Patents Examined by John Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11543323
    Abstract: A method for in-line leak testing of blow moulded containers wherein a conveyor line is fed with a continuous stream of blow moulded containers from a blow moulding machine, at least one measuring head is temporarily connected to a first blow moulded container. The measuring head is moved in order to follow the movement of said first blow moulded container which is pressurized by a source of pressurized gas, the source of pressurized gas is disconnected, said at least one measuring head is used to measure the pressure decay therein. The pressure decay is compared with stored data for the pressure decay of acceptable containers and an accept or non-accept signal is generated which implies proceeding or disposal of said first blow moulded container. The measuring head is moved against the moving direction of the conveyor line to a subsequent blow moulded container, and the process is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Delta Engineering bvba
    Inventors: Danny de Bruyn, Rudy Lemeire
  • Patent number: 11536624
    Abstract: A plumbing system may include a first conduit that supplies a fluid to a destination device. The plumbing system may also include a second conduit concentric to the first conduit. The second conduit includes an indicator material that changes one or more properties of the fluid supplied to the destination device when the fluid contacts the indicator material via an opening present in the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Matthew Flachsbart, Snehal Desai, Richard D. Graham
  • Patent number: 11536136
    Abstract: Analysis of chemical and physical properties of drilling and formation fluids associated with pulse power drilling operations that are performed in a borehole extending below a surface into one or more layers of formation material are conducted to determine one or more properties associated with the formation material and/or the drilling and formation fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Mathew Dennis Rowe
  • Patent number: 11536735
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a pipette configured to dispense a sample or a reagent and an arm supporting the pipette. A camera is configured to capture an image of a tip end of the pipette and a container to which the sample or the reagent is dispensed. A controller is programmed to determine, based on the image, an adjustment value for the arm such that the pipette is inserted into the container without collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junzo Yamamoto, Shigeo Kanamori, Fumio Inoue, Ikuya Takenaka, Osamu Hirota
  • Patent number: 11530967
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a transducer comprising a tube, a converter unit, an electromechanical exciter arrangement for stimulating and sustaining forced mechanical vibrations of the converter unit, and a sensor arrangement for detecting mechanical vibrations of the converter unit and for generating a vibration signal representing mechanical vibrations of the converter unit. The converter unit includes two connection elements connected to a displacer element and is inserted into the tube and connected thereto. The converter unit is configured as to be contacted by a fluid flowing through the tube and enabled to vibrate such that the connection elements and the displacer elements are proportionately elastically deformed. The transducer can be a constituent of a measuring system adapted to measure and/or monitor a flow parameter of the flowing fluid and further includes an electronic measuring and operating system coupled to the exciter arrangement and the sensor arrangement of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Alfred Rieder, Yaoying Lin, Martin Josef Anklin
  • Patent number: 11525939
    Abstract: A system for monitoring downhole cement quality in a cased well includes an active acoustic source that generates acoustic waves, a distributed acoustic sensor, and a controller. The distributed acoustic sensor includes an optical fiber disposed on an outer surface of a casing of the cased well; a pulsed laser coupled to the optical fiber and that transmits pulses of laser light along the optical fiber; a sensor that detects light that is backscattered and reflected by the optical fiber; and a processor that controls the pulsed laser, receives signals from the sensor, and converts the signals into acoustic information. The controller receives the acoustic information from the processor and identifies well integrity loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ammar Alali, Husain Nassir, Ezzedeen Alfataeirge
  • Patent number: 11525724
    Abstract: A sight glass column is described. The sight glass column is configured to be indirectly attachable to a machine via a machine connector such that machine fluid is transferable from the machine to the sight glass column. The sight glass column further has a remote sensing port, and a lockable oil level ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Luneta, LLC
    Inventors: James Chester Fitch, Thomas Chester Fitch, James Bennett Fitch, Jeremy J. Wright
  • Patent number: 11525726
