Processes Patents (Class 137/1)
  • Patent number: 10364661
    Abstract: A system for separating liquid and gas flowing through a multiphase pipeline, said system comprising: A riser (8) having an upper end (2) and a lower end (10), said riser being at its lower end configured to receive fluid from said multiphase pipeline (4) and having means for delivering (5) of gas at its upper end, said riser further comprising valve means (6) for adjusting the flow at which the gas is delivered through the upper end of said riser; a pipe (7) to be arranged outside or inside the riser, said pipe having an upper part (3) and a lower part (9), where the lower part is connected to or inserted into the riser, thereby creating a liquid flow path between the riser and the lower part of the pipe, said pipe having a liquid intake (11) configured to receive liquid from a liquid column in said riser, and said upper end of said pipe being configured to deliver said liquid, said pipe further comprising means for adjusting the flow at which said liquid is delivered through the upper end of said pipe; leve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOTAL E&P DANMARK A/S
    Inventor: Jørgen Gross-Petersen
  • Patent number: 10350598
    Abstract: A fluidic module rotatable about a center of rotation includes a first compression chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a second compression chamber having a fluid inlet, a first fluid channel connected to the first chamber via the fluid inlet of the first chamber, and a second fluid channel connecting the fluid outlet of the first chamber to the fluid inlet of the second chamber. Due to rotation of the fluidic module a liquid may be centrifugally driven into the first chamber and the second fluid channel through the first fluid channel, and thereby a compressible medium may be entrapped and compressed within the second chamber. By lowering the rotary frequency and due to the resultant expansion of the compressible medium, liquid may be driven out of the second fluid channel into the first chamber, out of the first chamber into and through an outlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HAHN-SCHICKARD-GESELLSCHAFT FUER ANGEWANDTE FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Schwemmer, Steffen Zehnle, Nils Paust, Daniel Mark
  • Patent number: 10346791
    Abstract: A process of managing inventory and delivery logistics of one or more chemical additives used at a well treatment site. The process includes placing one or more bulk containers at the well treatment site to maintain inventory capacity for one or more chemical additives on-site for a well treatment procedure. Monitoring chemical additive inventory within the one or more bulk containers. Making a determination, based on monitored chemical additive inventory, whether additional additive is needed in the one or more bulk containers; generating, based on the determination, initiation of an order for delivery of additional additive. delivering the additional additive in a delivery bulk container to the well treatment site. Also included is an automated additive inventory and delivery logistics control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Martha Cheryl Justice, Harold Brannon, Blake C. Burnette, Ronnie D. Hughes, Brent Naizer
  • Patent number: 10343197
    Abstract: A pig segment for actively propelling a pig in elongated hollow bodies, preferably in gas and oil pipelines. The segment includes a drive comprising at least one motor, at least one supporting element by which the pig segment can be supported on an inner surface of the hollow body, and at least one bearing element that is movable along a longitudinal axis of the pig segment by the motor. The supporting element is pivotably arranged on the bearing element such that the supporting element can adopt a supporting position In the supporting position, a supporting force is produced relative to a force exerted on the bearing element in a longitudinal direction. The invention also relates to a pig with a pig segment of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Rosen Swiss AG
    Inventors: Daniel Schaller, Sergei Filippovitch, Daniel Vogler, Frank Fielers
  • Patent number: 10337288
    Abstract: A downhole tool, such as a sliding sleeve, is operable with pressure applied against one of a plurality of plugs deployed in the tool. A sleeve can engage the deployed plugs and can move with the engagement. The sleeve extends in an absence of external support and releases the engaged plug. An indexing mechanism operable between the sleeve and an insert in the tool moves with the sleeve in response to the engagement with the deployed plugs and counts those engagements. In response to a predetermined count, the indexing mechanism forms the external support of the one deployed plug engaged in the sleeve and moves the insert with the pressure applied against the one deployed plug, which is engaged in the sleeve and supported by the indexing mechanism. For example, the insert can move open in the tool relative to a flow port communicating outside the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Dick S. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10329877
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes a body, a mandrel slidably disposed in the body, a piston for moving the mandrel relative to the body, and a lock having a first configuration which permits movement of the mandrel by the piston and a second configuration which provides a fluid lock across the mandrel which prevents movement of the mandrel by the piston. The lock includes first and second fluid chambers filled with a substantially incompressible fluid and a control valve configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the control valve in the closed configuration providing the fluid lock preventing movement of the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Hydralock Systems Limited
