Flow Control (e.g., Valve Or Pump Control) Patents (Class 700/282)
  • Patent number: 10628371
    Abstract: A USB detecting method for use with a controlling and processing unit, a USB input/output port, at least one switch and at least one USB peripheral device is provided. The at least one switch is arranged between the controlling and processing unit and the USB input/output port and/or arranged between the USB input/output port and the at least one USB peripheral device that is electrically connected with the USB input/output port. Firstly, a USB detection signal of the at least one USB peripheral device is provided to the controlling and processing unit. According to a result of receiving the USB detection signal, the controlling and processing unit determines whether the switch is reset. For resetting the at least one switch, the controlling and processing unit simulates the action of plugging and pulling out the USB peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FLYTECH TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yun-Ping Liu, Hsiao-Hui Lee, Shuei-Jin Tsai
  • Patent number: 10626653
    Abstract: In a method for the commissioning of a door or window closer which comprises an energy accumulator, a damping device with an electric motor being operable as a generator and a transmission element, the leaf is opened and/or closed at least once in a teach-in process, the angular position of the motor shaft is detected during opening and/or closing, a functional relationship is determined between the angular position of the motor shaft and an angular position of the rotatable leaf at least over an area of the opening width of the leaf and the functional connection is automatically taken as a basis for a subsequent actuation of the electric motor for the damping of the closing movement of the leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Geze GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Hucker
  • Patent number: 10620595
    Abstract: A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Silvair Sp. z o.o.
    Inventors: Szymon Slupik, Adam Gembala
  • Patent number: 10610951
    Abstract: Device (1) for the provision of electric power, wherein the device (1) comprises: at least one integrated temperature sensor (3-1, 3-2) which detects an operating temperature progression of at least one component (2-1, 2-2) of the device (1) and a monitoring unit (5) which, on the basis of the at least one detected operating temperature progression and the adjusted power, monitors the operating state of a device cooling arrangement of the device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Lanz, Alexander Eder, Andreas Lugmayr
  • Patent number: 10603248
    Abstract: A flow control apparatus adapted for a feeding set includes a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set and a pumping device for acting on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid. The apparatus has a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of a rotational position of a rotor, and a control circuit in communication with the sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor indicative of the rotational position of the rotor and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof. The control circuit controls operation of a motor at a first output to rotate the rotor to produce fluid flow in the feeding set and at a second output effectively less than the first output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KPR U.S., LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Hudson
  • Patent number: 10598532
    Abstract: A meter electronics (100) for two or more meter assemblies (10a, 10b). The meter electronics (100) includes a processor (110) and one or more signal processors (120) communicatively coupled to the processor (110). The one or more signal processors (120) are configured to communicatively couple to a first meter assembly (10a) and a second meter assembly (10b). Accordingly, only one meter electronics can be employed to control the two or more meter assemblies, which may reduce the costs associated with employing two meter electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Shen, Richard L. Maginnis, Fengchuan Gao, Huan Liu
  • Patent number: 10591161
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a gas valve assembly and/or combustion appliance may include identifying a flow rate of gas to a burner of a combustion appliance and determining if the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load of the combustion appliance. If the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load, a position of the valve member of the valve assembly and/or the burner load may be adjusted such that the flow rate of gas meets a target flow rate of gas for the current burner load. If the flow rate is insufficient to meet the current burner load, the valve member of the valve assembly may be positioned in a fully open position to at least partially meet the current burner load. If the flow rate is below a minimum flow rate threshold, the valve member may be moved to a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Super, Jos Praat, Hans van der Mei, Frank van Prooijen
  • Patent number: 10590836
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control in a boosted engine system configured with an electric motor to provide electrical boost assistance. Tip-in and tip-out surge are addressed by increasing the opening of a compressor recirculation valve and coordinating the recirculation valve opening with adjustments to an exhaust waste-gate position and a power output by the electric motor. The adjustments enable an intake airflow to be provided that operates the compressor outside a surge region while providing a target boost pressure as operator torque demand increases or decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Patrick McConville, Julia Helen Buckland
