Patents Examined by Nathaniel Kolb
  • Patent number: 9899108
    Abstract: A remote seal connection includes an outer sleeve, configured to be inserted through a penetration in a wall and having an outer surface. A capillary is within the outer sleeve and carries a fluid configured to communicate a pressure from a remote seal to a pressure transmitter. A space is provided about the capillary and is positioned between the capillary and the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Len Wiater
  • Patent number: 9897563
    Abstract: A sensor system that measures at least one parameter of water includes an electronics subsystem and includes a sensor housing electrically and mechanically coupled to the electronics subsystem. The sensor housing encloses a chamber that receives water via at least one inlet and that releases water via at least one outlet. At least one sensor has at least one electrode exposed to water in the chamber. A flow generator causes water to flow through the chamber. A plurality of objects within the chamber move in response to the water flow and abrasively clean the at least one electrode. Preferably, the sensor system includes a chlorine sensor having at least two electrodes. The electronics subsystem applies a first differential voltage between the two electrodes during a measurement interval and then applies a second differential voltage between the two electrodes during an interval following the measurement interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Michael A. Silveri
  • Patent number: 9891151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling-resistance measuring device (10) and to a method for material testing in a humid environment or underwater. The drilling-resistance measuring device (10) comprises a housing (1), in which a drive and a drill chuck (3) coupled to the drive are arranged, in which drill chuck a drilling needle (4) is or can be releasably held, wherein the housing (1) has a drilling-needle outlet opening (5?) enclosed by a drilling-needle outlet guide (5), through which drilling-needle outlet opening the drilling needle (4) extends out of the housing (1). The drilling-resistance measuring device (10) comprises at least one water-tight bellows (6), which is arranged in the interior of the housing (1) around the drilling needle (4) between the drill chuck (3) and the drilling-needle outlet guide (5), wherein moisture or water can enter the bellows (6) through the drilling-needle outlet opening (5?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: IML Instrumenta Mechanik Labor GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Hunger, Sebastian Hunger, Fabian Hunger
  • Patent number: 9869688
    Abstract: Device for solid-phase microextraction and analysis of substances to be analyzed, in particular in a gas chromatograph, with at least one collector, which is made of sorbent and/or adsorbent material and is placed on a rod-like support, and with at least one sample container, which is sealed with a pierceable partition wall and into which the collector is introduced piercing the partition wall for a sampling time, wherein the sealing of the sample container is assembled from the pierceable partition wall and a clamping ring, which can be mounted on the sample container and presses the partition wall together with a sealing element onto an upper rim of the sample container, and which comprises a socket in which a fitting of a transport adapter which is attached to a handling end of the rod-like support can be anchored detachably and with sealing surface pressure after the collector is inserted into the sample container following piercing the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GERSTEL SYSTEMTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Bremer, Bernhard Rose
  • Patent number: 9869664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining trace amounts of water in oil, including the steps of obtaining a blended sample of a low water content fluid including an amount of water and an amount of oil, transferring a portion of the blended sample to a cuvette to create a measurement sample, covering a viewing surface of the cuvette with an opaque sheet with a slit, providing a barrier with a fixed opening between a laser source and a laser-receptive surface of the cuvette, transmitting a pulsed laser beam from the laser source into the cuvette; inducing fluorescence in the measurement sample, focusing the fluorescence through a collecting lens and transmitting the fluorescence to a spectrometer, and measuring the fluorescence with the spectrometer by dispersing the fluorescence with a spectrograph and intensifying the fluorescence with an intensified charge coupled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ezzat M. Hegazi, Abdul Rahman Zafer Akhras
  • Patent number: 9857264
    Abstract: In leak testing by an accumulation method, it is possible to reliably detect accumulated inspection gas, and the reliability of leak testing is enhanced by reduction in background or impurity gas. At least an openable/closeable part 29 of a capsule 20 is housed inside a chamber 10 of a leak testing apparatus 1. A test workpiece 9 is housed in the capsule 20. Gas inside the chamber 10 is evacuated by a vacuum pump 31. A detector 2 detects inspection gas contained in this gas. The capsule 20 is continuously sealed for an accumulation time Ta, the capsule 20 is thereafter opened, and a leak is evaluated on the basis of detection information after the opening by the detector 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Fukuda Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Watanabe, Tsutomu Hara, Naohiko Maruno
  • Patent number: 9846069
