Patents by Inventor Samir Mekid

Samir Mekid 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: 20130199272
    Abstract: Leak detection system. The system locates leaks in a pipeline that includes RFID tags deployed at known locations along the pipeline. A pair of bodies tethered to one another a fixed distance apart travels along the pipeline. Each of the bodies is supported for movement substantially along the centerline of the pipeline and each body includes a sensor responsive to sound or pressure variations generated by a leak. Signals are correlated to identify the existence of a leak. Each body also includes an RFID reader for reading the RFID tags in the pipeline. At least one of the bodies includes a power supply and/or electronics that are adapted to correlate signals from sensor on each body to determine the location of a leak within the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicants: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Atia Khalifa, Rached Ben-Mansour, Yehia Khulief, Samir Mekid, Kamal Youcef-Toumi
  • Publication number: 20130139604
    Abstract: The bolt tension monitoring system provides remote monitoring of the tension of a bolt, thus allowing for remote monitoring of general structural health and integrity of the fastener. The bolt tension monitoring system includes a housing adapted for being retained on a head of a bolt to be monitored. The system further includes a force transducer positioned between the head of the bolt and a workpiece surface in which the bolt is fastened and measures tension between the head of the bolt and the surface. A controller circuit disposed within the housing calculates a difference between a currently measured tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface and an initially measured tension. A wireless transponder mounted in the housing transmits an alert signal if the calculated difference exceeds a pre-defined threshold value. Actuation and power are provided through radio frequency power harvesting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicants: KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: UTHMAN BAROUDI, SAMIR MEKID, ABDELHAFID BOUHRAOUA
  • Patent number: 8448520
    Abstract: The bolt tension monitoring system provides remote monitoring of the tension of a bolt, thus allowing for remote monitoring of general structural health and integrity of the fastener. The bolt tension monitoring system includes a housing adapted for being retained on a head of a bolt to be monitored. The system further includes a force transducer positioned between the head of the bolt and a workpiece surface in which the bolt is fastened and measures tension between the head of the bolt and the surface. A controller circuit disposed within the housing calculates a difference between a currently measured tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface and an initially measured tension. A wireless transponder mounted in the housing transmits an alert signal if the calculated difference exceeds a pre-defined threshold value. Actuation and power are provided through radio frequency power harvesting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
    Inventors: Uthman Baroudi, Samir Mekid, Abdelhafid Bouhraoua
  • Patent number: 8442777
    Abstract: The system and method for measuring rolling resistance provide for the measurement of various properties associated with pre-rolling resistance. A cruciform pendulum is formed from a rigid rod having opposed upper and lower ends and a horizontal support extending orthogonal thereto. A pair of substantially hemispherical samples formed from a first material are mounted on opposing ends of the horizontal support. Flat, planar samples of a second test material are placed upon spaced apart supporting surfaces. The cruciform pendulum is suspended between the supporting surfaces with the hemispherical first material resting on the planar second material. The rigid rod is deflected from vertical and released to induce pendulum oscillations with the first material rolling on the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Samir Mekid, Igor Gilavdary, Natalia Riznookaya
  • Publication number: 20130068031
    Abstract: The bolt tension monitoring system provides remote monitoring of the tension of a bolt, thus allowing for remote monitoring of general structural health and integrity of the fastener. The bolt tension monitoring system includes a housing adapted for being retained on a head of a bolt to be monitored. The system further includes a force transducer positioned between the head of the bolt and a surface in which the bolt is fastened and measures tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface. A controller circuit within the housing calculates the difference between currently measured tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface and an initially measured tension. A wireless transponder mounted in the housing transmits an alert signal if the calculated difference exceeds a pre-defined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicants: KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: SAMIR MEKID, ABDELHAFID BOUHRAOUA
  • Publication number: 20130064622
    Abstract: The smart lid for smart bolts and probes is an electronic sensor for use with a smart bolt or probe having a color indicator for indicating tension. The smart lid includes a color sensor that provides electrical data corresponding to light received from the color indicator of the smart bolt or probe, a microcontroller that receives electrical data from the color sensor and converts that data to a digital form and compares the data against at least one limit, and provides a digital indication wirelessly to a remote monitor if the at least one limit has been exceeded. In this fashion a warning or emergency condition can be indicated when the tension experienced by the smart bolt is too low or too high. The smart lid may include an electrical power source that scavenges electrical power from ambient electromagnetic fields (EMF) and stores the electrical power in a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: SAMIR MEKID, ABDELHAFID BOUHRAOUA, UTHMAN BAROUDI
  • Publication number: 20130032415
    Abstract: The through metal communication system sends messages by tapping on metal barriers, such as pipelines, bulkheads, and the like. A robotic element attaches itself to a metal barrier, wall, pipe, and the like. A piezoelectric tapping device is attached to the robotic element and can tap an encoded message onto the metal. The robot preferably includes a piezoelectric actuator, a microcontroller to convert text/information to Morse code, and a power source for the actuator. The messages are retrieved and interpreted by a remote transducer connected to a computer or microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: SAMIR MEKID
  • Patent number: 8330058
    Abstract: The portable airbag scale is a scale that measures the weight of a load based upon a difference between measured air pressure in an inflatable bladder, the difference being measured between a first state, where the load is not positioned on the inflatable bladder, and a second state, in which the load is supported on the inflatable bladder. The portable airbag scale includes an inflatable bladder having opposed upper and lower walls and at least one sidewall. A port is formed through the at least one sidewall for selective inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder. A pressure sensor is mounted within the inflatable bladder for measuring the air pressure therein. A controller selectively calculates the weight of the load based upon the measured difference in air pressure. A display is provided for displaying the weight of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Samir Mekid