  • Patent number: 10571880
    Abstract: An industrial controller that controls operation of an industrial system. The industrial controller comprises a processor and a memory storing instruction, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform certain functions. In particular, the instructions cause the processor to communicate high speed data in a first industrial protocol between the industrial controller and a high speed device during a first frame section but not during a second frame section of a controller frame of the industrial controller and communicate linking device data in a second industrial protocol between the industrial controller and a linking device during the second frame section but not during the first frame section or during the third frame section of the controller frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Alexander Petzen, III, Timothy John Kolb, Dana Robert Kreft, Isaac Millen Rushing
  • Patent number: 10561078
    Abstract: The present system identifies leaks in irrigation systems by monitoring the overall flow at an irrigation system valve. The system may monitor typical flow rates and may send a signal to shut off an irrigation system valve if an unexpected or excessive flow rate is detected. The present technology can be used in traditional sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, and other irrigation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Richard Alan Darnold
  • Patent number: 10556139
    Abstract: A network-type temperature-controlled hanging extinguishing system includes: a main fire-fighting pipe which has at least one fire-extinguishing medium support port; at least one fire-extinguishing medium pressure bearing tank communicated with the main fire-fighting pipe; at least one fire sprinkler valve which is communicated with the main fire-fighting pipe and includes a memory alloy part adapted for controlling opening and closing a valve body; and at least open nozzle which is communicated with the fire sprinkler valve, such that when the fire sprinkler valve is opened, the fire-extinguishing medium is sprayed, and when the fire sprinkler valve is closed, the fire-extinguishing medium is stopped spraying. An amount of the fire-extinguishing medium pressure bearing tanks is different from that of the open nozzles; a user is able to select an appropriate amount of fire-extinguishing medium pressure bearing tanks as required to reduce the manufacturing, assembly and maintenance cost of the entire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: China Aerospace Construction Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Longhao Quan
  • Patent number: 10559328
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling at least one environmental condition within at least one data storage library. The system may include at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library having at least one component bay therein. The system may also include at least one adapter configured to fit within the at least one component bay, and/or at least one environmental conditioning device connected to the at least one adapter, wherein the at least one environmental conditioning device is configured to control at least one environmental condition within the at least one data storage library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jose G. Miranda Gavillan, Brian G. Goodman, Gregory J. Goodman, Kenny Nian Gan Qiu
  • Patent number: 10550957
    Abstract: A control device for a process valve unit which includes a valve drive and a valve fitting, wherein the control device has a control unit which is configured to receive a control signal from a superordinate control via a communication interface which is provided in the field level, and to control the valve drive in accordance with the control signal, wherein the control device further has a local bus interface and the control unit is constructed to communicate with one or more devices of the field level via the local bus interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FESTO AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Schmidt, Jan Reich, Christian Kohler, Andreas Siebel, Stefan Elmer
  • Patent number: 10527321
    Abstract: In an air cooled chiller, a refrigerant pump and bypass valve connected in parallel feed refrigerant from the condenser to a receiver; the pump is activated in response to condenser pressure; and the bypass is used otherwise. The condenser fan is controlled based on power consumption by the air cooled chiller that varies with ambient conditions. An evaporator set point is reset to meet load conditions. An expansion valve for the evaporator is controlled based on chilled water temperature, Delta T, or information from an air handling unit. Feedback of valve setting or position, temperature of air, valve size, and/or importance of an air handling unit is used to control the flow of chilled water. A variable pressure curve or other relationship is used with the feedback to control flow of chilled water based on the load. Refrigerant temperature is controlled based on information from the air handling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Duane D. Warren
  • Patent number: 10525294
    Abstract: A control system for use with a fire-fighting device includes a remote component having a touch sensitive screen configured to receive a user-requested parameter of fluid and to display a plurality of indicators associated with the fire-fighting device. The control system also includes a base component including a programmable logic controller having predefined logic stored thereon. The base component automatically controls operation of the pump based on the predefined logic and the user-requested parameter of fluid. The remote component receives signals from the base component and presents, via the touch sensitive screen, at least one of a first of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water volume associated with a first water source stored at a fire fighting device, and a second of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water pressure associated with a second water source remote from the fire-fighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hale Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Cerrano
  • Patent number: 10514712
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for pressure-based flow measurement are provided. A processor receives, from the pressure-based mass flow controller (MFC), an upstream pressure value Pu. The processor computes, for the pressure-based mass flow controller (MFC), a downstream pressure value Pd based on the received upstream pressure value Pu. The processor computes, for the pressure-based mass flow controller (MFC), a flow rate Q based on the received upstream pressure value Pu and the computed downstream pressure value Pd. The processor controls a flow through the pressure-based mass flow controller (MFC) based on the computed flow rate Q. The methods, systems, and apparatus can be used for flow measurement in non-critical or un-choked flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Michael L'Bassi
  • Patent number: 10509380
    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: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: WCM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Phil A. Parker
  • Patent number: 10496053
    Abstract: Method for integrated data handling for engineering and operation of a plant having a plurality of software applications with different functionalities, wherein the plurality of software applications are interconnected via a network, a common data model including data shared between at least two of the plurality of software applications is provided, the common data model is managed by a configuration data service, data specific to a single application is managed by an application specific configuration data service that is assigned to a number of applications such that flexible, consistent, performance-optimized and efficient management of the various heterogeneous systems in the plant is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Biesdorf, Matthias Jung, Klaus-Juergen Langer, Denis Schroff, Michael Unkelbach, Johannes Weiss, Klaus Wendelberger, Egon Wuchner
  • Patent number: 10480283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a fail-safe surface controlled electric subsurface safety valve for use in a well. For example, in one embodiment, an electric sub-surface safety valve (eSSSV) system is disclosed that includes a master control system; a subsea control module; and an electric sub-surface safety valve having dual, redundant electronic modules that are configured to control power to dual electromagnetic actuators that move a single valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Chakkungal Joseph, Bruce Edward Scott, Wesley Irvin Clow, Aswin Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 10466721
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a drive motor operating a discharge valve installed in a conduit on a firefighting vehicle. The system includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of liquids flowing through the conduit, a flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate of liquids flowing through the conduit, a variable control switch operable to generate a variable control signal in response to manual activation, and a microcontroller operable to receive the pressure and flow rate, and generate a variable non-linear control signal operable to cause the drive motor to change the position of the discharge valve at a variable non-linear speed directly proportional to a distance of a current setting from a desired setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: John E. McLoughlin
  • Patent number: 10458416
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring of a pump includes a control module, and an error detection unit, wherein a support vector machine based module is provided that receives an estimated output quantity data value from the control module, processes the estimated output quantity data value to provide a processed estimated output quantity data value via the support vector machine, and supplies the processed estimated output quantity data value to the error detection unit instead of the estimated output quantity data value of the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oleg Vladimirovich Mangutov, Ilya Igorevich Mokhov, Nicolay Andreevich Veniaminov, Alexey Petrovich Kozionov
  • Patent number: 10446237
    Abstract: Devices and techniques temperature sensitive NAND programming are disclosed herein. A device controller can receive a command to write data to a component of the device. A temperature can be obtained in response to the command, and the temperature can be combined with a temperature compensation value to calculate a verification level. The command can then be executed in accordance with the verification level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangang Luo, Jianmin Huang, Jung Sheng Hoei, Harish Reddy Singidi, Ting Luo, Ankit Vashi
  • Patent number: 10430737
    Abstract: A restroom monitoring system for monitoring attributes of fixtures within a restroom using sensors. Additional attributes are determined from the monitored attributes. Consumable usage levels are estimated based on predetermined consumption levels associated with usage states of the fixtures. The restroom monitoring system provides an indication of the need for replenishment of consumables based on the monitored attributes of the fixtures. In addition, restroom monitoring system may provide additional information regarding the restroom attributes to a service provider, a manager or a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SLOAN VALVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward Yenni, Peter J. Jahrling
  • Patent number: 10422356
    Abstract: An apparatus and control system of a programmable air servo motor includes an air servo motor and an air servo motor driver, which are bi-directionally communicable with each other via communication units. The air servo motor includes an air motor, a sensor module, and a brake module that is normally locked and can be unlocked or locked by the air servo motor driver. The air servo motor driver includes a control module, an actuation module and a communication module. After actuating the air servo motor, the air servo motor driver receives torque, rotational speed and angle signals output by the sensor module. The actuation module drives the air servo motor to stop emergently, switch between forward and reverse rotation, increase or reduce rotational speed, operate at a specific angle, move by inching and operate at controlled torque similar to an electric servo motor without the need of an encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CHINA PNEUMATIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hsiu-Feng Chu
  • Patent number: 10426059
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for configuring an airflow cooling system shared by a plurality of IHSs (Information Handling Systems). An initial fan speed is set by a chassis manager that controls airflow cooling shared by the IHSs. The chassis manager broadcasts the initial fan speed to the plurality of IHSs. Each IHS receives the initial fan speed broadcast and determines its own fan speed requirements. If an IHS requires a fan speed greater than the initial fan speed, the IHS broadcasts a fan speed request. Each IHS continues to monitor fan speed broadcasts and broadcasts a request if its determined fan speed is greater than the most recent broadcast. The IHS that broadcasts the greatest fan speed request is designated as the dominant IHS. The chassis manager sets the airflow cooling system fan speed based on the fan speed requests broadcast by the dominant IHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Komal Kumar Dhote, Santosh Kumar Sahu
  • Patent number: 10416690
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 10400658
    Abstract: An intelligent sea water cooling system including a first fluid cooling loop coupled to a first side of a heat exchanger and to a thermal load, a second fluid cooling loop coupled to a second side of the heat exchanger, a pump for circulating fluid through the second fluid cooling loop, and a controller connected to the pump. The controller may monitor a temperature in the first fluid cooling loop and may adjust a speed of the pump to keep the temperature within a preferred operating range. If the speed of the pump is reduced to a predefined minimum pressure pump speed, the controller may start a timer t1 having a predefined duration. If the timer t1 expires and the temperature has not increased relative to when the timer t1 was started, the controller may reduce the speed of the pump below the minimum pressure pump speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CIRCOR PUMPS NORTH AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Yin, Stefan Werner, Christian Martin, Martin Hoffmann, David McKinstry
  • Patent number: 10390502
    Abstract: An integrated actuator coil and decoder module for use in decoder-based irrigation control systems, and related methods of manufacture and installation, are provided herein. In one implementation, an irrigation control device comprises a body, decoder circuitry located within the body, a coil located within the body and coupled to the decoder circuitry, the coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a device controlling irrigation equipment in response to signaling from the decoder circuitry. Also included is an electrical connection coupled to the decoder circuitry and adapted to couple to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system. The decoder circuitry and the coil are integrated into a single device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10358334
    Abstract: A control architecture for use with beverage product dispensers is provided. Instructions may be received at an interface module for performing one or more requested dispenser operations. The interface module may send the instructions to a dispense module. The dispense module may translate the instructions to predetermined commands associated with a dispenser. The one or more requested dispenser operations may then be performed based on the predetermined commands from the translated instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Davinder Sawhney, Christopher Paul Snowden
  • Patent number: 10356959
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to a chassis cooling resource. In some examples, a chassis cooling resource includes a controller, comprising instructions to detect a failure corresponding to a first cooling system of a first chassis coupled to a server rack, and alter settings of a second cooling system of a second chassis coupled the server rack to provide additional cooling resources to the first cooling system in response to the detected failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: John P. Franz, Tahir Cader, Matthew Richard Slaby
  • Patent number: 10323645
    Abstract: A pump system for a water supply mains has at least one pump device, a pressure detecting sensor at the pressure side of the pump device, a flow detecting sensor of the pump device, several pressure sensor units (D) remote arranged remotely from the pump device in different part regions of the mains, and a pump control device. The control device includes a model formation module designed in each case to produce a model (A) representing pressure loss from the pressure sensor to the position of the respective pressure sensor unit (D), based on several pressure measured values of at least two pressure sensor units (D) for the at least two associated part regions. The control device is designed for regulation of the pump device based on produced models (A), as well as to a corresponding method for regulation of a pump device in a water supply mains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Grundfos Holding a/s
    Inventors: Carsten Skovmose Kallesøe, Abdul-Sattar Hassan
  • Patent number: 10316651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oilfield management system. The oilfield management system comprises: one or more devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells, the one or more devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells are installed on one or more oil wells respectively for measuring working conditions of the one or more oil wells, the working conditions of oil wells at least comprise indicator diagrams of oil wells; one or more remote transmission units, each of the remote transmission units receives the working conditions measured by one or more of the devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells; and server, which determines running status of the one or more oil wells according to the working conditions of oil wells from the one or more remote transmission units; maintenance staff or administrators manage the one or more oil wells according to the running status of the one or more oil wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Xinhua Li
  • Patent number: 10261555
    Abstract: A head mounted display device may include a housing, including a user-facing cavity and an electronics compartment. At least one fan may be installed in the electronics compartment. A plurality of intake ports may be defined in a peripheral wall portion of the user-facing cavity, and at least one air discharge port may be defined in a wall portion of the electronics compartment. A plurality of air channels may extend between the user-facing cavity and the electronics compartment. Operation of the at least one fan may draw external air into the housing through the plurality of air intake ports into the user—facing cavity, and into the electronics compartment through the plurality of air channels, for discharge from the housing through the at least one discharge port, to provide cooling of the user-facing cavity and the electronics compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: James Cooper, Keeline Wilcox, Joseph Edward Clayton
  • Patent number: 10240621
    Abstract: A valve positioner that can maintain operation of the control valve despite failures in one or more components. The valve positioner may reduce downtime by allowing in-situ repair to occur on the valve positioner. The valve positioner may incorporate a by-pass component, which can utilize control input signals (e.g., a 4-20 mA signal) to energize one or more components (e.g., a current-to-pressure converter) to cause the control valve to modulate fluid flow without the digital microprocessor and/or related components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dresser, LLC
    Inventor: Sandro Esposito
  • Patent number: 10234884
    Abstract: In order to prevent an increase in size of a power source device in a power supply apparatus adapted to manage multiple flow rate controllers, the power supply apparatus is connected via cables to the multiple flow rate controllers adapted to control fluid flow rates, and manages operations of the flow rate controllers via the cables as well as supplying power to the flow rate controllers, respectively. In addition, the power supply apparatus is configured to include a power supply control part that shifts power supply start timings for at least some of the flow rate controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Takijiri, Hiroshi Takakura, Kenichi Oe
  • Patent number: 10231304
    Abstract: The present invention consolidates and centrally organizes, among other things, the control of and communication with equipment and sensors placed in or adjacent to a habitat. In an embodiment of the invention, a system for controlling and recognizing habitat components comprises: a main controller comprising an integrated circuit (IC chip) containing information and programming for associated habitat components and a communication component for transferring updated programming and data to associated components via cable, WiFi, Bluetooth, or infrared; and a habitat component having an integrated circuit (IC chip) which contains operating data and acts as an identifier of the component, allowing an application on a smartphone or the main controller to automatically recognize the device and control programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Current USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Fredricks, Jeffrey Eigenbrode
