Patents by Inventor William C. Allen
William C. Allen 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: 11692433Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.Inventors: John F. Schaupp, William C. Allen
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Patent number: 11560786Abstract: A fluid level sensor system is disclosed for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has a main body and an inlet housing coupled to the main body. The inlet housing has an internal chamber in communication with an ambient environment within the well. A bellows within the main body communicates with the internal chamber of the inlet housing. A movable element is responsive to movement of the bellows. A sensor detects when the movable element moves from a first position, indicating a first fluid level in the well, to a second position indicating a second fluid level within the well. An indicator is operably associated with the movable element and moves into a position to be viewable when the sensing element is moved to the second position, to provide a visual indication that the second fluid level has been reached.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.Inventors: John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman, William C. Allen, III
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Publication number: 20220356801Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: John F. Schaupp, William C. Allen
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Patent number: 11448238Abstract: Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Wells, William C. Allen, III, Matthew T. McKeown, Mark T. Weinberger, John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman
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Patent number: 11408274Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.Inventors: John F. Schaupp, William C. Allen
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Publication number: 20210199001Abstract: A fluid level sensor system is disclosed for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has a main body and an inlet housing coupled to the main body. The inlet housing has an internal chamber in communication with an ambient environment within the well. A bellows within the main body communicates with the internal chamber of the inlet housing. A movable element is responsive to movement of the bellows. A sensor detects when the movable element moves from a first position, indicating a first fluid level in the well, to a second position indicating a second fluid level within the well. An indicator is operably associated with the movable element and moves into a position to be viewable when the sensing element is moved to the second position, to provide a visual indication that the second fluid level has been reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, David A. FISCHER, Leonard Felton STEVENS-MOMAN, William C. ALLEN, III
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Publication number: 20200347719Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: Q.E.D. ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, William C. ALLEN
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Publication number: 20200334515Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cycle counter apparatus for use with an air-driven fluid pump. The apparatus may have a main housing having a bore in communication with a pressurized fluid signal being applied to remove a liquid from a location filling with the liquid. A magnet housing may be included which is moveable linearly within the bore of the main housing in response to the pressurized fluid signal entering the bore. A magnet may be secured to the magnet housing. A switch housing may be included which is operably associated with the main housing and which includes first and second longitudinally spaced apart sensing components. The sensing components are used to detect movement of the magnet in response to the pressurized fluid signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: October 22, 2020Applicant: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, David A. FISCHER, Leonard Felton STEVENS-MOMAN, William C. ALLEN, III
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Publication number: 20200309114Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pneumatically driven fluid pump apparatus having an outer pump housing for collecting liquid to be pumped, and a valve assembly in communication with liquid admitted through an inlet end of the outer pump housing and collecting within the outer pump housing. The valve assembly includes a housing assembly and a poppet valve assembly disposed within the housing assembly to act as a one-way check valve when pumping collected liquid out from the outer pump housing. The poppet valve assembly includes a poppet valve component including a relief area that helps to depressurize an interior area of the valve assembly, to facilitate rapid movement of the poppet valve element from an open position toward a closed position, when only a pressurized fluid flow being used to eject the collected liquid is flowing past the poppet valve component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicants: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc., Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, David A. FISCHER, Steven Richard WELLS, Donald Lee SCHULTZ, Matthew Thomas MCKEOWN, William C. ALLEN, III
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Publication number: 20200263706Abstract: Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Steven R. Wells, William C. Allen, III, Matthew T. McKeown, Mark T. Weinberger, John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman
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Publication number: 20040035187Abstract: The present invention is a novel collection device that allows constituents of air to collect on a test strip included within the collection device. Specifically, the collector allows a removable test strip to be inserted in the collector while an air sample passes therethrough. Thereafter, the test strip is removed from the collector and analyzed to determine the constituents of air that passed through the test strip and collector. When using the collector to inspect for trace amounts of explosives within a piece of baggage, the collector is connected to a baggage-collector interface because the shape of the baggage-collector interface corresponds to that of the collector. The baggage-collector interface is secured to the baggage and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the collector, including the test strip. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect on the test strip.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: William C. Allen, Leighton Ige
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Publication number: 20040035186Abstract: The present invention is a novel collection device that allows constituents of air to collect on a test strip included within the collection device. Specifically, the collector allows a removable test strip to be inserted in the collector while an air sample passes therethrough. Thereafter, the test strip is removed from the collector and analyzed to determine the constituents of air that passed through the test strip and collector. When using the collector to inspect for trace amounts of explosives within a package, the collector is connected to a package-collector interface because the shape of the package-collector interface corresponds to that of the collector. An air sample is extracted from the interior of the package and through both the interface and the collector, including the test strip. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect on the test strip.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: William C. Allen, Leighton Ige
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Publication number: 20040035227Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: William C. Allen, Leighton Ige
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Publication number: 20040035226Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: William C. Allen, Leighton Ige
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Publication number: 20040035185Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2002Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventor: William C. Allen
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Patent number: 6651520Abstract: The present invention is an interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator. The baggage-preconcentrator interface is able be secured to the opening in the baggage, such as an opening created by a zipper. The baggage-preconcentrator interface provides a convenient entry point from which to extract air from the interior of baggage. The shape of such interface corresponds to that of the preconcentrator, which collects constituents of air. The preconcentrator is inserted into the baggage-preconcentrator interface and an air sample is extracted from the interior of the baggage and through both the interface and the preconcentrator. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect in the preconcentrator. After collecting the constituents, the preconcentrator is inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The testing unit analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Preventure Security Solutions, Inc.Inventors: William C. Allen, Leighton Ige
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Patent number: 6176054Abstract: A demountable wall system that is adapted to be interposed between a floor and ceiling structure and including a series of wall panels that include a continuous and seamless wall covering. More particularly, the demountable wall system includes a floor railing disposed adjacent to the floor structure and a ceiling railing detachably connected to the ceiling structure. Longitudinally spaced between the ceiling and floor railings are a series of upright wall studs. Secured generally between the ceiling and floor railings and connected to the wall studs is a series of wall panels that are disposed edge to edge to form a continuous wall along one or both sides of the demountable wall system. Each wall panel includes a face area and there is applied to the central portion of the face area a wall covering. However, this pre-applied wall covering is not applied to the entire face. Outer areas on each side of the pre-applied wall covering are left uncovered.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1999Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Inventors: William C. Allen, Loy C. Allen
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Patent number: 5779276Abstract: Single or multi-piece, pipe joint seal elements have at least one slidable interface that contacts a sealing surface of an end ring attached to a cementitious pipe liner. The slidable interface allows for slippage between seal pieces and/or seal piece-end ring surfaces during pipe joint assembly and disassembly. The end rings help distribute and minimize rotational and other stresses exerted upon the liner end surfaces and seal pieces. Such end ring surfaces further provide a quality surface for the seal element to effect a seal. The slidable interface seal is especially useful for joining brittle-lined pipe sections handling harsh fluids such as geothermal brine, etc.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1995Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventor: William C. Allen
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Patent number: 5725906Abstract: A polymer concrete pipe liner is formed from a fluidized, but substantially waterless cement containing mixture applied to the pipe interior. The mixture contains inorganic cement particles, a liquid styrene mixture and one or more poly-olefinically unsaturated co-monomers in a greater amount than the styrene. The mixture substantially excludes acrylonitrile and acrylamide. The co-monomers are preferably selected from a group including trimethylolpropane-trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane-methacrylate, divinyl benzene, and hexadiene. Mixing liquid and solid aggregate components forms a slurry which is transferred to a pipe interior and centrifugally cast to form the liner. The composition avoids the need for high temperature curing the toxic reactive unsaturates to co-polymerize and cross-link polystyrene.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1995Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventor: William C. Allen
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Patent number: 5649568Abstract: Conduits having cement-containing liners for the inner and outer surfaces of metal pipes include a fibrous material, such as glass fibers, to prevent cracking and/or inhibit crack propagation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1995Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: William C. Allen, David E. Stikkers, Daniel P. Hoyer