Flow Control (e.g., Valve Or Pump Control) Patents (Class 700/282)
  • Patent number: 11747777
    Abstract: A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator to control the availability of a utility comprises a covered enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region, at least one readily accessible utility control providing ON and OFF request signals and a limited access control in the exterior region providing a temporary activate signal. The service panel has a controller and data storage programmed with code and data and control circuitry providing an “ON” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “ON” state, and the control circuitry providing an “OFF” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an OFF state, the control circuitry further providing a re-key signal to the at least one actuator in response to activation of a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc
    Inventor: Phil A. Parker
  • Patent number: 11740703
    Abstract: An apparatus having a gesture sensor is provided. The gesture sensor includes an image sensing unit and a processing unit. The image sensing unit can capture at least a gesture image of user. The processing unit is electrically connected to the image sensing unit. The processing unit can send at least a control command according to the gesture image to operate the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Chung-Yuo Wu, Yi-Hsien Ko, Nientse Chen
  • Patent number: 11732943
    Abstract: A universal controller for integration of cryogenic equipment, requiring different control mechanisms, onto a single operating platform. The universal controller may include a power supply element that is configured to simultaneously drive a plurality of cryogenic devices that have different power supply requirements and a protocol translator element that is configured to enable communication between a plurality of cryogenic devices that use different, incompatible communication protocols, wherein the protocol translator element translates communications sent by a first type of cryogenic device from a first cryogenic device communication protocol into a second cryogenic device communication protocol and translates communications sent by a second type of cryogenic device from a second cryogenic device communication protocol into the first cryogenic device communication protocol, enabling the first type of cryogenic device and the second type of cryogenic device to communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO (SHI) CRYOGENICS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Frank P. Jankowsky, III, Craig Hollabaugh, Gary S. Ash
  • Patent number: 11732904
    Abstract: A peripheral unit for use in a water regulation system that controls the intake of water in a water circulation system of a building; it has a power source; a user input interface; a motion detector; a communication interface that is configured to establish a connection with the control panel; and a controller that is configured to send a first transmission to the control panel via the connection for causing the controller of the control panel to actuate opening of the water valve for a given period of time; and send a second transmission to the control panel via the connection for causing the controller of the control panel to actuate closing of the water valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Jean-François Bessette, Luc Fortin
  • Patent number: 11733752
    Abstract: A power receiving apparatus includes a communication unit capable of communicating with a power supply apparatus, and a control unit that, based on information relating to power which the power supply apparatus is capable of supplying, determines whether or not to perform an authentication communication with the power supply apparatus to authenticate whether or not the power supply apparatus is a predetermined apparatus. The control unit requests the power supply apparatus to supply first power regardless of whether or not the power supply apparatus is the predetermined apparatus, in a case where the authentication communication is not performed, and the control unit requests the power supply apparatus to supply second power in a case where the authentication communication is performed and the power supply apparatus is authenticated as the predetermined apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Enomoto
  • Patent number: 11725152
    Abstract: A system for conditioning live crude oil to produce stabilized oil that can be stored in a conventional oil storage tank and hydrocarbon gas includes a stabilizer tower and a heater treater. The stabilizer tower receives oil from separators at the wellhead production facility and outputs oil to the heater treater. The heater treater outputs gas back into the stabilizer tower and, optionally, recycles a portion of oil output back into the heater treater, which enhances oil output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Maze Environmental LLC
    Inventor: Brooks Pearce
  • Patent number: 11725677
    Abstract: A valve controller for a valve that comprises an actuator mechanically coupled to at least one flow controlling element. The valve controller comprises at least one pilot valve for controlling the position of the flow controlling element(s) by the actuator. The valve controller comprises a position sensor for obtaining a position signal indicative of the position of one of said at least one flow controlling element. The valve controller is configured to execute a configuration phase comprising establishing a pilot valve integer corresponding to number of pilot valves, and determining a tolerance criterion for the position signal based on the pilot valve integer. A valve arrangement comprising the valve controller and a valve. A method of controlling a valve comprising the configuration phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Thomas Priisholm, Karsten Schack Madsen
