Patents by Inventor Frank Smit
Frank Smit 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: 11913291Abstract: A centraliser comprises a mandrel, a first support member, a second support member, and a plurality of arm assemblies connected between the first and second support members. Each arm assembly comprises a first arm pivotally connected to the first support member at a first pivot axis and a second arm pivotally connected to the second support member at a second pivot axis, and the first and second arms pivotally connected together at a third pivot axis. The mandrel comprises a plurality of facets spaced apart around an outer surface of the mandrel to rotationally key the first and/or second support member to the mandrel, and each arm assembly is arranged so that the third pivot axis is located on a first side of a plane coincident with a central axis of the device and the first and second pivot axes are located on an opposite second side of the plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: PETROMAC IP LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Peter McCormick, Benno Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20220298870Abstract: A device for centering a sensor assembly in a bore comprises a mandrel, a first support member and a second support member axially spaced apart along a central longitudinal axis of the device. A plurality of arm assemblies are spaced circumferentially apart around the central longitudinal axis of the device and connected between the first and second support members. Each arm assembly comprises a first arm pivotally connected to the first support member by a first pivot joint having a first pivot axis, a second arm pivotally connected to the second support member by a second pivot joint having a second pivot axis, and the first and second arms pivotally connected together via a third pivot joint having a third pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Stephen Peter McCormick, Benno Frank Smit
-
Patent number: 10947791Abstract: A device for centering a sensor assembly in a bore comprises a mandrel, a first support member and a second support member axially spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The first and second support members adapted to move axially along the mandrel. A plurality of arm assemblies are spaced circumferentially apart around the longitudinal axis of the device and connected between the first and second support members. Each arm assembly comprises a first arm pivotally connected to the first support member by a first pivot joint having a first pivot axis, a second arm pivotally connected to the second support member by a second pivot joint having a second pivot axis, and the first and second arms pivotally connected together via a third pivot joint having a third pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: PETROMAC IP LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Peter McCormick, Benno Frank Smit
-
Patent number: 9550621Abstract: A pressure control fill valve for a pressurized dispenser container comprises a first and second end and a base, a first and second circumferential lip. The lips enable placement of the valve in an opening of a pressurized dispenser container in first a position, where a propellant gas can be filled into the container and a second position for complete closing of the container. According to the invention, the second lip of the valve is asymmetric about its circumference. This prevents the valve from being pushed out of the opening of the container in case of high over-pressure or enlargement of the opening due to a temperature increase. The invention eliminates the hazard of a loss of valve and propellant gas in case of high temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Airopack Technology Group B.V.Inventor: Frank Smits
-
Patent number: 9206802Abstract: A rotatable drive shaft in the swash pump or turbine for liquids is supported by one bearing at each end. An integrated motor or dynamo uses the same two bearings. The compound first bearing supports a slanted section of the drive shaft placed inside the inner swash sphere, and transfers rotational power to the attached nutatable swash plate. The second bearing confines rotation of the drive shaft in a defined axis. Either one of the bearings is made to prevent axial movement of the drive shaft, preventing swash pump misalignment. A resilient drive, and an immersed pump are described.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2010Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: SWASHPUMP TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Lindsay Bruce Dalziel, John Layne, Benno Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20150314946Abstract: A pressure control fill valve for a pressurized dispenser container comprises a first and second end and a base, a first and second circumferential lip. The lips enable placement of the valve in an opening of a pressurized dispenser container in first a position, where a propellant gas can be filled into the container and a second position for complete closing of the container. According to the invention, the second lip of the valve is asymmetric about its circumference. This prevents the valve from being pushed out of the opening of the container in case of high over-pressure or enlargement of the opening due to a temperature increase. The invention eliminates the hazard of a loss of valve and propellant gas in case of high temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventor: Frank Smits
