Patents Examined by R. Raevis
  • Patent number: 12164313
    Abstract: A viscosity control system for measuring and controlling a viscosity of a viscous fluid includes a viscosity sensor unit, a supply of viscosity adjusting fluid, and a controller. The viscosity sensor unit includes a container having an inlet and an outlet, a flow of the viscous fluid flowing into the inlet, and a sensor configured to sense a height of a surface of the viscous fluid in the container. A diameter of the outlet and the flow of the viscous fluid are configured to generate a height of the viscous fluid in the container that is within a predetermined height range. The controller is configured to receive the sensed height, compare the sensed height to the predetermined height range, and modulate a flow of fluid from the supply of viscosity adjusting fluid in response to the sensed height being outside the predetermined height range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Biederman, Thomas Bonaventura
  • Patent number: 12152483
    Abstract: An array of sensors provided on the outside of a tubular string for measuring a property within the tubular string. The array of sensors may include a plurality of connected sensors, wherein at least one of the plurality of connected sensors is at least partially encompassed in a shroud. A snorkel line may extend from the shroud, the snorkel line capable of coupling with a sensor port in a tubular of the tubular string. The snorkel line may establish fluid communication between one of the sensors at least partially encompassed in the shroud and a corresponding sensor port of a tubular in the tubular string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Manojkumar Prakash Achalpurkar, Ping Chew Chay, Ibrahim El Mallawany
  • Patent number: 12140589
    Abstract: A gas detection system includes a sensor unit that outputs a voltage corresponding to a concentration of a specific gas, a first chamber capable of storing a supplied sample gas, a second chamber located between the first chamber and the sensor unit, and a flow path connectable to an inlet of the second chamber. The second chamber has a smaller area than the first chamber in a cross section perpendicular to a gas flow direction in the first chamber. The sample gas is supplied from the first chamber to the second chamber, and then a purge gas is supplied from the flow path to the second chamber to supply the sample gas to the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Abe
  • Patent number: 12140488
    Abstract: A sensor including a deformation body having a membrane for deformation when subjected to pressure from a medium. The sensor further includes a strain element applied to and attached to the membrane. The strain element is based on SOI technology and has multiple piezoresistive resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TDK Electronics AG
    Inventors: Bettina Milke, Andreas Peschka
  • Patent number: 12140574
    Abstract: A dual indentation test method according to an aspect of the present disclosure may include a first indentation step of indenting a surface of a material using a flat first indenter and a second indentations step of indenting the surface of the material indented by the first indenter using a second indenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SOGANG UNIVERSITY RESEARCH & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Hyung Yil Lee, Karuppasamy Pandian Marimuthu
  • Patent number: 12139977
    Abstract: A drill pipe speed sensor includes a roller head assembly including an incremental encoder, a roller to contact a drill pipe, and first and second rotating members. The first rotating member is coupled to the roller, the second rotating member is coupled to the incremental encoder, and the first rotating member is coupled to the second rotating member. The sensor also includes a pivot assembly having mounting plates, pivotal arms, first and second mounting members, and a biasing member. The first and second mounting members extend between the mounting plates, which are parallel to each other. The biasing member contacts the mounting members and extends between the mounting members, and the biasing member is parallel to the mounting plates. The pivotal arms extend from the mounting plates to the roller head assembly and pivot relative to the mounting plates, and the first mounting member is coupled to two pivotal arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Saunders, Ayodele Odunfa-Jones, Andrew I. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 12139222
    Abstract: A torque sensor can measure torque introduced into an upper shaft that is rotatable around a longitudinal axis and is connectable to a lower shaft via a torsion rod. A first component is connectable to the upper shaft, and a second component is connectable to the lower shaft. The components have surfaces that protrude in a longitudinal direction and at least partially overlap. A sensor coil that can generate a high-frequency alternating magnetic field is arranged on one of the surfaces of one component, and a metallic element is arranged on one of the surfaces of the other component. A torque introduced into the upper shaft causes a change in distance between the sensor coil and the metallic element. A device can measure a frequency change of the alternating magnetic field caused by the change in distance and determine the torque introduced into the upper shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Zoltán Baranyai, Gergely Daloki, Laszlo Fekete, Gergely Racz, Adorjan Kovacs
  • Patent number: 12135268
