Patents by Inventor Henry Alan Wolf

Henry Alan Wolf 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: 20150106036
    Abstract: For a monitored corrosion sensor, such as a sensor based on one or more mechanical oscillators disposed in a fluid flow, one or more values are measured over time. The values can be measured at a desired frequency, such as a once per second, once per minute, or another convenient frequency. The measured data can then be analyzed as a time series. The goal of the analysis is to identify variations in the time series data that are sufficiently unexpected relative to the prior behavior of the time series within a given time window. The identified variations can then, for example, be excluded from consideration when determining a corrosion-related value for the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Krishnan KUMARAN, Alan Mark SCHILOWITZ, Henry Alan WOLF
  • Patent number: 8919179
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the response of a metal loss sensor which is configured in a way that its insertion depth and orientation in the process fluid are adjustable. These adjustments affect local turbulence and thereby enable achieving a desired corrosion rate at the metal loss sensor. Corrosion rate comparison between the metal loss sensor and pressure containment boundary can be measured directly or indirectly by computing wall shear stresses at the sensor and the pressure containment boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Henry Alan Wolf, Alan M. Schliowitz, Manuel S. Alvarez, Anastasios Skoulidas, David Samuel Deutsch, Richard J. Basile
  • Publication number: 20120198923
    Abstract: The present invention describes the connecting of a corrodible material with a non-corrodible material by electron beam welding so that the corrodible material is not affected by non-corrodible material during the welding process. Employing an electron beam welding process not only minimizes unintended alloying of the corrodible element but also minimizes the width of the weld heat affected and fusion zones. This fabrication method is necessary to ensure that the corrodible element faithfully replicates the wastage of the subject metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Henry Alan Wolf, Alan Mark Schilowitz, James E. Feather, Manuel S. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7823627
    Abstract: A device is coupled to a heat exchanger for mitigating fouling by applying a mechanical force to a fixed heat exchanger to excite a vibration in the heat exchange surface and produce shear waves in the fluid adjacent the heat exchange surface while the heat exchanger is in operation. An electromagnetic driven impulse device induces vibration onto heat exchanger tubes and/or an acoustic wave through the liquid service fluid to reduce fouling. The device can be mounted directly onto the outer part or piping and produces acoustical/vibrational modes onto the tube or near the surface of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Glen B. Brons, Henry Alan Wolf, Limin Song
  • Patent number: 7721605
    Abstract: The present invention is a mechanical oscillator for detection and measurement of corrosive foreign materials. The elements include a mechanical oscillator that is mechanically excited, wherein the mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. A fuse fixed to the oscillator to change oscillator amplitude to and from essentially zero to resonance amplitude. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork where one region is compatible with the service fluid and the other region is incompatible with the service fluid or other contaminant. The sensor alarms when a measured amount of the incompatible material has been removed or the physical strength of the material has been compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Henry Alan Wolf, Manuel S. Alvarez, James E. Feather, George P. Akehurst
  • Patent number: 7681449
    Abstract: The present invention is a mechanical oscillator metal loss sensor for use in a corrosive or erosive environment. The elements include a mechanical oscillator that is mechanical excited with two regions that corrode differently, where the regions are determined to affect specific influences on the resonance parameters, wherein said mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Henry Alan Wolf, Manuel S. Alvarez, James E. Feather, Philip J. Cacciatore, Jason B. English
  • Patent number: 7598820
    Abstract: A magnetic drive and mechanical oscillator system comprising a mechanical oscillator, a coil, a means for providing alternating current to said coil thereby creating a magnetic field within and about the coil, said means including an on-off means and a ferromagnetic material in communication with the diaphragm of the mechanical oscillator and the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Manuel S. Alvarez, Henry Alan Wolf, Martin Mellert, Josef Fehrenbach
  • Publication number: 20080314150
    Abstract: The present invention is a mechanical oscillator for detection and measurement of corrosive or foreign materials. The elements include a means for mechanical excitation, and a mechanical oscillator, wherein said mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. A fuse fixed to the oscillator to change oscillator amplitude to or from essentially zero to resonance amplitude. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork where one region is compatible with the service fluid and the other region is incompatible with the service fluid or other contaminant. The sensor alarms when a measured amount of the incompatible material has been removed or the physical strength of the material has been compromised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Henry Alan Wolf, Manuel S. Alvarez, James E. Feather, George P. Akehurst
  • Publication number: 20070267175
    Abstract: A device is coupled to a heat exchanger for mitigating fouling by applying a mechanical force to a fixed heat exchanger to excite a vibration in the heat exchange surface and produce shear waves in the fluid adjacent the heat exchange surface while the heat exchanger is in operation. An electromagnetic driven impulse device induces vibration onto heat exchanger tubes and/or an acoustic wave through the liquid service fluid to reduce fouling. The device can be mounted directly onto the outer part or piping and produces acoustical/vibrational modes onto the tube or near the surface of tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Glen B. Brons, Henry Alan Wolf, Limin Song