With Control Of Flow By A Condition Or Characteristic Of A Fluid Patents (Class 137/2)
  • Patent number: 10233491
    Abstract: This disclosure provides, among other things, a cartridge comprising: (a) a cartridge body comprising a malleable material and having, disposed on a surface of the body, at least one valve body comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet, each fluidically connected to a fluidic channel; and (b) a layer comprising a deformable material bonded to a surface of the cartridge body and sealing the at least one valve body at points of attachment, thereby forming at least one valve; wherein the at least one valve body is depressed in the cartridge body relative to the points of attachment and wherein the deformable material covering the at least one valve body retains sufficient elasticity after deformation such that in a ground state the valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: IntegenX, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Justus Wunderle, Chungsoo Charles Park, David King, Dennis Lehto
  • Patent number: 10234327
    Abstract: To provide a calibration device for apparatus filling a gas such as hydrogen gas and capable of efficiently and safely measuring weight and amount of the gas such as hydrogen gas that are filled at high pressure. Calibration devices 100, 200, 300, 400 according to the present invention include a measurement housing 1, accommodated in a housing main body 10, to the measurement housing 1 a high pressure fuel gas being fed from outside of the housing main body 10; and a scale 3 for measuring a weight of a fuel gas fed to the measurement housing 1, wherein an inside of the measurement housing 1 is visible from outside of the housing main body 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TATSUNO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Otaki, Norikazu Osawa
  • Patent number: 10203132
    Abstract: A water heater system having a running water inlet through which running water flows in and a hot water outlet through which hot water heated in a heat exchanger is discharged is disclosed. The water heater system may include a first connection pipe connecting a gap between the running water inlet and an entry of the heat exchanger, a second connection pipe connecting a gap between an outlet of the heat exchanger and the hot water outlet; a bypass pipe connecting a gap between the first connection pipe and the second connection pipe, a bypass valve installed to the bypass pipe so as to control the direction of water flowing through the bypass pipe, and a controller, in a hot water usage mode, controlling the bypass valve so that the water moves from the first connection pipe to the second connection pipe through the bypass pipe, and in an inner circulation mode, controlling the bypass valve so that the water moves from the second connection pipe to the first connection pipe through the bypass pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DEASUNG CELTIC ENERSYS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sung Tae Cho, Chul Hee Cho
  • Patent number: 10196962
    Abstract: An expansion tank for a coolant circuit of a motor vehicle includes a housing with an upper part with an upper joint and a lower part with a lower joint. An inlet is arranged on the upper part. An outlet is arranged on the lower part. The upper part is connectable by the upper joint to the lower joint of the lower part in at least two different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard Kerkewitz, Klaus Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10125748
    Abstract: A thermal actuator for a rotating shaft shutdown seal that has a piston with a portion of its axial length enclosed within a chamber shell with a material that expands upon a rise in temperature. The portion of the actual length of the piston within the chamber has at least two different diameters with the larger diameter leading in the direction of travel of the piston. Upon a rise in temperature, expansion of the material surrounding the piston within the chamber creates a force on the piston in the desired direction of travel. Below a preselected temperature the piston is positively locked with a passive release when the preselected temperature is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Phillip J. Hawkins, Judith E. Hodgson
  • Patent number: 10094732
    Abstract: A pipeline fault detection system, method and sensor head suitable for use in the system are disclosed. The system comprises a vibro-acoustic sensor connectable to a fluid path of a pipeline and a remote monitoring system, the sensor being operable to measure one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path and communicate data on said measurements to the remote monitoring system, the remote monitoring system being arranged to monitor said data over time and being further arranged to screen the monitored data for characteristics representing a fault type to identify occurrence of a fault type in the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SYRINIX LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Linford
  • Patent number: 10073469