  • Patent number: 10223229
    Abstract: A system includes a bus, multiple BMCs, and a control unit. Each BMC generates heartbeat signals and acquire operation data associated with a to-be-monitored unit once being initiated, and operates in one of a master mode and a slave mode according to a corresponding decision signal. One of the BMCs which operates in the master mode is configured to receive via the bus the operation data from the rest of the BMCs which operate(s) in the slave mode for monitoring the to-be-monitored unit. The control unit is configured to, according to the heartbeat signals, generate the corresponding decision signals for controlling a first normally operating one of the BMCs to operate in the master mode and the rest of the BMCs to operate in the slave mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mitac Computing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Po-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 10201656
    Abstract: A simplified insulin pump allows type II diabetics to identify routine patterns in their daily lifestyle that provide a generally accurate typical pattern of activity and meals. An infusion regimen can be programmed into the pump that generally correlates with this typical pattern to provide a viable treatment option for a type II diabetic without the need for specific and precise matching of insulin to carbohydrate consumption or activity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Rosinko
  • Patent number: 10185332
    Abstract: A level control system for controlling the liquid level in a boiler drum is provided. The level control system uses an integration parameter when operating in a non-transient condition to provide a control signal into a flow control loop controlling a level control valve for the liquid level in the boiler drum. When a transient condition is identified by a predictive controller, the integration parameter is interrupted and a gain vector is generated to modify the control constants and optionally modify feedforward to adjust control signal into the flow control loop during transient operation of the level control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sunil Puthen Veedu Unnikrishnan, Giriprasad Venkata Narasimha Chebiyyam, Charles William Weidner
  • Patent number: 10160553
    Abstract: A pump health monitoring system for an aircraft fuel pump. The health monitoring system compares environmental data to a reference environment and captures pump data when the environmental data matches the reference environment. The pump data captured is therefore normalized to the reference environment. A pump remaining useful life is calculated from the normalized pump data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Geoff Ward, Osama Al-Tayawe, Tedja Verhulst
  • Patent number: 10156241
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, systems and program products for controlling a wet compression system. Methods according to the present disclosure can include: calculating a water droplet size at a nozzle of a nozzle grid of the WCS based on at least one condition from a set of WCS operating fluid conditions; calculating at least one GT system performance parameter based on the water droplet size and at least one distinct condition from the set of WCS operating fluid conditions; determining a target water flow rate based on the at least one GT system performance parameter and another distinct condition from the set of WCS operating fluid conditions; and adjusting a flow rate of a water flow to the nozzle based on the target water flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Weilun Yu
  • Patent number: 10143871
    Abstract: An electronic device may monitor a rate of change of water pressure associated with a charged fire sprinkler system. The electronic device may determine whether the rate of change of the water pressure is greater than a threshold. The electronic device may, in response to determining that the rate of change of the water pressure is not greater than the threshold, initiate a system recharge in which a fire pump of the fire sprinkler system is activated to attempt to recharge the water pressure. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Gary Ike
  • Patent number: 10130767
    Abstract: An insulin infusion device includes a processor architecture, and a memory element that stores executable instructions to perform a method of controlling delivery of insulin to a user. The method operates the device in a closed-loop mode to deliver insulin, obtains patient-specific parameters for a current time sample, and estimates a plasma insulin value and a blood glucose value for the user based on at least some of the patient-specific parameters. The estimating is also based on a previously estimated plasma insulin value obtained for a previous time sample, and a previously estimated blood glucose value obtained for the previous time sample. A predicted sensor glucose value is generated for the current time sample, and the closed-loop mode or a safe basal mode is selected for controlling operation of the insulin infusion device in accordance with the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Benyamin Grosman, Di Wu, Anirban Roy, Neha J. Parikh
  • Patent number: 10113474