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid sensor capable of relatively accurately detecting the liquid level even if vibration or the like occurs. The liquid sensor is configured to detect a liquid level in a state in which at least a portion of the liquid sensor is immersed in liquid. This liquid sensor includes a substrate. The substrate is provided with a hole. An inner circumferential surface of the substrate is formed around the hole. A first electrode and a second electrode facing the first electrode are formed on the inner circumferential surface. The liquid sensor further includes a detection circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect capacitance between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON PILLAR PACKING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsunari Koyama, Akira Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 11525709
    Abstract: A circuit assembly for mounting on a vehicle assembly is provided. The circuit assembly may be a mountable sensor assembly. The assembly may include a housing with a cavity that houses a circuit, for example a sensor circuit. The circuit may be sealed in the cavity of the housing by epoxy. The housing may include a connector recess with terminals extending into the connector recess. The terminals may provide an electrical connection to the circuit. The housing may have openings between the cavity and the connector recess through which the terminals extend. One or more of the openings may have a cross sectional profile larger than the cross sectional profile of the terminal such that a passage is formed between the cavity and the recess after the terminal is inserted through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: VEONEER US, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob Pusheck
  • Patent number: 11525808
    Abstract: Pressure-inducing devices and pressure transducers can be used to detect and quantify liquid pools in hydrocarbon fluid pipelines. Pressure fluctuations can be detected by a pressure transducer, where the pressure fluctuations are the response of a pressure-inducing device outputting a pressure signal in a pipe carrying hydrocarbons. Variation in a pipe diameter caused by pooling or deposition can be estimated using an inverse model. The pooling or depositions can be classified by applying a machine-learning model to the pressure fluctuations. The variation in pipe diameter can be converted to an equivalent liquid volume for pooling locations. A pooling or deposition location and volume can be output and used for determining an action on the pipe to remove the pooling or deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Pranab Narayan Jha, Srinivasan Jagannathan, Ratheen Chaturvedi
  • Patent number: 11519767
    Abstract: A flow measurement assembly that includes a production string and a flow meter fluidically coupled to the production string. The flow meter includes a variable Venturi tube attached to and configured to flow production fluid received from the production string. The variable Venturi tube includes an end fixed to the production string and at least one Venturi throat. The flow meter also includes an actuator configured to move the variable Venturi tube with respect to the fixed end. The flow meter includes a processor communicatively coupled sensors coupled to the variable Venturi tube. The processor determines, based on a first fluid parameter and the second fluid parameter received from the sensors, at least one of a mass flow rate of the production fluid, a density of the production fluid, a viscosity of the production fluid, or a coefficient of discharge of the production fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Sakethraman Mahalingam, Muhammad Arsalan
  • Patent number: 11519887
    Abstract: An analysis assistance method includes setting pressure in a first BPR to a value higher than a prescribed second set value with pressure in a second BPR set to a second set value, instructing a supercritical fluid chromatograph to supply a mobile phase to a supply flow path at a flow rate of the mobile phase that is to be theoretically supplied to a first flow path when the mobile phase is supplied to the supply flow path at a prescribed total flow rate and a prescribed sample introduction ratio, and gradually decreasing a set value of the pressure in the first BPR, and detecting a set value of the pressure in the first BPR at the time when supply of the mobile phase to a second flow path is stopped due to a decrease in set value of the pressure in the first BPR, as a first set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuka Fujito
  • Patent number: 11512996
    Abstract: The present application discloses a flow speed detection circuit and a related chip and flow meter. The flow speed detection circuit includes: a transmitter, configured to provide a front signal and a main signal to a first transducer, wherein the first transducer transforms the front signal and the main signal into a transduced signal to a second transducer, the second transducer transforms the transduced signal into a receiving front signal and a receiving main signal to a receiver; and the receiver includes: a front signal detection circuit, configured to enable the main signal processing circuit after the receiving front signal; and the main signal processing circuit, configured to determine the flow speed based on the receiving main signal after being enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jung-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 11504648
