Pressure, Resistive, Or Capacitive Sensor Patents (Class 702/47)
  • Publication number: 20150134275
    Abstract: Provided are a steam flow metering device and a metering method therefor. The device mainly comprises a mono-energetic gamma sensor (5), a Venturi-type flowmeter (6), a temperature transmitter (2), a pressure transmitter (3), a pipe connection section at the steam-inlet (1), and a pipe connection section at the steam-outlet (7), the function thereof being to measure the quantity of saturated water and saturated steam within the steam effectively and in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jige Chen, Yanzhi Pan, Guodong Wu, Zhiyong Wu
  • Publication number: 20150134276
    Abstract: It is described a method for detecting and identifying obstructions in a pipeline network for transporting fluids, wherein the network is composed of a plurality of pipeline sections (P) and a plurality of junctions (N). The method comprising the following phases: acquiring the geometrical data of a predefined number of pipeline sections (P) for which the presence of obstructions has to be evaluated; measuring the actual flow-rate values (Q1) of the fluid in one or more pipeline sections (P) and of the actual pressure values (h1) of the fluid at one or more junctions (N) of the network; comparison between the values of the nominal diameters (D1) of said pipeline sections (P) and the corresponding equivalent diameters (Dieq) of said pipeline sections (P); calculating, by means of a specific numerical model, the theoretic flow-rate values (QiT) and pressure values (hiT) of the fluid for said equivalent diameters (Dieq).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Tommaso Mantegazza, Alberto Giulio Di Lullo, Paolo Bocchini, Alessandro Marzani
  • Patent number: 9026383
    Abstract: A flow rate sensor is disclosed, comprising a flow rate calculation part that calculates a flow rate of a fluid based on an expression using Xd/Xu that satisfies an expression at least in a certain range of the flow rate when an output of a constant temperature control circuit corresponding to an upstream resistor is defined as Vu, an output of a constant temperature control circuit corresponding to a downstream resistor is defined as Vd, and the flow rate is defined as and the flow rate calculation part corrects the zero point output as being an output when the flow rate is zero by using a zero offset function (OFS) defined as a function of Vu+VdXd/Xu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Horiba STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takakura, Shohei Yamano, Hiroyuki Ebi
  • Patent number: 8977508
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for determining forces which act on a body with a controlled volume which is provided inside the flow tunnel and in which the body is arranged. A first measuring means is used to measure a pressure distribution for each surface defining the controlled volume. A second measuring means measures a velocity field for each defining surface of the controlled volume. Furthermore, a calculation unit is provided for calculating the forces acting on the body as a function of the pressure distributions and velocity fields measured for the defining surfaces of the controlled volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Kuehn, Klaus-Peter Neitzke, Andreas Schroeder, Eric Wilhelmus Maria Roosenboom
  • Publication number: 20150066395
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to mass flow verification systems for and methods of measuring and verifying the mass flow through a mass flow delivery/measurement device such as a mass flow controller. A mass flow verification system comprises a preset volume, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor. The measured verified flow determined by the mass flow verification system can be adjusted to compensate for errors resulting from a dead volume within the mass flow measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Kaveh H. Zarkar
  • Patent number: 8965725
    Abstract: In order to mitigate the negative effects of a change in atmospheric pressure, an improved capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG) sensor incorporates an independent ambient atmospheric pressure sensor near the CDG sensor body. The ambient atmospheric sensor is located outside the CDG sensor body to sense the ambient atmospheric pressure surrounding the CDG sensor body. The ambient atmospheric sensor provides an output that represents the ambient atmospheric pressure. A sensor output processing circuit receives the output of the ambient atmospheric sensor as well as the output of the CDG sensor. The processing circuit utilizes the output from the ambient atmospheric pressure sensor to fine tune the CDG measurement of pressure by executing an in situ, real time, automatic calibration adjustment of the CDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Reno Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Ferran, Robert J. Ferran
  • Patent number: 8949045
    Abstract: A method for determining characteristic values of an electrometrically driven centrifugal pump assembly with a speed controller, said assembly being integrated in an installation, includes determining characteristic values by way of electrical variables of the motor and of the pressure produced by the pump, with which one successively runs to at least two different operating points of the pump. Delivery rates are determined in the installation at the run-to operating points, and the characteristic values are determined based on the delivery rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventor: Carsten Skovmose Kallesøe
  • Patent number: 8938367
