Volumetric Content Measuring Patents (Class 73/149)
  • Patent number: 11771354
    Abstract: A device for monitoring of an irregular liquid flow rate, such as urine or another bodily fluid from a catheterized patient, includes a measurement chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid level sensor in the collection vessel, a closure, and a control unit. The chamber is configured to allow liquid to enter through the inlet and leave through the outlet, respectively. The closure opens and closes the outlet in response to signals from the control unit. The liquid level sensor provides a signal to the control unit when liquid in the vessel attains a first preset volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Konstantin Kostov
  • Patent number: 11598661
    Abstract: A residual gas volume measuring device for measuring volume of residual gas in a container filled with liquid. The device includes: a puncture member having a first communication path and a second communication path formed therein and connecting a penetrating portion and a coupling portion together, the penetrating portion being located inside the container and the coupling portion being located outside the container when the puncture member is in a penetrating position where an end of the puncture member penetrates into the container; an injection section coupled to the first communication path at the coupling portion and configured to inject a liquid into the container; a discharging section coupled to the second communication path at the coupling portion and configured to discharge the residual gas purged by the injected liquid; and a measurement section configured to measure the volume of the residual gas discharged by the discharging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KYOTO ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Aoyama, Ryoma Naruko, Yutaka Sato
  • Patent number: 11428568
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a remaining empty volume in a container, comprising: measuring a first pressure initially prevailing in the container; feeding in a gaseous pressure-boosting medium through an inlet, into the container; measuring the increased second pressure; determining the pressure increase caused by the infeeding of the pressure-boosting medium; determining a volume of the pressure-boosting medium that has been fed into said container; measuring a temperature prevailing in the container; and determining the remaining empty volume on the basis of the pressure increase, the volume of the pressure-boosting medium, and the temperature. Disclosed also is a method for on-site calibration of a fill-level measuring device in which the volume of the medium in the container is determined on the basis of the method for determining a remaining empty volume, and an on-site calibration module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Group Services AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Abraham, Stefan Brändlin, Torsten Thiel
  • Patent number: 11287302
    Abstract: A circuit is set up for a container or vessel (10) as shown in FIG. 1, which has a microphone (20), a speaker (30), a frequency control device (40) volume control device (50), an amplifier (60), a frequency reader (70) and a spectrum analyzer (80). The oscillation in the circuit is created by applying power to the amplifier (60) which creates an initial fixed standing wave that does not move. Adjusting or changing components, invokes a new behavior of the circuit which is parasitic in nature and reading of oscillating frequency on the frequency reader (70) determines the change of conditions inside the vessel or container. The method is non-intrusive, and the method of this invention can also be used for measurement of miniscule quantities in microns or micro liters such as that of biofilm or algal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: David George Ward
  • Patent number: 11180315
    Abstract: In a method for guiding and/or instructing in a feed-in station of a material conveying system, the feed-in station includes at least one first input point and at least one second input point, which input points each include at least one input aperture and a shut-off part of the input aperture, which shut-off part is movable between a first position in which the input aperture is at least partly closed, in which case material is not intended to be fed from the input aperture to inside the input point, and a second position in which the input aperture is open, in which second position material can be fed from the input aperture to inside the input point. The first input point and/or the second input point is adapted to include an indicator and/or signal, with which in the method a user is guided and/or instructed to feed in material from the input aperture of the second input point of the feed-in station, when the first input point is in a state in which it cannot receive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: MARICAP OY
    Inventor: Göran Sundholm
  • Patent number: 11174994
    Abstract: An oxyacetylene type work apparatus including a first container containing acetylene; a first pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure in the first container, a first two-dimensional marking disposed on the first dial, a second container containing oxygen; a second pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure in the second container, a second two-dimensional marking disposed on the second dial, an image capturing device configured to produce images of the first pressure gauge and of the second pressure gauge; an electronic logic circuit configured to process said images of the first and second pressure gauges thereby determining the respective angular positions, and a sensor configured to measure the temperature of the first acetylene container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Sébastien Goudalle, Michele Quattrone, Henri Glen
  • Patent number: 11169014
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring a volume of sample is disclosed. The arrangement includes a first chamber for accommodating the sample; at least one second chamber connectable to the first chamber; a first gas path including a first valve connected to the first chamber and on the other end connected to a gas entry path; a second gas path including a second valve, connected to the second chamber and on the other end connected to the gas entry path; a pressure sensor; a third gas path including a third valve, the third gas path connected to the first chamber and on the other end connected, via the third valve, to the pressure sensor; a fourth gas path including a fourth valve, the fourth path being connected to the second chamber and on the other end connected, via the fourth valve, to the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Anton Paar QuantaTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Gadea Ramos, Martin Thomas, Stefan Thaler
