Patents by Inventor Francisco J. Romay

Francisco J. Romay 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: 11085861
    Abstract: An impactor, system and method for performing real-time measurements of particles in aerosol gases. The impactor comprises a plurality of cascading stages having impaction plates, mass-measurement mechanisms retained on the impaction plates, and a nozzle plate. A signal line associated with each of the plurality of cascading stages is configured to relay signals from the mass-measurement mechanism of the associated stage to a computer-based system configured to receive the transmitted signals from the signal lines, and to correlate changes in the resonant frequencies to particle concentrations in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Modi Chen, Lin Li, Virgil Alan Marple, Amir A. Naqwi, Francisco J. Romay, Daryl L. Roberts, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Patent number: 9895707
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating aerosol particles that are substantially uniform in size said apparatus includes a droplet generator comprised of a metal capillary for a liquid to flow through to form a liquid stream flowing into a gas stream. The metal capillary is vibrated by a piezoelectric ceramic at a substantially constant frequency to cause the liquid stream to breakup into droplets that are substantially uniform in size in the gas stream, the gas stream being maintained at a velocity in the range between approximately 10% to 100% of the speed of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hongxu Duan, Francisco J. Romay, Amir A. Naqwi, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Patent number: 9764333
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for exposing particles in a gas in order to cause the charge on the particles to change, the apparatus comprising a chamber having a conductive wall with a gas inlet and a gas outlet. An electrode with an exposed tip is in the chamber, the electrode being held at a different potential from the ground potential. The electrode is connected to a source of voltage sufficient to cause a corona discharge to occur forming ions in the chamber, and creating a region with a high electric field intensity and another region in which the electric field intensity is lower. The inlet and outlet define a gas flow path from the inlet to the outlet such that the gas flow path passes mainly through the region with the lower electric field intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Dick, Francisco J. Romay, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Publication number: 20150314317
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating aerosol particles that are substantially uniform in size said apparatus includes a droplet generator comprised of a metal capillary for a liquid to flow through to form a liquid stream flowing into a gas stream. The metal capillary is vibrated by a piezoelectric ceramic at a substantially constant frequency to cause the liquid stream to breakup into droplets that are substantially uniform in size in the gas stream, the gas stream being maintained at a velocity in the range between approximately 10% to 100% of the speed of sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hongxu Duan, Francisco J. Romay, Amir A. Naqwi, Benjamin Y.H. Liu
  • Patent number: 8711338
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for detecting particles in a gas by saturating the gas with vapor and causing the gas to flow through a chamber with walls that are at a temperature different than the temperature of the entering gas creating a gas turbulence within the chamber resulting in the gas becoming super-saturated with vapor and causing said super-saturated vapor to condense on said particles and form droplets, which are then detected and counted by an optical light-scattering detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y. H. Liu, Thuc M. Dinh, William D. Dick, Aaron M. Collins, Francisco J. Romay
  • Patent number: 8603247
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus for detecting particles in a gas by saturating the gas with vapor and causing the gas to flow through a chamber with walls that are at a temperature different than the temperature of the entering gas creating a gas turbulence within the chamber resulting in the gas becoming super-saturated with vapor and causing said super-saturated vapor to condense on said particles and form droplets, which are then detected and counted by an optical light-scattering detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y. H. Liu, Thuc M. Dinh, William D. Dick, Aaron M. Collins, Francisco J. Romay
  • Publication number: 20130239888
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus for detecting particles in a gas by saturating the gas with vapor and causing the gas to flow through a chamber with walls that are at a temperature different than the temperature of the entering gas creating a gas turbulence within the chamber resulting in the gas becoming super-saturated with vapor and causing said super-saturated vapor to condense on said particles and form droplets, which are then detected and counted by an optical light-scattering detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y.H. Liu, Thuc M. Dinh, William D. Dick, Aaron M. Collins, Francisco J. Romay
  • Patent number: 8465791
