Patents by Inventor Gert Burkhardt

Gert Burkhardt 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).

  • Publication number: 20080121524
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor is provided that includes a housing having an outer wall, an axial bore circumscribed by the outer wall, and a barrier wall that aids in defining a reference cavity. The housing further including a plurality of cross members in spaced relation to one another disposed between the axial bore and the outer wall, each cross member defining an aperture. A junction plug is disposed at the distal end of the housing. The junction plug comprises a porous material that enables ionic flow through the junction plug. The sensor enables ionic communication between the target fluid and the reference electrode within the reference cavity through the apertures of the plurality of cross members. In this manner, the sensor provides generally a long, tortuous flow path, or salt bridge, between the target fluid and the reference electrode, resulting in a high resistance factor for the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: George Fischer Signet, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Wells, Gert Burkhardt, Anthony Thai
  • Publication number: 20080073210
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor is provided that includes a housing defining a cavity for a reference electrolyte and defining an opening to the cavity configured to be proximate to a target fluid. The sensor further includes a junction plug comprising a porous material and a cross member impermeable to a target fluid positioned between the junction plug and the cavity. The cross member includes a planar portion disposed against the junction plug that defines an aperture to enable electrochemical communication between the target fluid and the reference electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Wells, Gert Burkhardt, Anthony Thai
  • Patent number: 7251877
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a magnetic flowmeter is provided that is cost-effective to manufacture, while incorporating an effective seal against leakage and enabling precise positioning of electrodes. The sensor assembly includes an electrode assembly and a plastic housing molded about the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes an electrode and a plastic base disposed about the lower end of electrode. The housing includes a wall in direct contact with the plastic base such that the tip of the electrode projects from the wall, facilitating a secure seal about the electrode. The sensor assembly further includes a magnetic assembly configured to provide a magnetic field extending beyond the wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: George Fischer Signet, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Thai, Gert Burkhardt
  • Publication number: 20060213285
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a magnetic flowmeter is provided that is cost-effective to manufacture, while incorporating an effective seal against leakage and enabling precise positioning of electrodes. The sensor assembly includes an electrode assembly and a plastic housing molded about the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes an electrode and a plastic base disposed about the lower end of electrode. The housing includes a wall in direct contact with the plastic base such that the tip of the electrode projects from the wall, facilitating a secure seal about the electrode. The sensor assembly further includes a magnetic assembly configured to provide a magnetic field extending beyond the wall of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Anthony Thai, Gert Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 7055396
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a magnetic flowmeter is provided that is cost-effective to manufacture, while incorporating an effective seal against leakage and enabling precise positioning of electrodes. The sensor assembly includes an electrode assembly and a plastic housing molded about the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes an electrode and a plastic base disposed about the lower end of electrode. The housing includes a wall in direct contact with the plastic base such that the tip of the electrode projects from the wall, facilitating a secure seal about the electrode. The sensor assembly further includes a magnetic assembly configured to provide a magnetic field extending beyond the wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: George Fischer Signet, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Thai, Gert Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 6666701
    Abstract: A bayonet-type connector assembly for releasably securing a first connector half to a second connector half along a connection axis by simple rotation of a bayonet nut. Each connector half includes a plurality of electrical contacts. The bayonet nut encircles the second connector half. Rotation of the nut to a closed position causes a thread segment on the nut to engage corresponding grooved segments formed in the first connector half, to mate the connector halves, enabling electrical contact between the connector halves. Rotation of the bayonet nut also slides a slidable portion, i.e., a nut cam, beneath a cam of the second connector half to prevent axial separation of the two connector halves. The connector assembly further includes a detent positioned to engage a securement on one of the cams to releasably lock the nut in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Signet Scientific Company
    Inventors: Gert Burkhardt, Mona-Lisa Alexander
  • Patent number: 6640658
    Abstract: This invention resides in a wet-tap sensor assembly and related method for use with containers, such as, pressurized pipes of flowing liquids to measure the contents therein. In use, the housing is securely attached to over a hole in an external wall of the container, and a sensor cartridge of the assembly movably inserts and retracts a sensor probe relative to the contents. With the sensor probe in place, whether inserted or retracted, the assembly has means to prevent the contents from escaping. The sensor assembly includes a locking mechanism that locks the sensor cartridge in the retracted position allowing for removal of the sensor probe while preventing against inadvertent displacement of the sensor cartridge, and preferably includes a cap positioned over the sensor cartridge that prohibited removal of the sensor probe without first retracting the sensor cartridge and that disengages the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Signet Scientific Company
    Inventors: Sergio Guerrero, Gert Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 6012340
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved insertion-type fluid flowmeter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a conduit, wherein the flowmeter incorporates a strut-mounted rotor having just one or two blades such that it can rotate through a circular area of diameter substantially larger than the maximum dimension of an opening in the conduit wall through which the strut extends. This minimizes the size of the opening, which simplifies its sealing. In addition, the support and the strut are configured such that the strut is releasably secured to the support by a snap fit, to facilitate a convenient replacement of the strut and attached rotor as the need might arise. The flowmeter further incorporates a special set of ring-shaped spacers, to facilitate a convenient adjustment of the distance by which the strut projects into the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Signet Scientific Company
    Inventors: Edwin Pounder, Gert Burkhardt