Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120204659 | EXPLOSIVE RESIDUE SAMPLING - In one aspect, an apparatus includes a head configured to receive a pad for sampling explosive residue on a surface and a feedback system coupled to the head. The feedback system is configured to indicate when a pressure applied by the head is greater than a minimum threshold value. In another aspect, an apparatus includes a head configured to receive a pad and rotate to apply a shear force to the pad for sampling explosive residue on a surface. The apparatus includes a feedback system coupled to the head, which is configured to restrict the shear force applied by the head to be within a predetermined range. In another aspect, a method includes applying pressure to a pad to sample explosive residue on a surface, sensing the pressure applied to the pad, and providing an indication of when the pressure applied to the pad is greater than a threshold value. | 08-16-2012 |
20120272712 | Pressure Activated Sampling System - Screening of items for the presence of contaminants, such as explosives residue, is accomplished by subjecting an item loaded into a pressure chamber to a pressure substantially in excess of atmospheric pressure conditions and rapidly decompressing the item to the ambient atmospheric pressure. The rapid decompression serves to scavenge vapors and particles from the exterior and interior of the item and any objects it contains. A sample of the vapors and particles removed from the item by the rapid decompression is sampled and is tested to determine whether a predetermined contaminant is present in the sample. Depending on the types of contaminants for which the sample is tested, it is possible to detect whether explosives, biological or chemical agents, and/or narcotics residues are present on or in the item being screened. | 11-01-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100218912 | METHOD, APPARATUS, HEADER, AND COMPOSITION FOR GROUND HEAT EXCHANGE - A subterranean ground heat exchange system, a method of installation, and a grout composition therefor. The grout composition is a pumpable slurry formed of from about 70 to about 85 parts by weight natural flake graphite and from about 30 to about 15 parts by weight bentonite. The solids content of the pumpable grout slurry is preferably at least 35% by weight and is more preferably at least 40% by weight. The ground exchange apparatus preferably utilizes an improved supply and return header comprised of supply and return ports which are provided through the vertically extending outer wall of a header housing. The header also includes an interior supply conduit which extends from the supply port into the interior of the header housing and includes a bend positioned in the interior of the housing for directing the heat transfer fluid downwardly. | 09-02-2010 |
20120061077 | Sonic Enhanced Oil Recovery System and Method - To increase oil recovery from an oil reservoir, an acoustic transmitter is disposed in a source well and an acoustic receiver is disposed in a producing well. A portion of the oil reservoir is disposed between the source well and the producing well. An acoustic signal is transmitted from the acoustic transmitter at frequencies of 30 Hz and greater. The transmitted acoustic signal is received by the acoustic receiver and a resonant frequency of the portion of the oil reservoir is determined based on attenuation of the transmitted signal. The acoustic signal is transmitted from the acoustic transmitter at the determined resonant frequency to reduce a boundary layer effect between oil in the oil reservoir and a surface of a substrate in the oil reservoir and between the oil and a brine interface in the oil reservoir. | 03-15-2012 |
20130000886 | SONIC OIL RECOVERY APPARATUS FOR USE IN A WELL - A sonic oil recovery apparatus for use in a well has an injector tubing extending interior of the casing of the well, and a resonator tube affixed to or within the injector tubing. The resonator tube has an interior flow pathway so as to allow a fluid to flow therethrough from the injector tubing. The resonator tube is suitable for transmitting an acoustic signal approximately equal to the resonate frequency of a formation in the well. The resonator tube can have a plurality of orifices plates formed therein such that the fluid flowing through the resonator tube generates the acoustic signal. The resonator tube can alternatively be a solid state acoustic resonator therein. | 01-03-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080196859 | Method of transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem above the surface of the earth and material therebeneath using a coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure generating turbulence along the outer flow channel thereof - A method of transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulence is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. | 08-21-2008 |