  • Patent number: 11724361
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing real-time modification of cutting process programs using feedback from one or more sensors which measure one or more operational parameters of a cutting process and/or cutting apparatus. The sensor readings may be used to provide real-time modification of a motion program after such motion program has been provided to a motion controller. Examples of such operational parameters may include waterjet pump supply pressure, the abrasive mass flow rate, the force of the waterjet on the target piece, etc. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize a cutting algorithm or program to calculate actual cut quality based on one or more sensor inputs, and to generate warnings or system shut-downs accordingly. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize inspection devices to inspect coupons or first articles, and use the inspection data to autonomously modify motion programs and/or cutting process models without user intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Flow International Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn A. Erichsen, Alex M. Chillman, Jordan J. Hopkins, Adam G. Law, Amanda C. Kotchon, Paul H. Tacheron, Charles D. Burnham, Brian Kent, Mohamed Hashish, Craig D. Sunada, Jiannan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11723837
    Abstract: Spa systems may be used all year round and in colder weather provide an enjoyable experience for users through the cold ambient outdoor temperature and the heated water of the spa. However, failures in respect of the water circulating pump and/or heater of the spa system either mechanically, electrically or through overall power outages mean the water in the spa system and its pipework can easily freeze if ambient conditions are cold enough leading to cracks in the spa system or pipes and hence leaks when the water thaws requiring costly repair or replacement of components or entire systems. Accordingly, a freeze protection system is provided that uses a backup thermal management system discretely or in combination with other backup systems. These freeze protection systems offering backup when mechanical failures, electrical failures etc. arise by providing thermal input to the spa system through alternate thermal paths and providing alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: York Sikora
  • Patent number: 11713662
    Abstract: An illustrative modular manifold disclosed herein includes, among other things, a low-pressure manifold comprising a frac fluid outlet valve, wherein a fracturing fluid is adapted to be supplied from the low-pressure manifold via the frac fluid outlet valve to a suction side of a frac pump, and a high-pressure manifold comprising at least one frac fluid inlet valve, wherein the high-pressure manifold is adapted to receive, via the frac fluid inlet valve, a fracturing fluid discharged from the frac pump. In this example, the modular manifold also includes a support structure for mechanically supporting the low- and high-pressure manifolds and a plurality of height-adjustable support legs operatively coupled to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian Keihany, Corey Massey
  • Patent number: 11713893
    Abstract: A refrigerant control system includes: a charge module configured to determine an amount of refrigerant that is present within a refrigeration system of a building; a leak module configured to diagnose that a leak is present in the refrigeration system based on the amount of refrigerant; and at least one module configured to take at least one remedial action in response to the diagnosis that the leak is present in the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Butler, Stuart K. Morgan, Hung Pham, Winfield S. Morter, Andrew M. Welch, David A. Alfano, Michael A. Saunders
  • Patent number: 11708985
    Abstract: There is described a system and method for configuring, commissioning and troubleshooting an HVAC unit. A unit type configuration is established based on a type of HVAC system and temperature data, humidity data, and/or indoor air quality data. A fan configuration is established based on whether a variable frequency drive fan is identified. Cooling and heating stage configurations are established based on a compressor parameter and a heating stage parameter. An available auxiliary termination is identified in response to establishing the configurations. A safety is assigned to the available auxiliary termination in response to identifying the available auxiliary termination. An IO table is provided to an HVAC controller, which includes physical input/output assignments for the terminations of the HVAC controller based on the configurations and the assigned safety. For another embodiment, the fan configuration is established based on one of a traditional stage blower fan or variable frequency drive fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hriljac, Jibo Liu, Steven Brens, Ariane Roberson, Sandeep Billa
  • Patent number: 11710197
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling electrical activation of elements in a system. A method includes identifying (710) a first element (102) of a system (100) by a control system (600), among a plurality of elements (102, 110, 122) of the system (100), that is to be powered. The method includes determining (712) connected elements (110, 122) of the system (100) by the control system (600). The connected elements (110, 122) are connected to deliver power to the first element (102) directly or indirectly, based on an adjacency matrix (400), and the adjacency matrix (400) identifies connections between each of plurality of elements of the system (100). The method includes identifying (714) at least one of the connected elements (110, 122) to activate by the control system (600), based on the adjacency matrix (400), a health table (500), and the connected elements (110, 122), to deliver power to the first element (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Patent number: 11698052
