With Control Of Flow By A Condition Or Characteristic Of A Fluid Patents (Class 137/2)
  • Patent number: 11905643
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance is provided including a sump positioned at a bottom of a wash tub for collecting wash fluid, a drain pump assembly for selectively draining the sump, a measurement device configured for measuring movement of the wash tub, and a water level detection system comprising a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the sump. A controller is configured to operate the drain pump assembly to drain the wash fluid, measure the movement of the wash tub using the measurement device, measure a water level within the sump using the water level detection system, and identify a fault condition in the water level detection system upon determining that the measured movement indicates that the sump is empty and the measured water level indicates that the sump is not empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Derek Hibdon, Darrin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11810795
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating apparatus. All treating units are each arranged such that a treatment chamber, a chemical piping space, and an exhaust chamber are located side by side along a transportation space, the chemical piping space is located on a first side of the treatment chamber, and the exhaust chamber faces the chemical piping space across the treatment chamber when seen from the transportation space. The exhaust chamber faces the chemical piping space across the treatment chamber, leading to prevention of obstruction of a passage for passing a pipe, configured to supply a chemical to a substrate held by a holding rotator, by an exhaust pipe. Moreover, a single type of treating units is enough for the substrate treating apparatus instead of two types of treating units currently used. This results in sharing of components by all the treating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jun Sawashima, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11788050
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for mechanoporation-based high-throughput payload delivery into biological cells. For example, one system can process at least 1 billion cells per minute or at least 25 billion cells per minute, which is substantially greater than conventional methods. A cell processing apparatus comprises a processing assembly formed by stacking multiple processing components. Each processing component comprises channels, which may be used for filtration, mechanoporation, and/or separation of cells in the cell media. This functionality depends on the configuration of each channel. For example, each channel comprises one or more ridges such that each ridge forms a processing gap with an adjacent one of the processing components. The ridges may extend to the side walls or form a bypass gap with the wall. The processing gaps can be specially configured to compress cells as the cells pass through these gaps thereby initiating the mechanoporation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CellFe, Inc.
    Inventors: Sewoon Han, Ian Sicher, Alexander Alexeev, Ockchul Kim
  • Patent number: 11715654
    Abstract: A temperature adjusting device includes a first member and a flow path. The first member has thereon a first surface as a temperature control target. The flow path is formed within the first member along the first surface. A first end of the flow path serves as an inlet opening through which a heat transfer medium is introduced and a second end of the flow path serves as an outlet opening through which the heat transfer medium is discharged. The flow path is formed such that a thermal resistance between the first surface and the flow path increases as the flow path goes from the outlet opening toward the inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Yun Mo
  • Patent number: 11635379
    Abstract: The present disclosure features portable wide field fluorimeter systems, e.g., in the form of low-cost mobile platforms, and methods to perform fluorometric assays to detect a change in fluorescence intensity in liquid samples, e.g., caused by the presence of a target analyte, e.g., a protein, e.g., an enzyme (e.g., ?-lactamase) expressed by a target pathogen in a liquid sample in a point-of-care setting. In some implementations, a portable system for detecting a change in fluorescence intensity in a liquid sample includes a microfluidic device, an optical assembly including an emission filter and one or more lenses, and an analyzer device that collects and processes a fluorescent signal for the detection of a target analyte produced by the target pathogen present in the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Akilan Palanisami, Tayyaba Hasan
  • Patent number: 11569073
    Abstract: An assembly provided with a coolant flow channel includes a base in which the coolant flow channel is formed; and a protrusion component that is disposed in the coolant flow channel, wherein the protrusion component is liftable or rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jun Hirose, Kaoru Oohashi
  • Patent number: 11506006
    Abstract: A method of blowing out debris or sand from a separation device comprises opening a second valve assembly such that the second valve assembly is not exposed to pressurized fluid from the separation device when opening. A first valve assembly is opened, wherein the first valve assembly is downstream of the separation device and upstream of the second valve assembly. Debris or sand from the separation device is blown through the first and second valve assemblies, and through a choke port of a third valve assembly. A method of closing fluid flow through a high integrity pressure protection system comprises closing a primary valve in response to detecting the over pressurization of fluid in the fluid line, and closing at least one secondary valve in response to detecting the closing of the primary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SAFOCO, INC.
