Patents by Inventor Frederick K. Blades

Frederick K. Blades 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: 5434509
    Abstract: An arc detector for detecting potentially hazardous arcing in electrical connections comprises detection and signal processing circuitry for monitoring high-frequency noise characteristic of arcing on the power line and distinguishable from other sources of high-frequency noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 5432455
    Abstract: An arc detector or detecting potentially hazardous arcing in electrical connections comprises detection and signal processing circuitry for monitoring high-frequency noise on the power line characteristic of arcing and distinguishable from other sources of high-frequency noise. If high-frequency noise is present and a gap is detected at intervals synchronous to the power frequency, arcing is determined to be present, and an alarm is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 5334940
    Abstract: Improved circuits for measuring the conductivity of a solution confined between two electrodes in a cell compensate for series capacitance and parallel capacitance between the electrodes. A bipolar square-wave signal is applied to the cell. In one embodiment, the current through the cell is measured by an op-amp in current-to-voltage converter configuration. A feedback resistance employed with the op-amp in a feedback loop is controlled to a low value to ensure that the parallel capacitance is fully charged during an initial portion of each half-cycle of the drive signal. The feedback resistance is then selected so that the gain of the feedback loop is responsive to the range of the resistivity of the solution, and the measurement is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Anatel Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 5275957
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, are described, featuring a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation and comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity proportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Anatel Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick K. Blades, Paul C. Melanson, Richard D. Godec
  • Patent number: 5260663
    Abstract: Improved circuits for measuring the conductivity of a solution confined between two electrodes in a cell compensate for series capacitance and parallel capacitance between the electrodes. A bipolar square-wave signal is applied to the cell. In one embodiment, the current through the cell is measured by an op-amp in current-to-voltage converter configuration. A feedback resistance employed with the op-amp in a feedback loop is controlled to a low value to ensure that the parallel capacitance is fully charged during an initial portion of each half-cycle of the drive signal. The feedback resistance is then selected so that the gain of the feedback loop is responsive to the range of the resistivity of the solution, and the measurement is made. The period of the bipolar signal is selected responsive to the selected loop gain, to ensure that a filter capacitor across the op-amp is fully charged, and to limit distortion caused by the series capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Anatel Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 5223795
    Abstract: An arc detector for detecting potentially hazardous arcing in electrical connections comprises detection and signal processing circuitry for monitoring high-frequency noise on the power line characteristic of arcing and distinguishable from other sources of high-frequency noise. If high-frequency noise is present and a gap occurs every half-cycle of the power frequency, arcing is determined to be present, and an alarm is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 5047212
    Abstract: Apparatus for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, is described which features a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity porportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Anatel Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick K. Blades, Richard D. Godec
  • Patent number: 4868127
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, are described, featuring a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation and comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity proportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Anatel Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick K. Blades, Richard D. Godec
  • Patent number: 4683435
    Abstract: A circuit for measurement of the conductance of an electrolyte cell is disclosed which features compensation for non-linearities produced by resistance in series with the resistance of the cell and for non-linearities caused by polarization of the cell due to chemical, kinetic or other effects within the cell. The cell is driven by an AC signal, and the circuit features a feedback loop in which a portion of the AC output signal is fed back for compensation of the series resistance and in which an op-amp generates a compensating DC voltage, both of which are summed with the AC excitation signal prior to its being supplied to the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Anatel Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 4666860
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, are described which feature a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity proportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Anatel Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick K. Blades, Richard D. Godec
  • Patent number: 4626413
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurements of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, is described which features a single sample cell for exposure of a sample to ultraviolet radiation comprising electrodes for measuring the resistivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity porportional to the first time derivative of the resistivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the overall conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution of conductivity made by the organic content to the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Anatel Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick K. Blades, Richard D. Godec
