Patents by Inventor Steven E. Owen

Steven E. Owen 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: 8170809
    Abstract: A method for the nondestructive testing of pipeline, and internal or external coatings, using guided ultrasonic waves excited from the inside or outside diameter, wherein at least two transducers are employed to send and receive ultrasound, wherein a data normalization scheme is employed to account for transducer variability, and wherein the hardware arrangement has a number of pulser channels and a number of receiver channels for the collection and storage of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: FBS, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason K. Van Velsor, Steven E. Owens, Joseph L. Rose
  • Publication number: 20120053852
    Abstract: A non-contact signal propagation property evaluation system for ropes can be deployed for a number of different applications including, but not limited to, moving lines, e.g., crane or winch and static lines, e.g., mooring lines, stays, etc., to evaluate physical properties of the ropes and, in some cases, to help evaluate structural health of the ropes. The system includes a first transducer for generating ultrasonic waves, a second transducer for receiving ultrasonic waves propagated transversely through and around the rope, and a processor executing computer readable code to determine acoustic propagation properties of the rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Luis S. Padilla, Philip Bull, Roger L. Royer, JR., Steven E. Owens
  • Patent number: 7997139
    Abstract: A method for the nondestructive inspecting of coated or uncoated pipeline, using ultrasonic guided waves excited on the outer or inner pipe surface, wherein at least one or more transducers are individually or simultaneously excited to generate ultrasound, wherein multiple received signals with different focal spot positions are processed and combined to produce a reduced number of final waveforms that show defect axial positions in the pipe, wherein a data calibration scheme is utilized to adjust velocity variability for all the guided wave modes at different frequencies, and wherein the hardware arrangement has at least one pulser channel and one receiver channel for the collection and storage of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: FBS, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Owens, Li Zhang, Joseph L. Rose
  • Patent number: 7938008
    Abstract: A method of performing a non-destructive examination of a piece of material, having the steps of providing an angle beam wedge and at least two transducers placed upon the wedge, wherein the transducers are placed in a phased array, placing the wedge upon the piece of material to be examined, producing a guided wave into the piece of material to be examined, wherein the guided wave is placed into the material through a synthetically changed incident angle, receiving the guided wave from the piece of material, and determining one of a presence of defects and lack of defects in the piece of material from the received guided wave. Transducers used may include 360 degree guided wave, radial polarized units, parallel shear units for shear horizontal activation and guided wave wheel probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: FBS, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Owens, Joseph L. Rose, Roger L. Royer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7751989
    Abstract: A system for inspecting a pipeline having at least two transducers divided into segments, the segments each containing a number of sensors, wherein a maximum number of segments is equal to a number of transducers, an arrangement configured to send, receive and store signals, wherein the arrangement has a number of pulser channels and a number of receiver channels, wherein the arrangement has at least one multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing signals from the arrangement; and a time delay arrangement connected to the arrangement configured to send, receive and store signals. The system may also provide for focal point skewing, near real time coating compensation for proper excitation mode, adjusted time delay capability and the ability to focus beyond changes in geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: FBS, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Owens, Joseph L. Rose, Jason K. Van Velsor, Li Zhang, Michael J. Avioli
  • Publication number: 20090150094
    Abstract: A method for the nondestructive testing of pipeline, and internal or external coatings, using guided ultrasonic waves excited from the inside or outside diameter, wherein at least two transducers are employed to send and receive ultrasound, wherein a data normalization scheme is employed to account for transducer variability, and wherein the hardware arrangement has a number of pulser channels and a number of receiver channels for the collection and storage of signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: FBS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason K. Van Velsor, Steven E. Owens, Joseph L. Rose
  • Publication number: 20090139337
    Abstract: A method for the nondestructive inspecting of coated or uncoated pipeline, using ultrasonic guided waves excited on the outer or inner pipe surface, wherein at least one or more transducers are individually or simultaneously excited to generate ultrasound, wherein multiple received signals with different focal spot positions are processed and combined to produce a reduced number of final waveforms that show defect axial positions in the pipe, wherein a data calibration scheme is utilized to adjust velocity variability for all the guided wave modes at different frequencies, and wherein the hardware arrangement has at least one pulser channel and one receiver channel for the collection and storage of signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: FBS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Owens, Li Zhang, Joseph L. Rose
  • Publication number: 20090056124
    Abstract: Various methods are disclosed for manufacturing pump-heads having a housing enclosing at least one rotary member. In an exemplary method first and second housing portions are provided that collectively, when assembled, define a pump-cavity that accommodates the rotary member(s). The rotary member(s) is assembled into the pump-cavity, along with at least one soluble spacer of a defined thickness that corresponds to a desired clearance of the rotary member relative to the pump-cavity. The spacer contacts a surface of the rotary member facing a corresponding surface of the housing portion. The first and second housing portions are attached together to form the pump-cavity containing the rotary member(s). The soluble spacer is dissolved to provide the desired clearance of the rotary member in the pump-cavity. As the housing portions are attached together, e.g. by adhesive bonding, the spacer establishes the desired clearance of the rotary member(s) in the pump-cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Larry F. Krebs, Craig Sunada, Steven E. Owen