    Inventors: David Lymberopoulos, James Eric Amberg
  • Patent number: 11383011
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods herein relate to performing dialysis to manage a chronic condition such as end-stage renal disease. These systems and methods may allow a patient to orally ingest a potable dialysate and excrete the dialysate via the urinary tract. In some variations, a method may include delivering a dialysate via the esophagus of a patient and draining the dialysate into a bladder of the patient. Delivering the dialysate may further comprise delivering the dialysate through the nasopharynx or oropharynx. Delivering the dialysate through the oropharynx may comprise the patient drinking the dialysate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GASTROKLENZ INC.
    Inventor: Aly R. A. A. Elbadry
  • Patent number: 11385216
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a pipeline interchange flows a product through an upstream pipeline. An automated analyzer is connected to the upstream pipeline to analyze different physical and/or chemically properties in the product and generate data from the product without extracting a sample from the upstream pipeline. An automatic splitter is placed downstream of the automated analyzer, capable of receiving and interpreting the data from the automated analyzer and directing the refined petroleum product into at least three different downstream pipelines, wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines is a transmix pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Paul Rady, Marisa Purificato, Franklin Uba, Ayuba Fasasi
  • Patent number: 11378233
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a pipeline interchange is described where a first product flows through a first pipeline and a second product flows through a second pipeline. In this embodiment, a first product automated analyzer is situated near the first pipeline to physical and/or chemically analyze the first product and generate first product data. Additionally, in this embodiment, a second product automated analyzer is situated near the second pipeline to physical and/or chemically analyze the second product and generate second product data. A pipeline interchange is connected downstream to both the first pipeline and the second pipeline, wherein the pipeline interchange blends the first product flowing through the first pipeline with the second product flowing through the second pipeline. A third pipeline is connected downstream to the pipeline interchange, wherein the third pipeline flows a blended product created from the blending of the first product and the second product in the pipeline interchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Paul Rady, Marisa Purificato, Franklin Uba, Ayuba Fasasi
  • Patent number: 11378567
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a process is taught where the process begins by flowing a first product through a first pipeline and flowing a second product through a second pipeline. In this embodiment, the first product in the first pipeline is analyzed with a first product automated analyzer that is capable of physical and/or chemically analyzing the first product in the first pipeline and generating a first product data. Additionally, in this embodiment, the second product in the second pipeline is analyzed with a second product automated analyzer that is capable of physical and/or chemically analyzing the second product in the second pipeline and generating a second product data. The process then produces a blended product by mixing both the first product and the second product within a pipeline interchange which is connected downstream to both the first pipeline and the second pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Paul Rady, Marisa Purificato, Franklin Uba, Ayuba Fasasi
  • Patent number: 11371759
    Abstract: A valve for a refrigeration system and a method of forming a valve includes a dual piston assembly having an inner piston (44) and an outer piston (42) that are moveable relative to each other to control pressure equalization flow through the valve, and an adjustable control stem (66) engageable with the outer piston that enables a low fluid equalization flow when in a first position and a variably higher fluid equalization flow when in a variable second position. The inner piston has a plurality of bleed orifices (46, 48) that are openable by movement of the outer piston relative to the inner piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Steven E. Liebold
  • Patent number: 11325122
    Abstract: The application relates to microfluidic apparatus and methods of use thereof. Provided in one example is a microfluidic device comprising: a first fluidic input and a second fluidic input; and a fluidic intersection channel to receive fluid from the first fluidic input and the second fluidic input, wherein the fluidic intersection channel opens into a first mixing chamber on an upper region of a first side of the first mixing chamber, wherein the first mixing chamber has a length, a width, and a depth, wherein the depth is greater than about 1.5 times a depth of the fluidic intersection channel; an outlet channel on an upper region of a second side of the first mixing chamber, wherein the outlet channel has a depth that is less than the depth of the first mixing chamber, and wherein an opening of the outlet channel is offset along a width of the second side of the first mixing chamber relative to the fluidic intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NUTCRACKER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Eldridge, Ximiao Wen