  • Patent number: 4523472
    Abstract: An improved transceiver for use in ultrasonic echo-ranging systems is disclosed together with a system for its use. The transceiver comprises a capacitor to store power received from a central location during an inactive mode, and switching means to disconnect the capacitor from the power supply during the active mode. The capacitor is used both to supply power to an electrostatic transducer to generate an ultrasonic pulse and also to provide a noise free bias voltage to the transducer to enable it to receive the reflected pulse. An amplifier is provided as part of the transceiver so that long transmission lines between transceiver and controller are possible without undue noise. The power supply line can also be used as the signal transmission line and can be provided in a simple two-wire shielded cable, the other wire being used for logic level control signal transmission, thus allowing simplified multiplexing of a plurality of transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: PureCycle Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 4400976
    Abstract: An improved transceiver for use in ultrasonic echo-ranging systems is disclosed together with a system for its use. The transceiver comprises a capacitor to store power received from a central location during an inactive mode, and switching means to disconnect the capacitor from the power supply during the active mode. The capacitor is used both to supply power to an electrostatic transducer to generate an ultrasonic pulse and also to provide a noise free bias voltage to the transducer to enable it to receive the reflected pulse. An amplifier is provided as part of the transceiver so that long transmission lines between transceiver and controller are possible without undue noise. The power supply line can also be used as the signal transmission line and can be provided in a simple two-wire shielded cable, the other wire being used for logic level control signal transmission, thus allowing simplified multiplexing of a plurality of transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: PureCycle Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 4343552
    Abstract: An improved nephelometer is disclosed comprising a cruciform housing having therein helical flow diverters for providing a helical water flow pattern so as to cleanse the inside of a sample tube. A regulated light beam is incident on the sample tube and sample. The transmitted portion of the light is measured and used in a feedback loop to control the incident bulb intensity and the scattered portion of the light is measured to provide a measure of the turbidity of the fluid under test. The housing of the nephelometer is a hermaphroditic molding of plastic so as to simplify construction and assembly. All parts mounted within the nephelometer are located by recesses molded into the two halves of the housing. Amplifier circuitry for the output of the scattered light detecting photosensor is disclosed, as is lamp regulator circuitry for feeding back the value of the transmitted light, so as to adjust the incident light, for ramping the bulb on and off and for keeping it in a low current condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: PureCycle Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 4315325
    Abstract: An improved echo ranging system is disclosed which features improved circuitry for discrimination of received reflected pulses from noise. Discrimination is performed by comparison of the input pulses to a time-varying threshold voltage wherein the threshold function varies in accordance with the predicted attenuation of the transmitted echo signal over its path. In this way, variable gain elements used to amplify the received signal prior to comparison it with a fixed threshold height can be eliminated, thus rendering the circuitry less complicated, expensive, and calibration free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: PureCycle Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 4304996
    Abstract: A combined instrument for the determination of the quantity of organic material present in a water sample is disclosed which features a first photosensor adapted to regulate the output of a source of ultraviolet regulation at a constant level and a second substantially identical photosensor positioned so as to view the same portion of the source of ultraviolet radiation as the first photosensor. The second photosensor produces a signal proportional to the transmittance of the ultraviolet radiation through the water sample and hence inversely proportional to the amount of organic material contained within the water. Such an instrument is also disclosed in combination with a water sterilizer in which the same source of ultraviolet radiation used as to monitor the amount of organic material present in the water is also arranged to provide ultraviolet radiation to the water or provide a bactericidal and sterilizing effect to the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Pure Cycle Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 4272679
    Abstract: A sensor for the measurement of UV radiation is disclosed which comprises a first layer of phosphor particles directly exposed to incident radiation, which absorb incident radiation and emit visible radiation, a filter for absorbing UV disposed after the phosphor layer and chosen to permit the visible light emitted by the phosphor to pass through, and a photosensor sensitive to the visible light emitted by the phosphors. By disposing the filter after the phosphors, solarization of the filter is substantially eliminated and the sensor remains accurate over long periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: PureCycle Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades