Patents by Inventor Nicholas A. Long

Nicholas A. Long 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: 20170328108
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the closing force of a door coupled to a door closer assembly having a bias element. The method includes determining the kinetic energy of the door without using the weight or other dimensions of the door. The determined kinetic energy is used to adjust the closing force of an electro-mechanical door closer that includes a spring and a motor. The door includes the use of one, some of, or all of an accelerometer, an angular position sensor, a time to close, a breaking torque, and a controller to identify values of acceleration, velocity, and/or position of the door. The identified values are provided to the controller, which is configured to calculate the kinetic energy of the door. The calculated kinetic energy is used to determine the closing velocity of the door closure to ensure proper operation of the door at the point of installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: NICHOLAS LONG, Aaron P. McKibben, Jason Fodstad
  • Patent number: 9310403
    Abstract: A building energy analysis system includes a building component library configured to store a plurality of building components, a modeling tool configured to access the building component library and create a building model of a building under analysis using building spatial data and using selected building components of the plurality of building components stored in the building component library, a building analysis engine configured to operate the building model and generate a baseline energy model of the building under analysis and further configured to apply one or more energy conservation measures to the baseline energy model in order to generate one or more corresponding optimized energy models, and a recommendation tool configured to assess the one or more optimized energy models against the baseline energy model and generate recommendations for substitute building components or modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Brackney, Andrew Parker, Nicholas Long, Ian Metzger, Jesse Dean, Lars Lisell
  • Patent number: 9091385
    Abstract: As shown a carrier module (2) includes a magazine (9) having five chambers (10) each adapted to receive a pipeline pig, rotatably mounted on a blind hub (8) attached to a frame (7). A hanging eye 14 allows the module to be lowered to an undersea location where, guided by a ROV via a grab handle, its frame member (16) is received by guides (17) of a launcher module (1). The magazine passes through a large connector (4) which engages the blind hub. The ROV operates a bucket drive (22) causing the connector to engage the blind hub in sealing fashion thus enclosing the magazine in a launch chamber (3). A hydraulic ram (11) indexes the magazine to select a chamber from which a pig is to be launched or an empty chamber to receive a pig. Indexing is achieved by a roller on the free end of the ram shaft engaging in a cusped track (26) on the magazine. A pressure connection (12) for launching fluid goes through the center of the magazine, through the blind hub and back into a selected chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Patent number: 9033050
    Abstract: A plug plugs into a ROV drive bucket limiting rotation of a drive shaft therein to say 15° and reducing the build-up of marine growth in the bucket. As shown it includes a polyethylene body (which may be made in two parts 12, 13) housing a metal socket 11 mounted for limited angular orientation therein. The socket has a twenty four point aperture or recess (22) which fits over a squared end of a drive shaft 10 at various angles orientation. The socket has external splines (20) which fit loosely in wide internal grooves (21) in the body and self-orientates within the body when the body is plugged into the bucket. The plug has a pair of diametrically opposite dogs (4) which engage in slots (5), included in flanges on conventional buckets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Patent number: 8961069
    Abstract: A subsea hanging device comprises a hanging frame 1 adapted to support an assembly (such as a gooseneck 3 and a subsea connector 4 being used to attach a heavy pipe 7 to a pipe hub 11 on the seabed), a hanging eye 8 which slides on said frame when a shaft 10 threaded through it is axially rotated, and a ROV drive bucket 12 attached to one end of the shaft. A guide funnel 13, 16 pivoted to the frame and adapted to fit over a guide post 17 on the seabed actuates a pointer 15 which indicates on a scale 14 whether the hanging angle needs adjustment to enable the connector 4 to be engaged with the hub 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Patent number: 8800663
    Abstract: A leadscrew has first and second housing portions—which slide telescopically together. A shaft having an externally threaded portion screws into a complimentary internal threaded portion in the first housing portion, the shaft extending out of the second housing portion at a point where a fluid tight seal is provided_between the shaft and the other of the housings and allows rotation during a screwing action. The second housing includes a flanged end to which a ROV drive bucket is bolted. The shaft has a squared end so that it can be rotated relative to the bucket by the ROV. O-rings provide fluid tight seals between the two housing portions, between the flanged end and bucket, and between the shaft and bucket. A deep sea version incorporating oil bath the pressure of which is equalised to that of the surrounding sea so that O-rings do not have to withstand large pressure differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Vector International Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Publication number: 20140068883
    Abstract: As shown a carrier module (2) includes a magazine (9) having five chambers (10) each adapted to receive a pipeline pig, rotatably mounted on a blind hub (8) attached to a frame (7). A hanging eye 14 allows the module to be lowered to an undersea location where, guided by a ROV via a grab handle, its frame member (16) is received by guides (17) of a launcher module (1). The magazine passes through a large connector (4) which engages the blind hub. The ROV operates a bucket drive (22) causing the connector to engage the blind hub in sealing fashion thus enclosing the magazine in a launch chamber (3). A hydraulic ram (11) indexes the magazine to select a chamber from which a pig is to be launched or an empty chamber to receive a pig. Indexing is achieved by a roller on the free end of the ram shaft engaging in a cusped track (26) on the magazine. A pressure connection (12) for launching fluid goes through the center of the magazine, through the blind hub and back into a selected chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: NICHOLAS LONG
  • Publication number: 20130144546
    Abstract: A building energy analysis system includes a building component library configured to store a plurality of building components, a modeling tool configured to access the building component library and create a building model of a building under analysis using building spatial data and using selected building components of the plurality of building components stored in the building component library, a building analysis engine configured to operate the building model and generate a baseline energy model of the building under analysis and further configured to apply one or more energy conservation measures to the baseline energy model in order to generate one or more corresponding optimized energy models, and a recommendation tool configured to assess the one or more optimized energy models against the baseline energy model and generate recommendations for substitute building components or modifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Brackney, Andrew Parker, Nicholas Long, Ian Metzger, Jesse Dean, Lars Lisell
  • Patent number: 8353848
    Abstract: A disposable test device consists of a first portion 2 having a fluid application port 5 to which a sample of fluid can be applied, and a handle portion 3 hingedly attached to the first portion 2 at a hinge portion 4 and which normally lies in the plane of the first portion. In use the device is held by the handle portion 3 and the first portion inserted into a measuring instrument. The handle is then deflected downwardly e.g. by the finger of a person to supply a drop of fluid to the port 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Long, Jon Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120186039
    Abstract: A plug plugs into a ROV drive bucket limiting rotation of a drive shaft therein to say 15° and reducing the build-up of marine growth in the bucket. As shown it includes a polyethylene body (which may be made in two parts 12, 13) housing a metal socket 11 mounted for limited angular orientation therein. The socket has a twenty four point aperture or recess (22) which fits over a squared end of a drive shaft 10 at various angles orientation. The socket has external splines (20) which fit loosely in wide internal grooves (21) in the body and self-orientates within the body when the body is plugged into the bucket. The plug has a pair of diametrically opposite dogs (4) which engage in slots (5), included in flanges on conventional buckets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Publication number: 20120141212
    Abstract: A subsea hanging device comprises a hanging frame 1 adapted to support an assembly (such as a gooseneck 3 and a subsea connector 4 being used to attach a heavy pipe 7 to a pipe hub 11. on the seabed), a hanging eye 8 which slides on said frame when a shaft 10 threaded through it is axially rotated, and a ROV drive bucket 12 attached to one end of the shaft. A guide funnel 13, 16 pivoted to the frame and adapted to fit over a guide post 17 on the seabed actuates a pointer 15 which indicates on a scale 14 whether the hanging angle needs adjustment to enable the connector 4 to be engaged with the hub 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Publication number: 20120112451
    Abstract: A quick release pipeline clamp comprises at least two clamp segments 2 clamping two pipeline hubs together, a holding arrangement such as stud and nuts arrangements 15, 17 for holding together ends of adjacent clamp segments so that they form a clamping ring and a hydraulically or electrically actuable arrangement such as quick release nuts 15 for causing said holding arrangement to release its hold. The clamp segments have notched edges to make them more flexible and are elastically flexed around the hubs when held in place. Springs 10, 11 further aid separation when the hold is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Publication number: 20110241336
    Abstract: A leadscrew has first and second housing portions—which slide telescopically together. A shaft having an externally threaded portion screws into a complimentary internal threaded portion in the first housing portion, the shaft extending out of the second housing portion at a point where a fluid tight seal is provided_between the shaft and the other of the housings and allows rotation during a screwing action. The second housing includes a flanged end to which a ROV drive bucket is bolted. The shaft has a squared end so that it can be rotated relative to the bucket by the ROV. O-rings provide fluid tight seals between the two housing portions, between the flanged end and bucket, and between the shaft and bucket. A deep sea version incorporating oil bath the pressure of which is equalised to that of the surrounding sea so that O-rings do not have to withstand large pressure differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Publication number: 20090216155
    Abstract: A disposable test device consists of a first portion 2 having a fluid application port 5 to which a sample of fluid can be applied, and a handle portion 3 hingedly attached to the first portion 2 at a hinge portion 4 and which normally lies in the plane of the first portion. In use the device is held by the handle portion 3 and the first portion inserted into a measuring instrument. The handle is then deflected downwardly e.g. by the finger of a person to supply a drop of fluid to the port 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Nicholas Long, John Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080210454
    Abstract: A method of forming a low AC loss, fully transposed cabled superconductor from multiple superconducting subconductors cut in a serpentine form from a wider superconducting tape is disclosed. By assembling pre-cut subconductor tapes a cable with a short transposition pitch length can be formed without excessive in-plane or out-of-plane deformation of the tape which could otherwise cause degradation of its superconducting performance. The transposition may be in either Roebel bar or Rutherford cable geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Fee, Nicholas Long, Michael Staines
  • Publication number: 20050059554
    Abstract: A method of processing an oxide superconductor or a precursor thereto contained within an outer cladding or a matrix of an inert metal to form a metal-clad HTS conductor or precursor conductor, includes applying a formulation to the exterior of the conductor including a diffusion bond-inhibiting agent comprising predominantly calcium sulphate, potassium sulphate, sodium sulphate, lithium sulphate, or a combination thereof, typically evaporating the carrier where a liquid carrier is used, to leave a coating of the diffusion bond-inhibiting agent on the exterior of the metal-clad HTS conductor, and shaping the coated conductor so that portions thereof come into contact with one another, by coiling or spooling the conductor for example, and heat treating the conductor. The diffusion bond-inhibiting coating prevents bonding together of the conductor coils or layers during the heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Nicholas Long, Nicholas Strickland
  • Patent number: 5153381
    Abstract: An electrical cable and method for making the same. The cable includes a plurality of conductors formed into a bundle and surrounded by an armor sheath. A barrier, formed of polyester or polypropylene tape, is disposed directly between the bundle of conductors and armor sheath. The tape is formed into layers, each layer extending over the length of the bundle of conductors. The tape has a thickness of about 1.5 to 2.0 mils. The preferred form of tape has longitudinally extending corrugations providing a corrugated thickness of 8.0 to 10.0 mils. Each layer of tape is applied either helically or longitudinally wrapping the tape around the bundle of conductors. The barrier separates the bundle of conductors and the armor sheath and provides impact resistance against the armor sheath being driven into contact with the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Alcan Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Ravindra H. Ganatra, Nicholas A. Long, Donald L. Weaver, Jr.
  • Patent number: D497673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Patent number: D497999
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Patent number: D741825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory A. James, Edward O. Clapper, Nicholas Long, Michael J. Castillo, Fraser Stirling, Simon J. Waterfall, Gadi Amit, Chadwick Harber, Julien Rouillac