Patents by Inventor David Verl Brower
David Verl Brower 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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Publication number: 20250020505Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods for detecting activities associated with theft of a substance flowing through the pipeline. Such activities are determined by correlating pipeline sensor signals to anomalistic reference signals characterizing activity(ies) known to be associated with theft of a substance flowing through a pipeline—e.g., formation of a hole within a tubular member of the pipeline, a liquid being pumped into the pipeline through a wall of a tubular member thereof, a metallic article (e.g., drill) coming into contact with a tubular member of the pipeline, and the like. Advantageously, fiber optic sensors are utilized for such monitoring of vibrations and other operating conditions in elongated tubular members making up the pipeline thereby enabling activities associated with theft of a substance from the pipeline to be effectively and inexpensively detected over extended lengths of pipelines.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 12196634Abstract: Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2023Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Astro Technology Group LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 12135235Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods for detecting activities associated with theft of a substance flowing through the pipeline. Such activities are determined by correlating pipeline sensor signals to anomalistic reference signals characterizing activity(ies) known to be associated with theft of a substance flowing through a pipeline—e.g., formation of a hole within a tubular member of the pipeline, a liquid being pumped into the pipeline through a wall of a tubular member thereof, a metallic article (e.g., drill) coming into contact with a tubular member of the pipeline, and the like. Advantageously, fiber optic sensors are utilized for such monitoring of vibrations and other operating conditions in elongated tubular members making up the pipeline thereby enabling activities associated with theft of a substance from the pipeline to be effectively and inexpensively detected over extended lengths of pipelines.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2023Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Astro Technology Group LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20240310538Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods configured to produce and monitor signals that characterize activities corresponding to intruders (e.g., persons and/or animals) traversing a boundary that at least partially defines a designated area. Such activities can characterize one or more persons traversing a boundary or attempting to traverse a barrier that defines the boundary. Sensors within a substrate that extends along the boundary can be used for producing such signals. The substrate can be soil of which ground at the boundary is comprised, a manmade material located within such soil or a material from which a barrier along the boundary is constructed. The sensors can be fiber optic sensors that extend contiguously along a length of the boundary and/or can be fiber optic sensors that are located at discrete locations along the length of the boundary. The signals can cause one or more responsive actions to be implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 19, 2024Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20240310539Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a sensor displacement device. The sensor displacement device is engaged with an optical fiber sensor (or other suitable form of a sensor) and slows recover of the sensor when displaced (e.g., deformed) from a static state. In doing so, the sensor displacement tuning body serves to enable amplification of signal detection associated with a given instance of sensor displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 19, 2024Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 11867964Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 11867963Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 11852885Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230408305Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods configured to monitoring activity and/or environmental conditions of an area surrounding a pipeline. Such systems and methods can utilize fiber optic sensors for monitoring vibrations and other signals in elongated tubular members making up the pipeline. Such fiber optic sensors can be strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of the pipeline thereby allowing monitoring of critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the pipeline and other signals indicative of adverse product flow conditions and pipeline operating conditions. Furthermore, one or more drones can be used for using one or more sensors thereof for monitoring and assessing activity within an area adjacent to the respective one of the drones (e.g., the area surrounding the pipeline) and environmental conditions of the area adjacent to the respective one of the drones.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230400349Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods for detecting activities associated with theft of a substance flowing through the pipeline. Such activities are determined by correlating pipeline sensor signals to anomalistic reference signals characterizing activity(ies) known to be associated with theft of a substance flowing through a pipeline—e.g., formation of a hole within a tubular member of the pipeline, a liquid being pumped into the pipeline through a wall of a tubular member thereof, a metallic article (e.g., drill) coming into contact with a tubular member of the pipeline, and the like. Advantageously, fiber optic sensors are utilized for such monitoring of vibrations and other operating conditions in elongated tubular members making up the pipeline thereby enabling activities associated with theft of a substance from the pipeline to be effectively and inexpensively detected over extended lengths of pipelines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230221196Abstract: Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230221197Abstract: Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 11698291Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods configured to monitor vibrations and other signals in a pipeline to detect activities associated with theft of a substance flowing through the pipeline. To this end, such activities are determined by correlating pipeline sensor signals to anomalistic reference signals characterizing activity(ies) known to be associated with theft of a substance flowing through a pipeline—e.g., formation of a hole within a tubular member of the pipeline, a liquid being pumped into the pipeline through a wall of a tubular member thereof, a metallic article (e.g., drill) coming into contact with a tubular member of the pipeline, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 11644371Abstract: Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: ASTRO TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230110009Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230112072Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230110793Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Publication number: 20230039794Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and sensor housing assemblies configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members within a subsea environment. To this end, such fiber optic sensors connected by lengths of optical fiber are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A viscous media is used for mitigating attenuation associated with exposure of optical fiber exposed to forces generated by pressure within the subsea environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower
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Patent number: 11422047Abstract: Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2022Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Astro Technology Group, LLCInventor: David Verl Brower