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson, Michael Wardley
  • Patent number: 10320825
    Abstract: A device in a network receives fingerprints of two or more network anomalies detected in the network by different anomaly detectors. Each fingerprint comprises a hash of tags that describe a detected anomaly. The device associates the fingerprints with network records captured within a timeframe in which the two or more network anomalies were detected. The device compares the fingerprints associated with the network records to determine that the two or more detected anomalies are part of a singular anomaly event. The device generates a notification regarding the singular anomaly event. The notification includes those of the fingerprints that are associated with the singular anomaly event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Grégory Mermoud, Jean-Philippe Vasseur, Yannick Weibel
  • Patent number: 10301905
    Abstract: A casing string is augmented with one or more variable flow resistance devices or “vibrating tools” to facilitate advancement of the casing and distribution of the cement in the annulus once the casing is properly positioned. The method includes vibrating the casing string while advancing the casing down the wellbore or while the cement is pumped into the annulus, or both. After the cementing operation is completed, the devices may be drilled out to open the casing string for further operations. The casing string assembly may include a vibrating tool at the end in place of a conventional float shoe or float collar. Multiple vibrating tools can be employed in the casing string, and they may be combined with conventional float shoes and collars. Additionally, vibrating tools in the form of plugs can be pumped down and landed inside the casing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Chad A. Johnson, Andrew M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10294547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a copper alloy for electronic and electronic device which has excellent mechanical properties and is capable of suppressing generation of defects even in a case in which the copper alloy is worked to a thin plate thickness or a smaller wire diameter than in the related art, a plastically-worked copper alloy material, and a component and a terminal for electronic and electronic device. The copper alloy for electronic and electronic device of the present invention includes Mg in a range of 1.3 mass % to 2.8 mass % with a remainder substantially being Cu and inevitable impurities, in which a content of H is set to 10 mass ppm or lower, a content of O is set to 100 mass ppm or lower, a content of S is set to 50 mass ppm or lower, and a content of C is set to 10 mass ppm or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Ito, Kazunari Maki
  • Patent number: 10287907
    Abstract: A linear motion mechanism (27) is provided with: a cylinder rod (312) into which a ball screw (30) can be inserted, said cylinder rod (312) including a base end section that is connected to a nut (311) within a piston casing (36) and a tip section (312a) that is exposed on the outside of the piston casing (36); a nut-side grease supply hole (321) that is formed in the nut (311) and that includes a discharge port (323) that opens toward the outer circumferential surface of the ball screw (30); and a cylinder rod-side grease supply hole (322) that is formed in the cylinder rod (312), that includes on one end thereof an inlet (324) that opens at a position that is exposed to the outer section of the piston casing (36), and that includes another end (322b) that is connected to the nut-side grease supply hole (321).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Tonaka, Naoyuki Nagai, Naruhito Harada, Makoto Katagake, Tomoaki Okamura
  • Patent number: 10281439
    Abstract: In the present invention, differences in liquid feed properties between liquid chromatographic devices are determined, a liquid feed time table that takes these differences into account is acquired by way of system changes, and flow control is performed by a pump. Furthermore, the liquid feed time table after the system changes is divided into a plurality of intervals, and instructions are sent to the pump after approximate calculations are performed. Thus, by efficiently performing system change processes, the same measurement results can be obtained in a plurality of different liquid chromatograph devices, regardless of the differences in liquid feed properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimichi Aota, Satoshi Mitsuyama, Masahito Ito, Chihiro Yoshioka, Takaaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10279792
    Abstract: An arrangement for drying air, particularly for a compressed air installation of a rail vehicle, includes an air dryer that receives air that is to be dried, via an air dryer inlet. In order to optimize the arrangement with regard to external conditions prevailing in the region of a rail bound transportation route to be travelled, an air conditioning installation is provided that supplies air to an air conditioning installation outlet, the air dryer inlet being connected, by way of an air channel particularly designed as an air conduit, to the air conditioning installation outlet such that at least one portion of the air supplied from the air conditioning installation forms the air that is to be dried. The invention also relates to a rail vehicle that includes such an arrangement, and also to a method for drying air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Mike Mauder