    Abstract: A flow meter includes an inlet side switching valve, an outlet side switching valve on a downstream of the inlet side valve, and a control valve on a downstream of the outlet side valve that are connected with each other by flow passages having internal volumes, a pressure sensor on an upstream side of the control valve, and a larger flow rate measuring section for calculating a flow rate based on a build-down volume of an internal volume of the passage between an outlet of the inlet side valve and an inlet of the control valve, and a smaller flow rate measuring section for calculating a flow rate based on a build-down volume of an inner capacity of the passage between an outlet of the outlet side valve and the inlet of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagase, Nobukazu Ikeda, Kouji Nishino, Ryousuke Dohi, Atsushi Hidaka, Katsuyuki Sugita
  • Patent number: 10047436
    Abstract: A method includes: transmitting a sublimated raw material together with a carrier gas to a raw material trapping part where the raw material is temporarily trapped; calculating a difference between trapped amounts of the raw material trapped in the raw material trapping part during a predetermined period of time as an increase in trapped amount; obtaining at least one of a period of time required to reach the trapped amount to a target value and a trapping rate of the raw material, based on the increase, a period of trapping time, and a trapped amount measured at the time of completing trapping the raw material; refilling the raw material into the raw material trapping part based on the at least one of the period of refilling time and the trapping rate; and sublimating the raw material and supplying the same together with the carrier gas to a consumption area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Masayuki Moroi
  • Patent number: 9990600
    Abstract: In an LP gas delivery business, when the preparation of a delivery list for a next day delivery amount is followed by a delivery operation, a discrepancy is caused between the delivery list and a delivery record. On the other hand, the delivery due date is determined so as to avoid a gas shortage. The delivery prior to the delivery due date has no problem. Thus, the delivery list in the LP gas delivery business is prepared by setting, as data for a next day delivery amount, not data having a delivery due date of a next day but data after ? days (e.g., after 2 days).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Nippon Gas Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Wada, Shingo Dekamo
  • Patent number: 9955844
    Abstract: A method of operating a dish treating appliance includes a user interface disposed along the top edge of a door for selectively opening and closing access to a treating chamber. The user interface can be illuminated and operating the user interface can include operating a user input mode when the door is open and a status mode when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Fletty, Eric A. Hill
  • Patent number: 9950820
    Abstract: A method for filling and packing a gas and a liquid material by filling the gas in an amount corresponding to 2-40 vol % of the volume of the liquid material together with the liquid material into a package bag composed of plastic films through an unsealed opening portion thereof and then sealing the unsealed opening portion by heat sealing, characterized in that the gas is previously dispersed and incorporated in form of microbubbles having a diameter of not more than 50 ?m in to the liquid material and filled into in the package bag at a state of microbubble-containing liquid material, or the gas is filled while generating as microbubbles having a diameter of not more than 50 ?m in the liquid material previously supplied to the package bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: YUSHIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsunori Futase
  • Patent number: 9933791
    Abstract: A pumping system and method for blending hydraulic fracturing fluids includes a liquid additive holding tank having an outlet at a bottom of the holding tank, a first sensor at a first location in the holding tank adjacent a lower portion of the holding tank, and a second sensor at a second location in the holding tank above the first location. The pumping system further includes a liquid additive pump to deliver fluid gravity fed from the outlet of the holding tank, a chemical transfer pump to pump fluid into the holding tank in response to receiving a first signal that a fluid level of the holding tank is below the first sensor and cease to pump fluid into the holding tank in response to receiving a second signal from the second sensor indicating the fluid level is above the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan C. Lucas, James R. Troutman, Mehdi Mazrooee
  • Patent number: 9931605
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for obtaining a solution from a solid product are disclosed. A solid product is housed in a dispenser. A liquid is introduced into the housing of the dispenser to interact with the solid product to form a solution. To control the concentration of the formed solution, the turbulence of the liquid introduced to the dispenser is controlled and adjusted either manually or on a real time basis to account for varying characteristics of either or both of the solid product and the liquid. The dispenser will adjust the turbulence based on the characteristics to maintain a formed solution within an acceptable range of concentration. The concentrated solution can then be discharged from the dispenser to an end use application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Carroll, John D. Morey, Andrew Schultz, Ryan Drake, John E. Thomas, Troy A. Anderson, Joshua J. Lanz
  • Patent number: 9927853
