Patents by Inventor Gregory S. Duckett
Gregory S. Duckett 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).
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Patent number: 6578259Abstract: An automated filter changing system comprises a rotatable filter dispensing assembly and a filter clamping assembly. The filter dispensing device receives filter storage magazines in which a plurality of filters are initially stored in the form of connected stacks. The filter dispensing assembly includes a filter separating device having a stationary portion. The filter separating device separates one or more stacks of filters into discrete filter units, such that individual filters are transported sequentially from the filter dispensing device. The filter clamping assembly operates in conjunction with the filter dispensing device to receive one or more individual filter units dispensed therefrom, and provides one or more coupling sites which can fluidly communicate with one or more fluid lines. The filter clamping device couples unused filters to fittings associated with the fluid lines by applying an evenly distributed force to the filters.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Varian, Inc.Inventor: Gregory S. Duckett
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Patent number: 6546821Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the position of an elongate member such as a shaft in relation to a vessel in which the elongate member operates. The apparatus includes a mounting component adapted for placement over the open end of the vessel, one or more movable plungers, and one or more transducers that interact with the respective plungers. The plungers and transducers are supported by the mounting component and disposed below the mounting component. Thus, upon placement of the mounting component over the vessel, the plungers and transducers reside within the vessel while permitting the elongate member to be disposed at its normal operating position within the vessel. If the position of the elongate member is offset from a predetermined desired position within the vessel, the plunger is displaced by a certain magnitude that is detected by the transducer.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Varian, Inc.Inventors: Gregory S. Duckett, C. J. Anthony Fernando, Michael R. Haw
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Publication number: 20030024107Abstract: An automated filter changing system comprises a rotatable filter dispensing assembly and a filter clamping assembly. The filter dispensing device receives filter storage magazines in which a plurality of filters are initially stored in the form of connected stacks. The filter dispensing assembly includes a filter separating device having a stationary portion. The filter separating device separates one or more stacks of filters into discrete filter units, such that individual filters are transported sequentially from the filter dispensing device. The filter clamping assembly operates in conjunction with the filter dispensing device to receive one or more individual filter units dispensed therefrom, and provides one or more coupling sites which can fluidly communicate with one or more fluid lines. The filter clamping device couples unused filters to fittings associated with the fluid lines by applying an evenly distributed force to the filters.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventor: Gregory S. Duckett
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Publication number: 20020189378Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring the amount by which the centerline of a shaft disposed in a vessel is offset from the central vertical axis of the vessel, and for measuring the height of such shaft above the inside bottom of the vessel. Apparatus includes a shaft centerline offset measurement device, a shaft height measurement device, and a control/display console. Each measurement device includes a transducer or optical encoder for sensing a displaced position of a biased plunger to which a code strip is mounted. The devices may be combined into a single shaft offset and height measurement device. Improved methods include calculating shaft offset based on a plurality of readings from the transducer, and applying trigonometric relationships. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful in the verification of paddle or basket shafts utilized in dissolution testing stations, so that the dissolution testing protocol complies with government agency guidelines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Gregory S. Duckett, C.J. Anthony Fernando, Michael R. Haw
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Patent number: 6490782Abstract: An automated filter changing system comprises a rotatable filter dispensing assembly and a filter clamping assembly. The filter dispensing device receives filter storage magazines in which a plurality of filters are initially stored in the form of connected stacks. The filter dispensing assembly includes a filter separating device having a stationary portion. The filter separating device separates one or more stacks of filters into discrete filter units, such that individual filters are transported sequentially from the filter dispensing device. The filter clamping assembly operates in conjunction with the filter dispensing device to receive one or more individual filter units dispensed therefrom, and provides one or more coupling sites which can fluidly communicate with one or more fluid lines. The filter clamping device couples unused filters to fittings associated with the fluid lines by applying an evenly distributed force to the filters.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Varian, Inc.Inventor: Gregory S. Duckett
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Patent number: 6474182Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring the amount by which the centerline of a shaft disposed in a vessel is offset from the central vertical axis of the vessel, and for measuring the height of such shaft above the inside bottom of the vessel. Apparatus includes a shaft centerline offset measurement device, a shaft height measurement device, and a control/display console. Each measurement device includes a transducer or optical encoder for sensing a displaced position of a biased plunger to which a code strip is mounted. The devices may be combined into a single shaft offset and height measurement device. Improved methods include calculating shaft offset based on a plurality of readings from the transducer, and applying trigonometric relationships. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful in the verification of paddle or basket shafts utilized in dissolution testing stations, so that the dissolution testing protocol complies with government agency guidelines.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Varian, Inc.Inventors: Gregory S. Duckett, C. J. Anthony Fernando, Michael F. Haw
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Patent number: 6434847Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring the amount by which the centerline of a shaft disposed in a vessel is offset from the central vertical axis of the vessel, and for measuring the height of such shaft above the inside bottom of the vessel. Apparatus includes a shaft centerline offset measurement device, a shaft height measurement device, and a control/display console. Each measurement device includes a transducer or optical encoder for sensing a displaced position of a biased plunger to which a code strip is mounted. The devices may be combined into a single shaft offset and height measurement device. Improved methods include calculating shaft offset based on a plurality of readings from the transducer, and applying trigonometric relationships. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful in the verification of paddle or basket shafts utilized in dissolution testing stations, so that the dissolution testing protocol complies with government agency guidelines.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Varian, Inc.Inventors: Gregory S. Duckett, C. J. Anthony Fernando, Michael F. Haw
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Publication number: 20010052269Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring the amount by which the centerline of a shaft disposed in a vessel is offset from the central vertical axis of the vessel, and for measuring the height of such shaft above the inside bottom of the vessel. Apparatus includes a shaft centerline offset measurement device, a shaft height measurement device, and a control/display console. Each measurement device includes a transducer or optical encoder for sensing a displaced position of a biased plunger to which a code strip is mounted. The devices may be combined into a single shaft offset and height measurement device. Improved methods include calculating shaft offset based on a plurality of readings from the transducer, and applying trigonometric relationships. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful in the verification of paddle or basket shafts utilized in dissolution testing stations, so that the dissolution testing protocol complies with government agency guidelines.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2001Publication date: December 20, 2001Inventors: Gregory S. Duckett, C.J. Anthony Fernando, Michael F. Haw