  • Patent number: 10273023
    Abstract: A miniature satellite that uses a modified structural frame in order to store and disperse propulsion fuel efficiently. The modified structural frame includes a plurality of structural members. Each of the plurality of structural members includes a tubular body, a first endcap, a second endcap, an outlet port, and an inlet port. The first endcap and the second endcap are oppositely positioned within the tubular body. The first endcap and the second endcap are each perimetrically connected to the tubular body in order to delineate a fuel storage volume. The inlet port is positioned in between the first endcap and the second endcap and is mechanically integrated into the tubular body. The outlet port disperses propulsion fuel and is also mechanically integrated into the tubular body. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port through the tubular body. Additionally, the structural members are mounted amongst each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew J Leonard
  • Patent number: 10250969
    Abstract: An air valve and a speaker are provided. The air valve comprises a valve body, an elastic valve plate, an air inlet penetrating through an inner surface and an outer surface of the valve body, and an air outlet penetrating through an inner surface and an outer surface of the valve plate. The valve plate is connected with the valve body in a sealing manner to form an annular sealing area encircling the air outlet and the air inlet, and the inner surface of the valve body covers the air outlet, and/or the inner surface of the valve plate covers the air inlet. The speaker is provided with or incorporates the air valve. The air valve can be opened or closed via elastic deformation of the valve plate of the air valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Zhibing Zhang, Gang Chen, Shuangshuang Fan
  • Patent number: 10240688
    Abstract: An actuator device including a plurality of transducer actuators, and a common pneumatic actuation mechanism for shaping the plurality of transducer actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of transducer actuators includes a shape memory polymer membrane, an integrated stretchable heater, and a pressure interface to the common pneumatic actuation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Nadine Besse, Juan Josë Zarate, Samuel Rosset, Herbert Shea
  • Patent number: 10241487
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of devices in a public washroom facility having a controller with an integrated circuit including at least one logic block providing one or more predetermined control instructions to one or more of the plurality of devices via at least one control block; the at least one control block defining a communication interface between the integrated circuit and the plurality of devices; at least one communication block receiving data from a communications interface for programming the integrated circuit to modify the one or more predetermined control instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: M.I.S. ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Saeid Mohmedi
  • Patent number: 10235626
    Abstract: A pneumatic valve system that includes an actuator that pneumatically actuates a valve, and circuitry that calculates a control signal to control the actuator by compensating for nonlinear dynamic of the actuator using a stable inverse model of the valve, optimizes parameters of the stable inverse model such that a difference between output information of the pneumatic valve system and desired reference information is reduced, and outputs the control signal to control the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia Company
    Inventors: Sami El Ferik, Mohammed Abdeen Mohammed Hassan, Zaid Jamal Albarghouthi, Mohammed Sabih, Mustafa Al-Naser, Mohammed Mahmoud Abd El Samie Mohamed Ali
  • Patent number: 10232363
    Abstract: A safety cabinet has a second operation chamber in a first operation chamber and into which clean air is supplied, a second suction opening for sucking in air in the second operation chamber and a portion of the air in the first operation chamber, and a second operation opening part that is provided facing a first operation opening part and communicates the second operation chamber with the first operation chamber. Airflow containment (air barrier) is doubled with respect to the outside of a safety cabinet. In cases where decontamination and disinfection operations are carried out according to the changeover procedures, intensive decontamination and disinfection of the second operation chamber is sufficient, and decontamination and disinfection of the first operation chamber is hardly required. Decontamination and disinfection operations in the changeover procedures and the like can be carried out in a greatly reduced time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: AIRTECK JAPAN, LTD., JAPAN TISSUE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Goto, Yosuke Otsuka, Shinya Hirasawa, Ken-ichiro Hata, Yukio Mori, Makoto Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10226656
    Abstract: A safety assembly provided with an automatic fire extinguisher system includes an engagement member, a blocking member, and an extension member. The engagement member is slidably received within an outlet port of a valve housing. A blocking member having a first blocking member portion and a second blocking member portion is at least partially received within a cavity defined by the valve housing. The extension member extends between the engagement member and the blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David William Frasure, Doug John Baxendell, Christopher Wilson, Terry Simpson, John Wright Porterfield, Jr., Kevin R. Leitch, Michael Lee Davis
  • Patent number: 10226588
    Abstract: A fluid medicament delivery device includes a patient attachment unit, containing the fluid medicament, and an indicator unit adapted to be detachably coupled to the patient attachment unit. A method for monitoring the fluid medicament includes independently setting a flow rate of a fluid medicament with the patient attachment unit. A pressure and/or a flow rate of the fluid medicament is sensed with a sensor located in a separate indicator unit in a sensing mode. A status of the fluid medicament delivery device is determined based at least in part on the pressure and/or the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CEQUR SA
    Inventors: Gregory H. Peatfield, Peter Gravesen
  • Patent number: 10228273
    Abstract: A solar wireless autofill system is presented. The solar wireless autofill system can include a liquid level sensor to sense a level of liquid in a container and a wireless transmitter to receive the level of liquid in the container from the liquid level sensor and to send a signal to a receiver when the level of liquid in the container is below a predefined level. The signal is not sent to the receiver when the liquid in the container is in motion. The receiver can receive the signal and cause additional liquid to be added to the container in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: George Rauchwerger
  • Patent number: 10221961
    Abstract: Anti-rotation assemblies for use with fluid valves are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a retainer collar coupled at an end of a plug, the plug including a plug collar around which the retainer collar is disposed, the plug and the retainer collar being substantially flush at an interface between the plug and the retainer collar, a fastener extending transversely through the retainer collar and the plug collar to couple the retainer collar at the end of the plug, when the retainer collar and the plug are disposed within a valve body, a stem extends through the retainer collar and the plug to enable the plug to be moved within the valve body; and an anti-rotation collar to receive the retainer collar, the anti-rotation collar coupled at an end of a cage, the anti-rotation collar and the retainer collar having corresponding non-circular cross-sections to inhibit rotation of the retainer collar and the plug when the plug is moved within the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Randall Scott Collison, Chad Michael Engle, Christine Rae Hodny
  • Patent number: 10215671
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The microfluidic apparatus includes valves for switching the one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The apparatus can be used to generate a sequence of the one or more substance liquids as individual droplets in an immiscible separation liquid wherein individual ones of the sequence of droplets are located between the separation liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: EMBL
    Inventors: Christoph Merten, Ramesh Utharala
  • Patent number: 10209105
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a retractable assembly for immersion, flow and attachment measuring systems in analytical process technology that includes an essentially hollow cylindrically shaped housing having a service chamber formed in its interior, where the housing includes an encircling groove open to its interior, where the groove includes an expansion space expanding the groove, where the expansion space is arranged on the side of the groove facing away from the interior, and where the housing includes a leakage path, which connects the expansion space with the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Schneider, Thomas Pfauch
  • Patent number: 10208761
    Abstract: A housing of a fluid energy machine which extends along a longitudinal axis, includes a housing casing which extends axially, a housing cover for closing off a housing opening axially on the face side of the housing casing, an annular insert which extends in the housing in a circumferential direction and which bears against the housing casing and against the housing cover, a first seal between the housing cover and the housing casing. To save radial installation space, a second seal is between the housing casing and the annular insert, and a third seal is between the housing cover and the annular insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jan Weule
  • Patent number: 10197978
    Abstract: A method for providing adaptive control of the flow of a plurality of ejector valves arranged in close proximity to each other in a sorting machine is described. The method comprises measuring a temporal response curve for each ejector valve, comparing the measured temporal response curve for each ejector valve to a library set of previously stored temporal response curves, determining from the comparison a predicted flow for each ejector valve, and adapting a drive signal for each ejector valve in dependence on the predicted flow. Temporal response curves may be measured and compared in a calibration (non-sorting) mode, and real-time feedback of the measured temporal responses in a sorting mode may be used to indicate health of a valve and to further adapt the drive signal to provide conformal performance. The number of neighboring ejector valves may also be taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Buhler Sortex, Ltd.
    Inventor: Stewart John Mills
  • Patent number: 10196203
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for separating liquid and solid waste. The system provides a plurality of ways of moving liquids from initial disposal to a reservoir. The system may comprise an insert and a shell, or may include a funnel, insert and shell. The funnel allows for direct collection of liquids. The insert allows for indirect collection of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Standke, Robert Silveria
  • Patent number: 10191171
    Abstract: A seismic apparatus includes one or more seismic cable systems configured to acquire seismic data, each seismic cable system having one or more of a cable jacket, a reservoir for a ballast fluid or other ballast medium, and an actuator or other transfer mechanism configured to transfer the ballast fluid between the reservoir and the seismic cable system during acquisition of the seismic data, e.g., where the ballast fluid is transferred to the seismic cable system within the cable jacket. A controller can be configured to adjust a buoyancy of the seismic cable system responsive to the transfer of the ballast fluid, e.g., where the internal volume expands or contract based on the fluid transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ION Geophysical Corporation
    Inventor: André W. Olivier
  • Patent number: 10184573
    Abstract: There is described a powder isolating valve which is capable of sealing valves from powder leakage during transport of powder and/or granular material. The valve comprises a rotatable valve closure member (14) and a pneumatically activated sealing mechanism containing a pair of resiliently deformable structures (18,20) extending around a surface of the rotatable valve closure member when the latter is in its closed position, the pair of resiliently deformable structures being held in a pair of annular recesses (32,34) which also extend around an surface of the rotatable valve closure member in its closed position, wherein the pair of resiliently deformable structures are capable of being pneumatically activated to force a sealing ring (26) against the rotatable valve closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Clyde Process Limited
    Inventor: Brian Snowdon
  • Patent number: 10167136
    Abstract: Stackable frac tanks for storing fluid which include a first tank and a second tank stackable atop of the first tank. A fluid connection device is affixed to the first and second tanks to fluidly connect the first and second tanks together. The stackable frac tanks may include a structural support frame interposed between the first and second tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: FracStac Energy Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Steinke
  • Patent number: 10167972
    Abstract: A valve for a high temperature liquid, more in particular for liquid ZnMg, wherein the valve parts are made of ceramic material and graphite to be heat-resistant against the temperature of these liquid metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: TATA STEEL NEDERLAND TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Edzo Zoestbergen, Theodorus Franciscus Jozef Maalman, Colin Commandeur, Stephan De Bruijn
  • Patent number: 10153076
    Abstract: A coil component 1 such as a solenoid valve is provided with a wiring part 20 formed by winding a conducting wire 4 therearound, and terminal electrodes 3A, 3B having connection terminals 16A, 16B electrically connected to the conducting wire 4. A locking piece 15A is provided on the terminal electrode 3A on a side of a wiring part for the connection terminal 16A, a starting end part of the conducting wire 4 is locked to the locking piece 15A, and the conducting wire 4 is led up in a direction reverse to a direction in which the wiring part 20 is arranged at a predetermined position, is passed into the connection terminal 16A so as to be electrically connected to the connection terminal 16A, and further led up in the direction reverse to the direction in which the wiring part 20 is arranged at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SUMIDA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10151398
    Abstract: Homogenizing valve (1) at high pressure, particularly for application to fibrous fluids, comprising: a valve body (2); a passage head (15) integrally joined to the valve body (2); an assembled organ (27) formed of two pistons (5, 6) and a striking head (16), which is axially mobile inside a through hole of the valve body (2), so that the striking head (16) defines with the passage head (15) an interspace (18) of passage of the fluid, the assembled organ (27) being rotatable thanks to the lower cogged profile which engages in a cogged tool (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GEA MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Salvarani, Silvia Grasselli, Leonardo Maggi
  • Patent number: 10151404
    Abstract: A flow control valve and a valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to the rotary position of the valve member. The system has an array of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement and in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve's housing. A magnetic-field source is fixed to and rotates with the valve member as a unit. The magnetic-field source includes magnetic members adjacent to and out of physical engagement with the transducers. The magnetic member moves along an arcuate path parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions. The magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine the rotational position of the magnetic-field source and/or the valve member, and the fluid flow rate through the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Flow Control Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Robson
  • Patent number: 10143786
    Abstract: A breast pump system includes a solenoid valve and a power source. The power source is arranged to supply electrical power to the solenoid valve so as enable the solenoid valve to move between first and second positions. The breast pump system also includes a controller configured to detect a change in inductance of the solenoid valve that is indicative of the solenoid valve moving from first to second position and a control action in which the vacuum pump is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Arnold Aalders, Hassan El Barakat, Theodorus Johannes Adrianus Maria Den Bekker, Cornelis Johannes Janson