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a central processing unit, a temperature sensor to provide temperature information, a humidity sensor to provide humidity information, and an embedded controller. The embedded controller determines a current dew point temperature based on the temperature information and the humidity information. The embedded controller activates a condensation mitigation procedure if a difference between a current temperature and the current dew point temperature is less than a threshold value stored at a register at the embedded controller. The mitigation procedure is a software program executed by the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Nikhil M. Vichare, Michael T. Miller, Mark L. Rehmann, Edwin C. Tinsley
  • Patent number: 9926631
    Abstract: An automatic ammonia hydroxide deployment system comprises an ammonia hydroxide deployment device and an automatic ammonia hydroxide deployment controlling device. The ammonia hydroxide deployment device includes a chamber for storing ammonia hydroxide, an ammonia pipe and a water pipe. The automatic ammonia hydroxide deployment controlling device includes an electrical conductivity meter, a liquid level sensor and an operating controller. The electrical conductivity meter is for detecting an electrical conductivity of the ammonia hydroxide in the chamber. The operating controller is configured to obtain an ammonia concentration of the ammonia hydroxide according to the electrical conductivity of the ammonia hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PMAX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Sun, Jung-Shiung Liau
  • Patent number: 9846074
    Abstract: A mass flow controller comprises: a first flow meter constructed and arranged to measured flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a second flow meter constructed and arranged to measure flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a control valve constructed and arranged so as to control the flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller in response to a control signal generated as a function of the flow rate as measured by one of the flow meters; and a system controller constructed and arranged to generate the control signal, and to provide an indication when a difference between the flow rate of mass as measured by the first flow meter and the flow rate of mass as measured by the second flow meter exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Junhua Ding
  • Patent number: 9815683
    Abstract: A mobile fuel distribution station includes a mobile trailer, a pump, a manifold, hoses, detachably connectable fuel caps connected or connectable with the hoses, valves, and fuel level sensors. The station is configured to operate the pump responsive to a low fuel threshold to provide fuel to the manifold, from the manifold to the valves, and from the valves through the hoses. A related method includes receiving fuel operating parameter data from at least one mobile fuel distribution station into a remote server, determining whether the fuel operating parameter data is within a preset limit, and sending a control action in response to the fuel operating parameter data being outside the preset limit. A related system includes one or more of the stations, at least one server configured to receive fuel operating parameter data, and at least one electronic device configured to communicate with the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: FUEL AUTOMATION STATION, LLC
    Inventors: Satish Kumar Kalala, Jitesh Shantilal Shah
  • Patent number: 9797393
    Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ARTEMIS INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: William Hugh Salvin Rampen, Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein, Niall James Caldwell, Stephen Michael Laird, Pierre Robert Joly, Michael Richard Fielding, Daniil Sergeevich Dumnov
  • Patent number: 9791082
    Abstract: A modular fluid end for a multiplex plunger pump, each module machined from a single-piece steel forging with a plunger bore intersected by a linear suction/discharge bore and pumped fluid is discharged straight out through a top of the module into a discharge manifold made up using 1502 frac iron components. A compression clamp applies a crush load to opposed sides of the modules to extend service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Forum US, Inc.
    Inventors: Winston Kirk Baxter, Scott Allen Reeves
  • Patent number: 9733649
    Abstract: To provide a flow control system with build-down system flow monitoring that realizes flow monitoring close to real-time monitoring by combining build-down system flow rate measurement with the upstream side of the flow control system without using a thermal type flow sensor by effectively utilizing high pressure fluctuation resistance characteristics of the flow control system, and can be significantly downsized and reduced in cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagase, Atsushi Hidaka, Kouji Nishino, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9725894
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously controlling fluid flow in a sewer conduit, comprising: a) moisture sensors detecting levels of fluid in this conduit; b) an inflatable bladder, mounted in the sewer conduit for releasably sealing in fluid tight fashion a section of this conduit; a compressed air source for inflating the bladder; and a control box including a CPU sensitive to the moisture sensor(s) and actuating the air compressor responsively to conduit fluid level conditions reaching beyond a preset threshold value. The performance of the apparatus is independent of the speed of fluid flow in the sewer conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: 7525443 CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Guylaine Caux, Martin Gauthier, Yves Racine, Patrick Savaria
