Patents Examined by Jacques M. Saint-Surin
  • Patent number: 11754433
    Abstract: A load sensing system having at least one load sensing assembly for use with a weigh frame, each assembly including at least a first lever and a second lever. Each lever has a lever longitudinal axis, a lever fulcrum section, a lever load section, and a lever connector section spaced from the lever fulcrum section and the lever load section along the lever longitudinal axis. For each lever, a flexure plate is aligned in parallel with the lever longitudinal axis and has a middle bearing portion and opposing end portions with one of the end portions fixedly attached to its respective lever. Each lever fulcrum section has a lever bearing surface including one of (i) a line-of-contact rounded bearing edge oriented perpendicular to the lever longitudinal axis or (ii) a flat bearing face. The lever bearing surface of each lever touches the middle bearing portion of the flexure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hyer Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank S. Hyer
  • Patent number: 11758291
    Abstract: A device and method used to image wells and other fluid-carrying tubulars having localized features of interest. The device scans large areas of the tubular first in a low-resolution mode, then identifies areas that contain those localized features with some probability. The device images the identified areas in a high-resolution mode and stores the images for further image processing. The device may comprise two sensors axially spaced-apart on the device, which sensors may be electromagnetic, acoustic, or cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Robinson, Kurt Kolb
  • Patent number: 11754530
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes a wave guide, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a calculation part. The wave guide is formed in a rod shape, is inserted into a hole that is formed at a predetermined depth from a surface of a measurement target, and has one end fixed to a deepest portion of the hole. The first sensor is provided at the other end of the wave guide at a position that is substantially the same as the surface. The second sensor is provided on the surface of the measurement target. The calculation part estimates a depth of damage occurring in the measurement target from the surface on the basis of a first detection value of an elastic wave transmitted to the measurement target which is detected by the first sensor through the wave guide and a second detection value obtained by an elastic wave which is detected by the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidefumi Takamine, Yuki Ueda, Keisuke Ueno, Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe
  • Patent number: 11747305
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring binding kinetics of an interaction of an analyte material present in a fluid sample are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensing resonator having at least one binding site for the analyte material; actuation circuitry adapted to drive the sensing resonator into an oscillating motion; measurement circuitry coupled to the sensing resonator and adapted to measure an output signal of the sensing resonator representing resonance characteristics of the oscillating motion of the sensing resonator; and a controller coupled to the actuation and measurement circuitry, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an individual binding event between the at least one binding site and a molecule of the analyte material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Qorvo Biotechnologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Webster
  • Patent number: 11747307
    Abstract: A method for non-destructive testing of a mechanical part by a multi-element transducer having piezoelectric elements, where: for each element e(i) of the transducer, the emission of an ultrasonic wave at a given frequency and measurement, by each element e(j) distinct from the element e(i), of a time-varying signal kij(t) representing the back-scattered ultrasonic wave received by the element e(j); the determination of a first matrix of time-varying components based on measured signals kij(t), i, j=1, . . . , N; the determination of a second matrix of frequency components corresponding to a determined frequency based on the frequency of the ultrasonic wave by applying a Fourier transform to said first matrix; the filtering of said second matrix comprising a projection of it onto a single scattering sub-space determined by means of a numerical calculation using a ray tracing algorithm; and the verification of the integrity of the mechanical part by using said filtered second matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Aurélien Baelde, Claire Prada, Frédéric Jenson
  • Patent number: 11747306
    Abstract: The present application provides a pipeline structural fault diagnosis apparatus and a diagnosis method. The pipeline structural fault diagnosis apparatus includes a signal generating apparatus configured to generate an acoustic wave signal by knocking a pipeline; a signal collecting apparatus configured to collect the acoustic wave signal; a signal storage apparatus configured to store the acoustic wave signal for a signal processing and analyzing apparatus to analyze and determine a fault type, a fault degree, and a fault position. The acoustic wave signal after being generated by the signal generating apparatus is collected by the signal collecting apparatus and stored in the signal storage apparatus. The signal processing and analyzing apparatus extracts the acoustic wave signal in the signal storage apparatus, and performs processing and analysis to determine the fault type, the fault degree, and the fault position of the pipeline structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: China University of Petroleum - Beijing
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Xiaoben Liu, Tong Shi, Honglin Zhao, Chengqi Liu, Jie Liu
  • Patent number: 11740207
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic probe and an analyzer. The probe includes a flexible delay line and an ultrasonic transducer array at a first delay line end. A second delay line end can contact a target. The analyzer can receive ultrasonic echoes from the ultrasonic transducers representing amplitude of ultrasonic signals reflected from the target as a function of time from transmission. The analyzer determines a maximum amplitude of the echoes received by each transducer, scale the maximum amplitudes based upon a greatest maximum amplitude, and bin the scaled maximum amplitudes. The analyzer assigns each bin a color and generate a C-scan based upon the scaled amplitudes. Each C-scan pixel can correspond to at least one transducer, and the relative position of each C-scan pixel can correspond to the relative position of the ultrasonic transducer represented by the pixel. Each pixel can be displayed with its assigned color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Bruch, Ralf Ratering
  • Patent number: 11740120
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor the weight of a silo or tank is disclosed. The system is adapted to be attached to a leg of the silo and comprises a load cell, a support member anchored to the ground and a lifting device attached to the load cell and to the support member. The load cell comprises two extremities that are attached to the silo leg and comprises an aperture there between. The aperture is preferably threaded to receive the lifting device, such as a bolt. The bolt is rotated using a tool as to induce a movement of the load cell along the axis of the bolt thereby lifting the load cell and the attached silo leg. Strain gauges are attached to the load cell to measure the variation in an electric or optical signal that is translated in human readable data using a monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGIES INTELIA INC.
