Patents by Inventor Pavan K. Shukla

Pavan K. Shukla 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: 10001436
    Abstract: A method for in-situ measuring the corrosion rate of a corroding site on an underground metal structure buried in soil, the structure being under cathodic protection. The structure-to-soil potential at varying depths above the pipeline is measured to a depth above, but not reaching the structure. These measurements are extrapolated to obtain data representing the structure-to-soil potential at the surface of the structure under the probe. The gradient of the electrical potential at this surface is used to calculate the corrosion rate of the defect. A special probe may be used to obtain the potential measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pavan K. Shukla, Biswajit Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 9638667
    Abstract: A method for in-situ detection of coating defects on a buried pipeline. The pipeline is under cathodic protection or otherwise carries a current applied to its pipe walls. A magnetic field sensor array is placed within the pipeline and moved along its length. As the sensor array travels, it detects the magnetic fields within the pipeline. The sensor output is compared with “expected” data, which represents interior magnetic fields of the pipeline without coating defects. Because electrical current leaks through a coating defect, the current is altered on the pipe wall at the defect. This in turn alters the interior magnetic fields, and a change in the interior magnetic fields indicates a coating defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jay L. Fisher, Pavan K. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20160320343
    Abstract: A method for in-situ detection of coating defects on a buried pipeline. The pipeline is under cathodic protection or otherwise carries a current applied to its pipe walls. A magnetic field sensor array is placed within the pipeline and moved along its length. As the sensor array travels, it detects the magnetic fields within the pipeline. The sensor output is compared with “expected” data, which represents interior magnetic fields of the pipeline without coating defects. Because electrical current leaks through a coating defect, the current is altered on the pipe wall at the defect. This in turn alters the interior magnetic fields, and a change in the interior magnetic fields indicates a coating defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Jay L. Fisher, Pavan K. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20150204775
    Abstract: A method for in-situ measuring the corrosion rate of a corroding site on an underground metal structure buried in soil, the structure being under cathodic protection. The structure-to-soil potential at varying depths above the pipeline is measured to a depth above, but not reaching the structure. These measurements are extrapolated to obtain data representing the structure-to-soil potential at the surface of the structure under the probe. The gradient of the electrical potential at this surface is used to calculate the corrosion rate of the defect. A special probe may be used to obtain the potential measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Pavan K. Shukla, Biswajit Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 8624589
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe that uses the magnetostrictive effect to generate and detect a surface-coupled guided wave for the purpose of inspecting a thick-walled structure for surface defects. A transmitter sensor and a receiver sensor are especially designed to generate and detect short wavelengths that will couple to only one surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Alan R. Puchot, Charles E. Duffer, Sang Y. Kim, Adam C. Cobb, Pavan K. Shukla
  • Patent number: 8310243
    Abstract: A system and associated methods for acquiring and analyzing LEIS data from a buried structure, such as a pipeline. A special probe having adjustable electrodes is placed in the soil above the structure. A voltage is applied to the structure, causing more current to emanate from a coating defect than from intact coating. The probe electrodes acquire a response signal, which is analyzed to detect the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Pavan K. Shukla, Todd S. Mintz, Biswajit Dasgupta, Jay L. Fisher, Osvaldo Pensado-Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20120038376
    Abstract: A system and associated methods for acquiring and analyzing LEIS data from a buried structure, such as a pipeline. A special probe having adjustable electrodes is placed in the soil above the structure. A voltage is applied to the structure, causing more current to emanate from a coating defect than from intact coating. The probe electrodes acquire a response signal, which is analyzed to detect the defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pavan K. Shukla, Todd S. Mintz, Biswajit Dasgupta, Jay L. Fisher, Osvaldo Pensado-Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20110221428
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe that uses the magnetostrictive effect to generate and detect a surface-coupled guided wave for the purpose of inspecting a thick-walled structure for surface defects. A transmitter probe and a receiver probe are especially designed to generate and detect short wavelengths that will couple to only one surface of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Alan R Puchot, Charles E. DUFFER, Sang Y. KIM, Adam C. COBB, Pavan K. SHUKLA