  • Patent number: 9722238
    Abstract: Provided is battery pack, including a plurality of battery cells that and a case covering the plurality of battery cells, wherein at least one drainage hole is formed on a bottom of the lower case, that includes a first region and a second region, the first region being a region from an inner surface to a predetermined depth in a thickness direction of the bottom of the lower case and the second region being a region from where the first region ends to an outer surface from the thickness direction of the bottom of the lower case, wherein the first region includes a first tiling portion formed tilted such that the drainage hole becomes smaller, grooves formed at regular intervals along a circumference of the drainage hole from where the first tilting portion ends to the outer surface of the bottom of the lower case and a foreign substance blocking portion formed on a same plane as the outer surface of the lower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-Sang Cho, Eun-Gyeong Gu
  • Patent number: 9684293
    Abstract: A relief valve monitoring system and method can monitor the pressure in a pressure vessel in an ammonia refrigeration system and warn of an impending overpressure condition and a possible subsequent ammonia release event through a pressure relief valve. If a pressure relief valve opens, the relief valve monitoring system and method can identify the relief valve that has opened by monitoring the downstream pressure of the relief valve, accurately determine the amount of ammonia refrigerant that has been released into a common collection header, and purge the common collection header of residual ammonia after the ammonia release event has ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: BRT, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Barrow, Michael A. Barrow, Elizabeth Barrow Moore
  • Patent number: 9676010
    Abstract: The plasma reactor comprises a reaction chamber (23) connectable to a source of ionizable gases (25) and to a heating device (80), said reactor (10) being subjected to the phases of heating (A), cleaning (L) and/or surface treatment (S), cooling (R), unloading (D) and loading (C) of metallic pieces (1). The installation comprises: at least two reactors (10), each being selectively and alternately connected to: the same source of ionizable gases (25); the same vacuum source (60); the same electrical energy source (50); and to the same heating device (80), the latter being displaceable between operative positions, in each of which surrounding laterally and superiorly a respective reactor (10), while the latter is in its heating phase (A) and cleaning phase (L) and/or in the surface treatment phase (S) of the metallic pieces (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: Universidade Federal De Santa Catarina (UFSC), Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Binder, Aloisio Nelmo Klein, Cristiano Binder, Gisele Hammes
  • Patent number: 9593439
    Abstract: A freeze protection method for a washing machine includes: determining, by a control unit, whether or not laundry items exist after a washing process, when a freeze protection course is selected; determining, by the control unit, whether a freeze protection operation condition is satisfied or not, when no laundry items exist; and operating, by the control unit, a water supply device to supply water and operating a drain device to discharge water, when the freeze protection operation condition is satisfied; and returning to the determining of whether the freeze protection operation condition is satisfied or not, when a preset standby time passes after the water supply device and the drain device are operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ji Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9591801
    Abstract: The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hiniker Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Ardison, David Gramling
  • Patent number: 9538689
    Abstract: A method and/or computer program product automatically adjusts room temperature in a data center room. A processor in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system receives a throttle threshold temperature for each of multiple computing devices that are within a data center room, which is climate-controlled by the HVAC system. The processor in the HVAC system monitors a real-time temperature of at least one of the multiple computing devices. In response to the real-time temperature of said at least one of the multiple computing devices exceeding the throttle threshold temperature, an ambient air temperature in the data center room is decreased by adjusting a hardware thermostat in the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasario, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Wingcheung Tam
  • Patent number: 9538690
    Abstract: A method and/or computer program product automatically adjusts room temperature in a data center room. A processor in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system receives a throttle threshold temperature for each of multiple computing devices that are within a data center room, which is climate-controlled by the HVAC system. The processor in the HVAC system monitors a real-time temperature of at least one of the multiple computing devices. In response to the real-time temperature of said at least one of the multiple computing devices exceeding the throttle threshold temperature, an ambient air temperature in the data center room is decreased by adjusting a hardware thermostat in the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Wingcheung Tam