20080209933 | System for exchanging heat within an environment using a coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure with helically-finned tubing - An coaxial-flow-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. ground, water, slurry) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow-flow heat exchanging structure comprises a thermally-conductive flowguide tube having a hollow conduit extending from said proximal end to said distal end. A helically-finned tubing is disposed within the hollow conduit of said thermally-conductive flowguide tube, and has a central conduit for conducting a heat exchanging fluid, from said proximal end, along the central conduit towards the distal end, and returning back to the proximal end along a spiral annular flow channel formed between the thermally-conductive flowguide tube and the helically-finned tubing. | 09-04-2008 |
20080210402 | Method of incrasing the rate of heat energy transfer between a heat exchanging subsystem above the surface of the earth and material therebeneath using a coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure generating turbulence along the outer flow channel thereof - A method of transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulance is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. This in turn increases the rate of heat energy transfer between the heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth and material beneath the surface of the Earth. | 09-04-2008 |
20090250200 | Coaxial-flow heat transfer structures for use in diverse applications - An coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. air, ground, water, slurry etc.) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure comprises: a thermally conductive outer tube section, and an inner tube section having an inner flow channel and being coaxially arranged within the outer tube section. An outer flow channel is formed between the inner and outer tube sections, and helically-extending turbulence generator is provided along the outer flow channel, so as to create turbulence along the flow of heat exchanging fluid flowing between the inner and outer flow channels, and thereby increasing the heat transfer through the walls of the outer tube section to the ambient environment. | 10-08-2009 |
20110024361 | AQUEOUS TREATMENT APPARATUS UTILIZING PRECURSOR MATERIALS AND ULTRASONICS TO GENERATE CUSTOMIZED OXIDATION-REDUCTION-REACTANT CHEMISTRY ENVIRONMENTS IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND/OR SIMILAR DEVICES - An electrochlorination and electrochemical system for the on-site generation and treatment of municipal water supplies and other reservoirs of water, by using a custom mixed oxidant and mixed reductant generating system for the enhanced destruction of water borne contaminants by creating custom oxidation-reduction-reactant chemistries with real time monitoring. A range of chemical precursors are provided that when acted upon in an electrochemical cell either create an enhanced oxidation, or reduction environment for the destruction or control of contaminants. Chemical agents that can be used to control standard water quality parameters such as total hardness, total alkalinity, pH, total dissolved solids, and the like are introduced via the chemical precursor injection subsystem infrequently or in real time based on sensor inputs and controller set points. | 02-03-2011 |
20110259547 | BUILDING STRUCTURES EMPLOYING COAXIAL-FLOW HEAT TRANSFER STRUCTURES FOR THERMAL REGULATION - A thermally-regulated building structure including a foundation for supporting the thermally-regulated building structure on the surface of the Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) an heat energy exchanging system maintained within the thermally-regulated building structure and (ii) the Earth environment. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section being substantially straight and having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends. An outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the heat exchanging fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the heat exchanging fluid and the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. | 10-27-2011 |
20120211210 | COAXIAL-FLOW HEAT TRANSFER STRUCTURE - An coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. air, ground, water, slurry etc.) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure comprises: a thermally conductive outer tube section, and an inner tube section having an inner flow channel and being coaxially arranged within the outer tube section. An outer flow channel is formed between the inner and outer tube sections, and helically-extending turbulence generator is provided along the outer flow channel, so as to create turbulence along the flow of heat exchanging fluid flowing between the inner and outer flow channels, and thereby increasing the heat transfer through the walls of the outer tube section to the ambient environment. | 08-23-2012 |
20120247719 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING HEAT ENERGY BETWEEN A HEAT EXCHANGING SUBSYSTEM ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH AND MATERIAL THEREBENEATH USING ONE OR MORE COAXIAL-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGING STRUCTURES PRODUCING TURBULENCE IN AQUEOUS-BASED HEAT-TRANSFERING FLUID FLOWING ALONG HELICALLY-EXTENDING OUTER FLOW CHANNELS FORMED THEREIN - A method of and apparatus for transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulence is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. | 10-04-2012 |