  • Patent number: 11118958
    Abstract: Some embodiments may include a system for determining a filling level of a fuel situated in a fuel tank comprising: an air pump; a valve; a pressure sensor; a control unit; a timing element; and a control unit. The control unit may be programmed to actuate the valve to close the fuel tank and subsequently actuate the air pump to increase a pressure in the fuel tank until an upper threshold is reached. The timing element may determine the time required for the pressure to reach the upper threshold. The control unit may calculate the filling level of the fuel based on the time taken to reach the upper threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Manfred Weigl, Harry Schüle, Lamproula Charmpa
  • Patent number: 10995742
    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: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Larry B. Gray, Russell H. Beavis, John M. Kerwin, Derek G. Kane
  • Patent number: 10989530
    Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of a construction material is provided. The method includes imaging the construction material and determining a characteristic of the construction material based off of the imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 10976688
    Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, a first measurement of actual quantity of ink in a target cartridge is taken utilizing a scale. An incremental dosage quantity be deposited into the target cartridge in a dosing pass is determined based upon a desired quantity, the actual quantity, and an undershoot safety factor. A valve is opened to enable a pressure deposit of the incremental dosage quantity of ink to the target cartridge, and then closed. A residue cutter is utilized to scrape the valve and thereby make a scraper deposit of ink to the target cartridge. A second measurement of actual quantity of ink in the target cartridge is taken utilizing the scale. An additional dosage pass is performed if the second measurement is not within an accepted variance of the desired quantity. The making of dosing passes is discontinued if the second measurement is within the accepted variance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Jonathan Nir, Yossi Shachak
  • Patent number: 10895453
    Abstract: A process for the determination of the cross-sectional area and volume of an object including the steps of a. Providing a container having a closed bottom, an open top, a side wall, a tap at a reference height, b. Providing a flowable medium having a surface in the container, c. Providing at least one measuring means for measuring a height of the surface of the flowable medium in the container relative to the reference height, d. Providing an object having a vertical Z-axis relative to the X,Y plane of the surface and positioning the object in the container, the object being at least partly submerged in the flowable medium, e. Providing calculating means for calculating the cross-sectional area and/or volume of the object in the X,Y plane relative to a position on the Z-axis, f. Opening the tap in the container to allow the flowable medium to flow out of the container, g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: PERACUTUS HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Stemkens, Frans Houwen
  • Patent number: 10865944
    Abstract: A tank device for a tank liquid comprises a pressure vessel with a first chamber for the tank liquid and second chamber arranged in an interior of the tank. The first and second chamber are closed off with respect to each other and are in operative connection via at least one membrane which separates the first and second chambers and is capable of vibration. The tank device further comprises a controllable element for effecting a pressure surge in the pressure vessel, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure vibration resulting from the pressure surge and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature prevailing in the pressure vessel. An evaluation device of the tank device is configured to determine a current gas volume in the pressure vessel from a respectively detected pressure vibration and a measured temperature to thereby calculate the mass of the tank liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: ARIANEGROUP GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Sebald
  • Patent number: 10859421
    Abstract: Electro acoustic volume measurement of a gas in a housing space may be performed using a hollow tube having a first end and a second end. A speaker is arranged to emit audio signals through the hollow tube. A first microphone of at least two microphones is located at the first end of the hollow tube, while a second microphone is located a defined distance from the first microphone within the hollow tube. A voltage-controlled oscillator controls the frequency of the audio signals to a resonance frequency where signals of the first microphone and the second microphone are 90 degrees out of phase while the first end of the hollow tube is located within the housing. The resonance frequency indicates a volume of the gas. The resonance frequency may be temperature-adjusted, or the volume may be temperature-adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Michigan Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Carl E. Talaski
  • Patent number: 10739180
    Abstract: A known volume of liquid is delivered to a liquid supply system. A first pressure of the liquid supply system after delivery of a first known volume of liquid into the liquid supply system is determined. A second pressure of the liquid supply system after delivery of a second known volume of liquid into the liquid supply system is determined. The volume of compressible gas trapped in the liquid supply system is determined from the second known volume of delivered liquid and the first and second pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Lopez-Abancens
  • Patent number: 10724396
    Abstract: Method for the calculation of the working fluid loss in an organic Rankine cycle plant, comprising at least one evaporator (1), a preheater (5), a turbine (2), a condenser (3), a pump (4), a collecting well (7) and a process piping (8), wherein said working fluid, when the plant is stopped, is in part present in known volumes inside the plant and partly drained in at least a storage tank (6) comprising at least three rooms or volumes: —a first volume (Vck) for storing the fluid to be measured, —a second volume (Vc) having a restricted section for measuring the volume of fluid stored in said first volume (Vck), —a third volume (Vckd) containing the portion of the fluid already measured, wherein, in said method, the working fluid loss of the plant is calculated as the difference between the fluid amount measured in two different instants of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Turboden S.p.A.