  • Patent number: 9523597
    Abstract: A fuel flow meter assembly for detecting fraud caused by tampering. The fuel flow meter assembly comprises a fuel flow meter comprising a shaft and a fiber optic displacement sensor operatively connected to the fuel flow meter shaft for generating information representative of an amount of fuel delivered through the fuel flow meter. The fuel flow meter assembly also comprises at least one transponder coupled with one of the fuel flow meter shaft and the displacement sensor. Further, the fuel flow meter assembly comprises at least one interrogator electronics coupled with the other of the fuel flow meter shaft and the displacement sensor. The at least one interrogator electronics is configured for remote electronic communication with the at least one transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Rodger K. Williams, Edward A. Payne, John A. Lofgren, Mark B. Monson
  • Patent number: 9512466
    Abstract: A method of forming microdroplets is provided that includes forming a well plate, using lithography, where the well plate includes a microchannel and a microwell in a surface of the fluid channel, flowing a first fluid into the microchannel, where the microchannel and the microwell are filled with the first fluid, and flowing a second fluid into the microchannel, where the first fluid is displaced from the microchannel, where the first fluid remains in the microwell, where a microdroplet of the first fluid is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Santa Clara University
    Inventors: Paul Abbyad, Jonathan Tullis, Cedar A. Waldherr Smith
  • Patent number: 9512963
    Abstract: A lubrication system vent valve includes a valve body having a flow passage with an inlet fluidly coupled with a supply and an outlet fluidly coupled with a dispenser, and a vent passage with an inlet port fluidly coupled with the flow passage and an outlet port. A closure element disposed within the vent passage has a threaded portion and is linearly displaceable between an open position where the vent ports are fluidly coupled to permit lubricant flow from the primary passage and out of the body through the vent outlet port, and a closed position at which fluid flow between the vent ports is substantially prevented. A motor has a shaft with a threaded portion engaged with the closure element such that shaft rotation in one direction displaces the closure element toward the closed position and shaft rotation in an opposing direction displaces the element toward the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LINCOLN INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Conley, Viktor Alekseyev, III, Jeff Kotyk
  • Patent number: 9464760
    Abstract: A gas filling nozzle with safety function includes a valve seat, a first thimble, a safety valve, an inner sleeve and a first spring; the first thimble is sleeved in the valve seat, the safety valve is disposed at the top of the first thimble, and the inner sleeve is combined at the top of the valve seat, thereby allowing the first spring to be disposed between the inner sleeve and the safety valve. So when the gas filling nozzle is subject to a high temperature environment, the high-pressure gaseous/liquid mixture inside a gas container is able to be discharged to the exterior through the safety valve, thereby preventing the gas container from exploding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Wei-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 9387522
    Abstract: A digitally controlled current to pressure converter (CPC) and method of controlling same is provided. The method of controlling includes the step of periodically imparting symmetrically-opposed movement of a control valve of the CPC to loosen and flush accumulated silt therefrom. More particularly, the method may include the step of periodically introducing a small-amplitude symmetrically-opposed impulse to a controller that actuates a hydraulic control shaft of a three-way rotary valve. Also provided is a method of preventing malfunction due to faulty input or feedback signals received by the CPC, and a method of detecting the health status of multiple CPCs when used in a redundant configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin E. Greeb
  • Patent number: 9261884
    Abstract: A gas dividing/supplying apparatus includes a pressure-type flow control system, a plurality of divided flow passages connected in parallel with each other and through which gas flowing from the pressure-type flow control system is divided and supplied to a process chamber, thermal-type mass flow sensors disposed in the divided flow passages, respectively, motor-operated valves disposed on a downstream side of the thermal-type mass flow sensors, respectively, and switching-type controllers that control opening and closing of the motor-operated valves, respectively, and, in the apparatus, the switching-type controllers perform switching between valve opening control for maintaining the motor-operated valves at a predetermined fixed valve opening degree based on a valve opening control command signal and divided flow control for regulating an opening degree of each of the motor-operated valves by feedback control based on a flow detection signal of the thermal-type mass flow sensor by a divided flow control com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yohei Sawada, Nobukazu Ikeda, Ryousuke Dohi, Kouji Nishino