    Inventor: Claude Bouchard
  • Patent number: 11744157
    Abstract: A system includes a surface, an actuator, and a controller. The surface has a fluid flowing over the surface. The actuator is coupled to the surface to move the surface relative to the fluid. The controller causes the actuator to cause the surface to generate a surface wave that modifies drag in the fluid. The actuator can cause the surface to generate a Love wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: David William Wine
  • Patent number: 11740209
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing device performs flaw detection on a stringer having an inner circumferential surface of a substantially rectangular shape closed in a transverse section. The ultrasonic testing device includes: a shoe configured to be in contact with a corner of the inner circumferential surface of the stringer; an ultrasonic array configured to be fixed to the shoe to define, together with the shoe and the corner a medium space in which a contact medium used for propagating an ultrasonic wave is enclosed, and configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to the corner and receive a reflected ultrasonic wave; and a forcing unit configured to be in contact with a corner and push the shoe against the corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahito Shimomukai, Jumpei Komoto
  • Patent number: 11733211
    Abstract: A method for testing a component non-destructively, particularly for internal defects, includes the following steps: a) providing a rotationally symmetrical component having a plurality of preferably cylindrical recesses, which are arranged at one or more hole circles, b) arranging a transmitter probe serving as an ultrasound transmitter and a receiver probe serving as an ultrasound receiver spaced apart from each other outside the component such that ultrasound waves can be irradiated into a shaded area located behind one of the recesses in the component by the transmitter probe and ultrasound waves which are diffracted at least at one defect present in the shaded area can be received by the receiver probe, and c) using time of flight to determine whether one or more faults are present in the shaded area. An apparatus carries out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Philipp Kahlert, Michael Opheys, Andreas Sperling
  • Patent number: 11731673
    Abstract: A wheel-mounted sensor ring is configured to be removably attachable to a hub portion of a railcar wheel of a railcar wheelset for use in determining anomalies associated with the railcar wheel, or a railcar bogie assembly that the railcar wheelset is part of, or a track, during motion of the railcar wheelset on a track. The sensor ring includes one or more sensors, such as inertial measurement units (IMU's), mounted thereto to measure parameters that are used for determining the anomalies during motion of the railcar wheel on the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BALANCED ENGINEERING SOLUTION, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen T. Buchanan, Eric L. Canfield
  • Patent number: 11725979
    Abstract: A laboratory weighing kit comprises two layers: a disposable paper-structured weighing boat in the upper layer and a corresponding-shaped weighing base in the lower layer. The weighing boat has a sample loading portion in the rear to carry chemicals or samples, and a funnel portion in the front to transfer samples. In order to consolidate storage space, either the front funnel can be opened to two portions or the back wall of the weighing boat is opened. The weighing boat can be creased to form a permanent fold. The weighing boat in the upper layer can be either removable from or permanently attached to the weighing base in the lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Chemrus, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianjian Cai, Xiaogao Liu
  • Patent number: 11717967
    Abstract: A plan for scanning an object using an array of ultrasonic transducers is prepared by identifying one or more enabled transducers for each of a plurality of selected grid positions defined on a surface of the object. The identification is made considering a direction of incidence of a planned ultrasonic signal emitted by each transducer, considering the array being positioned at each of the selected positions, and considering a surface normal vector at a grid position that would be impinged by the planned ultrasonic signal. The scan plan is complete when all grid positions defined on the surface of the array are covered by moving the array to all of the selected grid positions. The scan plan is executed by moving the array according to the scan plan while collecting, by the transducers enabled at each selected grid position, eventual responses to the ultrasonic signals from their respective grid positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TECSCAN SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Grimard, Rene Sicard, Sam H. Serhan
  • Patent number: 11719567