  • Patent number: 8217783
    Abstract: A method of conserving energy and natural resources transported in subsurface pipelines and preventing environmental contamination therefrom by identifying the subsurface location of leaks of oil, gas, water or other natural resources transported in these pipelines includes adhering a continuous tape having a plurality of uniquely identified radio frequency identification (RFID) tags mounted thereon axially along the pipeline and use of a mobile robotic device to identify the specific location of a leak in the pipeline, thereby preventing loss of energy and water traveling through pipeline, contamination of these fluids and environmental contamination, and the use of additional fuel to replenish these lost natural resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Samir Mekid, Abdelhafid Bouhraoua
  • Publication number: 20120168593
    Abstract: The kinematic platform is a spherical-prismatic-spherical kinematic platform providing six degrees of freedom with controlled braking at each joint. The kinematic platform includes a base and an upper platform plate, with the upper platform plate having opposed upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface thereof provides a mounting surface for an external article to which controlled three-dimensional movement is to be imparted. A plurality of linear actuators are further provided, with each linear actuator having opposed upper and lower ends. A plurality of upper and lower spherical joints are provided for pivotally mounting the linear actuators between the upper platform plate and a lower base. Each spherical joint provides selective and controllable braking, allowing for the controlled rotation of each end of each linear actuator with respect to the respective upper platform plate or base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: SAMIR MEKID, AZFAR KHALID
  • Publication number: 20120076570
    Abstract: The spherical joint with internal brake has a controlled actuator that selectively brakes relative motion between interior members and an outer shell of the spherical ball joint. A shaft extending from the internal members can be stopped at any rotational position relative to the shell. The internal members may include a central spherical sectioned member sandwiched by a pair of symmetrically opposed peripheral spherical sectioned members, which selectively act as brakes when an actuator in the central member is energized. The energized actuator has a dual piston that pushes outwardly on the pair of opposed peripheral segments, which increases friction between the peripheral segments and an interior wall of the spherical shell to brake the system. The shaft extends from the central spherical sectioned member through an aperture in the shell. The size of the shell aperture determines the range of rotational motion of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: SAMIR MEKID
  • Publication number: 20110298609
    Abstract: A method of conserving energy and natural resources transported in subsurface pipelines and preventing environmental contamination therefrom by identifying the subsurface location of leaks of oil, gas, water or other natural resources transported in these pipelines includes adhering a continuous tape having a plurality of uniquely identified radio frequency identification (RFID) tags mounted thereon axially along the pipeline and use of a mobile robotic device to identify the specific location of a leak in the pipeline, thereby preventing loss of energy and water traveling through pipeline, contamination of these fluids and environmental contamination, and the use of additional fuel to replenish these lost natural resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: SAMIR MEKID, ABDELHAFID BOUHRAOUA
  • Publication number: 20110272197
    Abstract: The portable airbag scale is a scale that measures the weight of a load based upon a difference between measured air pressure in an inflatable bladder, the difference being measured between a first state, where the load is not positioned on the inflatable bladder, and a second state, in which the load is supported on the inflatable bladder. The portable airbag scale includes an inflatable bladder having opposed upper and lower walls and at least one sidewall. A port is formed through the at least one sidewall for selective inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder. A pressure sensor is mounted within the inflatable bladder for measuring the air pressure therein. A controller selectively calculates the weight of the load based upon the measured difference in air pressure. A display is provided for displaying the weight of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Samir Mekid
  • Patent number: 7997001
    Abstract: The telescopic ball bar gauge provides a pair of movable test measuring points that are spaced apart a known distance so that the points may be contacted by a machine probe of a coordinate measuring machine or the like to generate test data. This allows varying inaccuracies within the machine to be detected and accounted for during normal operation of the machine. The telescopic ball bar gauge includes a plurality of telescoping segments forming at least one linear variable differential transformer. The at least one linear variable differential transformer is used to measure the linear distance between two balls mounted on opposed ends of the ball bar gauge. A transmitter in communication with the at least one linear variable differential transformer transmits a measurement signal representing the linear distance between the two balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Samir Mekid
  • Patent number: 7911614
    Abstract: The non-contact measurement probe is capable of dimensional measurement of a workpiece while it is being machined, and reporting dynamic error for real-time compensation by the machining tool. Measurement includes diameter and roundness of the workpiece. The measurements are automatically fed back to a machine controller for intelligent error compensation. Based on known laser Doppler techniques and real time data acquisition, the probe delivers dimensional accuracy at few microns over a range of 100 mm. The measurement probe employs a differential laser-Doppler arrangement, allowing acquisition of information from the workpiece surface. Moreover, the measurements are traceable to standards of frequency allowing higher precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Samir Mekid
  • Publication number: 20100310305
    Abstract: The spherical joint with internal brake has a controlled actuator that selectively brakes relative motion between interior members and an outer shell of the spherical ball joint. A shaft extending from the internal members can be stopped at any rotational position relative to the shell. The internal members may include a central spherical sectioned member sandwiched by a pair of symmetrically opposed peripheral spherical sectioned members, which selectively act as brakes when an actuator in the central member is energized. The energized actuator has a dual piston that pushes outwardly lo on the pair of opposed peripheral segments, which increases friction between the peripheral segments and an interior wall of the spherical shell to brake the system. The shaft extends from the central spherical sectioned member through an aperture in the shell. The size of the shell aperture determines the range of rotational motion of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Samir Mekid