  • Patent number: 9243947
    Abstract: A drain pan level monitoring system of an air conditioning system comprises a level sensor that generates a level sensor output signal related to a sensed level of condensation buildup within a drain pan. A method of monitoring a liquid level buildup in a drain pan of an air handling unit comprises determining a level of liquid buildup in the drain pan and determining whether an action should be taken in response to the determined level of liquid buildup by comparing the determined level of liquid buildup to a predetermined value. A method of preventing liquid overflow of a drain pan of an air handling unit comprises monitoring a pressure related to a liquid level buildup within the drain pan and taking an action when the pressure meets a predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9212671
    Abstract: In a pneumatic actuator for setting a control armature, a first working chamber and a second working chamber are pneumatically separated from each other by a moveable dividing wall to which the control armature is coupled in a force-transmitting manner. The dividing wall, in case of a pressure difference between the working chambers, is displaced in a first control direction. A positioner is adapted to output at least one pneumatic control signal to the first working chamber. The first and the second working chambers are pneumatically connected to each other via a pneumatic short-circuit duct with a balancing valve disposed in the short-circuit duct for at least one of closing or opening the short-circuit duct. The balancing valve is driveable by the positioner such that in case of a certain operating condition, the balancing valve pneumatically short-circuits the first and the second working chamber for achieving a pressure balance between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Karte
  • Patent number: 9157227
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously controlling fluid flow in a sewer conduit, comprising: a) moisture sensors detecting levels of fluid in this conduit; b) an inflatable bladder, mounted in the sewer conduit for releasably sealing in fluid tight fashion a section of this conduit; an air compressor, for inflating the bladder; and a control box including a CPU, sensitive to the moisture sensor and actuating the air compressor responsively to conduit fluid level conditions reaching beyond a preset threshold value. The performance of the apparatus is independent of the speed of fluid flow in the sewer conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: 7525443 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Savaria
  • Patent number: 9127750
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission including a hydraulic actuator that is actuated on the basis of a hydraulic pressure supplied and a linear solenoid valve that controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator on the basis of a driving current of a solenoid includes an ECU that executes current feedback control over a current value of the driving current that is flowed to the solenoid using at least a proportional term and an integral term on the basis of a deviation (?I) between a target current value (Itgt) and actual current value (Ir) of the solenoid such that the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator becomes a target hydraulic pressure. The ECU increases a proportional gain (Kp) in the current feedback control as a fluid temperature (To) detected by a fluid temperature sensor increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naofumi Nishida, Shinichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9109938
    Abstract: A sensing device includes at least one electrode pair (2, 3, 4) and one sensing circuit (140) connected to the electrode pair (2, 3, 4). The sensing circuit (140) switches the value of its own output voltage when a substance establishes contact across the electrodes (2, 3, 4). The device further includes one output circuit (180) connected to the output of the sensing circuit (140) and adapted to provide an output signal (s7) representative of the presence of a substance across the electrode pair (2, 3, 4). The device also allows the output signal to take different voltage and/or current and/or frequency values, in particular such that values can be discerned which are representative of the presence or level of substances and/or representative of faults of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ELTEK S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Molinaro, Mauro Zorzetto, Paolo Colombo
  • Publication number: 20150143830
    Abstract: Refrigerator appliances and methods for monitoring water filter assemblies within refrigerator appliances are provided. A water filter assembly has a sensor mounted to a filter cartridge of the water filter assembly and a replacement sensor mounted to a replacement filter cartridge of the water filter assembly. A refrigerator appliance has a sensor reader. A method includes detecting the absence of a signal from the sensor at the sensor reader, receiving a signal from the replacement sensor at the sensor reader indicating the presence of the replacement sensor, and providing a signal indicating a purge routine when the receiving step occurs after the detecting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Reinhard Krause, Robert Lee Lewis, JR.