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a motion detecting device is configured to detect whether one or more movement events have occurred. The motion detecting device can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing device having: (1) one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more pressure measurements; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the one or more pressure sensors and configured to transmit the two or more pressure measurements to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to determine whether the one or more movement events have occurred. The sensing device can be configured to be placed in at least one of ductwork of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or an air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Matthew S. Reynolds, Gregory D. Abowd
  • Patent number: 8935106
    Abstract: A portable test apparatus is for performing a pressure test of a vessel into which a liquid is being forced by a pump. The test apparatus includes a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the vessel. A processor is configured to monitor, during the test, stroke counts communicated from the pump and the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor. A graphical user interface includes input fields to receive user-input of test parameter information, and further includes a graphical representation of the stroke counts and measured pressure in real time during the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Adalet/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: John A. Balogh, David L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8924165
    Abstract: The measuring system has a measuring transducer which produces primary signals transmitter electronics for activating the measuring transducer and for evaluating primary signals. The measuring transducer includes at least one measuring tube; at least one electro-mechanical, oscillation exciter, a first oscillation sensor. The transmitter electronics, in turn, delivers at least one driver signal for the oscillation exciter for effecting vibrations of the at least one measuring tube and generates, by means of the first primary signal and by means of the second primary signal, as well as with application of a Reynolds number, measured value representing a Reynolds number, Re, for medium flowing in the measuring transducer, a pressure difference, measured value, which represents a pressure difference occurring between two predetermined reference points in the flowing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Vivek Kumar, Martin Anklin
  • Patent number: 8917096
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for determining an isoelectric point of a molecule. A first group of capacitance versus voltage curves of a capacitor is measured. The capacitor includes a substrate, dielectric layer, and conductive solution. The first group of curves is measured for pH values of the solution without the molecule bound to a functionalized material on the dielectric layer of the capacitor. A second group of capacitance versus voltage curves of the capacitor is measured when the molecule is present in the solution, where the molecule is bound to the functionalized material of the dielectric layer of the capacitor. A shift is determined in the second group of curves from the first group of curves at each pH value. The isoelectric point of the molecule is determined by extrapolating a pH value corresponding to a shift voltage being zero, when the shift is compared to the pH values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Christopher P. D'Emic, Ashish Jagtiani, Sufi Zafar
  • Patent number: 8918293
    Abstract: A flow meter for monitoring fluid flow through a pipeline, the flow meter comprising a conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for communication with respective sections of the pipeline; a target element positioned inside the conduit between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the target element being mounted for resilient axial displacement under a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet; an arm secured at an anchor point on one side of the conduit and extending radially across the conduit, the target element being coupled to the arm for applying a load to the arm, upon said axial displacement of the target element, so as to deflect the arm relative to the anchor point; a sensor arrangement for measuring deflection of the arm at a point on the opposite side of the applied load to the anchor point; and a processor configured for providing a signal representative of the steam flow through the conduit in response to said measured deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Richard Quentin Carmichael, Roger Manley, Ben Frisby
  • Publication number: 20140358454
    Abstract: An application-specific integrated circuit comprises: analog inputs having analog-digital converters; at least one digital signal processor, which has input registers and output registers. The analog-digital converters sample and digitize input signals Si with sampling frequencies fSi and forward the digitized signals SDi with output frequencies fSD-out-i to the input registers of the digital signal processor. The digital signal processor processes the digitized signals SDi to m processed signals SPj and forwards such to the output registers of the digital signal processor. The digital signal processor has a clock frequency, wherein, furthermore, the signals of the output registers can be output, respectively read-out, with an output frequency. One or more of the frequencies is, respectively, variable, wherein especially one or more of the frequencies respectively, variable independently of the others of the frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Lars Karweck, Andreas Spitz, Yves Boulenger, Richard Wagner, Klaus Winter, Thomas Zieringer
  • Publication number: 20140343875
    Abstract: A method of calculating a transient flow rate of a flowed process gas comprises flowing process gas through a mass flow controller into a chamber of known volume and measuring successive data sample points which include pressure data, temperature data, and a time value for each successive data sample point. Groups of successive data sample points are identified wherein each group shares one or more successive data sample points with another group, and ratio values are calculated for each of the successive data sample points wherein each ratio value is a ratio between the pressure data and a product of temperature and gas compressibility data for each respective time value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Evangelos Spyropoulos, Iqbal Shareef
