Patents by Inventor Brian H. Welker
Brian H. Welker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6827486Abstract: An automatic insertion device includes a temperature sensing element structured to provide direct contact between the fluid in a pipeline and the sensor or sensing element. A valve assembly is provided to seal the interior of the conduit from its exterior when the sensing element is in its retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Publication number: 20040233969Abstract: An automatic insertion device includes a temperature sensing element structured to provide direct contact between the fluid in a pipeline and the sensor or sensing element. A valve assembly is provided to seal the interior of the conduit from its exterior when the sensing element is in its retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6818045Abstract: The liquid separator with integral sight glass separates liquids, if present, from gases and allows a technician to visually confirm the presence or absence of liquids in the gas. The present invention is typically used when taking a spot sample from a natural gas pipeline. Spot samples of natural gas are often analyzed by gas chromatographs which do not tolerate the presence of liquids in a sample. If the technician visually confirms the presence of liquids, adjustments to the spot sampling technique can be made to possibly eliminate the creation of such liquids due to poor technique.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6764536Abstract: An integrated sampling device with liquid eliminator is provided. The device includes a body with integrated valving. A liquid eliminator device is provided within the body and interposed in a flow path such that gas will pass through and liquid will not. The gas will then be conducted to a sampling device while the liquid will pass through an exhaust port back to the source of fluid. An inlet valve is also provided to control the flow of fluid from the source to the liquid eliminator element. An outlet valve may be provided to control liquid back to the source.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6761757Abstract: A probe is provided that combines in one housing a pressure regulator and filter/dryer element. The probe may be connected to a conduit for the transfer of a fluid sample, such as natural gas, from the conduit to provide separation of the fluid such that a gaseous component may be then subsequently transferred to an instrument or the like. If liquid is separated it may be returned to the conduit via a return line.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Publication number: 20040101025Abstract: An automatic insertion device includes a temperature sensing element structured to provide direct contact between the fluid in a pipeline and the sensor or sensing element. A valve assembly is provided to seal the interior of the conduit from its exterior when the sensing element is in its retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventor: Brian H. Welker
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Publication number: 20040099068Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sampling of natural gas. The apparatus includes a fixed volume cylinder with a side wall and opposite end walls. A valve assembly is mounted in at least one end wall with the end wall functioning as a valve body housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventor: Brian H. Welker
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Publication number: 20040099143Abstract: An integrated sampling device with liquid eliminator is provided. The device includes a body with integrated valving. A liquid eliminator device is provided within the body and interposed in a flow path such that gas will pass through and liquid will not. The gas will then be conducted to a sampling device while the liquid will pass through an exhaust port back to the source of fluid. An inlet valve is also provided to control the flow of fluid from the source to the liquid eliminator element. An outlet valve may be provided to control liquid back to the source.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventor: Brian H. Welker
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Publication number: 20040083891Abstract: The liquid separator with integral sight glass separates liquids, if present, from gases and allows a technician to visually confirm the presence or absence of liquids in the gas. The present invention is typically used when taking a spot sample from a natural gas pipeline. Spot samples of natural gas are often analyzed by gas chromatographs which do not tolerate the presence of liquids in a sample. If the technician visually confirms the presence of liquids, adjustments to the spot sampling technique can be made to possibly eliminate the creation of such liquids due to poor technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventor: Brian H. Welker
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Publication number: 20040079236Abstract: A probe is provided that combines in one housing a pressure regulator and filter/dryer element. The probe may be connected to a conduit for the transfer of a fluid sample, such as natural gas, from the conduit to provide separation of the fluid such that a gaseous component may be then subsequently transferred to an instrument or the like. If liquid is separated it may be returned to the conduit via a return line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6422737Abstract: An apparatus for mixing dissimilar fluids or fluids having different densities is disclosed. A piston shaped for a close fit and slidably mounted within a tubular member divides a material container into a pressurized end and a mixing chamber. A pump is sealably attached to a base plate. The pump communicates with the mixing chamber through an inlet. The outlet bore is directed so that the discharging mixture from the pump causes a turbulent mixing action within the mixing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6338359Abstract: A probe structure for inserting into and operating upon an object within a pipeline, especially a high pressure pipeline carrying liquid or gas, is characterized by two coaxial cylinders that can be either pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. A primary cylinder is adapted to be mounted onto a pipeline tee and/or valve, and includes a movable primary piston to which