Patents by Inventor William A. Ellingson
William A. Ellingson 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).
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Patent number: 7617733Abstract: An automated scanning system and method, utilizing specialized dual phased array ultrasonic transducers for producing and detecting Rayleigh waves in ceramic bearing balls are provided for nondestructive, non-contact inspection of ceramic bearing balls. The phased array ultrasonic transducer utilizes a complex curvature configuration that enables the dual phased array ultrasonic transducers to focus ultrasonic energy onto the ball to optimally generate and receive Rayleigh wave signals in the spherical objects.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Christopher M. Deemer, William A. Ellingson, J. Scott Steckenrider
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Publication number: 20090019937Abstract: An automated scanning system and method, utilizing specialized dual phased array ultrasonic transducers for producing and detecting Rayleigh waves in ceramic bearing balls are provided for nondestructive, non-contact inspection of ceramic bearing balls. The phased array ultrasonic transducer utilizes a complex curvature configuration that enables the dual phased array ultrasonic transducers to focus ultrasonic energy onto the ball to optimally generate and receive Rayleigh wave signals in the spherical objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2007Publication date: January 22, 2009Inventors: Christopher M. Deemer, William A. Ellingson, J. Scott Steckenrider
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Patent number: 7136158Abstract: Apparatus for observing and measuring in realtime surface and subsurface characteristics of objects having complex shapes includes an optical fiber bundle having first and second opposed ends. The first end includes a linear array of fibers, where the ends of adjacent fibers are in contact and are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the object being studied. The second ends of some of the fibers are in the form of a polished ferrule forming a multi-fiber optical waveguide for receiving laser light. The second ends of the remaining fibers are formed into a linear array suitable for direct connection to a detector, such as a linear CMOS-based optical detector. The output data is analyzed using digital signal processing for the detection of anomalies such as cracks, voids, inclusions and other defects.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLCInventors: William A. Ellingson, Robert J. Visher
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Publication number: 20050275832Abstract: Apparatus for observing and measuring in realtime surface and subsurface characteristics of objects having complex shapes includes an optical fiber bundle having first and second opposed ends. The first end includes a linear array of fibers, where the ends of adjacent fibers are in contact and are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the object being studied. The second ends of some of the fibers are in the form of a polished ferrule forming a multi-fiber optical waveguide for receiving laser light. The second ends of the remaining fibers are formed into a linear array suitable for direct connection to a detector, such as a linear CMOS-based optical detector. The output data is analyzed using digital signal processing for the detection of anomalies such as cracks, voids, inclusions and other defects.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2004Publication date: December 15, 2005Applicant: The University of ChicagoInventors: William Ellingson, Robert Visher
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Patent number: 6517236Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automated non-destructive evaluation (NDE) thermal imaging tests of combustor liners and other products. The apparatus for automated NDE thermal imaging testing of a sample includes a flash lamp positioned at a first side of the sample. An infrared camera is positioned near a second side of the sample. A linear positioning system supports the sample. A data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the flash lamp for triggering the flash lamp. The data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the infrared camera for acquiring and processing image data. The data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the linear positioning system for positioning the sample for sequentially acquiring image data.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2001Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: Jiangang Sun, William A. Ellingson, Chris M. Deemer
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Publication number: 20020110176Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automated non-destructive evaluation (NDE) thermal imaging tests of combustor liners and other products. The apparatus for automated NDE thermal imaging testing of a sample includes a flash lamp positioned at a first side of the sample. An infrared camera is positioned near a second side of the sample. A linear positioning system supports the sample. A data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the flash lamp for triggering the flash lamp. The data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the infrared camera for acquiring and processing image data. The data acquisition and processing computer is coupled to the linear positioning system for positioning the sample for sequentially acquiring image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGOInventors: Jiangang Sun, William A. Ellingson, Chris M. Deemer
