Patents Examined by Nathaniel Kolb
  • Patent number: 8904855
    Abstract: A fault sensing device for a vehicle includes a time measuring section functioning as a sleep mode while power to a controller is off. The time measuring section can measure a stop time of an engine, and can transmit information on the stop time to the controller when power to the controller is on. When the controller determines that a stop time of the engine is a predetermined time, the controller performs fault sensing for an oil pressure switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Okoshi, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8904853
    Abstract: Methods comprising: placing particulates in a test column; adding a fluid medium comprising a salt solution to the test column; placing the column under test conditions, wherein the test conditions comprise target temperature and target pressure; maintaining test conditions for a target test duration; and, analyzing the particulates. Some methods also measure a permeability value of the column after placing particulates in a test column and before placing the column under test conditions; continuously flow the salt solution through the particulates during the test; measure a permeability value after maintaining the test conditions for the target test duration; and, calculate a retained permeability value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique A. Reyes, Jimmie D. Weaver, Richard D. Rickman, Hongyu Luo
  • Patent number: 8887556
    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 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michael A. Silveri
  • Patent number: 8881581
    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: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Michael A. Silveri
  • Patent number: 8875562
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of locating leaks in a substrate (30) having a first and a second surface wherein the substrate (30) is adapted for preventing the flow of a fluid, or components contained in the fluid, through the substrate (30) from the first surface to the second surface, and a system (10) useful in the method, wherein the method comprises: a) isolating the first surface from the second surface; b) creating a pressure differential between the first surface and the second surface wherein the pressure on the first surface is higher than the pressure on the second surface; c) contacting the second surface or the exit (32) of the device (11) containing the substrate (30) with a baffle (23), wherein the baffle (23) has a plurality of interconnected parts which form a pattern and the baffle (23) is of a sufficient size to cover the second surface of the substrate (30) or the fluid exit point (32) of the device the substrate (30) is disposed in and the parts of the baffle (23) create
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Stewart P. Wood, William A. Heeschen
  • Patent number: 8859090
    Abstract: A micro-structured surface for immersing in a multiphase fluid mixture comprises a substrate having pores and a wetting liquid phase trapped in the pores. The wetting liquid phase is immiscible with all the phases of the multiphase fluid mixture. Alternatively, the wetting liquid phase is miscible with one of the phase of the multiphase fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Angelescu, Tullio Moscato, Frederic Pauchet, Robert Van Kuijk
  • Patent number: 8839655
    Abstract: A test stand encompasses a dynamometer, which is supported to oscillate about a main axis, from which a lever arm extends perpendicularly. For calibrating a force-measuring device, which is coupled to the lever arm, provision is made for a pneumatic cylinder as reference force-generating device. The reference force can be measured by a load cell and can be applied to the lever arm via a yoke. The force-measuring device, which is to be calibrated, the pneumatic cylinder, the load cell, and the yoke are disposed on the same side of the dynamometer and act on the same lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Horiba Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Bormann, Klaus Pätschke, Kai Künne
  • Patent number: 8839660
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensor assembly is disclosed. A sensor is disposed within a slotted sleeve and a spiral shaped sensor housing surrounds the sensor within the sleeve. The spiral shape applies a centrifugal force to the fluid stream. This results in separation of liquid water from the fluid stream. The sleeve forms an internal inner perimeter of the spiral housing. The sensor housing includes a first opening to facilitate a fluid communication between the sensing element and a fluid stream through the slotted sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Oliver Maier
  • Patent number: 8834814
    Abstract: The automatic analysis system is equipped with a mechanism to transport a sample container having a stopper body, the system comprising: a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a predetermined amount of sample accommodated in the sample container; a stopper body removing/mounting mechanism that removes the stopper body from the sample container; a control unit that stores therein association between the sample container and the stopper body of the sample container; the stopper body removing/mounting mechanism that in accordance with the association stored into the control unit, mounts the stopper body back on the sample container containing the sample dispensed by the sample dispensing mechanism; and a stopper body transport mechanism that transports the sample that the stopper body removing/mounting mechanism has removed at a stopper removing position to a stopper mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Yamagata, Kenichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8833136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary-drum hydraulic-impact abrasion testing machine, which is used to process an abrasion test and a damage simulation for a plurality of hydraulics structures and comprises: a rotary-drum supporting framework, a rotary-drum and a plurality of sample fixing assembly. The sample fixing assembly at least comprises a housing, a first spacer and a plurality of first studs. In which, there are a plurality of sample openings formed on the side wall of the rotary-drum for respectively accommodating the hydraulics structure samples, and each sample opening is disposed with a long blocking plate and a short blocking plate on the two sides thereof. In the present invention, the rotary-drum hydraulic-impact abrasion testing machine is used to simultaneously execute the abrasion test and the damage simulation for multi hydraulics structures precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ta-Peng Chang, Chih-Yen Lin, Kuo-Hua Lee, Tzong-Ruey Yang
  • Patent number: 8820850
    Abstract: In a rolling element (10) for the polydirectional travel of a vehicle on a magnetically attractive underlying surface (19), a compact, robust and simple design is made possible in that the rolling element (10) has a spherical element (11) and at least one permanent magnet (14). The spherical element (11) supports the at least one permanent magnet (14) in such a way that the at least one permanent magnet (14) maintains its spatial orientation when the spherical element (11) rolls on the underlying surface (19), and the spherical element (11) is held in contact against the underlying surface (19) by the magnetic interaction of the at least one permanent magnet (14) with the underlying surface (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Roland Richard Moser, Josef Erni