    Inventors: Joseph Bonafin, Isaia Casali, Marco Del Carria, Pietro Girardi
  • Patent number: 10634486
    Abstract: Device for measuring the endogenous deformations of a structure of materials, during the transition of said structure from a liquid phase to a solid phase, comprising: a uniaxial test body suitable for being embedded in the structure; a deformation measurement fiber attached to the interior of the test body; a system connected to the measurement fiber and suitable for detecting signals representative of the deformations of the measurement fiber and for determining the endogenous deformations from these signals and from known mechanical properties of the materials of the test body, the test body having a rigidity comprised between 2 and 5 gigapascals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique—CNRS, Universite De Nantes
    Inventors: Pascal Casari, Nordine Leklou, Yves Pouzaint, Damaris Rossetti
  • Patent number: 10570725
    Abstract: Underground storage caverns are widely used for the bulk storage of petroleum products, in particular, crude oil. The caverns are accessed through a casing in a borehole down to the cavern. The lower end of the casing opens into an upper region of the cavern termed the chimney. The chimney provides a transition from the casing into the cavern body. The invention presents a process of injecting a gas into the well while measuring the gas pressure and optionally measuring the volume of injected gas. The gas drives down an interface between the gas and hydrocarbon liquid. By monitoring the rate of change of the gas pressure, and detecting a sudden decrease in the rate of change, it can be determined when the interface has been driven down to the region immediately below the bottom of the casing at the upper end of the chimney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Orvel L. Rowlan
  • Patent number: 10508945
    Abstract: A flexible storage container may have a first footprint when empty, and retracts to a second footprint when filled with a substance. A load sensing apparatus used for determining the volume of the substance in the flexible storage container can include a first set of load-sensitive sensors arranged in at least a region of the first footprint external to the second footprint, and a second set of load-sensitive sensors arranged within the second footprint. The sensor data from the load-sensitive sensors can be used to create a pressure level profile, and the volume of the substance contained in the flexible storage container can be calculated from the pressure level profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Roark D. Weil, Matthew J. Hollander, Asdrubal Garcia-Ortiz, William F. Maciejewski
  • Patent number: 10362115
    Abstract: A method for generating sensor data is presented. A number of wireless power signals is sent to a group of sensor units. A number of wireless data collection signals is sent to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the group of sensor units. Sensor data in a number of wireless response signals is received from the group of sensor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jason P. Bommer, David William Minteer, Richard J. Nesting, Arun Ayyagari, Richard Neal Bostwick, Andrew Michael Robb
  • Patent number: 10358236
    Abstract: A method and portable apparatus for servicing a shock absorber on a landing gear assembly of an aircraft in a weight-on-wheels state is disclosed. The shock absorber includes at least one chamber containing both hydraulic fluid and a gas in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus includes a source of gas and a source of hydraulic fluid. The amount of hydraulic fluid in the chamber is corrected, preferably such that the chamber is then filled with a known amount of degassed hydraulic fluid. A pre-set mass of gas is then delivered into the chamber under the control of a gas delivery system of the portable apparatus. More accurate servicing of a shock absorber may thus be provided since account is additionally taken of gas dissolved in hydraulic fluid. By delivering a pre-set mass of gas into the chamber, there is no need to rely on a measure of gas pressure or H-dimension (h) when servicing the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Pountney, Alan Shepherd
  • Patent number: 10337910
    Abstract: A laboratory stand comprises a holding rod for receiving instruments or measuring devices for treating or examining media or substances or mixtures which may be contained or filled into a vessel arranged next to the holding rod in the usage position, into which vessel appropriate instruments or measuring instruments can engage from above. In order to be able to perform the metering of the substances in the vessel prior to, or during, the processing in a simple manner and/or in order to be able to quickly and reliably identify weight changes, support projections are moveably mounted and provided with, or connected or provided with an operative connection to, a weighing apparatus such that the displacement of the set-up feet, which is increased in the case of increasing weight or reduced in the case of decreasing weight, can be determined as weight change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: IKA—WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Erhard Eble, Andreas Zeller
  • Patent number: 10323971