  • Patent number: 10139135
    Abstract: A hot water pulsating alarm system and method for electric or gas-fired water heaters is described. A sensor senses the water temperature in an upper region of the water tank of the water heater and feeds temperature signals to a controller. The controller operates an electromechanical valve connected to the pressurized cold water supply line of the water tank. Upon detecting a low temperature value stored in the memory of the controller, the controller causes a shut-off electro-mechanical valve to close and open in a predetermined sequence and during a predetermined time period. This causes interruptions of hot water being drawn from the upper region of the water tank to feed a hot water supply conduit and creating a pulsating water temperature change in hot water being discharged through fixtures connected to the hot water supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: MICLAU-S.R.I. INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Lesage
  • Patent number: 10139014
    Abstract: A device includes an upstream section defining a water introduction inlet; an injector for injecting a process fluid into the water introduced into the upstream section; an intermediate section mounted downstream of the injector for receiving the water containing the process fluid; a downstream section for conveying water to the fluid transport pipe being laid. The device also includes a liquid volume compensation reservoir, having a variable receiving volume of water discharged from the fluid transport pipe, a connector to which are connected the intermediate section, the downstream section and the liquid volume compensation reservoir, wherein the inlet cross-section of the compensation reservoir is greater than 40 times the internal cross-section of the intermediate section taken at the connector. This device operates reliably even when the stretch of water is rough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Sylvain Routeau, Emilie Lachaud, Rémi Friville, Tegwen De Kerdanet
  • Patent number: 10132306
    Abstract: Described is a method of generating a flow having a composition gradient. A plurality of pump strokes is generated for each pump in a plurality of pumps. Each pump stroke has an initiation time and provides a volume contribution of a liquid to be mixed in the flow according to the composition gradient for the flow. The pump strokes of the pumps are controlled so that a sum of the volume contributions of the liquids that occurs between consecutive initiations of one of the pumps is maintained at a constant value throughout the duration of the flow. For each pump, the flow rates and the times between stroke initiations can change as long as the sum of all volumes contributed between the consecutive initiations of one of the pumps is held constant. Advantageously, the method achieves a constant compositional noise characteristic throughout the duration of the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael R. Jackson, Christopher Seith
  • Patent number: 10120392
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to calibrate valve-mounted instruments, such as a position controllers and/or a position transmitter, are described. An example tangible computer-readable medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to receive a first value representative of a current position of a valve, receive a second value representative of a sensitivity of a position sensor, compute a first estimated value corresponding to an expected fully-open position of the valve based on the received first and second values, compute a second estimated value corresponding to an expected fully-closed position of the valve based on the received first and second values, receive a control signal representative of a desired position of the valve, and in response to the received control signal, position the valve at substantially the desired position based on the first and second estimated values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Perry K. Carter, Stephen G. Seberger
  • Patent number: 10113304
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for control of sewer systems. The invention may implement ABRTC (RTC) to dynamically control of sewer systems to accomplish a desired outcome, such as CSO or SSO reduction or reduce water pollution or reduce surface flooding. In one embodiment, an Agent-Based RTC System assigns an agent to each sewer asset. Each agent measures the current state of its corresponding asset and assigns a virtual cost to any incoming flow to the asset based on the asset hydraulic or water quality state. The virtual cost is communicated to other assets upstream or downstream that may change the hydraulic or water quality state of the asset communicating the virtual cost. The network of agents may thus control the sewer to achieve the desired objective, such as asset hydraulic or water quality state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: EMNET, LLC
    Inventors: Luis Montestruque, Timothy Ruggaber
  • Patent number: 10092914
    Abstract: Examples of a jet control device are described. The jet control device can comprise a jet deflecting member that is configured to intercept and/or collide with a high speed jet emerging from a jet formation location. The interaction of the jet deflecting member and the jet can cause the high speed jet to be dispersed into a plurality of jets with a number of flow directions which may be sideways to an initial direction of the high speed jet. In one embodiment the deflecting member can include a liquid guide formed by injecting a fluid out of an outlet nozzle so that the liquid guide extends longitudinally away from the outlet nozzle. In another embodiment the deflecting member can include an array of solid pellets injected through an outlet in a direction of the emerging high speed jet and configured to collide with the emerging jet thereby deflecting its initial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Fusion Inc.