    Abstract: A method for controlling pitching of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine includes receiving, via one or more position localization sensors, position data relating to the at least one rotor blade of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining, via a controller, a blade deflection signal of the at least one rotor blade based on the position data. Moreover, the method includes determining, via a computer-implemented model stored in the controller, a pitch command for the at least one rotor blade as a function of the blade deflection signal and an azimuth angle of the at least one rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xu Fu, Bernard P. Landa
  • Patent number: 11697218
    Abstract: An example system includes a cutting tool and a device configured to remotely control the cutting tool. The device is configured to establish a wireless communication with the cutting tool, and the cutting tool is configured to send a first signal to the device indicating that the cutting tool is enabled to be operated remotely responsive to the cutting tool receiving information indicating that a trigger is locked in an “on” state and a remote switch is in a first position. The device is configured to send a second signal to the cutting tool indicating a request to cause the cutting tool to perform a cutting operation responsive to receiving information indicative of actuation of at least one button of a user interface of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Skinner, Timothy Ryan Obermann, Benjamin Oliver Ryan Cabot, Thomas Cunningham Hanks
  • Patent number: 11699535
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for assessing the state of an 82Rb elution system. In certain embodiments, a system begins an assessment that comprises an elution, and a metric may be measured. This metric may be a concentration of 82Rb, 82Sr, or 85Sr in a fluid that is eluted from the generator, the volume of the fluid that is eluted from the generator, or the pressure of the fluid flowing through at least one portion of the system. If the assessment is completed, an output may be generated on a user interface that recommends a course of action, or no course of action, based on a result of the assessment. Should the assessment not complete successfully because it is interrupted, a 82Sr/82Rb generator of the system may be halted so as to prevent a user from performing an end-run around these quality control mechanisms of the 82Rb elution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventors: Etienne Lefort, Vincenzo Teoli, Robert A. Dekemp, Ran Klein
  • Patent number: 11695586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart home controller refrigerator and a control method therefor, the smart home controller refrigerator, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a control unit comprising a control protocol communication unit for receiving control information for controlling a home appliance in a home, an operation protocol communication unit for generating an operation signal calculated from the control information, and a signal transmission unit for transmitting the operation signal to the home appliance; at least one storage space; and at least one door for controlling the opening/closing of the at least one storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sang Oh Kim, Jungsang Yun, Dul Lae Min
  • Patent number: 11692903
    Abstract: A seat leak measurement system for a ball valve is described. The system includes: a ball valve with a cavity drain line, the ball valve including a cavity pressure sensor; a valve seat leak measurement apparatus including: a cable with a connector, the connector having an external grounding cable; an apparatus electronic control system in communication with the valve sensor retrieval fitting and with valves of the valve seat; an fluid inlet line with a quick pipe coupler, the fluid inlet line having an apparatus drain valve and an isolation valve; a pressure indicator transmitter connected to the fluid inlet line, the pressure indicator transmitter in electronic communication with the apparatus electronic control system; a temperature indicator transmitter connected to the fluid inlet line, the temperature indicator transmitter in electronic communication with the apparatus electronic control system; and a flow elements manifold receiving fluid from the fluid inlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Pablo Daniel Genta, Essam Ahmed Al-Arfaj
  • Patent number: 11693436
    Abstract: Valve systems and related methods include valve actuators and control systems configured to monitor at least one characteristic of the valve system during movement of a valve element to a position in the valve system and to determine a drift of the position based on the monitored at least one characteristic of the valve system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: FLOWSERVE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Mark D. Ollander, Daniel E. Carlson, Michael Adam Rumore
  • Patent number: 11690461
    Abstract: A bed has a mattress. A sensor is configured to sense sleep readings of a user sleeping on the bed. An automation controller is configured to transmit the sleep readings to a cloud service. Hardware hosting the cloud service is configured to compare the sleep readings with trend data in order to generate adjustments to the user's sleep environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
    Inventors: Omid Sayadi, Farzad Siyahjani
  • Patent number: 11686652
