Patents Examined by Timothy P Graves
  • Patent number: 11808662
    Abstract: A device for measuring the characteristics of an air flow in an annular passage of a turbo-machine. The device includes a rod which extends along a first axis and carries means for measuring air flow characteristics. The rod also sealingly engages and slides in a first tubular part extended by a second tubular part. The second tubular part sealingly passes along the first axis through a slider mounted in a slide for sliding along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The rod engages the second tubular part with an annular clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Verniau, Gilles Polo Filisan, Adnan Sozuan, Simon Paris
  • Patent number: 11807179
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for checking the correct deployment of an airbag device comprises, in a vehicle or test vehicle model, optionally arranging a dummy or model of a vehicle occupant in the vicinity of the airbag device, triggering the deployment of the air chamber of the airbag device, taking at least one image of a scene including the air chamber at a plurality of discrete times following the triggering of its deployment and verifying the volume of inflation and/or deployment of the air chamber at the plurality of discrete times following the triggering of its deployment on the basis of the at least one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ITALDESIGN-GIUGIARO S.P.A
    Inventors: Davide Casini, Nikolas Vinci
  • Patent number: 11796522
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a support structure with a cavity, a sensing element sensitive to a gas and arranged in the cavity, and a filter spanning the cavity. The filter is a size selective filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SENSIRION AG
    Inventors: Pernilla Andersson, Roman Pavelko, Aline Rotzetter
  • Patent number: 11761857
    Abstract: The device for rotating and inspecting tires includes a housing having opposed upper and lower surfaces, with a ramp portion of the upper surface being inclined and a support portion of the upper surface having a depression formed therein. A pair of spaced apart slots are formed through the upper surface within the depression. A pair of rollers are mounted within the housing beneath the pair of spaced apart slots. Each of the rollers has an adjustable height such that the pair of rollers may be selectively raised and lowered through the pair of spaced apart slots. The rollers are driven to rotate by motors or the like such that, in use, each tire may be lifted off the upper surface of the housing by raising the rollers, and the rollers may be driven to rotate the tire. Optical sensors are provided to inspect the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Mohieddine Rahmouni
  • Patent number: 11761849
    Abstract: A wind tunnel for a motor vehicle, with a fan, a test section, through which an air stream generated by the fan can flow, a recording device for recording different motor vehicles within the test section, and a testing device for determining aerodynamic characteristics of the motor vehicle. The wind tunnel also includes an optical sensing device for sensing an outer contour of the motor vehicle recorded by the recording device, an evaluating unit and a linking unit. The evaluating unit determines a vehicle configuration from the outer contour of the motor vehicle sensed by the optical sensing device. The linking unit links the vehicle configuration of the motor vehicle determined by the evaluating unit with the test results determined by the testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Kayser, Marcel Straub, Jan-Niklas Helbach, Matthias Braun, Jin Gong
  • Patent number: 11753981
    Abstract: A particulate matter detecting apparatus (S) comprises a sensor body (S1) which has a sensor device (1) which is retained in a housing (H) secured to an exhaust pipe (101) of an internal combustion engine (ENG) and detects particulate matter contained in exhaust gas, a sensor temperature determining unit (2) which works to determine a temperature of the sensor device, and a mounted condition diagnosis unit (3) which diagnoses a mounted condition where the sensor body is mounted in the exhaust pipe. The mounted condition diagnosis unit includes a diagnosis threshold setting unit (31) and a mount error determining unit (32). The diagnosis threshold setting unit determines a diagnosis threshold (Tth), as used in a diagnosis of the mounted condition, as a function of an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to have a temperature value lower than a temperature of the sensor device when the sensor body is normally mounted in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Araki, Masato Katsuno
  • Patent number: 11754471
    Abstract: Techniques and methods for testing a structural integrity of a vehicle. For instance, the vehicle may use suspension(s) to lift corners of the vehicle, where lifting the corners creates a torsion force in the body of the vehicle. The vehicle may then use sensor(s) to determine a deflection that is caused by the torsion force. Next, the vehicle may determine a stiffness associated with the body of the vehicle using the force that was applied to lift the corners and the deflection. After determining the stiffness, the vehicle may compare the stiffness to a baseline stiffness in order to determine whether there is a problem with the structural integrity of the vehicle. The baseline stiffness may include s standard stiffness or be based on a previous test of the vehicle. If the vehicle determines that there is no problem, then the vehicle may continue to operate as intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Edren, Ahditya Melkote, Keith David Myers