  • Patent number: 8880362
    Abstract: Presented herein are a system and method (i.e., utilities) for monitoring the flow of materials used to mark road surfaces and other surfaces. The utilities utilize one or more pressure sensors to monitor in-line pressure of road marking material to determine the amount of material being applied. Electronic equipment receives signals from the pressure sensors, temperature sensors and/or additional monitoring equipment to generate an output indicative of an amount of material flow. In a further arrangement, the equipment generates an output indicative of a thickness of the read marking material as applied to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: EPIC Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Arnold Wilkens, Timothy John Marthe, Kalvin Ambrose Hoff
  • Patent number: 8878313
    Abstract: A pressure sensor has a sensor body at least partly formed with an electrically insulating material, particularly a ceramic material, defining a cavity facing on which is a diaphragm provided with an electric detector element, configured for detecting a bending of the diaphragm. The sensor body supports a circuit arrangement, including, a plurality of circuit components, among which is an integrated circuit, for treating a signal generated by the detection element. The circuit arrangement includes tracks made of electrically conductive material directly deposited on a surface of the sensor body made of electrically insulating material. The integrated circuit is made up of a die made of semiconductor material directly bonded onto the surface of the sensor body and the die is connected to respective tracks by means of wire bonding, i.e. by means of thin connecting wires made of electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Metallux SA
    Inventor: Luca Salmaso
  • Patent number: 8874388
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a rate of flow of an output from a vessel. The system includes a vessel having an inlet for receiving an output produced by an output generation device, and a measuring device for measuring a first pressure and a second pressure in the vessel. The first pressure is measured when the output generation device is in a standby mode and the second pressure is measured when the output generation device is in an operational mode. The system includes a programmable logic controller configured to calculate a rate of flow of the output utilizing the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: On Site Gas Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Haggerty, Andrew Terwilliger
  • Patent number: 8874387
    Abstract: An air flow measurement device measures a flow amount of air. A flow sensor is configured to output a voltage value corresponding to a given flow amount of the air. A temperature sensor is configured to output temperature of the air. A correction coefficient memory portion is configured to store a correction coefficient for correcting the voltage value of the flow sensor to a corrected voltage value associated with the given flow amount based on a predetermined standard temperature. A relationship between the voltage value of the flow sensor and the flow amount of the air changes based on temperature of the air. A correction portion is configured to correct the output voltage value of the flow sensor to the corrected voltage value using the correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Mizutani, Takao Ban
  • Publication number: 20140309951
    Abstract: A rheometer for measuring non-Newtonian fluids is disclosed. The rheometer includes capillaries with piezometers therein, a pump, flow control valves, flow, density, and speed meters, and a controller. The rheometer has application in providing for online measurements of parameters including viscosity and yield stress in mining suspensions based upon laminar transportation of the suspensions by the capillaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: JRI INGENIERIA S.A.
    Inventors: Alejandra ALVAREZ VALLEJOS, Ramon FUENTES AGUILAR, Soledad GUTIERREZ DELGADO, Juan RAYO PRIETO, Mario SOLIS SOTO
  • Publication number: 20140305626
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining an air flow in a vehicle air conditioning system that comprises an inlet; a plurality of outlets; at least one air duct for guiding air from the inlet to the outlets, each air duct being characterized by a predetermined flow resistance coefficient; at least one flap characterized by a flow resistance based on a degree of opening of the flap; and a fan for creating an air flow from the inlet to an outlet. The method comprises determining a total equivalent flow resistance between a predetermined location in the system and an interior of the vehicle, wherein flow resistances are treated as resistances in an electric circuit, and a total equivalent flow resistance is determined. Treating a pressure drop as equivalent with a voltage drop, the air flow can be determined, as the pressure is equal to the resistance times the flow squared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonas JANGE
  • Publication number: 20140303909