    Abstract: A method for determining a failure mode of a comfort device, the method includes obtaining a first input during a first operation of the comfort device, wherein the first operation is a known normal operation; classifying the first input into a class including a series of attributes and storing the first input in a database of input classes; obtaining a second input during a second operation of the comfort device; and classifying the second input into a class including a series of attributes and comparing the class of the second input to the class of the first input in a first comparison, wherein if a match exists, comparing the series of attributes of the second input to the series of attributes of the first input in a second comparison, wherein if a discrepancy is detected, a warning is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Intellihot, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Deivasigamani, Sivaprasad Akasam
  • Patent number: 11679997
    Abstract: A water savings system and method for reducing the amount of water needed for adiabatic cooling including the use of a softener and a reverse osmosis device, in which tap water, softened if necessary, is delivered to a reverse osmosis device and softened water alone, reverse osmosis reject water, or softened water combined with reverse osmosis reject water is delivered to spray nozzles for cooling, and reverse osmosis pure water is stored and used periodically to flush the coils to inhibit and/or prevent corrosion from dissolved salts and other solids in the spray water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Lane, Davey J. Vadder
  • Patent number: 11668622
    Abstract: A fluid monitoring system has a plurality of sensors, the sensors being acoustically coupled to a pipe system containing interconnected fluid-transporting pipes. The sensors collect sensor data that is analyzed by an analysis system to provide leak identification on the pipe system. Each sensor in the plurality of sensors is configured to be programmed adaptively by the analysis system to improve system performance parameters. A method for analyzing fluid flow is also described in which data from a plurality of acoustic sensing devices is analyzed using learning algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: AquaSeca Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Horne, Robert L. MacDonald, Marc A. Finot, Eric Allen Moon
  • Patent number: 11669919
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of Internet of Things (IoT), and provides a gas pricing method based on a compound IoT and an IoT system. The method is applied to the system. The system includes a user platform, a service platform, a plurality of management sub-platforms, a sensor network platform and a plurality of object sub-platforms; and each of the object sub-platforms includes a gas meter. According to the gas pricing method based on the compound IoT and the IoT system, a user can sense the benefit of gas saving directly from a fee, thereby helping push a gas-saving social morality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: CHENGDU QINCHUAN IOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zehua Shao
  • Patent number: 11659685
    Abstract: An information handling system may include an information handling resource, at least one fluidic conduit thermally coupled to the information handling resource and configured to convey a cooling liquid proximate to the information handling resource in order to cool the information handling resource, an air mover support infrastructure comprising a plurality of bays, each bay of the plurality of bays configured to receive an air mover for cooling components of the information handling system, and a liquid manifold sized and shaped to be received in at least one of the plurality of bays and received in a first bay of the plurality of bays and configured to enable at least one fluidic conduit to fluidically couple to an external cooling system, wherein the external cooling system is configured to deliver cooled cooling liquid to the information handling system, receive warmed cooling liquid from the information handling system, and cool the warmed cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Walter R. Carver, Douglas S. Haunsperger
  • Patent number: 11655731
    Abstract: An oil supply system for supplying oil to a lubricating cavity of a gas turbine engine, the oil supply system has: a de-oiler having a de-oiler air-oil inlet, a de-oiler oil outlet hydraulically connected to the lubricating cavity, and a de-oiler air outlet in fluid flow communication with an environment outside of the oil supply system; and a closed-loop oil circuit including a main pump having a main pump inlet and a main pump outlet, the main pump outlet hydraulically connected to the lubricating cavity, a de-aerator having a de-aerator inlet hydraulically connected to a scavenge outlet of the lubricating cavity, a de-aerator air-oil outlet in fluid flow communication with the de-oiler inlet, and a de-aerator oil outlet hydraulically connected to the main pump inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Legare, Sylvain Brouillet, Daniel Alecu, Sam Cutrara, Rose Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 11656149
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatically determining friction of a control valve. An example apparatus includes a hysteresis measurement controller to determine an average control hysteresis value for a valve over a first range of travel of the valve, a comparator to compare the average control hysteresis value to a second value corresponding to a second range of travel of the valve encompassing the first range of travel of the valve, and a step size selector to select one of multiple control step sizes for the valve based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Michael Fontaine, David Smid
  • Patent number: 11656145
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring consumable gas usage are disclosed. A method includes obtaining, from one or more sensors installed at a property, sensor data that indicates one or more attributes of the property; based on the sensor data, determining an expected amount of gas consumption at the property; obtaining, from a gas meter installed at the property, gas meter data that indicates a gas consumption at the property; determining, based on the gas meter data and the expected amount of gas consumption, that the gas consumption at the property meets criteria for abnormal gas consumption; and based on determining that the gas consumption at the property meets criteria for abnormal gas consumption, performing one or more monitoring system actions. Determining an expected amount of gas consumption at the property comprises determining an operating status of each of a plurality of gas consuming appliances at the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Colby Kevin Clark
  • Patent number: 11656130
    Abstract: A grommet is provided for use in a fire and overheat detection system (FODS) clamp. The grommet includes an elongated body defining a central aperture and a slit. The elongated body includes wire mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rhushikesh Patil, Vinod Maruti Naik, Scott Kenneth Newlin
  • Patent number: 11644215
    Abstract: A system for controlling flow of a fluid through a heat exchanger in a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a flow control device operable to adjust the flow of the fluid through the heat exchanger, temperature sensors positioned to obtain a temperature differential of the fluid across the heat exchanger, and a controller configured to compare the temperature differential to a threshold. Responsive to the temperature differential being less than the threshold, the controller is configured to calculate an adjusted setpoint for the flow control device as a function of both the temperature differential and the threshold and operate the flow control device to adjust the flow of the fluid through the heat exchanger in accordance with the adjusted setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Rachel A. Glanzer, Brennan H. Fentzlaff, Kirk H. Drees
  • Patent number: 11639813
    Abstract: In an immediate hot water supply operation mode in which a circulation pump is activated while a hot water supply faucet is closed, a water heating apparatus forms an immediate hot water supply circulation path by an inner path including a water entry path, a heat exchanger, and a hot water output path and an outer path bypassing the hot water supply faucet, as being combined. A controller stores as an actual flow rate value for each immediate hot water supply operation mode, a flow rate detection value by a flow rate sensor at predetermined timing, and calculates a flow rate learning value based on a plurality of stored actual flow rate values. When the flow rate detection value becomes larger than a criterion value set in accordance with the flow rate learning value, use of the hot water supply faucet is detected and the circulation pump is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahide Hasegawa, Atsushi Ushio
  • Patent number: 11631038
    Abstract: A system and method for dispatching haul trucks includes a production planner configured to operate based on a production plan. The production planner computationally defines production arcs for transferring material from loading tools to dump sites, computationally develops one or more possible return arcs for each production arc, compiles a set of possible return arcs, and computationally selects a sub-set of the possible return arcs to command a real time dispatcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell A. Brockhurst, Kevin E. Gates
  • Patent number: 11632522
    Abstract: The video recording system comprises a video recorder and one or more cameras which is specially designed to record video on the exterior and interior of a locomotive. The system is capable of withstanding the railroad environment, and has been designed to maximize safety and to minimize liability. The video recording system is capable of recording video on at least two drives (same video or different video on at least two drives) thereby creating redundancy in case one of the videos is unclear and/or damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Joseph Donnan
  • Patent number: 11630469
    Abstract: A control system controls a fluid distribution system that includes consumer branches arranged in parallel. Each consumer branch includes a consumer element (31) consuming fluid and/or thermal energy, a regulating device (9) receiving a control value regulating a flow of fluid and/or thermal energy through the consumer branch, and a sensor (11) providing a measured value of the consumer branch. The control system includes a saturation calculation module (21) providing a saturation value, for each operational consumer branch, indicative of the saturation degree of the associated consumer branch, and a saturation compensation module (23) receiving the saturation values and altering a reference value. The altered reference value is based on an initial reference value and the saturation values from all consumer branches. The consumer branch regulating device, of each operational consumer branch, is controllable based on the altered reference value and the measured value of the associated consumer branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Anders Overgaard, Brian Kongsgaard Nielsen, Carsten Skovmose Kallesøe
  • Patent number: 11622513