    Abstract: A method for determining the sticky point of powder samples includes introducing a sample into a first measuring part, placing a second measuring part above the first measuring part to delimit a sample chamber, using a motor to drive the measuring parts relative to one another, using a force application unit to exert a force on the sample normal to a rotational plane of the measuring parts, using a measuring unit to record a torque or shear stress of the sample between the measuring parts, using a temperature-control unit or oven to apply a temperature profile to the sample while measuring the torque or shear stress, and supplying recorded measured values of the torque or shear stress and the sample temperature at measuring points to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit determines the sticky point from the measured values of the torque or shear stress and the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Anton Paar GmbH
    Inventors: Timothy Aschl, Denis Schuetz
  • Patent number: 12135207
    Abstract: This device includes: an input unit for receiving a shape of an inspection target surface of a wedge exposed from a slot with no force applied to the wedge; a relation storage unit which acquires and stores, as a deformation reaction force relation, a relation between a reaction force of a spring at the inspection target surface of the wedge and deformation distribution from the shape of the inspection target surface of the wedge inputted to the input unit; a measurement unit for measuring measurement deformation distribution of the inspection target surface of the wedge; an estimation unit for estimating an estimation reaction force from the measurement deformation distribution and the deformation reaction force relation; and a judgement unit for judging proper/fault about looseness of the wedge from the estimation reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI GENERATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Hana, Masao Akiyoshi, Daichi Goto, Kazuaki Ogura
  • Patent number: 12135267
    Abstract: An in vitro method for diagnosing, stratifying, prognosing and/or monitoring a lung and/or respiratory disease, and for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment of a lung and/or respiratory disease, can include the determination or the measurement of the value Anl of at least one rheological parameter on a sample of mucus A of a subject, in a non-linear zone of the deformation curve of the sample, and/or of the value Al of at least one rheological parameter on said sample, in a linear zone of the deformation curve of the sample, wherein the rheological parameter is selected from the elasticity modulus (G?), the viscosity modulus (G?), the complex modulus G*, the damping factor (tan ?), the complex modulus (G*), the critical deformation (?c), the plastic deformation (?p), the flow stress threshold (?c), the plastic stress (?p), and the elastic force (EF), the critical stress (?c), and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: RHEONOVA
    Inventor: Jérémy Patarin
  • Patent number: 12128397
    Abstract: Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. The droplets generated are substantially smaller in scale than the focal spot size of the acoustic beam (e.g., the frequency at which the acoustic transducer operates). Further, the droplets have trajectories that are substantially in the direction of the acoustic beam propagation direction. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the protuberance has reached a certain state, a second toneburst is applied to the protuberance to break it into very small droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the protuberance at which the second toneburst is supplied is the time period shortly after the protuberance reaches its maximum height but before the protuberance recedes back into the volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Labcyte Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Stearns
  • Patent number: 12130214
    Abstract: A system for sampling groundwater from a well that includes a pump configured to be at least partially submerged in the groundwater within the well and pump the groundwater out of the well, a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of the depth of the groundwater in the well, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the depth of the groundwater from the sensor and compensate for groundwater ingress into the well by adjusting a rate of flow of groundwater pumped by the pump based on the signal to stabilize the depth of groundwater in the well while the pump is pumping groundwater from the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Q.E.D. ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: David B. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 12127508
    Abstract: A sensor mount for use with a timber-working device includes a monolithic structure having a base portion configured to be secured to a frame of a timber-working device, and a sensor mounting portion including a cavity configured to receive a contactless sensor. The cavity has a sensor mounting surface for securing the contactless sensor thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jemma Lee Needham, Eden Zamir Rafealov, Douglas Craig Swinyard
  • Patent number: 12130215
    Abstract: An electrostatic probe for positioning an insect specimen is disclosed herein. The electrostatic probe may include an ion generator, a handling end, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: activate the ion generator to produce a electrostatic field at the handling end, wherein the electrostatic field is to attract a specimen to the handling end or hold the insect specimen at the handling end, and discharge the electrostatic field to cause the insect specimen to be released from the handling end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Laura Elizabeth Schiffrin Scavo, Adam C. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 12130273