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automated meter station monitoring system for a fluid comprising a processor having algorithms for verifying performance of a fluid flow measurement system. A pressure sensor is operatively connected to the processor to measure the pressure of the fluid. A temperature sensor is operatively connected to the processor to measure the temperature of the fluid. A gas chromatograph is operatively connected to the processor to monitor changes in gas composition and chromatograph response factors of the fluid. An ultrasonic meter is operatively connected to the processor to monitor the velocity of the fluid, speed of sound of the fluid, and meter diagnostics. A flow computer is operatively connected to the processor to record pressure of the fluid, record temperature of the fluid, record gas composition of the fluid, calculate compressibility ratio of the fluid, calculate standard flow rate of the fluid, and calculate energy rate of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Western Energy Support & Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ed Hanks, Aaron Kruger, John Lansing, Laura Lawton, Rick Tompkins
  • Patent number: 8854064
    Abstract: A method for measuring for generating a touch capacitance measurement is provided. Gain and offset control signals are generated, where the gain and offset control signals are adjusted to compensate for base capacitance of a touch sensor. The gain control signal is applied to a touch sensor during a first phase of a clock signal, and the offset control signal is applied to an output circuit during a second phase of the clock signal. The output circuit is coupled to the touch sensor during the second phase of the clock signal. The touch capacitance measurement is generated by compensating for the base capacitance with the gain and offset control signals, and a gain is applied to the touch capacitance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sualp Aras, Tatsuyuki Nihei, Abidur Rahman
  • Publication number: 20140297203
    Abstract: A flow measurement device includes a first sensor device that responds to stimulus from fluid medium flowing through a measurement section by registering a measure representing a physical characteristic, a processor, and a data storage including a look-up table containing a first collection of values representing a first value of flow of a first fluid or a first value of flow of a second fluid, and a second look-up table containing a second collection of the values representing a second value of the flow of the first fluid or a second value of the flow of the second fluid, the processor receiving the measures registered during a measurement time interval and estimating a flow pattern of the fluid medium during the measurement interval where the flow pattern describes how the first and second fluids are distributed in the measurement section over the measurement time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Bohao Liao, Torbjorn Petterson
  • Patent number: 8849589
    Abstract: A process fluid flow device includes a power supply module, a process communication module, a processor and measurement circuitry. The process communication circuitry is coupled to the power supply module and to the processor. The measurement circuitry is operably coupleable to plurality of process variable sensors to obtain an indication of differential pressure, static pressure and process fluid temperature. The processor is configured to compute process fluid mass flow, and to use the static pressure and process fluid temperature to obtain an energy per unit mass value relative to the process fluid and to provide an energy flow indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Wiklund, Lowell A. Kleven
  • Publication number: 20140229124
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining leakage volume of fluid in transportation pipelines are provided. The method comprises: obtaining the negative pressure wave signals detected by at least two pressure sensors arranged on the pipeline; determining the pressure signal at the leakage location based on the negative pressure wave signals; determining the leakage rate during a leakage period based on the pressure signal at the leakage location according to a leakage model; and determining the leakage volume of the fluid in the pipeline based on the leakage rate and the leakage period. The apparatus provided corresponds to the method described above. By using the method and apparatus described above, the leakage volume of the transportation pipelines can be obtained to help understand the leakage profile of the pipelines and thus reduce losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Felipe Albertao, Ying Chen, Jin Huang, Chunhua Tian, Hao Wang, Jing Xiao
  • Patent number: 8798941
    Abstract: A differential pressure sensor (105) for determining a differential pressure value is provided. The differential pressure sensor (105) includes a selector valve (110) configured to receive a first pressure at a first location and a second pressure at a second location that is spaced-apart from the first location, a single-sided pressure sensor (120) coupled to the selector valve (110) and receiving either the first pressure or the second pressure, and a processing system (130) coupled to the single-sided pressure sensor (120) and configured to receive one or more first single-sided pressure measurements from the single-sided pressure sensor (120), subsequently receive one or more second single-sided pressure measurements from the single-sided pressure sensor (120), and generate the differential pressure value from the one or more first single-sided pressure measurements and the one or more second single-sided pressure measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Norgren Limited
    Inventors: Chris Wheater, Paul Hartley, Gavin Jamieson
  • Patent number: 8793082
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to mass flow verification systems for and methods of measuring and verifying the mass flow through a mass flow delivery/measurement device such as a mass flow controller. A mass flow verification system includes a preset volume, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor. The measured verified flow determined by the mass flow verification system can be adjusted to compensate for errors resulting from a dead volume within the mass flow measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Kaveh Zarkar
  • Publication number: 20140200836
    Abstract: A method 100 of determining a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe. The method 100 includes measuring a pressure of fluid at at least two locations in the pipe 101, the pressure being measured by sensors that are positioned on or in the pipe. A wave speed of fluid is determined 102 based on measured pressure of fluid at a location in the pipe. The flow rate of fluid is determined 106 based on the determined wave speed and based on the measured pressures at two locations in the pipe. An apparatus for determining a flow rate of fluid flowing in a pipe is configured to perform the method 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Pedro Jose Lee
  • Patent number: 8781759
    Abstract: Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals for a multi-phase flow material in a flowmeter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving first and second sensor signals (210 and 211) for the multi-phase flow material and a processing system (203).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Bell, Craig B. McAnally
  • Publication number: 20140195172
    Abstract: A system including a flow sensor coupled to a fluid line and operable to determine flow rate data of a fluid flowing through the fluid line and communicate the flow rate data of the fluid to a multi-sense device. The multi-sense device coupled to the fluid line and operable to monitor characteristics of the fluid flowing through a filter element. The multi-sense device including a microcontroller coupled to a first, second, and third sensors. The microcontroller executing instructions for determining a pressure differential across the filter element using the flow rate data from the flow sensor, the first pressure of the fluid from the first sensor, the second pressure of the fluid from the second sensor, and the temperature of the fluid from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Luraco Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Le, Bryce Gaston
  • Patent number: 8762078
    Abstract: A cylinder intake air amount calculating apparatus for an internal combustion engine for calculating a cylinder intake air amount which is an amount of fresh air sucked into a cylinder of the engine, is provided. An intake air flow rate, which is a flow rate of fresh air passing through an intake air passage of the engine, is obtained, and an intake pressure and an intake air temperature of the engine are detected. A theoretical cylinder intake air amount is calculated based on the intake pressure, the intake air temperature, and a volume of the cylinder. A volumetric efficiency of the engine is calculated by dividing a preceding calculated value of the cylinder intake air amount by the theoretical cylinder intake air amount. The cylinder intake air amount is calculated using the volumetric efficiency, the intake air flow rate, and the preceding calculated value of the cylinder intake air amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Tsukamoto, Naoki Oie, Todd Robert Luken
  • Patent number: 8761911
    Abstract: A system to monitor a status from a secondary location of a plurality of equipment on a drilling site, while simultaneously enabling preventive maintenance is described herein. A user can view at least one cycle, at least one control state, and at least one pressure. The user can also view equipment information, equipment repair history, and other information necessary to ensure that a piece of equipment has minimal down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ashford Technical Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Marion Chapman, Ronald Lyle Brown
  • Patent number: 8761910
    Abstract: A method to monitor a status from a secondary location of a plurality of equipment on a drilling site, while simultaneously enabling preventive maintenance is described herein. A user can view at least one cycle, at least one control state, and at least one pressure. The user can also view equipment information, equipment repair history, and other information necessary to ensure that a piece of equipment has minimal down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ashford Technical Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Marion Chapman, Jr., Ronald Lyle Brown
  • Patent number: 8761912
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the status of a plurality of tensioner assemblies and rig motion assemblies from a secondary location. The system not only monitors a status of a tensioner from a secondary location but simultaneously enables preventive maintenance to be ascertained remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ashford Technical Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Marion Chapman, Jr., Ronald Lyle Brown
  • Patent number: 8746270
    Abstract: A method is provided for controllably delivering an additive fluid into a host fluid in a target system at a desired volumetric flow rate. The method comprises: providing a binary supply injector connected in an additive fluid delivery system between a pressurized supply of the additive fluid and the target system. The binary supply injector is controllable between an ON state which permits flow of the additive fluid therethrough and an OFF state which prevents flow of the additive fluid therethrough. The method involves iteratively repeating: estimating a volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid between the pressurized supply and the target system; and if the estimated volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid is greater than the desired volumetric flow rate, controlling the supply injector to its OFF state; or if the estimated volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid is less than the desired volumetric flow rate, controlling the supply injector to its ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: BRG Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce Patterson, Glenn Duke, Robert Johnstone
  • Publication number: 20140142870