  • Patent number: 11754470
    Abstract: The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of tests of automobile wheels and automobile chassis suspension systems, and provides a simulated pavement rotary drum and automobile test equipment. A simulated cobblestone pavement, and a simulated impact pavement, so that a testing pavement at a test field is reproduced; an impact load caused by the track pavement, the cobblestone pavement, and the impact pavement can be applied to wheels and a chassis system; and a road simulation test of wheels and a suspension system of an automobile can be performed on bench test equipment. As verified, the simulated pavement rotary drum of the present disclosure can reproduce the simulated track pavement at the test field; and the consistency of radial impact loads is greater than 95% at the same speed and under the same vehicle load operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shide Li, Desheng Chen, Zhigao Yin, Jun Wang, Zuo Xu, Hanqi Wu
  • Patent number: 11733126
    Abstract: A tire defect detection system for detecting defects in a tire. The system includes at least one infrared camera, a pneumatic source and a computing device. The pneumatic source inflates the tire to a predetermined pressure. After inflation, the infrared camera captures a reference frame of a section of the tire. A period of time after capturing the reference frame, the infrared camera captures a subsequent frame. The subsequent frame is compared to the reference frame to detect a portion of the section of the tire that has a lower temperature. The lower temperature is caused by an escape of air from the tire through a defect. The escaping air cools the area of the tire around the defect, so a decrease in temperature indicates the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Paul E. Hawkinson Company
    Inventors: Gary William Box, Brian B. Brasch, Anthony S. Rike
  • Patent number: 11733127
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power assembly for a robotic platform for a Global Vehicle Target (GVT) of autonomous driving. The power assembly includes an assembly housing, a motor, a transmission mechanism, a standby brake, a suspension and wheels, where when the power assembly is in use, a driving force output by the motor is transmitted to the wheels by means of the transmission mechanism, so as to drive the wheels to rotate, the standby brake is used for braking an output shaft of the motor, a top of the suspension supports the assembly housing, and when a load borne by the assembly housing changes, the suspension contracts or extends to drive the wheels to rotate upwards and downwards with a housing of the transmission mechanism as a swing arm and a rotating shaft of the motor as a swing arm rotation center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TONGJI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hong Chen, Zhihua Li, Lin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11726005
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for automatically controlling braking of a vehicle during testing. In an exemplary embodiments, a testing assembly is provided that includes a roll test machine and a tester system. The roll test machine includes a flat surface, a plurality of rollers, and one or more optical controllers. The plurality of rollers are configured to engage a vehicle on the flat surface for testing of the vehicle. The one or more optical encoders are configured to generate wheel speed and brake force data for the vehicle during testing of the vehicle. The tester system includes a processor configured to at least facilitate generating instructions for brake pressure to be applied via a braking system of the vehicle during the testing of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth A Conlin, Jason J Opolka
  • Patent number: 11725969
    Abstract: A sampling module is for mounting in a pipeline with a multiphase flow meter and for receiving multiphase fluid from the pipeline. The sampling module includes: a separation chamber for receiving and separating a sample volume of fluid from the multiphase fluid, the separation chamber having a vertical extent when in use; a lower valve for opening and closing a lower fluid path between a lower end of the separation chamber and the pipeline; an upper valve for opening and closing an upper fluid path between an upper end of the separation chamber and the pipeline; a lower sensor for measuring fluid properties of the fluid in a lower part of the separation chamber; and an upper sensor for measuring fluid properties of the fluid in an upper part of the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Kjetil Folgerø, Jan Kocbach, Anders Hallanger, Marie Bueie Holstad, Øvind Lystrup, Audun Faanes, Egil Aabel Næsguthe, Eirik Abro, Asbjørn Erdal
  • Patent number: 11726047