    Abstract: Underground storage caverns are used for the bulk storage of hydrocarbon liquids, such as crude oil and gases, such as natural gas. The cavern is accessed through a bore hole which has casing and, for some bore holes, internal tubing with an annulus between the casing and tubing. The upper end of the cavern has a roughly cylindrical region termed the chimney. In order to check it for physical integrity, it is necessary to measure the profile of the chimney. This is also referred to as conducting a survey of the cavern. The cavern typically has hydrocarbon liquid above brine up to the surface. An inert gas can be injected above the hydrocarbon liquid to form an interface. The profile is conducted by driving the gas/liquid interface downward with gas pressure to a reference level determined by sequentially transmitting acoustic pulses to locate the reference level. Gas is injected to increase the pressure by a predetermined value and thereby drive down the interface by a known distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: James N. McCoy
  • Patent number: 10267667
    Abstract: A sensor device includes a communication transmitter configured to transmit a sensor device identifier. The sensor device includes a communication receiver configured to receive a sensor configuration associated with the sensor device identifier. The sensor device includes an interrogation signal transmitter configured to transmit an interrogation signal based at least in part on the received sensor configuration to determine an identifier associated with an amount of content included in a container engaged by the sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Nectar, Inc.
    Inventors: Prabhanjan C. Gurumohan, Aayush Phumbhra
  • Patent number: 10245395
    Abstract: An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David E. Altobelli, Russell H. Beavis, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
  • Patent number: 10232958
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for servicing a shock absorber on a landing gear assembly of an aircraft in a weight-on-wheels state is disclosed. The shock absorber includes at least one chamber containing both hydraulic fluid and a gas in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus includes a source of gas and a source of hydraulic fluid. The amount of hydraulic fluid in the chamber is corrected, preferably such that the chamber is then filled with a known amount of degassed hydraulic fluid. The process may be at least semi-automatically performed, for example under the control of a control unit. By delivering a pre-set mass of gas into the chamber, there is no need to rely on a measure of gas pressure or H-dimension (h) when servicing the shock absorber, and more accurate servicing of a shock absorber may thus be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Pountney, Alan Shepherd
  • Patent number: 10219641
    Abstract: A bottle having a water volume measuring function comprises a bottle-lid, a bottle-body, and a measure module disposed in the bottle-lid which comprises at least a micro controller unit, a memory unit and a sound wave transceiver unit. The memory unit stores a lookup table with corresponding relationships between a plurality of frequencies and remained water volumes in the bottle-body. The sound wave transceiver unit emits sound waves with sweeping frequencies towards the bottle-body and receives reflected waves. The micro controller unit determines if any frequency of the sound waves is an air-resonance frequency according to the energy level of each of the reflected waves. When a sound wave frequency is determined as an air-resonance frequency, the micro controller unit obtains the corresponding remained water volume by checking with the air-resonance frequency in the lookup table and users can view the remained water volume without opening the bottle-lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BALTEK CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Tzu-Chuan Liao
  • Patent number: 10174487
    Abstract: A rationed water outlet device with a variable water flow volume includes a process control module including an outlet valve, a flow meter, a control chip, and an encoder that includes an unlimited outlet gear and a plurality of rationed outlet gears which are switchably connected to the outlet valve to provide respectively, when engaged, an unlimited water flow volume or a selected rationed water flow volume from among a plurality of rationed water flow volumes, and that is electrically connected to the control chip to provide gear selection information; a volume option switch that is rotatably linked to the encoder for engaging the unlimited outlet gear or one rationed outlet gear; and an outlet control switch that is independent of the volume option switch and that is engaged after the volume option switch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunjie Hong, Lihong Hu, Shanlu Yuan
  • Patent number: 10156551
    Abstract: A sampling system comprising an external sampling assembly in fluidic communication with a process sample manager is provided herein. The sampling system can automatically acquire sample from one or more sources of sample to prepare sample for injection into a column or detector. The external sampling assembly has an external sampling valve connected to an external pump and is in fluidic communication with a process sample manager. The external sampling valve has a first configuration and a second configuration useful in three steps of drawing, loading and discharging sample. Two selection valves can be connected to a plurality of external sampling valves for sequential sampling of multiple sources of sample. Sample can also be diluted in the process sample manager and then combined in a solvent composition stream for injection into the column or the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sylvain Cormier
  • Patent number: 10092683
    Abstract: A wound fluid collection system includes a canister adapted to collect bodily fluids from a tissue site. The canister includes an acoustic transducer adapted and positioned to insonify a cavity within the canister, the cavity being defined by a wall of the canister and the bodily fluids collected within the canister. A resonant frequency may be calculated based on a resulting received signal from the insonification. The resonant frequency may indicate a volume of the cavity within the canister. The difference between a known volume of the canister and the calculated volume of the cavity provides the volume of bodily fluid collected in the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Luckemeyer, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 10087746
    Abstract: One example of well treatment design based on three-dimensional wellbore shape can be implemented as a computer-implemented method. Wellbore data including acoustic logging data that defines an internal shape of a wall of the wellbore at multiple locations around the perimeter of the wellbore can be received. A volume of an open hole portion of the wellbore that includes the multiple locations can be determined using the wellbore data. Using the volume of the open hole portion of the wellbore, a volume of a fluid loss treatment to treat the portion of the wellbore for well fluid loss can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight David Fulton, Julio Vasquez
  • Patent number: 10016737
    Abstract: A withdrawal system for withdrawing particulate matter from a high-temperature industrial process or withdrawing material from a cryogenic process such as a pharmaceutical manufacturing process is disclosed. The withdrawal system comprises a heat exchanger comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, a first collection vessel and a second collection vessel, a conduit from the outlet end of the heat exchanger to the first collection vessel and the second collection vessel. The conduit comprises a first valve that controls flow of particulate material into the first collection vessel and a second valve that controls flow of particulate material into the second collection vessel. When the first valve is open allowing flow of particulate material into the first collection vessel, the second valve is closed; and when the second valve is open allowing flow of particulate material into the second collection vessel, the first valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Martin Evans, Charles Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 9982982
    Abstract: An automatic ammunition reloading system includes an actuation assembly in communication with a control system. The actuation assembly is joined to a reloading press by attaching to a control lever of the ammunition press so as to put the reloading press in operative relation with the actuation assembly. The control system receives input from a control lever position sensor to sense an extremity position of the control lever and to determine an actuation distance of the control lever for a full stroke of the reloading press. The control system controls operation of the actuation assembly so as to oscillate the control lever through the actuation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Ammobot, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Pruett, Jason T. Carter
  • Patent number: 9884151
    Abstract: A system and method for a patch-like, self-contained multi-component substance infusion device which provides one or more substantially hidden patient needles which can be placed in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir assembly that includes a rigid bladder portion used in conjunction with a non-distensible bladder film, such as a metallized film. The device can be attached to a skin surface via an adhesive contact and a pressurization system provides a pressure to the contents of a fluid reservoir assembly. Improvements to dry powdered formulations for reconstitution for preferred use in the device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Vincent J. Sullivan, Ge Jiang, Matthew S. Ferriter, Kenneth G. Powell, P. Spencer Kinsey, Carl R. Sahi, John M. Polidoro
  • Patent number: 9879961
    Abstract: An automatic ammunition reloading system includes an actuation assembly in communication with a control system. The actuation assembly is joined to a reloading press by attaching to a control lever of the ammunition press so as to put the reloading press in operative relation with the actuation assembly. The control system receives input from a control lever position sensor to sense an extremity position of the control lever and to determine an actuation distance of the control lever for a full stroke of the reloading press. The control system controls operation of the actuation assembly so as to oscillate the control lever through the actuation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: AMMOBOT, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Pruett, Jason T. Carter
  • Patent number: 9669997
    Abstract: Underground storage caverns are used for the bulk storage of hydrocarbon liquids, such as crude oil and gases, such as natural gas. The cavern is accessed through a bore hole which has casing and, for some bore holes, internal tubing with an annulus between the casing and tubing. The upper end of the cavern has a roughly cylindrical region termed the chimney. In order to check it for physical integrity, it is necessary to measure the profile of the chimney. This is also referred to as conducting a survey of the cavern. The cavern typically has hydrocarbon liquid above brine up to the surface. An inert gas can be injected above the hydrocarbon liquid to form an interface. The profile is conducted by driving the gas/liquid interface downward with gas pressure to a reference level determined by sequentially transmitting acoustic pulses to locate the reference level. Gas is injected to increase the pressure by a predetermined value and thereby drive down the interface by a known distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: James N. McCoy
  • Patent number: 9664488
    Abstract: An automatic ammunition reloading system includes an actuation assembly in communication with a control system. The actuation assembly is joined to a reloading press by attaching to a control lever of the ammunition press so as to put the reloading press in operative relation with the actuation assembly. The control system receives input from a control lever position sensor to sense an extremity position of the control lever and to determine an actuation distance of the control lever for a full stroke of the reloading press. The control system controls operation of the actuation assembly so as to oscillate the control lever through the actuation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AMMOBOT, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Pruett, Jason T. Carter
  • Patent number: 9649634
    Abstract: Provided is a mechanism for connecting columns and needles, including: a base member 60 on which needles 61a and 61b with their tips directed upward are provided; and a column rack 10 having column holders for holding columns 10a and 10b in an upright position while allowing all upward shift of the columns, with an opening provided below each column holder. With the needles 61a and 61b positioned directly below the openings, the base member 60 is elevated until its upper surface comes in contact with the bottom of the column rack 10, whereby the needles 61a and 61b are inserted through the openings into the columns 20a and 20b. When the base member 60 is in contact with the column rack 10, the columns 20a and 20b are pushed by the needles 61a and 61b to a higher position within the column rack 10 than their original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9639903
    Abstract: A crop yield per location measurer is disclosed. In general, the crop yield measurer includes a crop collector for a field of crops. The crop collector includes a navigation satellite system location determiner to determine location information at periodic times during a crop collection process. The crop collector also includes an optical mechanism to optically determine a volume of collected crops at the periodic times during the crop collection process. In addition, a database is used for storing the location information and the volume at the periodic times during the crop collection process. A crop yield overview generator is then utilized to provide a user accessible crop yield per location overview for the field of crops based on the information stored at the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventor: Uriel Rosa
  • Patent number: 9625346
    Abstract: A method for checking the leak-tightness of hydraulic components in an exhaust gas aftertreament unit of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust gas aftertreament unit uses an electric motor to pump a liquid reductant from a reductant reservoir to a reductant injector that is kept closed. The reductant pump is switched on for a first predetermined period, and the electric current consumed by the electric motor is detected during this period. After a predetermined standstill time has passed, the reductant pump is switched on again for a second period identical to the first period, and the electric current consumed by the electric motor is again detected during this period. The electric currents detected during the two time periods are compared with each other, and the leak-tightness of the hydraulic components downstream of the reductant pump is evaluated based on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Nienhoff, Paul Rodatz
  • Patent number: 9551605
    Abstract: A fuel-level measuring apparatus measures the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank. The apparatus can ensure a sufficient capacity of the fuel tank and sense the fuel level even when the fuel tank has a thin or complicated shape. A fuel-level measuring apparatus that senses the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank disposed below a floor panel of a vehicle includes a tank band that secures the fuel tank to a body of the vehicle, and a strain gauge attached to the tank band. The fuel level can be obtained from strain in the tank band detected by the strain gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Ogiwara, Masaki Wakao, Takeshi Watanabe, Kotaro Tanaka, Akihiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9523599
    Abstract: A fuel-level measuring apparatus measures the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank. The apparatus can ensure a sufficient capacity of the fuel tank and sense the fuel level even when the fuel tank has a thin or complicated shape. A fuel-level measuring apparatus that senses the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank disposed below a floor panel of a vehicle includes a tank band that secures the fuel tank to a body of the vehicle, and a strain gauge attached to the tank band. The fuel level can be obtained from strain in the tank band detected by the strain gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Ogiwara, Masaki Wakao, Takeshi Watanabe, Kotaro Tanaka, Akihiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9464817
    Abstract: A humidifier may be provided that includes a tray in which water is stored, a detection plate disposed on the tray to contact the water stored in the tray, and a case assembly including a contact plate contacting the detection plate and a water level detection part connected to the contact plate to detect a water level within the tray based on capacitance of the detection plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joonho Jang, Kunyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 9429459
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a mass of fuel contained in a variable geometry container. The container comprises a container assembly, formed by a variable geometry container disposed on a rigid support, a three-axis load cell coupled with the rigid support and providing a first set of three signals with a magnitude proportional to the force exerted by the container assembly, a three-axis accelerometer coupled with the rigid support and providing a second set of three signals with a magnitude proportional to the acceleration to which the container assembly is subjected, and a signal processing device configured to convert the first and the second set of signals into force and acceleration data, for three perpendicular directions of the space, and configured to calculate a measure relative to the mass of fuel contained in the variable geometry container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: EADS Construcciones Aeronautics S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Luis Marcos Montes, Guillaume Angibaud, Samuel De La Fuente Lopez, Martin Espinosa Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9291517
    Abstract: This disclosure provides example methods, devices, and systems for a sensor having a Helmholtz resonator. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a sensing element; a header coupled to the sensing element; a housing coupled to the header; an adaptor coupled to the housing; a screen disposed in an opening of the housing, wherein a first cavity is disposed between the screen and the sensing element and a second cavity is disposed between the adaptor and the sensing element, and the screen in combination with the first cavity and the second cavity form a Helmholtz resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner, Joseph R. VanDeWeert, Adam Hurst
  • Patent number: 9259531
    Abstract: A repeater system may control a pump by using a repeater and a user interface. An adhesive patch system may be used for affixing a pump or other object to a human body. Such an adhesive patch system may include two sets of adhesive members, each member including an adhesive material on at least one side so as to attach to the body. The members of the first set are spaced to allow the members of the second set to attach to the body in spaces provided between the members of the first set, and the members of the second set are spaced to allow members of the first set to detach from the body without detaching the members of the second set. Also, fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Larry B. Gray, Russell H. Beavis
  • Patent number: 9248451
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer comprising: a reagent container holder for holding a reagent container for containing a reagent to be used for analyzing a sample; a measurement unit for measuring a value representing an amount of the reagent in the reagent container held by the reagent container holder; an instruction receiver for receiving an instruction to obtain a remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container; a measurement controller for controlling the measurement unit so as to measure the value representing the amount of the reagent in the reagent container, when the instruction receiver has received the instruction; and a remaining reagent amount obtainer for obtaining remaining reagent amount information indicating the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container, based on a measurement result by the measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keitarou Kondou
  • Patent number: 9234735
    Abstract: A linear position sensing system includes a sensor, a conduit and an enclosure. The sensor has a connector and a converting element, where the connector includes a first end attached to the converting element and a second end that passes through the conduit and is configured for attachment to a moveable element of an external device. The enclosure houses the sensor. The conduit includes a first end fitting that is attached to the enclosure and a second end fitting that is affixed at a port or other aperture of the external device. The second end of the connector is configured to be inserted in the port other aperture and attached to the moveable element without disassembly of the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: 9226695
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing volume measurement of a person, animal or object, and methods of making and using the same are described. The apparatus includes first and second chambers in gaseous communication, first and second pressure sensors that measure the air pressure inside the first and second chambers, a pump configured to move air from or to the first and/or second chambers, and a control system connected to the first and second pressure sensors and the pump. The first and second chambers have a volume that is substantially constant when the internal pressure changes. The control system stores values from the first and second pressure sensors, controls air movement to and/or from the first and second chambers, blocks air transfer between the first and second chambers, and determines the volume of the person, animal or object from pressure measurements before and after an air transfer between the first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Near Margalit
  • Patent number: 9222821
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining a volume of liquid in a sample tube, comprising the steps of capturing an image of the sample tube, determining a first region of interest within the sample tube based upon pre-stored information concerning dimensional properties of the sample tube, scanning the first region of interest to detect the position of a meniscus indicative of an upper extent of the liquid, and using said meniscus position together with certain pre-stored properties of the sample tube to determine a volume of liquid in the tube, and outputting said volume. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Walsh, David Charles Lee, Martin Geoffrey Short