Patents by Inventor Michio Katou

Michio Katou 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: 5327773
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus capable of measuring the density of steam within a steam pipe even in limited environmental conditions such as in a steam injection well. A vessel which accommodates therein first and second neutron detectors disposed in mutual longitudinal alignment with a neutron source interposed therebetween and in which the second detector is covered with a neutron shield capable of absorbing thermal neutrons while allowing epithermal neutrons to penetrate therethrough is inserted into the steam pipe together with a thermal neutron shielding sheet completely encircling the vessel. From the neutrons which were emitted from the neutron source and passed out and back through the neutron shield and the steam region, those epithermal neutrons which have not undergone transformation to thermal neutrons within the steam region are detected by both the first and second detectors, while the thermal neutrons resulting from the transformation are detected by the first detector only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Japan National Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nishimura, Michio Katou, Yasuyuki Hashi