    Abstract: A cooling device for an internal combustion engine has an outflow temperature sensor, a flow control valve, and a control device. The outflow temperature sensor detects an outflow temperature of the cooling water flowing out from a cooling-water outlet of the internal combustion engine. The flow control valve adjusts a flow rate of the cooling water flowing in a bypass passage. The control device controls the flow control valve to be open or closed. The control device, during a warming of the internal combustion engine, controls the flow control valve to be open or closed based on information about a change rate of the outflow temperature to prevent the change rate of the outflow temperature from decreasing to a minus value, after opening the flow control valve and starting a circulation of the cooling water in a route passing through the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shikata
  • Patent number: 10098257
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for signature adaptation, comprising a surface element arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, wherein said surface element comprises at least one temperature generating element arranged to generate at least one predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of a first heat conducting layer of said surface element, characterized in that said device for signature adaptation comprises a liquid cooling element arranged to provide at least one liquid flow, thermally contacting an inner portion of said at least one temperature generating element so that thermal energy is dispersed from said at least one temperature generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Peder Sjölund, Jussi Myllyluoma
  • Patent number: 10082806
    Abstract: A flow-rate control unit is constituted by a sensor model storage unit, a flow-rate simulation value output unit that outputs a flow-rate simulation value which is a flow-rate value that the sensor model outputs when a flow-rate setting value is input, a feedback control unit that outputs a flow-rate feedback value based on a deviation between a flow-rate measurement value and the flow-rate simulation value, and a valve control unit that controls a valve application voltage that is applied to a valve based on the flow-rate feedback value and a flow-rate feedforward value that is calculated from the flow-rate setting value, and the flow-rate simulation value output unit is configured to output the flow-rate simulation value in a state where a predetermined time delay exists with respect to the flow-rate setting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Takijiri, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10046189
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a fire apparatus pump pressure governor. The system may comprise a controller that is configured to receive from, and provide instruction or data to, other control devices to facilitate in controlling of the pressure of a fire apparatus pump and fluid supply, both to and from the pump. A method may be devised to facilitate in controlling the pump operations, and to report a status of the pump to other controllers within a network locally, communicatively coupled with the governor, along with other networks or devices that are remotely communicatively coupled with the fire apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Akron Brass Company
    Inventors: Bradley L. Busch, William M. Branch
  • Patent number: 10042367
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an application specific operating profile (or use-profile) that includes functions based on one or more criteria specific to an environment within which fluid is managed. The functions include a set of attributes, the values of which enable management of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventors: Henry J McCarrick, Kevin E Burrow, James R Manely, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10016855
    Abstract: An opening degree sensor produces a sensor output corresponding to a valve opening degree of a valve, and includes a memory into which the sensor output corresponding to the valve opening degree is written. When performing a first half process, flow rates of more than one valve device are measured, a flow rate error is calculated based on an average flow rate obtained by averaging the measured flow rates, and the sensor output corresponding to the valve opening degree into which the flow rate error is incorporated is obtained. When performing a second half process, the sensor output corresponding to the valve opening degree obtained in the first half process is written into the memory of the valve device whose flow rate is not measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Kameda, Osamu Shimane
  • Patent number: 10012740
    Abstract: A radioisotope generator that releases a daughter radioisotope from radioactive decay of a corresponding parent isotope, such as a 82Sr/82Rb radioisotope generator or 68Ge/68Ga radioisotope generator, may be used to generate radioisotopes for medical imaging applications. In some examples, a gamma ray detector is positioned to detect gamma rays emanating from radioactive eluate flowing from the generator. Based on the detected gamma rays, an activity of the daughter radioisotope in the eluate and an activity of the parent radioisotope in the eluate may be determined. Depending on the application, the activity of the daughter radioisotope and the activity of the parent radioisotope may be determined in substantially real time, e.g., so that the eluate can be diverted from patient dosing based on determined activity information for the eluate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian D. Nunn