  • Patent number: 9032562
    Abstract: There are provided a valve control system, a bidet using the same, and a valve control method. The valve control system includes a latch valve controlling a stream of water in a pipe; a flow rate sensor measuring a flow rate in the pipe; and a valve control device controlling the operation of the latch valve. The valve control device determines whether or not the latch valve is malfunctioning upon analyzing a flow rate measured by the flow rate sensor. When the latch valve is malfunctioning, the valve control device controls the latch valve to re-operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Joung-Ho Son, In-Seok Seo, Ki-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 9027581
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide pneumatic control of a slam shut valve system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Butler
  • Publication number: 20150123040
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for heating a slurry to increase a solids concentration of the slurry while maintaining the viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a fuel slurry preparation system having a slurry tank configured to hold a fuel slurry, the fuel slurry having a solid fuel and a liquid. The fuel slurry preparation system also includes a heat source and a controller configured to control the heat source to heat the fuel slurry to decrease a viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Sivaguru Kanniappan, Raul Eduardo Ayala, Zhaohui Yang, Dejia Wang, Yan Zhou, Karunagaran Sivagurunathan, Murugaraja Sengottaiyan
  • Publication number: 20150122338
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and removing air from a syringe containing a volume of liquid and a volume of gas is described. The method includes moving a piston in the syringe to expel gas through an orifice of the syringe, sensing a movement of the piston in the syringe, and determining when the volume of gas is expelled from the syringe based on a change in the sensed movement. Moving the piston may include applying oscillating force to the piston using an electromagnetic actuator, and displacement and speed of the piston during each oscillation may be sensed. Determining when the volume of gas is expelled may be based on a change in the sensed movement of the piston during one or more oscillations of the piston or based on a comparison to a given reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Ashin P. Modak
  • Publication number: 20150114476
    Abstract: A method for adjusting operating parameters of a vacuum pump arrangement includes determining characteristics of a gas flowing through the vacuum pump arrangement; and setting operating parameters of the vacuum pump arrangement based on the determined characteristics of the first gas. A controller can be configured to perform the method for adjusting the operating parameters of the vacuum pump arrangement in accordance with the characteristics of the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Neil Turner, Jack Raymond Tattersall
  • Publication number: 20150114475
    Abstract: A drainage component in fluid communication with the fluid supply line includes a drain channel leading to a drain, the drain channel having an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall has a sealing surface approximate a three-way elastomeric valve. The elastomeric valve includes a moveable first wall having a first position when the fluid supply is on and a second position when fluid supply is off and a second wall connected to the moveable first wall, the second wall engaging a drain sealing surface when the first wall is in the first position. The elastomeric valve includes an orifice through which fluid may flow. When the pressure of the fluid on the elastomeric element increases, the second wall of the elastomeric valve engages the drain sealing surface. The elastomeric valve is preferably a fluoroelastomer to ensure both flexibility and resistance to a variety of chemical products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Ronald Schwartz, Andrew Max Schultz
  • Publication number: 20150110681
    Abstract: An injection section (12) of an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, with a channel (13) for guiding an exhaust gas flow (3), with an injection port (14), laterally on the channel to which a liquid or gas injector (15) can be connected, and with an injection chamber (16), formed in the channel in the area of the injector port. The chamber is defined by a perforated, first flow through partition (17), arranged in the channel upstream of the injector port relative to the exhaust gas flow and, and by a perforated, second flow through partition, arranged in the channel downstream of the injector port relative to the exhaust gas flow. Improved mixing and/or evaporation is achieved with the perforation portion of the first partition generating at least two partial exhaust gas flows (20, 21), which form two mutually opposite flow swirls (22, 23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Herve FERRONT, Laurent CAZENEUVE, Heike Többen, Sophie RILLY, Tobias WOLF, Sophie KERMORVANT
  • Publication number: 20150107676
    Abstract: A system and methods for automatically actuating a valve are provided herein. The method includes energizing sensors, a controller and an actuator with power that is generated locally at the site of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Jesse J. Green, Brad Andrews
  • Publication number: 20150107677
    Abstract: The temperatures of fuel oils stored in fuel tanks 12a, 12b, 12c are separately detected by temperature sensors 52a, 52b, 52c, respectively. Based on the detection results, a CPU 49 heats a heat resistant fuel oil among the fuel oils using a heat exchanger 54, such that the temperature of an oil mixture generated by mixing the fuel oils satisfies a predetermined temperature condition. After the fuel oils including the heated heat resistant fuel oil are mixed in a blender 13, the CPU 49 detects the viscosity of the generated oil mixture using a viscometer 33. Thereafter, based on the detection result, the CPU 49 controls the mixture ratio or a heating temperature of the heat resistant fuel oil, such that the viscosity of the oil mixture satisfies a predetermined viscosity condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Yukio Yagi, I Hon Tyun, Yuuki Ootomo
  • Publication number: 20150096624
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling the rate of pump out of liquid coolant from a sump tank in which the level of liquid coolant in the sump tank is continuously sensed and corresponding signals transmitted to a variable frequency drive controller which correspondingly varies the speed of a pump motor to continuously increase or decrease the pump out rate in correspondence with the level liquid in the sump tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce Larkin