the use of one or more phase lock loops (PLL's) for detecting wobble of a surface upon which a computing device is set. The PLL's can be configured to lock onto an exponentially-damped sinusoid output from an accelerometer in order to differentiate between surface-induced movement and direct human-induced movement of the computing device. Reduced latency in wobble detection can be achieved by implementing the PLL in software and using multiple PLL's per accelerometer axis. Further reduction in the latency of wobble detection can be achieved by seeding the phase of an oscillator signal generated by each PLL in order to improve phase estimates when attempting to lock a PLL onto the accelerometer output.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: James S. Ismail
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Patent number: 9599504Abstract: An apparatus to detect vibration is provided. The apparatus comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical transmitter is configured to send an optical signal that is modified by a vibration sensor. The optical receiver configured to receive the optical signal from the vibration sensor, the optical signal comprising fluctuations responsive to vibration of the vibration sensor. The optical signal includes a radio frequency (RF) signal. The vibration sensor is comprised by an optical assembly configured to detect underground vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Andrew R. Rollinger
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Patent number: 9599576Abstract: A system for determining properties and structural integrity of a material comprises a probe including a housing, a source operable to propagate an acoustic energy through a thickness of the material, a source operable to propagate a radio frequency (RF) energy through the thickness of the material, an acoustic member mounted within the housing and operable to measure a response of the material to the acoustic energy, and a radio frequency (RF) member mounted within the hollow interior in a close proximity to the acoustic member and operable to measure a response of the material to the RF energy. A hardware interface device is coupled to both acoustic and RF members. A controller is coupled to the hardware interface and configured to receive the acoustic and RF response signals and includes a processor operable to process the received acoustic and RF response signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Nokomis, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Richard Portune, Walter John Keller, III
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Patent number: 9594059Abstract: A system for automated bond testing includes a sensor that scans a material to be tested; a computer for comparing a reflected signal waveform to a plurality of signal waveforms indicating a defect in the material, and assigning a unique color to the match; a display that displays an image of the material having an assigned one of the plurality of colors indicative of a presence or absence of a defect in the test area; and an automated scanning platform that supports the sensor, the scanning platform moving the sensor in a preset motion over a surface of a test area of the material to be tested to perform an inspection scan of the material at the test area, and that positions the sensor at a predetermined position, a predetermined angle, and a predetermined contact force to acquire data consistently during an inspection.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Steven K. Brady, Gary E. Georgeson, Tyler M. Holmes, Donald D. Palmer, Jr., Nathan R. Smith
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Patent number: 9594058Abstract: One aspect of a process of inspecting a joint that connects two parts includes directing an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic beam transmitter at a joint that connects two parts, the ultrasonic beam forming an angle between at least 14 degrees and at most 21 degrees with a joint axis of the joint, wherein the ultrasonic beam passes through a joint thickness of the joint. The process also includes determining a quality of the joint based, in part, on a difference between a strength of the ultrasonic beam directed at the joint and a strength of a portion of the ultrasonic beam that passed through the joint thickness.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Robert James Barry
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Patent number: 9595179Abstract: The method includes receiving a real-time signal containing information pertaining to amplitude and frequency of vibrations of a machine component over a frequency spectrum including a first analysis bandwidth and a second analysis bandwidth, and using the real-time signal to determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the first analysis bandwidth in a first unit of one of displacement, velocity, and acceleration, and determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the second analysis bandwidth in a second unit of one of displacement, velocity and acceleration, the second unit being different from the first unit; and associating the determined values in a common unit representing comparable severity of vibrations in the first analysis bandwidth and the second analysis bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: VIBROSYSTM INC.Inventors: Mathieu Cloutier, Marius Cloutier, Louis-Pierre Lalonde
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Patent number: 9588009Abstract: This ultrasonic fatigue testing machine is one that resonates a test piece by an ultrasonic wave to perform a fatigue test, and configured to include an ultrasonic wave generation part 10, a displacement measurement part 20, and a control part 30 that controls the overall operation of the ultrasonic fatigue testing machine. The control part 30 is configured to have a computer that includes storage devices capable of store programs and various types of data, such as an RAM and an ROM, and an arithmetic unit such as a CPU, and includes an internal temperature estimation part 31, an allowable range setting part 32, and a determination part 33 as a main functional configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventor: Tohru Matsuura
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Patent number: 9574975Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a device for fluid sampling. The device may have two panels that are or may be adhered, attached or otherwise connected to opposite sides of a sampling bag having flexible walls. The panels may be used for conveniently inflating or deflating the sampling bag and obtaining fluid samples.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: NEXTTEQ LLCInventors: Gueorgui M. Mihaylov, Bryan I. Truex
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Patent number: 9568453Abstract: A system to measure the internal state of a bundle of tubes by injecting a signal into each tube of the bundle, receiving reflections from the tube due to anomalies within the tube, then analyzing the reflections to determine the type or characteristics about the anomalies. The analyzed information is stored in database to be used for statistical processing. Further, the device can be used in the performance of a cleaning process by conducting an initial assessment of the tubes in a bundle of tubes, comparing the stored data and estimating the number of cleaning cycles that will be required, and re-conducting the evaluation of the state of the tubes after every cleaning cycle or after every few cleaning cycles.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: ARISE GLOBAL PTE. LTDInventors: Noam Amir, Tal Pechter