  • Patent number: 11327510
    Abstract: A multi-chamber rate-of-change flow meter system and methods for operating the same are disclosed. The multi-chamber rate-of-change flow meter system includes a collection of N chambers, means for drawing a gas into or out of the collection of N chambers, N pressure sensors corresponding one of the N chambers, and means for redistributing the gas among the chambers. A measurement module is coupled to the pressure sensors to obtain a rate of change of pressure in each of the chambers due to the redistribution of the gas and calculate a flow rate of the gas flowing into or out of the collection of N chambers based upon the rate of change of pressure in each of the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alexei V. Smirnov
  • Patent number: 11320336
    Abstract: A natural gas automatic shutoff system can analyze the flow rate of natural gas through a pipe. When an anomaly is detected, the device can prevent further flow of natural gas through the pipe and can automatically notify the homeowner or authorized monitor, such as through a cell phone application or other device. Additionally, the homeowner or authorized monitor can manually control and/or monitor the flow of gas through the pipe in real-time, such as through a cell phone application or other device. At least one exemplary embodiment uses a motorized ball valve to control the flow of gas, a flow meter to measure the rate of natural gas flow through the pipe, and a microcomputer to analyze the flow and send notifications to the homeowner or authorized monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Pavan Vipul Thakkar, Brook Ephrem
  • Patent number: 11320095
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a pipeline interchange flows a product through an upstream pipeline. An automated analyzer is connected to the upstream pipeline, wherein the automated analyzer analyzes a sample of the product, and wherein the analyzer is capable of analyzing different physical and/or chemical characteristics of the product and generating a data sample. An automatic splitter is then placed downstream of the automated slipstream analyzer. In this embodiment, the automatic splitter is capable of receiving and interpreting the data sample from the automated analyzer and directing the product into at least three different downstream pipelines, wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines is a transmix pipeline and wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines returns the product upstream of the automated analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Paul Rady, Marisa Purificato, Franklin Uba, Ayuba Fasasi
  • Patent number: 11280771
    Abstract: A liquid chromatograph that accurately detects, with a weight sensor, a remaining amount of a mobile phase during analysis and also an operation onto a system such as whether or not a container has been placed and whether or not the mobile phase has been added is provided. A container stores a mobile phase. A sensor detects a weight of the container in which the mobile phase is stored. A filter smoothens a signal output from the sensor and outputs the smoothened signal. A calculator calculates a liquid amount of the mobile phase stored in the container based on the signal output from the filter. When variation per unit time of the signal output from the sensor is larger than a prescribed threshold value, the filter has a smaller time constant for smoothening than when variation is smaller than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Koga
  • Patent number: 11261078
    Abstract: An improved fill cap for delivering a fluid from a fluid transporting mechanism to a fluid tank is disclosed. A connection plate is coupled to an opening of the fluid tank and a probe is disposed within the fluid tank and coupled to the connection plate at a first distal end. The fluid flows into the fluid tank through an outlet at a second distal end of the probe. A valve is disposed at the second distal end of the probe and is movable between an open position and a closed position to control fluid flow out of the probe outlet. An arm is coupled to the valve and moves the valve between the open and closed positions and a float is coupled to the arm that moves the arm depending on the level of fluid in the fluid tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Fueling Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mason Duncan, Hanan Tuchshnieder
  • Patent number: 11124038
    Abstract: A compressed-air supply installation for operating a pneumatic installation includes a compressed-air feed, a compressed-air connection to the pneumatic installation, and a ventilation connection to a surrounding environment. The compressed-air supply installation further includes a pneumatic main line between the compressed-air feed and the compressed-air connection, the pneumatic main line having an air dryer, a ventilation line between the compressed-air feed and the ventilation connection, and a valve arrangement having a control valve configured to control a ventilation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventor: Detlev Eggebrecht
  • Patent number: 11105667