    Abstract: Materials, methods of making, and methods of sensing liquid droplets with high spatial resolution as a signature of the on-set of corrosion using a hierarchical sensor network A hierarchical sensor network for sensing liquid droplets with high spatial resolution as a signature of the on-set of corrosion, including an interrogation system; and an intermediate sensor array layer in communication with the interrogation system. The network includes an interrogation system and an intermediate sensor array layer in communication with the interrogation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul R Ohodnicki, Jr., Ping Lu, Ruishu Wright, Jagannath Devkota
  • Patent number: 11726015
    Abstract: A device for collecting contaminants from water samples is provided. The device includes a solid sorbent that collects and stores the contaminants from water samples. The solid sorbent is configured to allow for the preservation of the stored contaminants. The concentrations of the contaminants in the water samples are determined via analysis of the solid sorbent or via elution of the stored contaminants from the sorbent and analysis of the eluate solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Emily Hanhauser, Michael Bono, Anastasios John Hart, Rohit Karnik, Xiaoyuan Ren, Chintan Vaishnav
  • Patent number: 11708183
    Abstract: Disclosed are a ground test system and a test method for a space-oriented multi-arm spacecraft system. A spacecraft system simulator floats on an air-floating platform through four porous air feet, a test truss is placed around the air-floating platform, a simulation auxiliary docking device, a simulation crawling truss and a satellite model are arranged in a middle of a ceiling of the test truss, and an assembly test area and a silent air compressor are arranged on sides of the test truss. The application is used to solve the problems that the prior art cannot simulate the movement and crawling of the multi-arm spacecraft system in space, assembly of large space structures, and the prior art cannot simulate the influence of assembling, catching and other actions on a base in a weightless environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SHENZHEN
    Inventors: Chengfei Yue, Cheng Wei, Xibin Cao, Xueqin Chen, Shi Qiu, Tao Lin
  • Patent number: 11708059
    Abstract: A method for managing a control software of a braking system of a vehicle, the method including downloading, a vehicle-adapted control software from a server via a wireless interface of the vehicle, and flashing a control unit of the braking system with the vehicle-adapted control software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Hoehn, Lothar Backes
  • Patent number: 11703417
    Abstract: A control test system of the hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle microcomputer includes a hydrogen treatment unit; the hydrogen treatment unit includes a detection box; an absorption box, an impurity removal box, a purification box and a water storage tank are arranged on an outer wall of the detection box; a first spring is fixedly mounted on an upper wall of an inner cavity of the absorption box; a lower end of the first spring is fixedly connected with a piston plate which is in sliding connection with an inner wall of the absorption box; amounting cylinder is arranged on an upper wall of an inner cavity of the purification box; and a plurality of adsorption rods are arranged on an outer wall of the mounting cylinder in an annular array mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: New Automobile Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shengrong Mi, Hai Li, Kaiyan Liang
  • Patent number: 11703423
    Abstract: A method for testing the wear of tires running on a rolling road comprises the following steps: using the construction data of the vehicle and a dynamic equilibrium model, determining the relationship between the speed and the accelerations at the centre of gravity of the vehicle, and the angles and directional forces applied on a given axle; continuously recording the speed and the accelerations of a vehicle travelling on a predetermined route; and disposing the two tires belonging to a same axle on the rolling road and, depending on the recorded speed and acceleration values, the values of the angle of camber, load and longitudinal forces are applied, at all times, on each of the wheels of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Dominique Cettour-Janet
  • Patent number: 11698324
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle excitation advice. The vehicle excitation device that excites a vehicle having a plurality of wheels includes a plurality of excitation machine bodies on which the wheels are placed, respectively. The excitation machine body includes a front shaft and a rear shaft on which the wheels are placed at intervals in the in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and an actuator (hydraulic actuator) that excites vibration to the wheels by moving at least one of the front shaft and the rear shaft in the front-rear direction. The front shaft is inclined such that the inner end portion of the front shaft in the left-right direction of the vehicle is located closer to the front of the vehicle than the outer end portion of the front shaft in the left-right direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shutaro Hiramoto, Susumu Akutsu
  • Patent number: 11692863
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by an adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock