Patents by Inventor David Blackford
David Blackford 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: 11162879Abstract: A particle detector for rapidly detecting and identifying sub 20 nm particles in Ultra Pure Water (UPW) is disclosed. The detector has a nano particle extractor, a nanoparticle collector, and a tracer particle introducer. The extractor limits the size of droplets output to a predetermined size. The extractor includes (1) a liquid sample inlet, (2) a nebulizer connected to the liquid sample inlet (the nebulizer has a gas supply, and an outlet), (3) an impactor arranged to receive material output from the nebulizer, (4) an evaporator connected to the nebulizer and impactor for providing an aerosol at the extractor outlet, and (5) an aerosol connected to the evaporator. The collector us connected to the extractor and has: (1) a collector inlet connected to the aerosol outlet of the extractor, (2) a vapor condensation growth tube connected to the collector inlet, and (3) a repositionable particle capture plate arranged to receive material output from the growth tube at spatially varying positions.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Kanomax FMT, Inc.Inventors: Derek Oberreit, David Blackford, Patricia B. Keady, Siqin He
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Patent number: 10697879Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream, of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Fluid Management Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20190025165Abstract: A particle detector for rapidly detecting and identifying sub 20 nm particles in Ultra Pure Water (UPW) is disclosed. The detector has a nano particle extractor, a nanoparticle collector, and a tracer particle introducer. The extractor limits the size of droplets output to a predetermined size. The extractor includes (1) a liquid sample inlet, (2) a nebulizer connected to the liquid sample inlet (the nebulizer has a gas supply, and an outlet), (3) an impactor arranged to receive material output from the nebulizer, (4) an evaporator connected to the nebulizer and impactor for providing an aerosol at the extractor outlet, and (5) an aerosol connected to the evaporator. The collector us connected to the extractor and has: (1) a collector inlet connected to the aerosol outlet of the extractor, (2) a vapor condensation growth tube connected to the collector inlet, and (3) a repositionable particle capture plate arranged to receive material output from the growth tube at spatially varying positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Derek Oberreit, David Blackford, Patricia B. Keady, Siqin He
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Publication number: 20180224366Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream, of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 9958371Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Fluid Measurement Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Publication number: 20150308940Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy
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Patent number: 9086350Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford, Derek R. Oberreit
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Publication number: 20120312084Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford
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Patent number: 8272253Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: CT Associates, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford
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Publication number: 20090183554Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventors: Donald C. Grant, Mark R. Litchy, David Blackford