Patents by Inventor Neal Hodges

Neal Hodges 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: 11224903
    Abstract: A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mogas Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gifford Zach Decker, Asmaa Sadek Kassab, Anthony Neal Hodge, Robert D. Dibbern, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10786838
    Abstract: A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Mogas Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gifford Zach Decker, Asmaa Sadek Kassab, Anthony Neal Hodge, Robert D. Dibbern, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200261947
    Abstract: A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Gifford Zach Decker, Asmaa Sadek Kassab, Anthony Neal Hodge, Robert D. Dibbern
  • Patent number: 10429400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of testing medications to evaluate authenticity and identify counterfeits. The testing methods employ a reactive system comprising a solvent and an acid. Optionally, the reactive system can also comprise an organometallic agent. The testing methods can provide rapid results verifying the authenticity of an antimalarial medication. Further the test method can provide clear results that can be implemented and interpreted without special training, anywhere in the world. The test methods can offer quantitative and qualitative results. The test methods are based on reactions that yield different colors where the color can indicate the presence of an active ingredient, and the intensity of the color can indicate the concentration of the active ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: South Dakota Board of Regents, Rochester Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel Heglund, Andrew Olson, Scott Williams, Neal Hodges, Joseph A. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20180354005
    Abstract: A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Gifford Zach Decker, Asmaa Sadek Kassab, Anthony Neal Hodge, Robert D. Dibbern
  • Publication number: 20170115317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of testing medications to evaluate authenticity and identify counterfeits. The testing methods employ a reactive system comprising a solvent and an acid. Optionally, the reactive system can also comprise an organometallic agent. The testing methods can provide rapid results verifying the authenticity of an antimalarial medication. Further the test method can provide clear results that can be implemented and interpreted without special training, anywhere in the world. The test methods can offer quantitative and qualitative results. The test methods are based on reactions that yield different colors where the color can indicate the presence of an active ingredient, and the intensity of the color can indicate the concentration of the active ingredient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Heglund, Andrew Olson, Scott Williams, Neal Hodges, Joseph A. Marshall