Patents by Inventor Gerald F. McGowan

Gerald F. McGowan 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: 7224455
    Abstract: A device for measuring near forward scatter caused by particulate matter in a fluid is disclosed. The device comprises, according to various embodiments, a transceiver and a reflector. The transceiver includes a light source and a detector. The reflector is positioned opposite the transceiver so that at least a portion of the fluid is present between the transceiver and the reflector. The reflector includes a front portion facing the transceiver. Optical energy from the light source incident upon the reflector is reflected towards the transceiver as a return beam of optical energy, wherein the detector senses primarily optical energy of the return beam that is scattered over a range of near forward angles by particulate matter in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Myers, Edward L. McCall, Gerald F. McGowan, Edward A. Smierciak
  • Patent number: 5404228
    Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a misalignment detector apparatus is provided for a transmissometer with an underfilled reflector. The transmissometer has a transceiver that projects a collimated beam of light of small diameter across a smokestack to a circular reflector of substantially greater diameter than the collimated beam of light so that the reflector is underfilled. The reflector includes apparatus for sensing the position of the collimated beam of light with respect to the center of the reflector and its position on the reflector when it is not on center which allows operator notification of when the beam is on the reflector and when the beam is off the reflector thereby requiring maintenance/realignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Monitor Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald F. McGowan
  • Patent number: 5053623
    Abstract: A photometric analyzer for measuring differential total reduced sulfur in a sample gas stream is provided. It includes a supply for a sulfur bearing gas sample, an oven having an inlet connected to the supply for converting TRS to SO.sub.2 and an outlet through which the gas sample is discharged. A valve is connected to the outlet of the oven. An SO.sub.2 bypass line is connected between the supply and the valve. A sample cell with transparent ends has an inlet adjacent one end connected to the valve for alternately receiving sample gas from either the oven or the bypass line and has an outlet adjacent the other end. A pump connected to the sample cell outlet draws the gas sample through the sample cell. A light source at the one end of the sample cell directs light of a predetermined wave length through the sample cell. A light sensing device at the other end detects the amount of light passing through the sample cell at any given time and provides an output signal to an analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Lear Siegler Measurement Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. McGowan, Ronald L. Ketchum, Allan L. Budd
  • Patent number: 5028790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus which can be inserted between the stack and a transceiver of a transmissometer to provide zero and span measurements using the primary light source from the transceiver. The apparatus includes a calibration device mounted between the transceiver and one side of the stack and within the path of the light beam. A zero reflector is mounted within the calibration device for movement back and forth between an inactive position and an active position within the path of the light beam to reflect the same amount of light back into the transceiver as the retro-reflector would across the stack when the stack is clear of smoke. In addition, means is connected to the zero reflector for accomplishing this movement. A span filter is also provided within the calibration device which is movable between an active position in the light beam path to provide an upscale reference calibration check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Lear Siegler Measurement Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. McGowan, Ronald L. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 4974455
    Abstract: A dilution extractive probe assembly for sampling a gas stream in a stack is provided. It includes a hollow tubular dilution probe having a first end for receiving a sample of the gas stream from the stack to be analyzed and a second end through which the sample is discharged after dilution. A first filter is provided at the first end of the probe for filtering the sample gas it passes into the probe. A critical orifice is located within the probe downstream of the first filter. A first heater is provided for heating the first filter to maintain the sample at a temperature above the dew point of the sample gas. A partial vacuum is created for drawing the sample through the filter and into the probe. An eductor is located adjacent the second end of the probe for mixing the sample with a dilution gas. A second heater for heating the eductor to maintain the sample gas at a temperature above its dew point as it passes through the eductor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Lear Siegler Measurement Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. McGowan, Ronald L. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 4560873
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed to accurately measure and analyze multiple component interfering gases which coexist in the stack gas effluent generated from a combustion process which utilizes a non-dispersive, narrowband infrared absorption technique. The apparatus includes a probe in the stack with an optical measurement cavity (34) through which the stack gases are passed. A transceiver (14) mounted to the probe includes an optical portion operatively associated with the measurement cavity including a chopped light source (54), (60), (62) for projecting beams of light into the measurement cavity and a detector (86) for detecting the attenuation of the gases to provide a measure of the extent of absorption of each gas of interest. A control unit, preferably remote from the transceiver, preferably a programmed digital computer, and preferably via a J-box (18) converts the electric outputs to a corresponding % modulation and in turn corrects for temperature, pressure and interference between gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald F. McGowan, Gerald W. Price, Carl E. Polhemus, Ronald L. Ketchum