Patents Examined by Thomas P. Noland
  • Patent number: 8943912
    Abstract: A proximity probe device for detecting rotating shaft deviation, wherein a rigid body has a pair of flat magnets for forcibly seating against a substantially flat surface area of a shaft bearing housing of magnetizable material, a threaded bore through the body for holding a proximity probe having a mating threaded casing, an angle indicator for assisting in placing the body on the surface area and a pair of spaced shoulders on a proximate edge surface of the body, wherein a sight plane for each of the shoulders is substantially tangential to the surface of a shaft in the shaft bearing housing to aid in aiming the probe at a desired location on the shaft surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ken E. Singleton, Barry T. Cease
  • Patent number: 8927066
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for gas delivery are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a gas delivery system includes an ampoule for storing a precursor in solid or liquid form, a first conduit coupled to the ampoule and having a first end coupled to a first gas source to draw a vapor of the precursor from the ampoule into the first conduit, a second conduit coupled to the first conduit at a first junction located downstream of the ampoule and having a first end coupled to a second gas source and a second end coupled to a process chamber, and a heat source configured to heat the ampoule and at least a first portion of the first conduit from the ampoule to the second conduit and to heat only a second portion of the second conduit, wherein the second portion of the second conduit includes the first junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiyuan Ye, Yihwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8925375
    Abstract: A multiple loop sample introduction system comprises a valve assembly including a sample collection valve and a sample introduction valve. First and second sample loops are in fluid communication with the sample collection valve and the sample introduction valve to receive aliquots of liquid samples to be introduced into a nebulizer. The valve assembly is operable to port a first aliquot into the first sample loop, while porting a second aliquot received in the second sample loop for introduction into the nebulizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Wiederin
  • Patent number: 8920218
    Abstract: An electrode dresser is provided. The electrode dresser includes a face cutting segment having a top surface and a face rake surface. The top surface intersects the face rake surface and forms a face cutting edge. The face cutting edge is configured to remove deposits located on a face of an electrode. The face rake surface forms a face rake angle with a line generally perpendicular to the top surface. A side cutting segment extends from the face cutting segment and has a top surface and a side cutting surface. The top surface intersects the side cutting surface thereby forming a side cutting edge. The side cutting edge is configured to dress a distorted tapered side of an electrode tip. The side cutting surface forms a side rake angle with a line perpendicular to the top surface. The face rake angle is different from the side rake angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Moision, Elizabeth T. Hetrick
  • Patent number: 8904872
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting non-linear operation of a measuring device comprising an array of transducers and at least one receiver channel portion. The method comprises receiving measured signals through transducers of the array, processing the measured signals from the transducers through the receiver channel portion, combining the processed measured signals to produce a combined measurement signal, and detecting non-linearity of the combined measurement signal and non-linear operation of the measuring device by detecting saturation of the receiver channel portion. In one embodiment, the receiver channel portion comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a threshold is assigned to a digital output of the analog-to-digital converter, and saturation of the receiver channel portion is detected when the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter oversteps the assigned threshold. In one application of the invention, the measuring device is a non-destructive testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventors: Pierre Langlois, Michael Drummy
  • Patent number: 8904886
    Abstract: A moveable end (ME) sample cylinder device is provided which employs a method of collection wherein the initial cylinder volume of the collection vessel or sampling cylinder is zero. The sample cylinder is inserted into the pressurized gas (or fluid) source for spot sampling thereof, said sample cylinder employing a piston or moveable end configured such that purging of the cylinder sample cavity is not required, since the sample cavity volume is essentially eliminated prior to sampling by the location of the piston within the cavity, the cavity expanding upon sampling via piston movement within the cavity. Also contemplated is a cap/body (CB) spot sample cylinder having a low internal volume and which can be inserted into a pressurized process through common valving. Insertion of the CB sample cylinder into the process eliminates purging of interconnecting tubing and also eliminates the impact of low ambient temperatures which can otherwise alter the spot sample composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: A+ Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Donald P Mayeaux
  • Patent number: 8896820
    Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes: an excitation light source (120) arranged to produce an excitation beam for at least one of samples to be measured and a detector (132) arranged to detect an emission beam emitted by one of the samples to be measured and to produce a detection signal responsive to the detected emission beam. The optical measurement instrument further includes an arrangement for controlling temperature of the samples to be measured. The arrangement includes: one or more temperature sensors (176) for producing one or more temperature signals responsive to temperature of a measurement chamber (170) of the optical measurement instrument, one or more heating resistors (171-175) arranged to warm the measurement chamber, and a controller (177) arranged to control electrical power supplied to the heating resistors on the basis of the one or more temperature signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Markku Ojala, Jyrki Laitinen, Christer Isaksson, Tommi Elo
  • Patent number: 8887587
    Abstract: A measuring device, in particular a measuring device for remote sensing, has a measuring instrument and an apparatus for movably mounting the measuring instrument. The apparatus has two non-parallel rotation axes. The rotation axes are different from a longitudinal axis of the measuring instrument. The measuring instrument is connected to a rotatable drive element via a power transmission element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt E.V.
    Inventors: Jörg Brauchle, Ralf Berger
  • Patent number: 8887548
    Abstract: A land mine simulator includes a housing having an opening formed in one end thereof. A plate movably supported in the housing's opening has a first face exposed to a surrounding environment and a second face exposed to an interior region of the housing. A non-compressible fluid-filled reservoir in the housing includes a flexible diaphragm opposing and spaced apart from the second face of the plate. Plungers are between each of the second face of the plate and the diaphragm. Each of one or more air spring in the housing includes a cylinder having a movable piston sealed therein with a first side of the piston in fluid communication with the reservoir's fluid and a second side of the piston in fluid communication with a pressurized volume of gas within the cylinder. A pressure sensor is provided in communication with the fluid in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brian L. Price, Patrick A. Delay, Mark Welscher
  • Patent number: 8869637
    Abstract: An electric generator (1) includes a casing (2) that envelops a stator (3) and a rotor (4). The casing (2) has an aperture (5) through which the generator casing inside (7) is inspectable during generator operation. A method includes inspecting during generator operation, through the aperture (5) of the casing (2), the casing inside (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Hossein Safari Zadeh, Damir Novosel
  • Patent number: 8863593
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sampling device and method for detecting liquid. The device includes a sampling probe; an action module for actuating the sampling probe; a control module for controlling the action module; a detection module for detecting a change of a relevant physical quantity of the sampling probe and converting the physical quantity into a corresponding electric signal output to the control module. The control module processes the electric signal output by the detection module and controls the action module to actuate the sampling probe based on the electric signal. The device is capable of determining abnormal liquid suction situations, making the sampling more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yanwen Weng
  • Patent number: 8863595
    Abstract: The automated sample extraction device is a device for the automatic extraction of chemical samples. The device includes a housing defining an open interior region. A rotating carousel is disposed within the housing, and a plurality of sample holders are mounted thereon. A plurality of sample storage tanks each contain a unique chemical sample, and a desired volume of at least one chemical sample is drawn from a respective one of the sample storage tanks to a respective at least one of the plurality of sample holders. The carousel is rotated so that the desired volume of the at least one chemical sample may be dispensed into a receptacle positioned adjacent the carousel. The at least one chemical sample may then be mixed, heated, cooled, shaken and/or vibrated within the receptacle prior to dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kuwait University
    Inventor: Sadeq Ahmad Al-Qasem
  • Patent number: 8850903
    Abstract: A liquid aspirating and dispensing apparatus and method of using the apparatus. Among other elements, the apparatus includes a liquid handling device having one or more channel members, each of which has a removable liquid holding tip attached, and a signal transmitting device. A signal transmitted from the signal transmitting device may be used in a variety of ways to yield information regarding the performance of the apparatus. This information may be provided via direct detection of the signal by an operator of the apparatus. Alternatively, the signal may be detected by a programmable signal detecting device, interpreted by the apparatus, and then displayed in a form that is understandable to the operator. Furthermore, the liquid holding tip may be modified to enable different forms of signal transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Artel, Inc., Seyonic S.A.
