Patents by Inventor Dan Hutchinson

Dan Hutchinson 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).

  • Patent number: 10054559
    Abstract: A compact, pressure conserving, steam quality and flow rate measurement system is described. Embodiments of the system can include a steam quality measuring device having a converging/diverging nozzle and a conditioning orifice plate. The steam quality measuring device can be adapted to measure flow conditions of a two-phase steam to determine steam quality. The converging/diverging nozzle can be implemented to reduce pressure loss and control flow rate. The conditioning orifice plate can be implemented to reduce flow conditioning pipe lengths and eliminate secondary flow conditioning elements. By placing the two flow elements in series, data from the flow elements can allow for a simultaneous solution of flow equations yielding a measurement for steam quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Dan Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20180031502
    Abstract: A compact, pressure conserving, steam quality and flow rate measurement system is described. Embodiments of the system can include a steam quality measuring device having a converging/diverging nozzle and a conditioning orifice plate. The steam quality measuring device can be adapted to measure flow conditions of a two-phase steam to determine steam quality. The converging/diverging nozzle can be implemented to reduce pressure loss and control flow rate. The conditioning orifice plate can be implemented to reduce flow conditioning pipe lengths and eliminate secondary flow conditioning elements. By placing the two flow elements in series, data from the flow elements can allow for a simultaneous solution of flow equations yielding a measurement for steam quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Dan Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 9369107
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering a signal is described. The apparatus includes a first singly terminated filter that filters a signal in a first frequency range, and a second singly terminated filter that filters the signal in a second frequency range, the inputs of the filters being connected together, wherein an element of the first filter is coupled to an additional element to form a frequency response transmission zero in a stopband frequency range of the first filter. The method includes receiving a signal, the signal containing content from a first source in a first frequency range and content from a second source in a second frequency range different than the first range, applying filtering, and applying filtering to generate a second output signal, using filters that include a singly terminated filter section with additional circuit elements to form a transmission frequency zero in the stopband frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Max Muterspaugh, Dan Hutchinson, Lincheng Xiu, Rejimon G. Varghese
  • Publication number: 20150303889
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering a signal is described. The apparatus includes a first singly terminated filter that filters a signal in a first frequency range, and a second singly terminated filter that filters the signal in a second frequency range, the inputs of the filters being connected together, wherein an element of the first filter is coupled to an additional element to form a frequency response transmission zero in a stopband frequency range of the first filter. The method includes receiving a signal, the signal containing content from a first source in a first frequency range and content from a second source in a second frequency range different than the first range, applying filtering, and applying filtering to generate a second output signal, using filters that include a singly terminated filter section with additional circuit elements to form a transmission frequency zero in the stopband frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Max MUTERSPAUGH, Dan Hutchinson, Lincheng Xiu, Rejimon G. Varghese
  • Publication number: 20150135252
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying signals into a filter circuit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a filter circuit that filters an input signal and outputs a signal in a first frequency range, and a filter circuit that filters the input signal and outputs a signal in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range, wherein the second filter circuit includes an interface circuit for inserting a signal used to receive the first frequency range signal. The method includes receiving a signal containing content from a first source in a first frequency range and content from a second source in a second frequency range, providing filtering to produce a signal containing the first content, providing filtering to produce a signal containing the second content, and applying a signal to second content signal processing circuitry, the signal provided used for receiving the content from the first source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Max Muterspaugh, Dan Hutchinson, Rejimon Varghese
  • Patent number: 8984959
    Abstract: A steam quality and flow rate measurement system is described. Embodiments of the system include a steam quality measuring device having a converging/diverging nozzle and ceramic spacer. The steam quality measuring device can be adapted to measure an impedance of a two-phase steam to determine steam quality. The converging/diverging nozzle can be implemented to mix the two-phase flow and reduce pressure loss. The ceramic spacer can be positioned such that steam is in a cross flow when interfacing with the ceramic spacer inside the steam quality measuring device. By placing the spacer in such a position, an electrically conductive liquid phase can be prevented from coating a surface of the ceramic spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Dan Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20140311251
    Abstract: A steam quality and flow rate measurement system is described. Embodiments of the system include a steam quality measuring device having a converging/diverging nozzle and ceramic spacer. The steam quality measuring device can be adapted to measure an impedance of a two-phase steam to determine steam quality. The converging/diverging nozzle can be implemented to mix the two-phase flow and reduce pressure loss. The ceramic spacer can be positioned such that steam is in a cross flow when interfacing with the ceramic spacer inside the steam quality measuring device. By placing the spacer in such a position, an electrically conductive liquid phase can be prevented from coating a surface of the ceramic spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Dan Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 5664886
    Abstract: A net for collecting leaves from a lawn. The inventive device includes a capturing web positionable in a flat orientation over a lawn. A closure assembly is mounted to the web and operates to pivot an outer peripheral edge of the web upwardly from the lawn and subsequently inwardly to trap debris in the net for disposal thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Dan A. Hutchinson