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a wave velocity of negative pressure wave in a fluid transportation pipeline. The method including: receiving a plurality of pressure signals from a plurality of sensors; determining time differences produced by the negative pressure wave reaching the adjacent sensors based on the received pressure signals; determining a wave source sensor segment where a wave source of the negative pressure wave is located; and estimating the wave velocities of the negative pressure wave in a non-wave source sensor segment and the wave source sensor segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Duan, Jin Huang, Juhnyoung Lee, Chunhua Tian, Junchi Yan, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8731849
    Abstract: A hydrostatic pressure testing system for hydrostatic pressure testing of pipe or other vessels. A control center may include a computer program that monitors, records, and controls the system during testing. A test fluid assembly may include a fill conduit capable of providing a test fluid to an inlet section of a vessel to be tested in response to a command from the computer program. A pressure-release safety assembly may have a vent conduit in fluid communication between an outlet section of the vessel and a safety valve. The safety valve may be in fluid communication with a bleed tank for storing an outlet flow of test fluid from the vessel. The safety valve is actuated to relieve fluid pressure in the vessel in response to a selective condition. A method of using the system to conduct hydrostatic pressure testing is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Greene's Energy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Lubbert Westra, Michael W. Breaux, Russell Richard, Jr., Christopher D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8725435
    Abstract: Generally described herein are devices, methods and systems related to detecting a leak present in a gastric banding system for the treatment of obesity. For example, a leak detector may include a syringe, a leak sensing unit and a needle, and may measure a pressure decay within a gastric banding system after the needle penetrates the patient's skin and is inserted into an access port connected to the gastric band of the gastric banding system. The pressure decay may be interpreted to determine if a leak is present in the gastric banding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Snow, Mark O'Donnell, Amy Tezel, Marcos Borrell
  • Publication number: 20140124057
    Abstract: Computerized methods and systems for determining flow direction relative to a bidirectional pressure sensor are provided. The method includes receiving pressure information from the bidirectional pressure sensor. The method includes using the pressure information to evaluate, at a processing circuit, pressure at the bidirectional pressure sensor over time, The method includes assigning a flow direction to a current pressure of the bidirectional pressure sensor by comparing the current pressure to at least one past pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark G. Freund, Troy A. Goldschmidt, Gary W. Gavin, Brandon A. Sloat, Tim Gamroth
  • Patent number: 8718954
    Abstract: A process for controlling the delivery of a quantity of gas to be measured through a test gas tube (60) with a pump (20), a sensor system for pressure and flow measurement (12, 14, 16) and a control and regulating unit (30). A common mode offset of a differential pressure sensor (14), determined in a calibration process, is taken into account in the process for operating the gas sampling device to increase the accuracy of a gas volume being delivered with pump (20) from the measuring environment (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Tilman von Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 8690117
    Abstract: A meter includes an inlet for receiving a fluid and a housing defining a cylindrical chamber receiving the fluid from the inlet, wherein a chamber axis passes through a center of the cylindrical chamber. The meter also includes an outlet coupled to the housing, wherein the outlet is axially aligned with the inlet along a flow axis, and the flow axis does not intersect the chamber axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Capstone Metering LLC
    Inventors: David James Carlos Dunn, Kevin Peter Kowalchuk, Stephen Williams Smith, Jack Ryan Williamson, James Scott Williamson, Walter Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 8682601
    Abstract: The safety valve vibration analyzer includes: a set condition input unit in which set conditions of a physical model including a safety valve and an upstream pipe connected to the safety valve are inputted; a safety valve governing equation holder that holds a safety valve governing equations; a pipe governing equation holder that holds a pipe governing equation; a processing unit that derives a time variation of a valve lift by using the set conditions inputted, the safety valve governing equations, and the pipe governing equations; and a valve lifting force function holder that holds a valve lifting force function. The processing unit derives the time variation of the valve lift by applying the valve lifting force function to the equation of motion of the valve disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventor: Izuchi Hisao
  • Patent number: 8672842
    Abstract: A mattress has a sensor pad affixed on a top surface thereof. The sensor pad has (i) a matrix array of plural pressure sensors, (ii) plural row conductors, and (iii) plural column conductors. Each intersecting row and column conductor provides an electrical signal from a corresponding sensor when pressure is applied thereto. The sensor pad has plural through-holes therein disposed between the plural row conductors the plural column conductors, respectively. Preferably, at least one patient-mounted physiological sensor is configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a patient physiological parameter. An electronic unit is mounted inside the mattress and is configured to receive signals from the sensor pad. The electronic unit has a data storage unit preferably storing (i) patient identification information, (ii) patient physiological information, and (iii) mattress information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Evacusled Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kenalty, Miriam Gordon, Hart Victor Katz