    Abstract: Techniques for monitoring a well clean-up process are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes routing a multiphase fluid having oil and water to a separator of a well testing apparatus, separating the multiphase fluid into separate fluids via the separator, and routing the separated fluids away from the separator. The method also includes measuring flow rates of oil and water leaving the separator and determining individual flow rates of oil and water entering the separator as part of the multiphase fluid based on the measured flow rates of oil and water leaving the separator. Additional systems, methods, and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Allouche, Elena Borisova
  • Patent number: 11506640
    Abstract: Obtaining sufficient suppression effect of channel diffusion and stably transferring solution are made possible even in a piping having an extremely small inner diameter used for an analysis apparatus such as an HPLC. A piping device for an analysis apparatus includes a piping equipped with a folded shape that suppresses inner channel diffusion, and a member directly or indirectly in contact with the piping from at least one side to support the piping to suppress deformation of the folded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Aoki, Masahide Gunji
  • Patent number: 11506651
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention a method for evaluating the mixing effect of a CO2 oil-displacing and mixing agent, characterized in measuring the volume expansion of a CO2-oil interface when pressure is gradually increased, drawing a mixed-phase percentage-pressure curve (?-P curve), and evaluating the mixing effect of the CO2 oil-displacing and mixing agent by means of comparing the characteristics of the ?-P curve. Further provided in the present invention is a method for initially screening a CO2 oil-displacing and mixing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Peking University
    Inventors: Jianbin Huang, Cheng Ma, Kaerdun Liu, Yun Yan, Zhiyang Zhu
  • Patent number: 11499902
    Abstract: A force sensing probe (100) for sensing snap-in and/or pull-off force of a liquid droplet (111) brought into and/or separated from contact with a hydrophobic sample surface (151), respectively, comprises: a sensing tip (101); a sensor element (102) connected to the sensing tip, capable of sensing sub-micronewton forces acting on the sensing tip in a measurement direction; and a droplet holding plate (104) having a first main surface (105) and a hydrophilic second main surface (106) connected via a peripheral edge surface (107), and being attached via the first main surface to the sensing tip (101) perpendicularly relative to the measurement direction for receiving and holding a liquid droplet (111) as attached to the second main surface; the droplet holding plate comprising an electrically conductive surface layer (115), the first and the second main surfaces and the peripheral edge surface being defined by the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Aalto University Foundation sr
    Inventors: Quan Zhou, Robin Ras, Ville Liimatainen, Maja Vuckovac
  • Patent number: 11499900
    Abstract: A densitometer in the present disclosure comprises a piston attached to an end of a tube of the densitometer to reduce pressure dependence of density estimates of a sample fluid. The densitometer measures sample fluid density by vibrating the tube containing sample fluid and measuring the resonant frequency of the tube, then estimating the sample fluid density based on this resonant frequency. The piston is designed with a predetermined diameter that converts pressure inside the tube to tension in the tube. This tension produces an opposite effect on the resonant frequency of the tube to that caused by the fluid pressure itself and thereby reduces pressure dependence of the sample fluid density estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Christopher Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 11499422
    Abstract: A method for evaluating a gas well productivity with eliminating an influence of liquid loading includes steps of: collecting basic data of a liquid loading gas well; according to a relative density of natural gas, a formation depth, and a casing pressure during a productivity test, determining a pressure generated by a static gas column in an annular space between a casing and a tubing from a well head to a bottomhole of the gas well, and obtaining a bottomhole pressure without liquid loading; according to a pseudo-pressure of a formation pore pressure, pseudo-pressures of the bottomhole pressure respectively under the conditions of liquid loading and no liquid loading, and a production rate under the condition of liquid loading, determining a production rate without liquid loading, and determining an absolute open flow rate with eliminating the influence of liquid loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Exploration & Production Research Institute of SINOPEC North-China Oil & Gas Company
    Inventors: Huanquan Sun, Faqi He, Yongyi Zhou, Xiaobo Liu, Yongming He, Linsong Liu, Kui Chen, Tongsheng Cao, Yaonan Yu, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 11499947
    Abstract: A sample introduction device 10 includes a tube holding section 21 and a sample removing mechanism 40. The sample removing mechanism 40 removes a sample 6 in a sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21. Thus, in the sample introduction device 10, the sample 6 in the sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21 can be automatically removed. As a result, the operator no longer needs to perform an operation of taking out the sample 6 from the sample tube 2. Thus, a work load on the operator can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Sawamura, Akira Aono