    Abstract: A level measurement system for conductive liquids including a liquid container (10) and at least three electrodes (18, 20, 22) arranged inside the liquid container (10) at different levels. The electrodes (18, 20, 22) are connected to a network including a plurality of resistor elements (R, R1, R2, R3, RP1, RP2, RR1, RR2). The network includes at least two input terminals (V+, GND) for applying an external voltage and at least two output terminals providing a voltage depending on the level of the conductive liquid in the liquid container (10). The level measurement system is provided for detecting at least three different levels of conductive liquids in the liquid container (10) and indicating the levels by one voltage value. The level measurement system may be used for water in a storage container such as in a domestic appliance having a liquid container for supplying the domestic appliance with liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Paolo Faraldi, Giacomo Martello, Riccardo Foiera, Nicola Valpiani, Edoardo Betti
  • Patent number: 9829300
    Abstract: This invention concerns a gauge artifact including a base for mounting on a table of a coordinate positioning machine and a platform including at least two portions having a nominally identical geometric property. The platform is locatable relative to the base in at least two positions such that each of the at least two portions having the nominally identical geometric property can be presented at a common location relative to the base. The platform may be arranged such that the positions of the portions having a nominally identical geometric property can be interchanged by movement of the platform between at least two distinct positions. The positions may be interchanged through rotation of the platform. The invention also concerns a method of checking a coordinate measuring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Leo Christopher Somerville
  • Patent number: 9778278
    Abstract: A sample-taking unit having a sampling unit and a hold-down device which is movable relative thereto in a parallel manner, said sample-taking unit including a self-holding mechanism which, as a result of a self-locking effect, automatically fixes the hold-down device in a lowered fixing position against an upward movement until the self-locking effect is removed again as a result of the self-holding mechanism being acted upon with a detaching force, preferably as a result of contact between the sampling unit and a clamping element of the self-holding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DIONEX SOFTRON GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Hochgraeber, Robert Springer
  • Patent number: 9746452
    Abstract: System including a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bret Dwayne Worden, Mahalakshmi Shunmugham Balasubramaniam, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Jingjun Zhang, Jennifer Lynn Coyne, Sachidananda Chinagudi Jagadeesha
  • Patent number: 9726648
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for verifying the age of an animal providing meat using volatile profiles that comprises the step of providing a sample of animal meat. The method uses one or more chemical analyses to obtain a profile of a set of volatile organic compounds from a sample of meat from an animal. The profile is fit to a mathematically discriminating function resulting. The data obtained is analyzed in order to establish a correlation between the age of the animal (tooth development) and volatiles exuded by meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE CHILE, UNIVERSIDAD TECNICA FEDERICO SANTA MARIA
    Inventors: Gerda Tomic Stefanin, José Silva Serrano, Cristián Acevedo Gutierrez, Elizabeth Sanchez Montiel, Manuel Young Anze
  • Patent number: 9706944
    Abstract: An inhalation simulation system is provided for use with inhalers in particular breath-powered dry powder inhalers. The simulation system can recreate a patient's inhalation profile obtained with an inhaler adapted with a sensing and monitoring device for the detection of characteristic signals generated from the inhaler in use, which signals are transmitted to a computer with an algorithm which is configured to analyze the signals and generate new signals via a transmitter to actuate the inhalation simulation system component parts so that a subject's inhalation profile is replicated simultaneously or in real-time, or stored for later use. Methods of measuring the performance of inhalers are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Adamo, John M. Polidoro, Dennis Overfield, Carl R. Sahi, Brendan Laurenzi, Chad C. Smutney, P. Spencer Kinsey
  • Patent number: 9709435
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor for use with a container, including a housing with a body defining an interior volume, a switch actuated by an applied magnetic flux field to a closed position, the switch being disposed within the interior volume of the housing, and a float including a body, a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A pivot assembly includes a magnet and couples the housing and the first end of the float such that the float is pivotable about the pivot assembly between a first position and a second position, and a shunt is disposed within the first end of the float body. The shunt is disposed between the magnet and the switch in the first position of the float, thereby shielding the switch from the magnetic flux of the magnet such that the switch is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Gems Sensors Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Dockendorff, Kevin B. Downs
  • Patent number: 9683976
    Abstract: Containers for a fluid sample containing a radionuclide for measurement of radiation from the radionuclide include an outer shell having one or more ports between an interior and an exterior of the outer shell, and an inner shell secured to the outer shell. The inner shell includes a detector receptacle sized for at least partial insertion into the outer shell. The inner shell and outer shell together at least partially define a fluid sample space. The outer shell and inner shell are configured for maintaining an operating pressure within the fluid sample space of at least about 1000 psi. Systems for measuring radioactivity in a fluid include such a container and a radiation detector received at least partially within the detector receptacle. Methods of measuring radioactivity in a fluid sample include maintaining a pressure of a fluid sample within a Marinelli-type container at least at about 1000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC.