  • Publication number: 20140074030
    Abstract: A pump system and method of detecting/alerting for a possible unintended free flow condition in an administration set includes the steps of a) sampling force signals from a force sensor of the pump at a predetermined frequency; b) storing each of the sampled forces signal in a N-point circular buffer, where N is an integer greater than two; c) calculating a derivative dF/dt based on the two most recent samples; d) repeating step c) and when the most recently calculated derivative dF/dt exceeds a first predetermined threshold, then calculating a N-point moving average of the derivatives dF/dt; and f) when the N-point moving average exceeds a second predetermined threshold, generating a user perceptible alarm to alert the user that a flow stop open condition may have occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: David Tseng Ho Hung, David Pih, Purushottam Amarnath Patil, John Michael Wyatt, Vincent James DeFrank
  • Publication number: 20140067287
    Abstract: An estimation device for a cylinder intake air amount in an internal combustion engine can make calculations in real time with a high accuracy in a small number of adaptation constants. The device includes an AFS, a volumetric efficiency corresponding value calculation unit that calculates a volumetric efficiency correction factor which is an index indicating an amount of air entering a cylinder, a physical model that models a response delay of an intake system, and a unit that calculates a cylinder intake air amount actually sucked into the cylinder by using the amount of intake air, the volumetric efficiency correction factor and the physical model. The volumetric efficiency correction factor required for calculating the amount of air sucked into the cylinder by a response delay model of the intake system is calculated by using the intake air amount, an intake manifold density, and an intake manifold density change amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Hideki HAGARI
  • Patent number: 8655604
    Abstract: A process fluid flow device includes process communication circuitry, a processor, and measurement circuitry. The process communication circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one additional process device. The processor is coupled to the process communication circuitry and is configured to execute instructions to provide a plurality of cycles, wherein each cycle includes a number of flow-related calculations. Measurement circuitry is operably coupleable to a plurality of process variable sensors to obtain an indication of differential pressure during each cycle, and to obtain static pressure, and process fluid temperature. The processor is configured to compute a process fluid flow value using a current differential pressure sensor indication and at least one flow-related value calculated during a previous cycle. The process communication circuitry communicates the computed process fluid flow value to the at least one additional process device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Lowell A. Kleven, David E. Wiklund
  • Patent number: 8626456
    Abstract: A method is provided herein for determining a remaining useful life of an air filter. The method includes, but is not limited to, measuring a first airflow rate and a first air pressure (P1) in an air cleaner assembly downstream of the air filter, wherein P1 corresponds to the first airflow rate. The method further includes measuring a second airflow rate and a second air pressure (P2) in the air cleaner assembly downstream of the air filter, wherein P2 corresponds to the second airflow rate. The method further includes obtaining pressure differentials A1, A2, B1, and B2 from a data storage device. The method also includes calculating with a processor a result indicative of a useful life remaining for the air filter by taking into account P1, P2, A1, A2, B1, and B2. The method also includes reporting the result to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joseph K. Moore, Terry W. Ostan, Lei Li, Jackson L. Bahm, Philip J. Fikany, Thomas J. Mockeridge, Dennis P. Stenson, Steven J. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20130345995
    Abstract: A method for determining an air flow of an air handler including an indoor blower and a motor coupled to a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system, includes receiving a signal indicative of an air flow at an extreme operating range of the HVAC system; receiving operational constants of the air handler, the operational constants representing performance characteristics of the air handler; transmitting a torque command to the motor; receiving a motor signal indicative of an operating speed of the motor; and determining the air flow using at least the operating speed and the operational constants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Shah, Eugene Louis Mills, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130333698
    Abstract: An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Adamo, Scott McLean, Chad C. Smutney, John M. Polidoro, Carl R. Sahi
  • Patent number: 8602384
    Abstract: A meter includes an inlet for receiving a fluid and a housing defining a cylindrical chamber receiving the fluid from the inlet, wherein a chamber axis passes through a center of the cylindrical chamber. The meter also includes an outlet coupled to the housing, wherein the outlet is axially aligned with the inlet along a flow axis, and the flow axis does not intersect the chamber axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Capstone Metering LLC
    Inventors: Walter Scott Williamson, James Scott Williamson, Jack Ryan Williamson, Kevin Peter Kowalchuk, David James Carlos Dunn, Stephen Williams Smith