    Abstract: The present invention accurately measures flow rates that have a high peak flow rate caused by pulsation, and is provided with a first flow rate converter having a first measurement range and a first response speed, a second flow rate converter having a second measurement range that is narrower on a low flow rate side than the first measurement range and has a second response speed that is slower than the first response speed, and a flow rate calculation unit that, when a flow rate contained in the second measurement range is measured, calculates the flow rate by correcting outputs from the first flow rate converter using outputs from the second flow rate converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Otsuki
  • Patent number: 11078769
    Abstract: Systems and method for injection a chemical into a wellbore. A chemical injection system may comprise a first valve, a chemical line, a pilot line, an injection line, and a backflow prevention valve disposable in the injection line. A production fluid recovery system may comprise a chemical injection system, a first valve, a pilot line, an injection line, a backflow prevention valve, a production tree, a wellhead, and production tubing. A method for actuating a valve in a chemical injection system may comprise pushing a fluid into a chemical line, pressurizing a pilot line to open a first valve, pushing the fluid through the first valve, increasing pressure in the pilot line to open a second valve, pushing the fluid through the second valve, pushing the fluid through a chemical line, and injecting fluid into a wellbore from the chemical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Gregory James, Ibrahim El Mallawany
  • Patent number: 11060668
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing the condition of a pipeline in a pipeline system is disclosed. The method includes generating a pressure wave in the fluid being carried along the pipeline system at a pressure wave generating location along the pipeline system and detecting pressure wave interaction signals at two closely spaced measurement locations along the pipeline. The method then includes determining a system response function for the pipeline based on the detected pressure wave interaction signals for each measurement location and characterising the pipeline based on the system response function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Angus R. Simpson, Martin F. Lambert, Aaron C. Zecchin, He Shi, Jinzhe Gong
  • Patent number: 11015446
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for characterizing a fluid provide for flowing a sample fluid through a microfluidic flow line and subsequently flushing the flowline with flushing fluid alone or together with heating and/or exposure to a pulsating electromagnetic field. A tracer fluid is injected and tracked in a microfluidic line based on known properties of the tracer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Laurent Pirolli, Stephen Parks, Nathan Landsiedel, Adriaan Gisolf
  • Patent number: 11009047
    Abstract: A rotary drive device has a fluid-actuated rotary drive with a drive housing and a drive unit which is rotative relative thereto. The drive unit includes a drive shaft and a pivot piston, non-rotatably arranged thereon, separating two drive chambers from one another. For controlling the fluid-actuated rotary drive, a control valve arrangement including at least one electrically actuatable control valve is provided, which is attached to the drive housing and in this way is combined with the rotary drive to form a drive assembly that can be handled as a single unit. Furthermore, a robot arm is proposed, which has the rotary drive device as an arm joint connecting two arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Simon Markowski, Andreas Weiss, Thomas Beyerlein, Artem Beger, Bernd Bellingrodt, Manuel Rausch, Daniel Bren, Nicole Skrok, Michael Winkler
  • Patent number: 11008964
    Abstract: A method and system for engine monitoring comprises a plurality of monitoring devices. A master monitoring device is provided which acts as a communication hub for one or more subsidiary monitoring devices. The master monitoring device is incorporated in or directly attached to the internal combustion engine and functions to sense a characteristic of the internal combustion engine. The monitoring device is configured to transmit data representative of the sensed characteristic to a remote application running on a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Christopher J. Green
  • Patent number: 10995479
    Abstract: An aircraft has: an aircraft fuselage, a cabin region formed in the aircraft fuselage, underfloor region separated from the cabin region by a floor partition, and a fresh-water supply system. The fresh-water supply system has a fresh-water provision unit arranged in the underfloor region. The fresh-water supply system has multiple water extraction units which are each arranged in the cabin region, and a water line network branched off from the fresh-water provision unit and extending to the water extraction units. Each water extraction unit has a shut-off valve, a filter unit and a tapping point, which are coupled in series by means of water lines. Each filter unit has an exchangeable water filter with a first filter material designed for filtering particles out of the water flowing through the water filter and with a second filter material designed for softening the water flowing through the water filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Volker Alps, Thomas Wiese, Sebastian Flashaar, Matthias Reiss
  • Patent number: 10962395
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sensor apparatus and a method for measuring the flow rate of a shielding gas in a welding apparatus. The sensor apparatus comprises at least one inlet and at least one outlet in fluid connection with one or more bypass channels and with one or more sensor channels, and at least one input hose and one output hose. The apparatus also comprises one or more thermal mass flow sensors connected to the one or more sensor channels, and a control unit configured to retrieve sensor responses from the one or more thermal mass flow sensors and to determine the flow rate of the shielding gas through the sensor apparatus based on the retrieved sensor response and calibration data, wherein the calibration data comprises one or more characteristic curves comprising gas flow values and sensor response values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KEMPPI OY
    Inventor: Tuomas Terho
  • Patent number: 10895556
    Abstract: A system includes one or more tools, sensors, or both configured to obtain data related to the one or more pipelines, wherein the data is ultrasonic data, electromagnetic data, or both, and a cloud-based computing system including at least one processor that receives the data from the one or more tools, sensors, or both, performs analysis to generate a virtual structural model of the one or more pipelines based on the data, determines one or more states of the one or more pipelines using the virtual structural model and determines whether to take one or more actions when the one or more states indicate that the one or more pipelines violate a threshold operation boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Earle Sutherland
  • Patent number: 10890611
    Abstract: An electrostatic measuring method for an inner wall of a fluid pipeline includes a step of disposing a grounded metal plate to an outer wall of the fluid pipeline; a step of forming a grounding effect through the grounded metal plate and the outer wall, wherein the grounded metal plate has induced charges, the induced charges combine outer-wall existing charges on the outer wall to form total outer-wall charges, and the total outer-wall charges are related to charges to be measured on the inner wall of the fluid pipeline; and, a step of measuring an electrostatic voltage above the grounded metal plate so as to obtain the charges to be measured on the inner wall of the fluid pipeline. In addition, an electrostatic measuring system for inner wall of fluid pipeline is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Mean-Jue Tung, Shi-Yuan Tong, Yu-Ting Huang
  • Patent number: 10866135
    Abstract: Mass flow verification systems and apparatus verify mass flow rates of mass flow controllers (MFCs) based on pressure decay principles. Embodiments include a location for coupling a calibrated gas flow standard or a MFC to be tested in a line to receive a gas flow from a gas supply; a control volume serially coupled to the location in the line to receive the gas flow; a flow restrictor serially coupled to the control volume; a pump serially coupled to the flow restrictor; and a controller adapted to allow the gas supply to flow gas through the mass flow control verification system to achieve a stable pressure in the control volume, terminate the gas flow from the gas supply, and measure a rate of pressure decay in the control volume over time. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiyuan Ye, Justin Hough, Marcel E. Josephson
  • Patent number: 10794301
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine system, in particular of a motor vehicle, having at least one liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank for storing an LPG fuel and at least one direct injection unit, which has a direct injection fuel distributor and direct injection valves that can be supplied with fuel via said distributor. In order to improve supply of the internal combustion engine system with LPG fuel, the fuel supply system includes a booster pump inserted between the LPG tank and the direct injection fuel distributor. A discharge side of the booster pump is connected directly to the direct injection fuel distributor by at least one line, and the direct injection valves each have a closure part that rises outward from a valve seat to open the respective direct injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Berkemeier, Albert Breuer, Ulrich Kramer
  • Patent number: 10788356
    Abstract: A method according to an aspect includes a first step of connecting a reference device to the other end of a connecting pipe, a second step of supplying a gas from one flow controller into piping, a third step of acquiring measured values of a first pressure gauge and a first thermometer, a fourth step of supplying a portion of the gas in piping into a tank, a fifth step of acquiring measured values of the first pressure gauge and the first thermometer or measured values of a second pressure gauge and a second thermometer, and a sixth step of using a Boyle-Charles' law to calculate a volume of the piping on the basis of the measured values acquired in the third step, the measured values acquired in the fifth step, and a volume of a closed space including a space in the tank when the third valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihiko Amikura, Risako Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10754361