is fixedly attached a primary lower hollow shaft that moves with the primary piston and preferably a primary upper hollow shaft that also moves with the primary piston. The primary lower hollow shaft is adapted to selectively extend into the pipeline while the primary upper hollow shaft extends above the primary cylinder and is fixed to a secondary cylinder, such that the secondary cylinder moves with the primary piston. The secondary piston includes a secondary piston that moves independently of the first and second cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2000Date of Patent: January 15, 2002Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6259523Abstract: An optic device for use in viewing the interior of pressurized vessels, especially high pressure fluid pipelines. Embodiments of the optic device allow manual or automatic insertion/retraction of the viewing head allowing variable depth viewing of the interior. The viewing head is capable of various embodiments including the ability to carry various optic devices and is adapted to withstand high pressures. The automatically insertable optic device can be either hydraulically or pneumatically actuated. Both the automatic and manual optic devices may be fixed or variable focus. The fixed focus devices utilize lenses, ultra-miniature color cameras, and fiberscopes either with or without integral light sources as part of the viewing head. The variable focus device utilizes lenses and a reflector. Preferably, the viewing head utilizes sapphire viewing windows which exhibit excellent light transmission and resistance to high pressures.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2000Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6120035Abstract: An end cap with a inwardly flanged bevel tapered seal utilized on sample cylinders for pipeline applications that provides a better means for sealing the sample cylinder. The present invention specifically relates to mating ring seal members having a beveled mitered interface and each member having an inward flange or lip. The preferred embodiment of the invention was designed with a sample cylinder in mind wherein the sample cylinder has an end cap with a purging port and a piston that reciprocates within said sample cylinder. The typical sample cylinder is designed such that contents in the internal sampling chamber can be purged through the purging port of the end cap by plunging the piston inside the sampling chamber against the end cap in a reciprocating fashion.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6092519Abstract: A case for heating sample containers during transport, where the case has a housing that containing thermal insulation and a disposable heating material that generates heat by chemical reaction with oxygen. Closeable apertures allow control over the access of oxygen to the heating material, and thereby over the rate of reaction. A method of portably heating a sample cylinder is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventors: David J. Fish, Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6091489Abstract: An optic device for use in viewing the interior of pressurized vessels, especially high pressure fluid pipelines. Embodiments of the optic device allow manual or automatic insertion/retraction of the viewing head allowing variable depth viewing of the interior. The viewing head is capable of various embodiments including the ability to carry various optic devices and is adapted to withstand high pressures. The automatically insertable optic device can be either hydraulically or pneumatically actuated. Both the automatic and manual optic devices may be fixed or variable focus. The fixed focus devices utilize lenses, ultra-miniature color cameras, and fiberscopes either with or without integral light sources as part of the viewing head. The variable focus device utilizes lenses and a reflector. Preferably, the viewing head utilizes sapphire viewing windows which exhibit excellent light transmission and resistance to high pressures.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6085777Abstract: A probe structure for inserting into and operating upon an object within a pipeline, especially a high pressure pipeline carrying liquid or gas, is characterized by two coaxial cylinders that can be either pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. A primary cylinder is adapted to be mounted onto a pipeline tee and/or valve, and includes a movable primary piston to which is fixedly attached a primary lower hollow shaft that moves with the primary piston and preferably a primary upper hollow shaft that also moves with the primary piston. The primary lower hollow shaft is adapted to selectively extend into the pipeline while the primary upper hollow shaft extends above the primary cylinder and is fixed to a secondary cylinder, such that the secondary cylinder moves with the primary piston. The secondary piston includes a secondary piston that moves independently of the first and second cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1998Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 6036119Abstract: An elastomeric vaporizing injection nozzle for pipeline applications that provides an adjustable fluid flow rate, and a uniform, consistent and predictable spray pattern.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 5996425Abstract: A sample cylinder for holding natural gas or other fluid samples for analysis which can completely clear itself of one sample before being filled with a subsequent sample. The piston is adapted to receive an elastomeric head which is preferably concave to the end cap. The end cap is also preferably sloped downward toward the outlet. When the piston head contacts the end cap, contact begins near the cylinder body wall and progresses inward to the outlet. The end cap is adapted to receive an elastomeric gasket seal instead of an o-ring. No spaces are left between the end cap and the cylinder body which could retain sample fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker
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Patent number: 5945611Abstract: A device for introducing a sample into or removing a sample from a pipeline, tube, or the like, and more particularly to a device for sampling fluids under pressure in a pipeline, tube, duct, conduit, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Welker Engineering CompanyInventor: Brian H. Welker