Patents Examined by Rodney Frank
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Patent number: 7251998Abstract: The weight of liquid in a tank subject to tilting is determined by measuring differences in air pressure in the ullage (the empty volume of the tank above the level of the liquid) and the air pressure produced by the weight of the liquid at the bottom of the tank. The pressures at the bottom of the tank are measured in a plurality of locations, and the differential pressures are combined to compensate for changes in the depth of the liquid when the tank is not level (e.g., when the tank is in an aircraft flying at an attitude other than straight and level). The electronics to measure the pressure and to process the pressure measurements are located remotely form the tanks, thus eliminating the possibility of ignition caused by the electronics when the liquid is fuel or other flammable liquid.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: BAE Systems Information And Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Gourlay, Steven C. Williams, Daniel L. Pagan
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Patent number: 7249492Abstract: A method and device are provided for measuring and/or adjusting the cleaning performance of a cleaning liquid. One method of the invention includes determining a control value (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid to provide a selected volume) indicative of when the cleaning performance of the cleaning liquid is at or approaching an unacceptable level. At least one substrate can be contacted with the cleaning liquid and a drop number for the cleaning liquid (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid to provide the selected volume) again measured. At least one cleaning agent, such as at least one surfactant, can be added to the cleaning liquid when the measured drop number is at or near the control value. In one embodiment, the cleaning agent can be added until the measured drop number is at or near a baseline drop number for the cleaning liquid (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid when cleaning performance is acceptable).Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.Inventor: Robert R. Roelofs
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Patent number: 7249500Abstract: A measurement system (200) is disclosed comprising a Coriolis flow meter (222) and a control system (224). A base fluid (250) is first flowed through the Coriolis flow meter. The Coriolis flow meter measures a density of the base fluid and transmits a base fluid density measurement to the control system. A proppant (252) is then added to the base fluid to create a fracture fluid (202). The fracture fluid is then flowed through the Coriolis flow meter. The Coriolis flow meter measures a density of the fracture fluid and transmits a fracture fluid density measurement to the control system. The control system determines an amount of proppant in the fracture fluid based on the base fluid density measurement, the fracture fluid density measurement, and a density of the proppant.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2003Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Dutton, Christopher M. Russell
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Patent number: 7249505Abstract: A tank level monitoring system is provided. The system comprises a monitor and a data center. The monitor is operatively connected to the tank to periodically monitor a level of product stored in the tank. The monitor includes a user-defined reporting schedule programmed therein. The data center is in communication with the monitor via a data channel. The monitor transmits level measurement information to the data center over the communication channel based on the user-defined reporting schedule.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventor: Wojtek Miller
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Patent number: 7243539Abstract: A continuous measurement of the level of contents in a container is effected by a level measuring device functioning in accordance with the transit time principle by means of waves transmitted from a position located above the highest possible contents level onto the surface of the material in the container. A measuring circuit determines the contents level from the transit time of the useful echo reflected from the material surface. In addition, one or more limit sensors are located at the container, each of which furnishes a signal indicating whether the contents level is above or below a level to be monitored by the limit sensor and which is situated between the minimum and maximum contents levels of the container. The measuring circuit receives the output signals of all limit sensors and uses these output signals to check and eventually to correct the contents level measured value determined by the level measuring device.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.Inventors: Johanngeorg Otto, Wolfgang Lubcke
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Patent number: 7240550Abstract: Described is a sensor for filling level measurement using a gravitational field analysis, comprising a first and a second gravimeter unit. The measurement is effected in a contactless manner, via the container wall and without input of energy into the filling good. Thus, there is no need for a source emitting measurement rays.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KGInventor: Felix Raffalt
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Patent number: 7237429Abstract: The present invention provides for novel hydrogen sensors and methods for making same. In some embodiments, such novel hydrogen sensors are continuous-range hydrogen sensors comprising Pd—Ag nanoparticles arrayed as nanowires or two-dimensional shapes on a resistive surface. Such continuous-range hydrogen sensors are capable of measuring a wide range of hydrogen gas concentration over a wide temperature range. Unlike existing hydrogen sensors that experience a large change in resistance at a certain hydrogen concentration, the continuous-range hydrogen sensor of the present invention changes resistance continuously over a broad range of hydrogen concentration. This continuous change varies slowly with hydrogen concentration and is predictable such that the continuous-range hydrogen sensor can be used to measure hydrogen concentration continuously from a few ppm to 40,000 ppm level or higher over a broad range of temperatures (e.g., ?40° C. to +150° C.).Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Nano-Proprietary, Inc.Inventors: Greg Monty, Kwok Ng, Mohshi Yang, Richard Finh
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Patent number: 7234346Abstract: A system and method for detecting and displaying the amount of chemical in a vessel. The system includes a vessel with a variable quantity of gas supported upon a moveable platform. A hydraulic load cell is positioned under the platform, and generates a hydraulic pressure signal, which is a function of the variable quantity of gas in the vessel. An electrical signal transducer converts the pressure signal to an electrical signal which is transmitted to a battery powered microprocessor/display capable of converting the electrical signal into a displayable signal indicative of an amount of gas remaining in the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2004Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Force FlowInventor: Mark B. Nelson
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Patent number: 7231809Abstract: A gas monitoring device for monitoring gas levels within a chamber is provided. The gas monitoring device includes a housing having a probe with a sensor disposed on the probe. The probe extends through the housing and into a chamber such that the sensor is within the chamber. The housing includes a first passageway disposed about the probe and second passageway disposed about the first passageway. During operation of the gas monitoring device, a temperature adjusting medium enters the second passageway through an inlet of the housing and then enters into the first passageway via the second passageway. As the temperature adjusting medium travels through the first passageway, the temperature adjusting medium adjusts the temperature of the probe. The temperature adjusting medium adjusts the temperature of the probe through thermal conduction. As the temperature of the probe adjusts, the temperature of the sensor also adjusts through thermal conduction.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Inventor: Kenneth Susko
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Patent number: 7231810Abstract: The invention relates to a high sensitive semiconductor type hydrogen sensor, an alarm of hydrogen which incorporates this sensor and a method of sensing hydrogen concentrations by using this sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Humboldt-Universitaet zu BerlinInventors: Werner Moritz, Jan Szeponik
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Patent number: 7225670Abstract: The mounting structure for mounting the piezo-electric device (106) used to detect the consumption condition of the liquid in the liquid container (1) to the liquid container (1), having the receiving portion (363) to which the piezo-electric device (106) is to be mounted and the mount portion (363) to be mounted to the liquid container (1). The mounting structure can appropriately mount a piezo-electric device (106) for detecting the consumption condition of a liquid in a liquid container (1) to the liquid container (1).Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2001Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Tsukada, Munehide Kanaya
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Patent number: 7225671Abstract: An ultrasonic fuel-gauging system has several probes each having a transducer mounted at the lower end of a still well. The transducers are connected to a processor, which measures the height of fuel above the transducers within the still wells. The processor also measures the resonant frequency of each transducer and from this calculates fuel density. The system calculates the mass of fuel in the tank from the density and the volume as calculated from the heights.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2005Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Smiths Group PLCInventor: Harry Atkinson
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Patent number: 7222526Abstract: An apparatus for determining the volume of liquid in a probe tip of an aspirating or dispensing probe, such as those used in a diagnostic analyzer, includes: two electrodes on opposite sides of the probe tip and the electrodes and liquid form a variable capacitor; a resistor; a voltage source and the electrodes and resistor are in electrical communication in at least one of series, parallel or series and parallel to form an RC circuit; and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the RC circuit for converting an electrical signal to a volume of liquid in the probe tip. In a preferred embodiment, the probe tip is separate from the probe and is adapted to be fitted on the end of a probe for aspirating and dispensing a liquid.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, IncInventors: Lemont Baker, Muhidin Lelic
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Patent number: 7222527Abstract: An automatic water level sensing device is used in a massage tub. The massage tube comprises: a plurality of water circulation devices and a switch; each water circulation device having at least one suction opening, at least one water outlet and a motor; the automatic water level sensing device comprising a first sensor head, a second sensor head, a sensor element and a CPU control element. The first sensor head and second sensor head are connected to the sensor element; the second sensor head is connected to the CPU control element; and the CPU control element is connected to the motor and the switch. The sensor element serves to detect a resistance between the first sensor head and second sensor head for acquiring a level of water in the massage tub.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Inventor: Shang Neng Wu
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Patent number: 7222519Abstract: The invention provides a soil moisture content measurement system comprising a porous plate arranged to support a soil sample; a hanging water tube extending downwardly from the porous plate, the tube arranged to convey liquid toward and away from the porous plate; a measuring capillary tube in connection with the hanging water tube, the measuring capillary tube arranged to convey liquid toward and away from the hanging water tube; measurement apparatus configured to measure the movement of liquid within the measuring capillary tube; and a data memory configured to receive and store data from the measurement apparatus representing liquid movement measurements within the measuring capillary tube. The invention also provides a related method of measuring soil moisture content.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2003Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Landcare Research New Zealand LimitedInventor: Jagath Chandralal Ekanayake
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Patent number: 7222518Abstract: An oil-filled transformer monitoring system is provided which calculates an oil temperature of an oil-filled transformer with high precision from a current of the transformer and an ambient temperature. The oil-filled transformer monitoring system of this invention has an oil temperature calculation device to calculate a transformer oil temperature using measurements from a transformer current measuring device and an ambient temperature measuring device. The transformer monitoring system also has an oil temperature measuring device and compares an output value from the oil temperature calculation device with an output value from the oil temperature measuring device to detect any anomaly.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Manabu Dohi, Toshiki Shirahata, Takayiki Kondo
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Patent number: 7219546Abstract: A float-type liquid level gauge assembly is provided for measuring the level of a liquid in a tank. The liquid level gauge is designed to reduce inventory requirements and to speed the assembly process. The gauge includes a gear housing having a lower longitudinal passageway, a shaped drive shaft, a shaft head with a first receptacle and a pinion gear with a second receptacle. The shaped drive ends mate with the first and second receptacles such that the drive shaft may be inserted into the receptacles at two or less orientations. The length of the first receptacle is less than the length of the lower longitudinal passageway, so that if the drive shaft slips down in the first receptacle the drive shaft will not completely fall out of the first receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Rochester Gauges, Inc.Inventor: Herbert G. Ross, Jr.
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Patent number: 7216537Abstract: An optical liquid measuring system for measuring the amount of flammable liquid in a storage tank consisting of a pair of encoder disks that are operatively connected to a pair of floats through a pair of pulley systems. The floats are designed so that the first float will float on top of flammable liquid such as gasoline, and the second float will float on top of water. Optical encoder reader heads or optical connectors are located proximate to the respective encoder disks to receive light that is reflected by or transmitted through the encoder disks. The optical connectors include a plurality of optical fibers that receive the light from the encoder disks and transmits signals to a CPU. The CPU then takes the information derived from the received signals and uses an algorithm to accurately calculate the amount of gasoline and water in the storage tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Optosense Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark Margolin, Malcolm Hodge
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Patent number: 7213478Abstract: A method of automatically configuring an Advanced Process Control (APC) system for a semiconductor manufacturing environment in which an auto-configuration script is generated for executing an auto-configuration program. The auto-configuration script activates default values for input to the auto-configuration program. The auto-configuration script is executed to generate an enabled parameter file output from the auto-configuration program. The enabled parameter file identifies parameters for statistical process control (SPC) chart generation.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Satoshi Harada, Edward C. Hume, III, James E Willis, Kevin Andrew Chamness, Hieu A Lam, Hongyu Yue, David Fatke
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Patent number: 7213446Abstract: A method of selecting a bituminous emulsion with enhanced performance for paving is provided. This method includes selecting polymer modified bitumen with a penetration value of about 25 to 450 dmm at 25° C. and selecting one or more emulsifiers comprised of at least about 5% by mass of a cationic nitrogenous compound selected from compounds having a carbonyl carbon atom bonded to a nitrogen atom, compounds having a carbon atom double bonded to a nitrogen atom, or combinations thereof based on the total mass of the selected emulsifier. Each selected emulsifier is reacted with a carboxylic acid to create one or more carboxylate salts. Each carboxylate salt created from a different proposed emulsifier separately is mixed with the bitumen to form one or more proposed bituminous emulsions. The coalescence of each proposed bituminous emulsion is measured using a rheology test, and a bituminous emulsion of the composition described above is chosen for paving a surface based on its coalescence properties.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: SemMaterials, L.P.Inventor: James Barnat