    Abstract: In order to provide a flow rate control apparatus that estimates a flow rate actually flowing at a control point without a large amount of noise, there are provided a fluid resistor that is provided on a flow path, a downstream-side valve that is provided on a downstream side of the fluid resistor, a resistance flow rate measurement mechanism that measures a resistance flow rate that flows through the fluid resistor, and flows into a volumetric space located on the flow path between this fluid resistor and the downstream-side valve, a subject flow rate estimation part that estimates a valve flow rate based on the flow rate characteristics stored in the flow rate characteristics storage part, and a flow rate control unit that controls the downstream-side valve based on a set flow rate, and on the valve flow rate estimated by the subject flow rate estimation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koutaro Takijiri, Kentaro Nagai, Yuko Imasato, Tsai Wei Tseng, Kazuhiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10746182
    Abstract: A multi-stage compressor system is a system of a multi-stage compressor in which compressors are connected in series in a plurality of stages includes a control unit. The control unit determines whether a malfunction is present in the system by comparing a suction flow rate of a first-stage compressor measured by a first sensor with a downstream flow rate from an outlet of the multi-stage compressor measured by a second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakagawa, Naoto Yonemura, Hiroyuki Miyata, Naoki Mori
  • Patent number: 10705543
    Abstract: A mass flow controller that includes a linearization system to control the linear response of a valve in order to control the gain of the mass flow controller. The linearization system includes a flow modeling system for processing at least one of a fluid type, a flow rate, a pressure, and a temperature value signal relating to flow of the fluid through a flow path and determining fluid properties. The linearization system also includes a valve modeling system to determine the required operational characteristics of the valve according to valve specifications, a desired flow rate, and the determined fluid properties. The linearization system determines a gain to control the lift of the valve in order to acquire a desired fluid flow rate. The gain is determined by calculating the derivative of predicted lift with respect to fluid flow and the derivative of drive with respect to predicted lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventors: John Lull, Berwin Banares, Jeffrey Whiteley
  • Patent number: 10692743
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas supply line is connected to a chamber of a substrate processing apparatus. A vaporizer is connected to the gas supply line. A flow rate controller is connected to the gas supply line in parallel with the vaporizer through a secondary valve. A primary valve is provided on a primary side of the flow rate controller. A method of the embodiment includes supplying a processing gas to the chamber from the vaporizer through the gas supply line in a state in which the primary valve is closed, the secondary valve is opened, and an exhaust device is operated to set a pressure of the chamber to a predetermined pressure and determining a time-average value of a measurement value obtained by a pressure sensor of the flow rate controller while the supplying the processing gas is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Risako Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10649471
    Abstract: A fluid control system for pulse delivery of a fluid include a flow channel, an isolation valve to initiate and terminate a pulse of fluid from the flow channel, and a pulse mass flow controller (MFC). The MFC includes a control valve to control flow of fluid in the flow channel, a flow sensor to measure flow rate in the flow channel, and a controller to control flow of fluid through the control valve and switching of the isolation valve, to control a mass of fluid delivered during the pulse of fluid. Controlling the flow of fluid through the control valve can be based on feedback from the flow sensor during the pulse initiated and terminated by the isolation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Michael L'Bassi, Gordon Hill
  • Patent number: 10647422
    Abstract: A pitch control system configured to vary a pitch angle of at least one of a plurality of propeller blades of a propeller system is provided including a switch movable between a neutral position and a plurality of non-neutral positions. Movement of the switch to a first non-neutral position generates a command to move the propeller blades in a first direction. Movement of the switch to a second non-neutral position generates a command to move the propeller blades in a second direction. Movement of the switch to a third non-neutral position generates a command to move the propeller blades to a zero thrust position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin L. Bredenbeck, Bryan S. Cotton, Mark K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10551857