    Inventors: Richard H. Curtis, Kirby Pilcher, David L. Bohnsack, Charles Ewing, George Rodrigues, John T. Bradshaw, Marc Boillat
  • Patent number: 8833187
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining samples from a structure includes a support member, at least one stabilizing member, and at least one moveable member. The stabilizing member has a first portion coupled to the support member and a second portion configured to engage with the structure to restrict relative movement between the support member and the structure. The stabilizing member is radially expandable from a first configuration where the second portion does not engage with a surface of the structure to a second configuration where the second portion engages with the surface of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Randall F. Lind, Peter D. Lloyd, Lonnie J. Love, Mark W. Noakes, Francois G. Pin, Bradley S. Richardson, John C. Rowe
  • Patent number: 8829929
    Abstract: An environmental degradation sensor for rubber products comprises a conductive composite having a matrix of at least one polymeric component of the rubber product, a conductive filler, and a degradation control agent. The sensor is attached to the rubber product and communicates with a reader through electrical contact or by use of a radio frequency identification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Watkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8820135
    Abstract: A method for operating an oxygen sensor arrangement senses the oxygen in a breathing loop of a breathing apparatus. The sensor arrangement includes a primary oxygen sensor to measure the oxygen in the breathing loop, a secondary oxygen sensor to measure the oxygen in the breathing loop, and a control arrangement to obtain measures from the oxygen sensor. A test channel arrangement provides a first gas having a first fraction of oxygen from a first gas supply to the primary oxygen sensor at a position adjacent to the primary oxygen sensor. A test valve arrangement opens and closes the flow of the first gas through the test channel arrangement. The control arrangement actuates the first test valve arrangement to provide an amount of the first gas to the primary oxygen sensor via the test channel arrangement and obtain measures from the primary and secondary oxygen sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Poseidon Diving Systems AB
    Inventors: William C. Stone, Nigel Jones
  • Patent number: 8806913
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a response to an exhaust-stream NOx level in a motor vehicle is provided. The system comprises a NOx sensor that includes an electrode, a current from the electrode responsive to the exhaust-stream NOx level while a bias voltage is applied to the electrode. The system further comprises a controller configured to interrupt the bias voltage and to adjust a motor-vehicle response to the current based at least partly on an attained voltage of the electrode while the bias voltage is interrupted. Other embodiments provide a method of calibrating a NOx sensor response in terms of gain and offset parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yi Ding
  • Patent number: 8800394
    Abstract: A transportable Sample Apparatus includes a vacuum flask (Dewar flask) and integral sample container. The Sample Apparatus may be used to capture a liquid phase LNG sample at a custody transfer point and to transport the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Vaporization of the liquid phase sample may take place at a variety of different locations. For example, vaporization may begin and/or be completed during transport from the collection point to the laboratory. In another example, vaporization may begin and be completed in the laboratory. In yet another example vaporization may begin during transport and be completed at the laboratory. The gas phase sample is typically analyzed by a gas chromatograph for Btu content, among other things. Prior to capture of the sample, the Sample Apparatus goes through a pre-cool cycle to chill a sample end cap and other components to a temperature compatible with capture of a cryogenic liquid sample which is about ?250° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Welker, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Bombulie, Tracy D. Peebles
  • Patent number: 8794083
    Abstract: An inspection assembly for inspecting a hollow member, with a probe head, which includes at least one sensor, and a flexible shaft connected to the probe head to transmit motive force. The shaft encloses at least one wire operatively connected to the probe head for sensory operation of the sensor. The shaft has a first part adjacent to the probe head and a second part distal therefrom. The first part is relatively more flexible that the second part. The shaft has an improved ability to follow a torturous path of the hollow member and for aiding in kink prevention of the shaft. In one aspect, the first part is made of polymer material and has a reduced-diameter and corrugations. Optionally, at least one non-metallic retrieval cable is enclosed within the shaft and connected to the probe head for transmitting a pulling force to the probe head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bishop Draper, Matthew Barton Wolf, Michael Alphonse Terhaar, Lance Edmund Maggy
  • Patent number: 8794825
    Abstract: A sampling port includes an elongated flexible support tube having an interior surface bounding a first passageway extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the first passageway being closed at the first end of the support tube and open at the second end of the support tube. An elongated flexible sampling tube has an interior surface bounding a second passageway extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the second passageway being open at the first end of the sampling tube, at least a portion of the sampling tube adjacently extending along the length of the support tube and being connected to the support tube. A flange encircles and radially outwardly projecting from the support tube and the sampling tube at a location spaced apart from the first end of the support tube and the first end of the sampling tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Goodwin