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Patent number: 6285449Abstract: Apparatus detects defects and microstructural changes in hard translucent materials such as ceramic bulk compositions and ceramic coatings such as after use under load conditions. The beam from a tunable laser is directed onto the sample under study and light reflected by the sample is directed to two detectors, with light scattered with a small scatter angle directed to a first detector and light scattered with a larger scatter angle directed to a second detector for monitoring the scattering surface. The sum and ratio of the two detector outputs respectively provide a gray-scale, or “sum” image, and an indication of the lateral spread of the subsurface scatter, or “ratio” image. This two detector system allows for very high speed crack detection for on-line, real-time inspection of damage in ceramic components.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1999Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: University of ChicagoInventors: William A. Ellingson, Judith A. Todd, Jiangang Sun
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Patent number: 5975493Abstract: Apparatus and a method for controlling the flow rate of viscous materials through a nozzle includes an apertured main body and an apertured end cap coupled together and having an elongated, linear flow channel extending the length thereof. An end of the main body is disposed within the end cap and includes a plurality of elongated slots concentrically disposed about and aligned with the flow channel. A generally flat cam plate having a center aperture is disposed between the main body and end cap and is rotatable about the flow channel. A plurality of flow control vane assemblies are concentrically disposed about the flow channel and are coupled to the cam plate. Each vane assembly includes a vane element disposed adjacent the end of the flow channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1997Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: William A. Ellingson, George A. Forster
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Patent number: 5689332Abstract: Apparatus for the automated real-time detection and classification of defects during the machining of ceramic components employs an elastic optical scattering technique using polarized laser light. A ceramic specimen is continuously moved while being machined. Polarized laser light is directed onto the ceramic specimen surface at a fixed position just aft of the machining tool for examination of the newly machined surface. Any foreign material near the location of the laser light on the ceramic specimen is cleared by an air blast. As the specimen is moved, its surface is continuously scanned by the polarized laser light beam to provide a two-dimensional image presented in real-time on a video display unit, with the motion of the ceramic specimen synchronized with the data acquisition speed. By storing known "feature masks" representing various surface and sub-surface defects and comparing measured defects with the stored feature masks, detected defects may be automatically characterized.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1996Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: William A. Ellingson, Jiangang Sun
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Patent number: 5426506Abstract: A laser is used in a non-destructive manner to detect surface and near-subsurface defects in dense ceramics and particularly in ceramic bodies with complex shapes such as ceramic bearings, turbine blades, races, and the like. The laser's wavelength is selected based upon the composition of the ceramic sample and the laser can be directed on the sample while the sample is static or in dynamic rotate or translate motion. Light is scattered off surface and subsurface defects using a preselected polarization. The change in polarization angle is used to select the depth and characteristics of surface/subsurface defects. The scattered light is detected by an optical train consisting of a charge coupled device (CCD), or vidicon, television camera which, in turn, is coupled to a video monitor and a computer for digitizing the image. An analyzing polarizer in the optical train allows scattered light at a given polarization angle to be observed for enhancing sensitivity to either surface or near-subsurface defects.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1993Date of Patent: June 20, 1995Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: William A. Ellingson, Mark P. Brada
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Patent number: 5153516Abstract: An apparatus for use with a solid-state NMR spectrometer includes a special imaging probe with linear, high-field strength gradient fields and high-power broadband RF coils using a back projection method for data acquisition and image reconstruction, and a real-time pulse programmer adaptable for use by a conventional computer for complex high speed pulse sequences.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1990Date of Patent: October 6, 1992Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Nachappa Gopalsami, Stephen L. Dieckman, William A. Ellingson
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Patent number: 3940619Abstract: A sequence of separate radiographs are made by indexing a radiation source along a known path relative to the object under study. Thus, each radiograph contains information from a different perspective. A holographically-recorded image is then made from each radiographic perspective by exact re-tracing of the rays through each radiographic perspective such that the re-tracing duplicates the geometry under which it was originally prepared. The holographically-stored images are simultaneously illuminated with the conjugate of the reference beam used in the original recordings. The result is the generation of a three-dimensional real image of the object such that a light-sensitive device can be moved to view the real image along any desired surface with the optical information in all other surfaces greatly suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1974Date of Patent: February 24, 1976Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: William A. Ellingson, Alvin A. Read