Patents by Inventor Glenn M. Light

Glenn M. Light 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: 6396262
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is shown for implementing magnetostrictive sensor techniques for the nondestructive short term inspection or long term monitoring of a structure. A plurality of magnetostrictive sensors are arranged in parallel on the structure and includes (a) a thin ferromagnetic strip that has residual magnetization, (b) that is coupled to the structure with a couplant, and (c) a coil located adjacent the thin ferromagnetic strip. By a transmitting coil, guided waves are generated in a transmitting strip and coupled to the structure and propagate along the length of the structure. For detection, the reflected guided waves in the structure are coupled to a receiving strip and are detected by a receiving magnetostrictive coil. Reflected guided waves may represent defects in the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, Hegeon Kwun, Sang-Young Kim, Robert L. Spinks, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20010022514
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is shown for implementing magnetostrictive sensor techniques for the nondestructive short term inspection or long term monitoring of a structure. A plurality of magnetostrictive sensors are arranged in parallel on the structure and includes (a) a thin ferromagnetic strip that has residual magnetization, (b) that is coupled to the structure with a couplant, and (c) a coil located adjacent the thin ferromagnetic strip. By a transmitting coil, guided waves are generated in a transmitting strip and coupled to the structure and propagate along the length of the structure. For detection, the reflected guided waves in the structure are coupled to a receiving strip and are detected by a receiving magnetostrictive coil. Reflected guided waves may represent defects in the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, Hegeon Kwun, Sang-Young Kim, Robert L. Spinks
  • Publication number: 20010019263
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is shown for implementing magnetostrictive sensor techniques for the nondestructive evaluation of railroad rails. The system includes magnetostrictive sensors specifically designed for application in conjunction with railroad rails and trains that generate guided waves in the railroad rails which travel therethrough in a direction parallel to the surface of the railroad rail. Similarly structured sensors are positioned to detect the guided waves (both incident and reflected) and generate signals representative of the characteristics of the guided waves detected that are reflected from anomalies in the structure such as transverse defects. The sensor structure is longitudinal in nature and generates a guided wave having a wavefront parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensor, and which propagates in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor. The generated guided waves propagate in the rail within the path of the propagating wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Hegeon Kwun, Glenn M. Light
  • Patent number: 5861701
    Abstract: An improved high energy-density battery for producing continuous low-voltage electrical energy is powered by direct conversion of the kinetic energy of charged particles to electrical potentials. An improved battery comprises at least one primary energy source and a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a secondary electron emitter plate spaced apart from a collector plate. Cells are configured to maximize the number of relatively low-energy secondary electrons from the emitter plates which reaches and is retained by collector plates. Heat production is minimized during efficient energy conversion of the relatively high-energy of primary charged particles to the lower energy but relatively high current capacity of large numbers of secondary electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Robert D. Young, John P. Hageman, Glenn M. Light, Stephen W. Seale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5764721
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing computer tomography images obtained from any of a number of different standard computer tomography scanning devices. The apparatus and method incorporate computer-aided design data for an object being scanned into a system for establishing nominal scanning beam intensities and nominal scanning detector sensitivities that ultimately compensate for non-anomalous variations in beam path characteristics. Particularly adapted for optimizing scan images on objects with large length-to-width ratios, the present invention identifies significant deviations from some normal baseline beam path in advance of a scan and modifies beam intensity and detector sensitivity to bring the projected beam into a nominal range. Thereafter, deviations from this referenced nominal beam can be better identified as anomalies within the object being scanned, that are of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, Daniel Schneberk
  • Patent number: 5587534