    Abstract: In a sanitary installation part (1) which, along with a functional unit (7), forms a flow volume regulator, it is proposed that a regulating element (13), which can be adjusted along an adjustment path, be coupled to a temperature-sensitive drive unit (15) such that different regulating positions of the regulating element (13) are set in dependence on the temperature of the medium flowing through the installation part (1), wherein the different regulating positions realize in each case different volume-flow dependencies (11, 12, 45, 48) and/or flow resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Tempel, Christoph Weis
  • Patent number: 10503179
    Abstract: A flow rate control apparatus is provided which enables high speed response particularly in a transient response state, such as when a target flow rate falls. The flow rate control apparatus includes: a valve provided with a position sensor to measure an opening degree and disposed in a flow channel; a flow rate sensor disposed upstream of the valve and provided with a restrictor; a first pressure sensor disposed downstream of the restrictor and disposed upstream of the valve; a second pressure sensor disposed downstream of the valve; a storage section to store a characteristic map indicating a relationship between at least the opening degree of the valve, a differential pressure before and after the valve, and a flow rate of a fluid passing through the flow channel; and a valve control section to control the valve so that the flow rate reaches an accepted target flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Hayashi, Kentaro Nagai, Masao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10486985
    Abstract: Systems and methods for combined controlling chlorinators and pumps for pools and spas are provided. Exemplary embodiments can include a pump operable to circulate a fluid for a specified time period according to a pump operation time setting and a chlorinator operatively coupled to the pump. The chlorinator can be configured to generate chlorine based on a chlorine output setting, a chlorine generation capacity of the chlorinator, and the pump operation time. A controller can be operatively coupled to the chlorinator and the pump and can be programmed to control the chlorinator and the pump based on a relationship between the chlorine output setting, a chlorine generation capacity of the chlorinator, and the pump operation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James Murdock
  • Patent number: 10443600
    Abstract: A gas estimation device for estimating a flow rate and a gas type of gas to be vacuum-pumped by a vacuum pumping device including a vacuum pump and an automatic pressure control valve connected to a suction port of the vacuum pump, comprises: a correlation data storage section configured to store first correlation data containing correlation data regarding an opening degree control gain value of the automatic pressure control valve and correlation data regarding an effective exhaust velocity of the vacuum pumping device and second correlation data indicating a correlation among a flow rate, a gas type, and a motor current value in the vacuum pump; and a first estimation section configured to estimate the flow rate and the gas type of the gas to be vacuum-pumped by the vacuum pumping device based on at least the first correlation data and the second correlation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Kozaki, Masaya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10434517
    Abstract: A method for jet milling of damp or wet grist in a jet mill, such that at least one of the operating parameters is appropriately selected so that a combined drying and milling process occurs in which, to obtain an end product with predetermined degree of fineness and moisture content. The specific operating mechanism required for milling is selected so that it is greater than or equal to the specific drying requirement, and the end product is released from the jet mill with the predetermined fineness and moisture content. In addition, the invention relates to a jet mill to perform this method, such that adjusting, controlling or regulating devices are foreseen for adjusting, controlling or regulating at least one of the operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: NETZSCH Trockenmahltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Nied, Hermann Sickel
  • Patent number: 10435064
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a fluid pump, an actuator in selective fluid communication with the fluid pump, a hydrostatic steering system and an electro-hydraulic steering system. The hydrostatic steering system includes a fluid controller having a first proportional valve in fluid communication with the fluid pump and a fluid meter in fluid communication with the first proportional valve and the actuator. The electro-hydraulic steering system includes a second proportional valve in selective fluid communication with the fluid pump and the actuator. The second proportional valve is disposed in parallel to the first proportional valve. The electro-hydraulic steering circuit further includes a load-reaction switching valve assembly disposed in series with the first proportional valve of the hydrostatic steering system. The load-reaction switching valve allows fluid communication between the actuator and the fluid controller when the first proportional valve is in a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER, LTD.