-
Publication number: 20150300568Abstract: A novel system is described for manufacturing fully automatically pressure units (1) having a high pressure container (2) with a bottom part (3) and a closure (7) with a pressure control device (6), which pressure units (1) are to be mounted in a fluid container (5). In a production line (100) with a first station (110) the bottom part (3) and the closure (7) are mounted automatically to the high pressure container (2). In a second station (130) the bottom part 3) and the closure (7) are welded into the high pressure container (2), and in a third station (160) the containers (50) and the pressure units (1) are pre-assembled. In a fourth station (170) the pressure units (1) are welded into the containers (50).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Frank SMITS, Rob HABRAKEN, Phil REGAN
-
Patent number: 8763865Abstract: A novel metering device (1) for dispensing a dose of a pressurized fluid is described. A dispensing valve body (3) is mounted in a fluid-tight manner to the lid (4) of a pressurized container (5), which circumvents a valve element (9). A valve delivery tube (10) is connected to the valve element (9). A chamber (13) surrounds the valve body (3), in which a piston (17) is reciprocable between an upper and a lower position, which define the dispensing dose. A clearance is provided between the piston (17) and the inner wall (23) of the chamber (13), such that pressurized fluid can flow into the chamber based on a pressure difference between the container (5) and the chamber (13), and the piston (17) is adapted to seal the valve body (3) when being in the upper position.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: I.P.S. Research and Development B.V.Inventors: Eelco De Man, Frank Smits, Wouter Stinesen
-
Patent number: 8662870Abstract: A swash pump for compressible fluids uses sealing contacts made between the nutatable swash plate and the fixed cone plates to center and locate the inner swash sphere which slides against two resiliently mounted ring seals only, minimizing pump friction. A slanted end of a common drive shaft supporting and turned by the rotor of an integrated, variable speed motor causes nutation of the sphere. All bearings, especially axially slidable roller bearings inside the sphere, may settle in position with respect to the common shaft for least frictional loss. This pump is also adapted for pumping explosive gases.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Swashpump Technologies LimitedInventors: Lindsay Bruce Dalziel, Benno Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20130011287Abstract: A rotatable drive shaft in the swash pump or turbine for liquids is supported by one bearing at each end. An integrated motor or dynamo uses the same two bearings. The compound first bearing supports a slanted section of the drive shaft placed inside the inner swash sphere, and transfers rotational power to the attached nutatable swash plate. The second bearing confines rotation of the drive shaft in a defined axis. Either one of the bearings is made to prevent axial movement of the drive shaft, preventing swash pump misalignment. A resilient drive, and an immersed pump are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2010Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: SWASHPUMP TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Lindsay Bruce Dalziel, John Layne, Benno Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20120309006Abstract: The invention relates to a method to diagnose prostate cancer by detecting a PCA3 sequence. In one embodiment the method and kit enables amplification of PCA3 RNA through an exon-exon junction of a spliced PCA3 mRNA, and methods and kits to detect an amplified PCA3 RNA, using a probe which spans the amplified exon-exon junction. The methods and kits can detect a PCA3 RNA lacking one intron or more. Also provided are methods of detecting PCA3 RNA expressed in non-prostate tissue or cells of the urinary tract, which comprises PCA3 intron 3. In addition, methods are provided to determine whether a sample from a subject contains or lacks prostate cells, by performing a hybridization and/or amplification reaction on RNA from the sample to detect the presence or level of PCA3 RNA that lacks at least one intron and distinguishing a prostate cell from a non-prostate cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventors: Jack A. Schalken, Gerald Verhaegh, Daphne Hessels, Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20110200474Abstract: A swash pump for compressible fluids uses sealing contacts made between the nutatable swash plate and the fixed cone plates to centre and locate the inner swash sphere which slides against two resiliently mounted ring seals only, minimising pump friction. A slanted end of a common drive shaft supporting and turned by the rotor of an integrated, variable speed motor causes nutation of the sphere. All bearings, especially axially slidable roller bearings inside the sphere, may settle in position with respect to the common shaft for least frictional loss. This pump is also adapted for pumping explosive gases.