    Abstract: A system with sensor equipment including one or more sensors and watering equipment disposed on a parcel of land and configured to selectively apply water to the parcel, and a gateway configured to provide for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment. The watering equipment comprises a watering pump, wherein the watering pump is operably coupled to a water source and a water line to alternately couple the water source to and isolate the water source from the water line. The watering pump further includes a pump sensor assembly configured to direct the watering pump based on detected environmental and operational parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Johannes Gungl, Florian Soor, Thomas Schabel, Juergen Link, Wolfgang Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11626744
    Abstract: A motor-driven actuator device includes an enclosure (1) in which a motor, control module (3) and a drive (4) are housed. The drive (4) is coupled between a motor and a device being actuated. The device also includes an input for receiving a renewable or harvested energy power supply and a battery pack (6) housed within said enclosure (1). The battery pack (8) is electrically connected to selectively drive the motor and drive system (4) and is electrically connectable to the renewable or harvested energy power supply for charging. The control module is configured to cause the battery pack (6) to selectively drive the motor and cause the actuator to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rotork Controls Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Wiggins, David Ware, Nian You Tan
  • Patent number: 11624524
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a flow sensor in a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method includes receiving, at a controller, a request to enter a calibration mode and, in response to receiving the request, automatically commanding a flow control device to achieve a target flow rate. The method further includes generating, by the controller, calibration data for the flow sensor using a reference flow value of the flow rate when the flow control device has achieved the target flow rate and a corresponding flow measurement from the flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Kirk H. Drees, Jack A. Peterson, Brennan H. Fentzlaff
  • Patent number: 11612688
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the volume of fluid dispensed. The apparatus has an acoustic volume sensor that acoustically excites a reference volume and a measurement chamber with a loudspeaker and measures the acoustic response with microphones acoustically coupled to the reference and the measurement chamber. The loudspeaker and sensing microphones are connected to the measurement chamber by separate ports. A detachable dispensing chamber is coupled to the acoustic volume sensor. The volume of the fluid dispensed is determined by a processor based on the acoustic response of the microphones to acoustic excitement by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Larry B. Gray, Russell H. Beavis, John M. Kerwin, Derek G. Kane
  • Patent number: 11612065
    Abstract: A foldable display module and its formation method, and a foldable display device are provided in the present disclosure. The module includes a foldable display panel and a support plate which are disposed oppositely. The support plate includes a first support part and a second support part; the first support part is made of a first material; and the second support part is made of a second material; the foldable display module includes a bendable region and a non-bendable region; the foldable display panel includes a bendable portion and a non-bendable portion; the bendable portion is at the bendable region; and the non-bendable portion is at the non-bendable region; the first support part includes a first portion configured to support the bendable portion of the foldable display panel; and the second support part is configured to support the non-bendable portion of the foldable display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shouzheng Wu
  • Patent number: 11608906
    Abstract: A control device for providing a position controller mode for closed-loop position control of an actuator member of a fluidic actuator which can be driven by a pressurized fluid, wherein the control device is configured to activate a pressure controller mode in response to the actuator member being located in a position target range given by a target position value of the closed-loop position control, and, in the pressure controller mode, to carry out a closed-loop pressure control of the pressurized fluid on the basis of a target pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Festo SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Matthias Joachimsthaler
  • Patent number: 11611730
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to modular LED imaging projector and optical systems and apparatuses. A light-emitting diode (LED) engine module emits a light beam that is homogenized and focused through a predetermined focal point. The LED engine module is detachably attached to a posterior connection point of a base body assembly. A collimating lens within the base body assembly refocuses the light beam to reduce divergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Brian Robert Moon, John W. Luhrs
  • Patent number: 11604482
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for operation and control of gravity-fed fluid flows in water and wastewater related systems. The disclosed flow control system uses gravity to provide a flow of a fluid from a fluid source and a motorized flow control device fluidically coupled to the fluid source to control a defined flow rate of the flow by changing a position of an internal volume of the flow control device through which the fluid flows relative to a fixed level of the fluid in the fluid source. The disclosed devices, systems and methods can be used in a wide variety of systems for environmental and low-energy demand applications such as, for example, a wastewater treatment system to control a flow of wastewater in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: AQUACYCL, INC.