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic scale in disclosed in this disclosure, which is applied to measure and indicate a state of an external force, comprises the following steps. A weight sensor detects the external force, and a controller drives a prompting device to emit a first light with a first optical characteristic when the external force detected by the weight sensor reaches a first weight. The controller drives the prompting device to emit a second light with a second optical characteristic when the prompting device emits the first light for a predetermined period, wherein the prompting device continuously emits the second light until the external force reaches a second weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Kang Chen, Yu Tao Kao, Jiun Lin Wu, Chien Huang
  • Patent number: 11714009
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor comprises a transducer in operable communication with a power source, a waveguide comprising a metal and at least one of a fissile material or a fertile material in operable communication with the transducer and configured to propagate and reflect acoustic waves generated by the transducer, the transducer configured to convert reflected acoustic waves to an electric signal, a thermally insulative material proximate the waveguide, and a control system in operable communication with the transducer, the control system configured to determine at least a temperature of the waveguide based on the reflected acoustic waves. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas E. Woolstenhulme, Joshua Daw, Colby B. Jensen, James R. Parry, Lance A. Hone
  • Patent number: 11709093
    Abstract: System include an ultrasonic transducer configured to couple to a nondestructive testing (NDT) sample and configured to produce and direct an ultrasonic probe wave at a selected frequency into a subsurface region of the NDT sample, a 3D laser scanning vibrometer configured to direct a detection beam in a scan area on a surface of the NDT sample and to receive a return beam from the scan area, and to detect, based on the return beam, a 3D motion of the surface across a wideband frequency range, and a processor, and a memory configured with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to produce sub-surface image data of the NDT sample at multiple harmonics of the selected frequency in the wideband frequency range based on the detected 3D surface motion, wherein the sub-surface image data describes a nonlinear defect response produced in the NDT sample by interaction of the ultrasonic probe wave with the subsurface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: Triad National Security, LLC, Tohoku University
    Inventors: Marcel Remillieux, Yoshikazu Ohara
  • Patent number: 11698292
    Abstract: The embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a sensing device, comprising: an elastic component; a sensing cavity, wherein the elastic component forms a first sidewall of the sensing cavity; and an energy conversion component configured to obtain a sensing signal and convert the sensing signal into an electrical signal, the energy conversion component being in communication with the sensing cavity, and the sensing signal relating to a change of a volume of the sensing cavity, wherein at least one convex structure is arranged on one side of the elastic component facing toward the sensing cavity, the elastic component drives the at least one convex structure to move in response to an external signal, and the movement of the at least one convex structure changing the volume of the sensing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenjun Deng, Yongshuai Yuan, Wenbing Zhou, Yujia Huang
  • Patent number: 11692973
    Abstract: Methods for determining reservoir characteristics of a well can include receiving a first core from the well; performing an experiment to determine the wave velocity associated with a first direction of the first core, the experiment including: transmitting an ultrasonic wave through the first core in the first direction; receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave; and determining a directional wave velocity of the first core based on the transmitted ultrasonic wave and the received transmitted ultrasonic wave, wherein the directional wave velocity represents a wave velocity along the first direction; rotating the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core; and performing the experiment along a second direction of the first core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ji Soo Lee, Gary Eppler
  • Patent number: 11674377
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a well having nested multi-tubular structure, includes: an acoustic transducer conveyed in an inner-most tubular in the structure and configured to receive a return acoustic signal having a plurality of resonances due to the structure; an acoustic impedance matching material disposed on a sensing face of the acoustic transducer; a signal generator that generates a signal having a plurality of frequencies to drive the acoustic transducer; a signal shaper that modifies the signal to provide a drive signal to the acoustic transducer; and a processor configured to determine an annulus distance of any tubular in the structure with respect to an adjacent tubular using a time of flight of a transmitted acoustic signal, an acoustic speed in a component in the nested multi-tubular structure using the annulus distance and the plurality of resonances, and a characteristic of the component that corresponds with the acoustic speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Elan Yogeswaren, Sandip Maity, Roger Steinsiek