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: SWASHPUMP TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Lindsay Bruce Dalziel, Benno Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20100006601Abstract: A novel metering device (1) for dispensing a dose of a pressurized fluid is described. A dispensing valve body (3) is mounted in a fluid-tight manner to the lid (4) of a pressurized container (5), which circumvents a valve element (9). A valve delivery tube (10) is connected to the valve element (9). A chamber (13) surrounds the valve body (3), in which a piston (17) is reciprocable between an upper and a lower position, which define the dispensing dose. A clearance is provided between the piston (17) and the inner wall (23) of the chamber (13), such that pressurized fluid can flow into the chamber based on a pressure difference between the container (5) and the chamber (13), and the piston (17) is adapted to seal the valve body (3) when being in the upper position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: Intelligent Packaging Systems Group S.A.Inventors: Eelco De Man, Frank Smits, Wouter Stinesen
-
Publication number: 20090233285Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to prostate cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method to diagnose prostate cancer in a patient by detecting a PCA3 sequence, and more particularly a PCA3 RNA, the PCA3 sequence detected in a sample from the patient being specifically associated with prostate cancer. In a particular embodiment the method and kit enables an amplification of a PCA3 RNA through an exon-exon junction of a spliced PCA3 mRNA. The invention also relates to methods and kits to detect such an amplified PCA3 RNA, using a probe which spans the amplified exon-exon junction. In particular the methods and kits are designed to detect a PCA3 RNA which lacks one intron or more, and in particular case is intron-less. The invention further relates to a method of detecting PCA3 RNA expressed in non-prostate tissue or cells of the urinary tract, that comprises PCA3 intron 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: Stichting Katholieke UniversiteitInventors: Jack A. Schalken, Gerald Verhaegh, Daphne Hessels, Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20050164223Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to prostate cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method to diagnose prostate cancer in a patient by detecting a PCA3 sequence, and more particularly a PCA3 RNA, the PCA3 sequence detected in a sample from the patient being specifically associated with prostate cancer. In a particular embodiment the method and kit enables an amplification of a PCA3 RNA through an exon-exon junction of a spliced PCA3 mRNA. The invention also related to methods and kits to detect such an amplified PCA3 RNA, using a probe which spans the amplified exon-exon junction. The invention also relates to kits containing nucleic acid primers and kits containing nucleic acid primers and nucleic acid probes to diagnose, assess, or prognose a human afflicted with prostate cancer. In particular the methods and kits are designed to detect a PCA3 RNA which lacks one intron or more, and in particular case is intron-less.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2004Publication date: July 28, 2005Applicant: University Medical Centre NijmegenInventors: Jack Schalken, Gerald Verhaegh, Daphne Hessels, Frank Smit
-
Publication number: 20050150604Abstract: A new apparatus is described for storing and dispensing a masking film, which apparatus comprises a housing body enclosing a roll compartment for receiving a roll of film, as well as a housing floor, a housing cover and a cutting apparatus. The housing body further comprises a dispensing slot for removing a masking film which is parallel to the roll axis and a cutting slot which is parallel thereto. A holder guide means is arranged in the housing cover, in which the cutting apparatus (4) with the blade held by the blade holder is movable along the cutting slot. A leaf spring provided on the blade holder holds the blade in the guide slot when the cutting apparatus is not used. When cutting is performed, the blade is pressed out of the guide slot into the cutting slot by pressing against the blade holder and the film is severed by simultaneous movement of the cutting apparatus along the cutting slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2005Publication date: July 14, 2005Applicant: Ray Technology Group B.V.Inventors: Frank Smits, Wouter Stinesen
-
Patent number: 6409885Abstract: A pulp forming machine includes a forming head including a platen and plurality of mould carriers. The mould carriers are connected to the platen by mould carrier support means which allow the mould carrier and the platen to transmit forces perpendicular to the general plane of the platen but allow movement and expansion of each mould carrier in the general plane of the platen. Mould carrier to mould carrier locating means locate the mould carriers of opposing platens during the forming process to align moulds carried on the mould carriers with cooperating moulds of the cooperating platen.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Fisher & Paykel LimitedInventors: Benno Frank Smit, Brent Richard Mooney, Christopher Arthur Good, Andre Brian Aish