    Inventors: Sofia Malinova Babanova, Orianna Bretschger, José Daniel Barocio Montemayor, Gerardo Garcia Serrano
  • Patent number: 11598197
    Abstract: A method of managing oilfield activity with a control system is provided having a plurality of virtual sensors and integrating the virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network. The method includes determining interdependencies among the virtual sensors, obtaining operational information from the virtual sensors, and providing virtual sensor output to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keshava Rangarajan, Joseph Blake Winston, Anuj Jain, Xi Wang
  • Patent number: 11561560
    Abstract: A flow controller includes a valve unit for influencing the flow of a fluid through a fluid channel, a flow sensor for detecting the flow of the fluid through the fluid channel, a pressure sensor arrangement for detecting a fluid pressure of the fluid, and a control unit which is adapted to, in response to the flow being within a measurement range of the flow sensor, assume a first operating mode, and, in the first operating mode, to perform a first closed-loop flow control on the basis of the flow detected by the flow sensor, and, in response to the flow being outside the measurement range of the flow sensor, assume a second operating mode, and, in the second operating mode, to perform an open-loop flow control on the basis of the detected fluid pressure and/or to perform a second closed-loop flow control on the basis of the detected fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Festo SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Valentin Falkenhahn, Gerhard Gommel, Daniel Klassen
  • Patent number: 11555720
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of Internet of Things (IoT), and provides a gas leakage detection method based on a compound IoT and an IoT system. According to the gas leakage detection method based on the compound IoT and the IoT system provided by the present invention, whether a gas pipeline of a user has gas leakage or not is judged via a user participation manner, the judgment manner is intelligent, the judgment result is accurate and thus the gas safety of the user is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CHENGDU QINCHUAN IOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zehua Shao
  • Patent number: 11557894
    Abstract: A protection relay device includes a housing and a fuse unit. The fuse unit includes a connection conductor, an input conductor connected to the connection conductor and receiving an external power, a fuse connected to the connection conductor, and an external device connection conductor connected to the fuse on a side opposite to the input conductor, and to which an external device is connected. A short-circuit induction conductor is provided on at least one of the input conductor on a side opposite to the fuse and the flapper portion, the short-circuit induction conductor protruding toward the other of the input conductor and the flapper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Inamasa, Kenji Uetani, Mitsuru Hano
  • Patent number: 11539062
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply channel, a regulator, an injector, and a controller. The controller drives the regulator in conjunction with the injector. The controller compares a fuel gas flow amount necessary for the fuel cell to generate electricity with a predetermined fuel gas flow amount, selects the fuel gas flow amount that is larger, and issues commands to the regulator and the injector. The predetermined fuel gas flow amount is set to be larger than the fuel gas flow amount necessary for the fuel cell to generate the electricity when a generated current or output of the fuel cell is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichi Tanaka, Nobukazu Mizuno, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11538287
    Abstract: An apparatus for managing vehicle data collection including a remote access execution circuit, a property translation circuit, a parameter acquisition circuit, a remote operation circuit, and a parameter conditioning circuit. The remote access execution circuit interprets a remote access request value including a requested vehicle property and/or a vehicle function value. The property translation circuit determines: a property request value responsive to the requested vehicle property; and/or an actuator command value responsive to the vehicle function value. The parameter acquisition circuit interprets vehicle parameter values responsive to the property request value. The remote operation circuit provides the actuator command value to a vehicle network zone endpoint. The parameter conditioning circuit generates, responsive to the property request value, vehicle property data from the vehicle parameter values. The vehicle property data corresponds to the requested vehicle property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Sonatus, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Fang, Yixiang Chen, Xuanran Zong, Robin Reed, Troy Michael Trenchard, Thurston Zhu, Sudhir Ramphal Dhankhar, Jeffrey Chou, Felipe Andres Valdes Valenzuela
  • Patent number: 11530689
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dispensing station comprising a data processing unit configured for communicating with a controller and configured for receiving one or more command parameter(s) via a first communication device, the first communication device is a wireless device. The dispensing station is configured for receiving a first set of condition parameters via the first communication device, wherein the first condition parameters is related to at least the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: HOVE A/S
    Inventors: Ivan Madsen, Thomas Cramer
  • Patent number: 11530704
    Abstract: A well management system provides Internet-enabled monitoring, configuration, and control of a well system that may include a pump and a pressure tank. A controller is operatively coupled to the pump. The controller controls the pump based on pressure readings from a pressure sensor to maintain a configured pressure range within the system. The controller can communicate with a management system via a communications network. The management system is further in communication with one or more client devices, which may be associated with a homeowner, a service provider, a manufacturer, or the like. Via the management system, the client devices can receive information from the controller and send commands to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: AMTROL LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Van Haaren, Michael Cogliati, Brady Erickson