    Inventor: Aaron Kelly Krahn
  • Patent number: 10437263
    Abstract: A fill valve for receiving a fluid flow includes a lower pipe and a flow restrictor cartridge. The flow restrictor cartridge is received in the lower pipe. The flow restrictor cartridge receives the fluid flow at a first fluid flow rate and provides the fluid flow as a second fluid flow rate lower than the first fluid flow rate. The flow restrictor cartridge includes a receiver and a compact flow restrictor. The compact flow restrictor is received by the receiver. The compact flow restrictor is configured to facilitate the reduction from the first fluid flow rate to the second fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Patent number: 10391488
    Abstract: A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julien Autebert, Emmanuel Delamarche, Govind Kaigala, Aditya Kashyap, Xander Frank Van Kooten
  • Patent number: 10364496
    Abstract: A dual section module with mass flow controllers, for processing wafers, includes: dual process sections integrated together; at least one mass flow controller (MFC) each shared by the dual process sections and provided in a gas line branching into two gas lines, at a branching point, connected to the respective interiors of the dual process sections and arranged symmetrically between the dual process sections; and at least one mass flow controller (MFC) each unshared by the dual process sections and provided in a gas line connected to the interior of each dual process section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10314456
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, including methods of operation, is provided. The dishwashing appliance may define a vertical direction and include a tub, a base conductivity sensor mounted at a first level within the tub, and an elevated conductivity sensor mounted at a second level within the tub, the second level being higher along the vertical direction than the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Adam Hofmann, Matthew Mersch
  • Patent number: 10283999
    Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) includes a base station that has a transmitter coil to generate a magnetic field for charging a portable power source of a battery-powered electronic device. A receiver coil magnetically receives power from the transmitter coil of the base station. A power control module connected to the portable power source and the receiver coil charges the portable power source with the received power. A flexible ferrite shield is positioned on a side of the receiver coil opposite to the transmitter coil to shield the IHS electronics. A pneumatic diaphragm is formed by a portion of the flexible ferrite shield that is positioned for oscillating movement into a center cavity of the receiver coil. A diaphragm actuator is attached to the pneumatic diagram and is responsive to a triggering signal to oscillate the pneumatic diaphragm to disperse thermal energy that is generated by the receiver coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Chris Helberg, Travis C. North, Andrew Sultenfuss, Austin M. Shelnutt
  • Patent number: 10269548
    Abstract: A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a syringe pump operably coupled to a desolvation unit, the desolvation unit coupled to a sample analyzer configured to measure an intensity of one or more analytes in a sample solution provided through operation of the syringe pump; and a controller operably coupled to the syringe pump, the controller configured to receive the intensity of the one or more analytes measured by the sample analyzer, determine whether the intensity exceeds a threshold difference of an intensity of at least one standard measured by the sample analyzer, and adjust one or more control parameters of the syringe pump when the intensity of the one or more analytes exceeds the threshold difference to control a flow rate of the sample solution introduced to the sample analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Paul Field