    Inventors: Nicholas R Mann, Matthew G Watrous, Christopher P Oertel, Christopher A McGrath
  • Patent number: 9683874
    Abstract: A liquid level transducer includes a mounting head connectable to a tank, a probe assembly extending into the tank, and a hose connecting assembly positioned on the mounting head outside of the tank. The probe assembly can include liquid withdrawal and return tubes and a sensor tube for determining the level of liquid within the tank. Bores are formed in the mounting head in alignment with the liquid withdrawal, return, and sensor tubes. First retaining features at least partially surround the withdrawal/return bores. The hose connecting assembly includes hose connectors with bases that have second retaining features that cooperate with the first retaining features so that the hose connectors can be aligned with the bores and adjusted to different angular positions about the central axes of the bores during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Texas LFP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Hrncir, Gagik Farmanyan
  • Patent number: 9677925
    Abstract: A housing of a liquid level detection device includes an inner case, which has a first wall portion, and a terminal, which has a projection that extends through the first wall portion and projects to an outside of the inner case. The first wall portion and the projection are covered with a covering portion. A first seal film, which connects between an outer peripheral surface of the projection and the first wall portion, is formed in an inside of the covering portion. A film thickness of the first seal film along an edge line of the terminal progressively increases toward the first wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Terada, Kenji Isobe
  • Patent number: 9677964
    Abstract: A system and a method detect contamination of a diaphragm in a capacitance diaphragm gauge wherein a contaminated diaphragm deflects less in the presence of pressure than an uncontaminated diaphragm. The system and method measure a base pressure. A DC voltage is applied between the diaphragm and a fixed electrode to cause the diaphragm to deflect to simulate an effective pressure. The system and method measure a combined pressure caused by the base pressure and the effective pressure. The system and method subtract the base pressure to determine the effective pressure caused by the static diaphragm deflection. If the measured effective pressure is less than an acceptable effective pressure, the system and method determine that the diaphragm is contaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FERRAN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Ferran, Robert J. Ferran
  • Patent number: 9651469
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an integrated multi-chip module (MCM) sensor assembly having at least one electrostatic sensor and a circuit board. The electrostatic sensor includes an outer housing with an electrode and an amplifier configured therein. The electrode includes a first end and a second end separated by a predetermined length. The second end includes a sensing face that is substantially flush with an edge of the outer housing. Further, the electrode contains a plurality of electrons configured to respond to one or more charged particles that flow past the sensing face by moving either towards or away from the second end. Thus, the amplifier is electrically coupled to the electrode so as to detect a particle level flowing past the sensing face as a function of the electron movement. Moreover, the circuit board is configured within the outer housing and is electrically coupled to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Weickert, Andrew Scott Kessie, Philip T. Smith, Charles Rickards, James R. Noel, Gregory Griffin, Joshua Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 9625437
    Abstract: Explosion test systems for determining explosibility indicies (Kst) of certain dust and gaseous fuels are provided. The test systems comprise a combustion vessel (130) and associated control equipment (110) containing software for operating the combustion vessel and collecting data generated thereby. The combustion vessel (130) generally comprises a test chamber (140) and a reservoir module (150) operable to inject a fuel into the test chamber, wherein an ignition module (170) ignites the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Fike Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Farrell, Stuart Johnson
  • Patent number: 9610127
    Abstract: A protective container for holding a reusable control part of a transcutaneous sensor system for detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid is disclosed. The control part includes at least one coupling, which has at least one sensor coupling for connection to at least one transcutaneous sensor. The protective container has at least one container housing. The control part can be held in the container housing. The container housing is adapted to shield the control part from environmental influences. The container housing also has at least one connector which can be connected to the coupling and seals the latter in a media-tight fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ROCHE DIABETES CARE, INC.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Heck, Bernd Roesicke, Gerhard Frisch