    Abstract: A water sampling device for water quality measurement is capable of changing the sampling amount, the number of sampling container(s), the sampling container type and so on according to the item of water quality measurement. Water in a water system can be sampled into a first container Y1 via a sampling source pipe 1, a manifold 2, and a first sampling pipe 3 and a pump P1 connected to the manifold 2. Water in the water system also can be sampled into a second container Y2 from the manifold 2 via a second sampling pipe 4 and a pump P2. In a case where the detection value(s) of one or more of the sensors S1 to S3 set in the water system exceeds a preset standard value or deviates from a standard range, water to be tested is sampled from the water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuaki Nagao
  • Patent number: 12123862
    Abstract: A method for the handling of melt samples in a steelworks laboratory may involve processing and/or analyzing a melt sample in at least one first treatment apparatus and subsequently transporting the melt sample via at least one first transport path to at least one second treatment apparatus where the melt sample is subjected to further processing and/or analysis. As part of the transporting step, the method may involve clamping the melt sample on a sample carrier so that the sample carrier is transported together with the clamped-in melt sample between the treatment apparatuses and is positioned in the treatment apparatuses for processing and/or analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Polysius GmbH, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Teutenberg, Alexander Peters
  • Patent number: 12125361
    Abstract: A system for measuring a fill level of a trash can comprises a processor operable to receive a distance measurement from a network, wherein a sensor communicatively coupled to the processor through the network is operable to determine the distance measurement. The processor is operable to calculate a percentage of waste in the trash can based on the received distance measurement and a difference between a first setpoint and a second setpoint. The processor is operable to determine a threshold for a first period of time based on entity information. The processor is operable to compare the percentage of waste in the trash can to the threshold for the first period of time and to send an alert for display on a user device when the percentage of waste is greater than the threshold for the first period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: 7-ELEVEN, INC.
    Inventors: John Robert Keller, Matthew O'Daniel Redmond, Shahmeer Ali Mirza
  • Patent number: 12123287
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a drag reducing agent's performance in a mixture are described. The system includes a measuring instrument with an rheometer; and a sensor system positioned inside the measuring instrument including a body with an open end and an extended end, wherein the extended end is directly attached to the measuring instrument; a cover with an inner disc and an outer disc and attachable to the body, the inner disc sized to be received by the open end of the body; the body and the cover form a sealable chamber; and a rotating disc with a bar and a plate, the bar is attached to the measuring instrument and the plate is positioned inside the body and operable to measure drag reducing agent's performance of the mixture; and a data acquisition and processing system is in electronic communication with the measuring instrument, and the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Nagoorpitchai S. Meeranpillai, Ali Almuhaimeed, Osama Alzahrani
  • Patent number: 12123811
    Abstract: An environmental water sampling drone attachment device has a mounting prong, a pivoting clamp, a pivot axle, at least one mounting harnesses, and at least one container The mounting prong is a shaft that attaches the present invention to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The pivoting clamp is used to hold the pivot axle in place. The pivot axle can rotate within the pivoting clamp and is fixed to the mounting harness. The mounting harness holds and rotates the container. The container is a device that gathers water when placed into a body of water. Thus, the container is held by the mounting harness when gathering water samples until the container is removed by a user. As a result, this device is able to gather water samples and hold the water samples within the container until the water samples need to be removed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Marion
  • Patent number: 12123856
    Abstract: A liquid chromatographic (LC) system is herein disclosed, the LC system comprising at least one fluidic stream comprising at least one HPLC column, a downstream valve connected to the at least one fluidic stream and connectable to a detector via a valve-to-detector conduit, wherein the at least one fluidic stream is connectable to the valve-to-detector conduit via the downstream valve, and where the LC system further comprises a downstream pump fluidically connected to the downstream valve and connectable to the at least one fluidic stream via the downstream valve in order to backflush and thereby clean the at least one HPLC column. A respective automated LC method is herein also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Leinenbach, Aart Pieter van Doorn