  • Patent number: 8820145
    Abstract: This present invention relates to a measuring device for measuring consistency of cement slurry for a consistometer. The measuring device comprises a high-pressure vessel, a slurry cup and a magnetic driver, wherein the slurry cup is rotatably mounted inside the high-pressure vessel by the magnetic driver, stir blades are hanged in the slurry cup, and the magnetic driver is driven by a driving motor which is located outside the high-pressure vessel and is further provided with a tension sensor. The invention cancels the conventional mode for measuring consistency by a potentiometer, uses the tension sensor to measure the torque transferred from the driving motor to the magnetic driver, i.e. the cutting torque created by the stir blades on cement slurries within the slurry cup, thereby measuring the consistency of cement slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: China Oilfield Services Limited, Shenyang Jinouke Petroleum Instrument Technology Development Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yuwei Luo, Yutian Wang, Zhenyu Yang, Shiwen Yu, Weijun Lv, Qingshun Wang, Weihan Ling, Zhenlun Li, Bin Han
  • Patent number: 8820142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a leak detector comprising: a secondary vacuum pump designed to be connected to a primary vacuum pump, the secondary vacuum pump comprising a motor, a rotor and a stator, the said rotor being capable of being rotated in the stator by the motor when the motor is powered, and at least one information means capable of being powered electrically, in order to inform a user of the operating state of the leak detector, characterized in that, in the event of the motor power supply being cut off, the kinetic energy of rotation of the secondary vacuum pump rotor in the form of electrical power (101) is recovered in order to power the information means (102). The invention also relates to a leak detector (1) using the said monitoring method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Adixen Vacuum Products
    Inventors: Frédéric Rouveyre, Didier Pierrejean, Cyrille Nomine
  • Patent number: 8813540
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel methods and to devices for a measuring and analysis apparatus that measures impurities and/or particles in a gas or air. In a particle separation step, target particles having predetermined particle properties are separated from remaining particles from a gas or gas mixture such as air or a liquid, in short a fluid, that contains a particle mixture, and the occurrence and/or frequency of said target particles is determined in a measuring chamber. The likewise novel cooling of the radiation sources required for measurement permits the use of such having high power, as is required for measuring few particles or the smallest impurities. A further novel expansion of the electrical measurement range allows small but also abundant particles and impurities to be measured. In addition, a novel interface simplifies the start-up of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: MaxDeTec AG
    Inventor: Markus Dantler
  • Patent number: 8800345
    Abstract: A load carrier with a receiving pan for a free-flowing substance, a calibration weight holder for supporting a calibration weight, and a connector element for connecting the load carrier to a load receiver of a weighing cell. The receiving pan is arranged between the connector element and the calibration weight holder and is designed to be loaded with the free-flowing substance through a passage in the calibration weight holder. The calibration weight holder can be loaded with a calibration weight independently of the load status of the receiving pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Andreas Metzger, Peter Schilling, Stephan Baltisberger, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
  • Patent number: 8797700
    Abstract: A temperature detecting apparatus includes an integrated circuit that integrates an overheating detecting circuit, a breakage detecting circuit and a disabling circuit, and an element connection terminal connecting a temperature sensing element. The disabling circuit disables the breakage detecting circuit from detecting a breakage of wire when a voltage at the element connection exceeds a disabling threshold which is set higher than an overheating detection threshold and a breakage detection threshold. A predetermined voltage higher than the disabling threshold is applied to the element connection terminal when the temperature sensing element is not connected to the element connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunari Tanimura, Shinichiro Nakata, Tsuneo Maebara, Yusuke Shindo
  • Patent number: 8794063
    Abstract: A layer height measuring system in one embodiment has a transmission line including a probe for measuring a height of a first layer within a tank and a cable that connects the probe to an electronics unit. The electronics unit cyclically transmits interrogation pulses to the probe and receives reflections therefrom for time domain reflectometric measurement of the height of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Meggitt (Orange County), Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Miskell, Zhenyu Tan, Kevin J. Petriel, Carlos E. Carvalho, Ronie Lavon
  • Patent number: 8789407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for determining or measuring the content of at least one filter aid in an un-filtered product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Westner, Thomas Stienen
  • Patent number: 8783121
    Abstract: A blood collecting apparatus includes a cleaning solution piping. The cleaning solution piping feeds into a flow path a heparin solution which is a liquid other than blood to be measured, in order to return the blood present in the flow path to a catheter disposed upstream of a blood inlet of the flow path. Thus, the blood having flowed into the flow path in an amount more than is necessary for blood collection, which corresponds to a portion returned to the upstream catheter of the blood to be measured present in the flow path, can be used in a next blood collection. As a result, the amount of collected blood can be reduced. The liquid to be measured is separated apart by means of a gas, and the flow path is cleaned in a way to leave no impurities in the flow path, thereby preventing impurities from mixing into the liquid to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Shumadzu Corporation, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Nobuya Hashizume, Keishi Kitamura, Takahiro Nishimoto, Yuichi Kimura, Chie Seki, Iwao Kanno
  • Patent number: 8783088
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for proving a flowmeter. In one embodiment, a flowmeter prover includes a flow tube, a displacer, and a signal analyzer. The displacer is moveable in a flow passage of the flow tube. A magnetic target is disposed on the displacer. One or more inductive transducers are disposed on the flow tube and configured to detect the magnetic target as the displacer moves in the flow tube. The signal analyzer is configured to detect a maximum slope of rising and falling edges of a signal generated by the transducer responsive to the magnetic target traversing the transducer. The signal analyzer is further configured to determine displacer velocity based on the detected maximum slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew S. Weaver