    Inventors: Victoria Suponitsky, Sandra Justine Barsky, J. Michel G. Laberge, Douglas Harvey Richardson, Peter Leszek Kostka
  • Patent number: 10082223
    Abstract: A valve that includes a housing, a ball having a channel passing therethrough, the ball housed within the housing, a stem extending out from a surface of the ball perpendicular to the channel, a gear coupled to the stem, the gear comprising a number of teeth, and a sleeve having a racked channel defined on an interior surface of the sleeve that interfaces with the teeth of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: COOL VALVE, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Schuster
  • Patent number: 10081122
    Abstract: A static mixer for an injection molding machine comprises a plate having an inlet face, an axially opposed outlet face, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. A plurality of bores extend through the plate from the inlet face to the outlet face. Each bore extends along a bore axis that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis. The inlet face comprises an inlet face peripheral portion and an inlet face central portion. The outlet face comprises an outlet face peripheral portion, and an outlet face central portion. A core extends longitudinally between the inlet face central portion and the outlet face central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ATHENA AUTOMATION LTD.
    Inventors: Ivan Nikolaev, Stephen Mracek, Robert D. Schad
  • Patent number: 10071825
    Abstract: This disclosure includes a hybrid magneto-active membrane, which can be used as part of a Magneto-active Propellant Management Device (MAPMD), to actively control free surface effects of liquid materials, such as fuels, and to reduce fuel slosh. The disclosed MAPMD merges aspects of a diaphragm membrane with a magneto-active inlay to control the membrane during in-flight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Inc.
    Inventors: Balaji Sivasubramanian, Leander Paul, Sathya Gangadharan
  • Patent number: 10065403
    Abstract: In assembling a portion of a microfluidic device by conducting bonding action by contacting faces of opposed bondable materials, one comprising a flexible sheet, the method, while maintaining continual contact of the faces in a region R2 until bonding is completed, of employing repeated make-and-break-contact manufacturing protocol on a region R1 of the contacted faces of the bondable materials, thereby over time neutralizing the tendency for permanent bonds to form in the region R1, thus to enable making and breaking actuated movements of the region R1 of the flexible sheet relative to the portion of the other material that it opposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CyVek, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin A. Putnam
  • Patent number: 10060545
    Abstract: In a valve closing device (4) including an emergency actuator (7, 8), the emergency actuator (7, 8) is energized by at least two independently, redundantly operable energy storage units (10, 11, 18), each of which includes charging electronics (22) that allow rechargeable batteries (19, 20) of the energy storage units (10, 11, 18) to be operated at least in a maintenance charging cycle and in a trickle charging cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Benjamin Hofmann, Wilfried Platzer
  • Patent number: 10046999
    Abstract: Industrial and residential water treatment systems and devices are disclosed for use in preventing hard water buildup or in removing such buildup. The systems and devices include fixed and removable components for delivering water treatment composition. In addition, novel water treatment compositions and methods of treating water are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventors: Byron Laird Washburn, Sean Terry
  • Patent number: 10040039
    Abstract: A mixer for mixing two materials includes a casing and a mixing component. The mixing component has a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall in parallel to the first vertical wall, an inlet baffle, an outlet baffle, a plurality of first arc shape guiding plates and a plurality of second arc shape guiding plates. The inlet baffle and the outlet baffle are disposed on the two ends of the first and second vertical walls, respectively. The first arc shape guiding plates and second arc shape guiding plates are disposed between the inlet and outlet baffles, and the first and second arc shape guiding plates are mutually spaced and disposed in opposite to each other. The two materials are imported from the inlet baffle and guided to flow through the first and second arc shape guiding plates, and subsequently mixed and exported from the outlet baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Chia-Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 10028425
    Abstract: A system for remote moisture monitoring and control includes: a measurement vehicle, including a vehicle body, a vehicle control unit, a transmitter antenna, and a receiver antenna; a moisture control server, including a processor, a non-transitory memory, an input/output, and antenna manager, a multi spectrum analyzer, a sensor manager, an irrigation manager, a soil simulator and a data bus; a vehicle storage facility; an irrigation controller; irrigation valves; a mobile control device; ground sensors. Also disclosed is a method including piloting measurement vehicle; obtaining moisture measurements, including controlling outbound transmission, determining reflected power, calculating dielectric constant via reflection calculation, determining soil moisture via lookup in soil calibration table; obtaining sensor measurements; calculating soil model; and adjusting irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: James Canyon
  • Patent number: 10024705
    Abstract: A measurement device arrangement includes a measurement device measuring a distance to an object, for example in the form of a depth measurement. A control unit is provided, which calculates the point in time for the next distance measurement, taking account of current or predicted weather conditions at the location of the measurement device. The frequency of the measurement can thus be adjusted to the weather conditions in order to reduce the power consumption of the measurement device without having to go without punctual reports of depth changes in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Guenter Kech