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| 20090231577 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE ENHANCED RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY - A test cell comprises a test chamber at least partially enclosed by a wall. The test chamber holds a test fluid, and a test material is placed within the test chamber such that at least a portion of the test material is contact with the test fluid and at least a portion of the test material is in optical register with a window of the wall. A first conductive element is in electrical communication with the test fluid but is separated from the test material by a space, and extends to an outside of the cell. A second conductive element is in electrical communication with the test material and also extends to the outside of the cell. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090279073 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE ENHANCED RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY - A method of analyzing an effect of a first substance on the behavior of a second substance comprises exposing a test material to the first substance, performing a first surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of the test material while it is exposed to the first substance, exposing the test material to the first substance and to the second substance, and performing a second surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of the test material while it is exposed to the first substance and to the second substance. Results of the first and second analyses are compared to identify a change in the behavior of the first substance. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100304018 | Controlling Top of the Line Corrosion in Hydrocarbon Pipelines - The invention relates to applying corrosion inhibitor within a foam matrix to the top of the line of wet gas pipelines. The environment within a hydrocarbon containing pipeline may include fluids that form strong acids in the gas space at the upper portion of the pipeline and can rapidly corrode a carbon steel pipeline. The inventive solution is to provide a foam matrix created by a combination of foaming agent, foaming gas and corrosion inhibitor that are each selected to be compatible with each other and with the hydrocarbon mixture to form a stable foam matrix that treats the top of the line position for the length of the pipeline. A foam breaking agent at the end of the pipeline can be injected, if needed. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110007310 | On-Line/At-Line Monitoring of Residual Chemical by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy - Target chemicals are monitored at very low concentrations in pipelines or vessels such as storage tanks using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of a sample. A liquid sample having a target chemical such as biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, anti-foaming agents, emulsion breakers, and hydrate inhibitors are tested while exposed to a prepared and charged surface of a coupon so as to draw the target material to the prepared and charged surface. The charged surface is fairly precisely charged using two other electrodes to calibrate the charge on the surface of the coupon. With the target substance presumably drawn to the coupon, the molecules on the surface of the coupon are excited by monochromatic light such as from a laser to induce vibrations within the molecules. The vibrations of the molecules reflect and scatter the monochromatic light in distinctive manners such that the collected light from the surface provides an indication of the presence of the target substance in the sample and a quantitative indication of the concentration of the target material in the sample. With the ability at lower power and reasonable cost to sense the presence well down below one percent and into the ppm range provides the opportunity to more precisely and efficiently add such chemicals to operating pipelines and storage tanks. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110043800 | Residual Chemical Monitoring System Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy - Target chemicals are monitored at very low concentrations in pipelines or vessels such as storage tanks using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of a sample. A liquid sample having a target chemical such as biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, anti-foaming agents, emulsion breakers, and hydrate inhibitors are tested while exposed to a prepared and charged surface of a coupon so as to draw the target material to the prepared and charged surface. The charged surface is fairly precisely charged using two other electrodes to calibrate the charge on the surface of the coupon. With the target substance presumably drawn to the coupon, the molecules on the surface of the coupon are excited by monochromatic light such as from a laser to induce vibrations within the molecules. The vibrations of the molecules reflect and scatter the monochromatic light in distinctive manners such that the collected light from the surface provides an indication of the presence of the target substance in the sample and a quantitative indication of the concentration of the target material in the sample. With the ability at lower power and reasonable cost to sense the presence well down below one percent and into the ppm range provides the opportunity to more precisely and efficiently add such chemicals to operating pipelines and storage tanks. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110067497 | HIGH PRECISION ULTRASONIC CORROSION RATE MONITORING - The invention relates to very precisely measuring changes in thickness of pipe walls to determine corrosion rate prior to any significant corrosion loss. The thickness is determined by ultrasonic testing where many measurements of the wall thickness are taken at the same spot by a fixed sensor and errors associated with noise and temperature changes are substantially eliminated. A highly sensitive receiver converts each reflected pulse to waves that are averaged with other pulse measurements. The resulting average wave is analyzed so that each waveform is analyzed to identify the extrema and inflection points of each reflected pulse. The resulting analysis provides a far more accurate determination of the time between reflected pulses. As a result, a far more accurate picture of corrosion at the location of the wall of the pipe can be determined within weeks with a high degree of confidence. | 03-24-2011 |
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| 20080255888 | Methods, Systems, and Apparatuses for Determining Driver Behavior - Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining driver behavior based on vehicle operating parameters, adjusting insurance premiums accordingly, and preventing fraudulent manipulation of the methods, systems, and apparatuses. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20100105241 | Cable positioner - A cable positioner is formed integrally with a connector and/or a plug, or is shaped and sized to matingly engage a connector and/or a plug. The connector cable positioner can define at least one groove. The groove is sized to secure the cable in a desired position and direct it in a desired direction. The positioner may define at least one retaining tab, or lip, at the extent of at least one groove wall to produce an interference fit with the cable when pushed through the retaining tab, while surrounding the groove enough to effectively create a groove wall more than 180 degrees around the grove to retain the cable in the groove. The at least one tab can pinch, or otherwise secure, at least a portion of the cable to hold the cable in desired position and direction. | 04-29-2010 |
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| 20080319665 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES FOR CONSUMER TELEMATICS - Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for aftermarket telematics. In one aspect, provided is an apparatus comprising a telematics control unit configured for consumer installation, consumer use, and the like. The apparatus can be installed in a vehicle. In another aspect, provided are systems and methods for operation of the apparatus. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090024525 | Vehicle Wallet - Disclosed are methods and systems related to electronic purchase transactions. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20110125363 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING A CHARGE RELATED TO USE OF A VEHICLE DURING A PERIOD BASED ON OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE DATA - A software method controlling a computer device compares operational performance data collected and stored from a vehicle to a predetermined criterion and determines, based on the comparison, whether to adjust a baseline charge for usage of a vehicle during the period. The software may compare data corresponding to one, or more, different parameters to determine the charge adjustment, the parameters including average MPG, engine revolutions, revolution-minutes, or fuel used during the period. The software method may use average values for MPG for the particular vehicle obtained prepared by a governmental agency. The method may also use criterion derived from governmental information. Or, the criterion may be a predetermined value based on a business consideration, such as number of engine revolutions corresponding to a given number of miles traveled. If the vehicle's engine turns more than the predetermined number during a period, the charge corresponding to use during period is increased. | 05-26-2011 |