    Abstract: A new ultrasonic method for measuring wall thickness and detecting material flaws in natural-gas pipelines, risers, and similar structures. The method is inherently suitable for the task, because it relies on the use of the natural gas as the coupling fluid for transmitting the probing ultrasonic signals into and out of the pipe wall. Furthermore, the method facilitates the operation of the inspection from the inside of the pipe. An experimental apparatus used to demonstrate the technical feasibility of this approach and provide experimental and theoretical evidence that support the claims is described. Significantly, it is shown that by the use of a diplexer, the same transducer can be used to generate and detect the probing ultrasonic signals. The same configuration is used in commercial ultrasonic inspection of oil pipelines where oil is the coupling fluid; but until now this method could not be used in natural gas pipelines due to the low specific acoustic impedance of natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Joseph D. McColskey, William P. Dube, Christopher M. Fortunko, Raymond E. Schramm, Martin C. Renken, Cecil M. Teller, II, Glenn M. Light
  • Patent number: 5291136
    Abstract: An eddy current probe for nondestructive testing, having a rotatable shoe that holds the eddy current coil. The probe is attached to an arm of automated eddy current test equipment, and has a coil-containing shoe that may be rotated to a desired angle with respect to the surface to be inspected. The probe has a motor and pulley system for providing this rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Systems Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Van der Veer, Glenn M. Light
  • Patent number: 5195373
    Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer that is operable in very high and very low temperatures. The transducer has a dual housing structure that isolates the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element from the expansion and contraction of the housing. Also, the internal components are made from materials having similar coefficients of expansion so that they do not interfere with the motion of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, Richard A. Cervantes, David G. Alcazar
  • Patent number: 5001932
    Abstract: An ultrasonic squirter couples transducer emitted ultrasonic waves with a structure for ultrasonic testing. The squirter has a tubular body with an outlet on one end and an inlet spaced from the outlet for delivering a flow of liquid through the body to the outlet. The transducer mounts in the body in a position for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through the liquid that passes through the outlet. A nozzle secures to the outlet for discharging the flow of liquid against the structure. A ring locates at the outlet of the body just downstream from the transducer. The ring and nozzle are of an elastomeric material containing metal oxide particles to absorb unwanted sound energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, William R. Van der Veer
  • Patent number: 4899590
    Abstract: An inspection system for non-destructively detecting physical defects in solid shafts by launching and receiving longitudinal acoustic waves has been described incorporating a transducer head containing a transducer head containing a matrix of transducers, pulsers, pulse width modulators, preamplifiers and a summing amplifier. A fiber optic cable may couple the transducer head to a remote location containing a receiver and a oscilloscope. The invention overcomes the problem of launching longitudinal acoustic waves with insufficent energy. Further, the invention overcomes the problem of asymmetric load conversions affecting the output signal arising at times when only one transducer is used and is positioned off center with respect to the solid shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, Edward A. Bloom, Soung-Nan Liu
  • Patent number: 4577337
    Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence method and apparatus of detecting subsurface impact caused delaminations and cracks in cloth and epoxy-catalyst laminates which method and apparatus permit nondestructive testing and evaluation of the existance, location, parameters and depth of the subsurface damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Glenn M. Light
  • Patent number: 4565095
    Abstract: An apparatus for emitting and receiving sound signals includes a cylinder into which a sound transducer is mounted. The transducer is mounted to transmit a sound beam normal to the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is connected to a position detection circuit for determining the angular position of the cylinder about its axis. A system for processing data produced by such a sound transducer apparatus includes circuitry for determining the true position of the cylinder from the position circuit, for alternately causing the transducer to emit and receive sound energy, and for sampling the energy signal received by the transducer when the position detection circuit indicates that the cylinder is at one of several preselected angles. The sampled information is recorded on paper or magnetic media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, William R. Van der Veer
  • Patent number: 4017977
    Abstract: A trailer hitch alignment device adapted to be releasably mounted to the draw bar of an automobile including a spring loaded spool from which a cable is played out to be turned around a guide pulley into a tubular guide. The tubular guide is pivotally mounted to align with the cable, concurrently articulating the wiper of a potentiometer. The potentiometer is connected to a meter inside the automobile, providing a visual indication of the angle of departure of the cable. Thus, by stretching the cable to connect to the hitch of a trailer, a remote indication on the meter will indicate the necessary direction of advancement of the automobile in order to effect alignment for coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1977
    Inventors: Glenn M. Light, Michael V. Richardi