    Abstract: A method for detecting particles in a gas by saturating the gas with vapor and causing the gas to flow through a chamber with walls that are at a temperature different than the temperature of the entering gas creating a gas turbulence within the chamber resulting in the gas becoming super-saturated with vapor and causing said super-saturated vapor to condense on said particles and form droplets, which are then detected and counted by an optical light-scattering detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y. H. Liu, Thuc M. Dinh, William D. Dick, Aaron M. Collins, Francisco J. Romay
  • Publication number: 20130036973
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for detecting particles in a gas by saturating the gas with vapor and causing the gas to flow through a chamber with walls that are at a temperature different than the temperature of the entering gas creating a gas turbulence within the chamber resulting in the gas becoming super-saturated with vapor and causing said super-saturated vapor to condense on said particles and form droplets, which are then detected and counted by an optical light-scattering detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y.H. Liu, Thuc M. Dinh, William D. Dick, Aaron M. Collins, Francisco J. Romay
  • Publication number: 20110220811
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for exposing particles in a gas in order to cause the charge on the particles to change, the apparatus comprising a chamber with an inlet for the gas to enter and an outlet for the gas to exit. The chamber is surrounded by an enclosure with a conductive wall, the wall being held at a ground potential. An electrode with an exposed tip is in contact with the gas in the chamber, the electrode being held at a different potential from the ground potential. The electrode is connected to a source of voltage sufficient to cause a corona discharge to occur forming ions in the chamber, and creating a region of space with a high electric field intensity and another region of space in which the electric field intensity is lower. The inlet and outlet define a gas flow path from the inlet to the outlet such that the gas flow path passes mainly through the region with the lower electric field intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: William Dick, Francisco J. Romay, Benjamin Y.H. Liu
  • Publication number: 20110091649
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for detecting particles in a gas by saturating the gas with vapor and causing the gas to flow through a chamber with walls that are at a temperature different than the temperature of the entering gas creating a gas turbulence within the chamber resulting in the gas becoming super-saturated with vapor and causing said super-saturated vapor to condense on said particles and form droplets, which are then detected and counted by an optical light-scattering detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y.H. Liu, Thuc M. Dinh, William D. Dick, Aaron M. Collins, Francisco J. Romay
  • Patent number: 7830510
    Abstract: The present disclosure has an apparatus for detecting fibers in a gas flowing along a passageway. A laser beam is provided at one end of the passageway and the beam is directed along a length of the passageway through which the gas flows. An electrode system, as disclosed, a quadrupole electrode system is mounted along the passageway to cause fibers carried in the gas to oscillate in a detection zone. A photo detector is positioned laterally of the passageway and detects light scattered by the oscillating fibers and projected through an opening in the passageway to provide an output signal that is a function of the light scattered by the fibers in the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y. H. Liu, William D. Dick, Francisco J. Romay, Mark J. Battista, Pedro Lilienfeld
  • Publication number: 20100085569
    Abstract: The present disclosure has an apparatus for detecting fibers in a gas flowing along a passageway. A laser beam is provided at one end of the passageway and the beam is directed along a length of the passageway through which the gas flows. An electrode system, as disclosed, a quadrupole electrode system is mounted along the passageway to cause fibers carried in the gas to oscillate in a detection zone. A photo detector is positioned laterally of the passageway and detects light scattered by the oscillating fibers and projected through an opening in the passageway to provide an output signal that is a function of the light scattered by the fibers in the detection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y.H. Liu, William D. Dick, Francisco J. Romay, Mark Battista
  • Patent number: 6561045
    Abstract: A sampler for removing a sample of gas from a flue or stack utilizes virtual impactor principles, together with a gas jet ejector to insure that the surfaces are kept free of particles. The gas that is, discharged from the sampler thus is not changed in character by contact with particles that may adhere to surfaces of the sampler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y. H. Liu, Daryl L. Roberts, Virgil A. Marple, Francisco J. Romay
  • Publication number: 20010032519
    Abstract: A sampler for removing a sample of gas from a flue or stack utilizes virtual impactor principles, together with a gas jet ejector to insure that the surfaces are kept free of particles. The gas that is discharged from the sampler thus is not changed in character by contact with particles that may adhere to surfaces of the sampler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Benjamin Y.H. Liu, Daryl L. Roberts, Virgil A. Marple, Francisco J. Romay