Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090007481 | System for delivery of insecticide - The system for delivery of insecticide provides a portable enclosure for delivering insecticide to an infested tree trunk. The system includes an annular shell disposed around with the trunk of the tree that defines an annular tank. An annular base supports the wall(s) of the annular shell and has a liquid impermeable membrane attached thereto that can be wrapped around the base of the tree trunk to prevent pesticide seepage into the ground. A pump delivers insecticide into the annular tank at an upper end of the tank. A drain hose attached to the base of the tank returns insecticide to the pump for recirculation. The pump is actuated in pulsating mode to agitate insecticide in the tank, causing waves of sufficient pressure to induce the insecticide to penetrate deeply through any bores in the trunk to kill both adult insects and larvae. | 01-08-2009 |
20090007670 | Acoustic chamber for detection of insects - The acoustic chamber for the detection of insects provides for the acoustic detection of insects living within the trunk of a tree. The chamber includes an annular shell disposed around the trunk of the tree to define an annular acoustic or sound chamber. Acoustic sensors are mounted in the shell walls. The acoustic sensors may be microphones that extend from the shell to be in direct contact with the tree trunk, or microphones spaced apart from the tree trunk, or other suitable acoustic transducers. The acoustic sensors are connected to data processing equipment for analyzing sounds picked up by the sensors for acoustic signals indicative of insect infestation. | 01-08-2009 |
20090032644 | Apparatus for Deicing a Surface of an Aircraft - An apparatus for deicing a surface of an aircraft includes a pair of adjacent movable surface elements that lie in a common plane and cover a portion of an aircraft. The pair of surface elements are connected to a reciprocating actuator through a bell crank for reciprocal movement and in opposite directions to one another. The apparatus also includes a tie bar at one end of the surface elements for maintaining the surface elements in a parallel relationship. In a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair of coaxial, coplanar circular disc and a reciprocating actuator for rotating the disc in opposite directions relative to one another. | 02-05-2009 |
20090258326 | Siwak tooth cleaning instrument - The siwak tooth cleaning instrument provides a carrying, protecting and application instrument for a siwak stick, to be applied to the user's teeth for cleaning thereof. In some embodiments, the siwak tooth cleaning instrument includes a tubular housing with a siwak that may be selectively and adjustably raised and lowered to extend the siwak from the housing for cleaning one's teeth, and retracted within the housing for storage and transport, similar to a lipstick. In other embodiments, the siwak tooth cleaning instrument has tooth cleaning cartridges including a siwak that releasably engage the head portion of an elongated handle. A cover may be pivotally attached to the handle for covering the handle and attached cartridge, or a storage tube with replacement cartridges may be pivotally attached to the handle. | 10-15-2009 |
20100025414 | Hot beverage cup sleeve - A hot beverage cup and sleeve bring together two modes of heat transfer, conduction and radiation. The sleeve has an inner face with a plurality of high reflectivity surfaces for radiating heat back to the cup. The sleeve also has a plurality of insulating members for containing insulating air. Each of the insulating members is positioned to space the high reflectivity surfaces away from the cup. A low emissivity film can be adhered to the cup without touching the insulating members. The film can also be attached to the sleeve facing but spaced from the high reflectivity surfaces. This cup and sleeve arrangements minimize thermal contact and reduce heat transfer. Thus, the hot beverage cup and sleeve protect a person's hand as well as extend the time of keeping the beverage hot. | 02-04-2010 |
20100035051 | Wear-resistant ceramic coating - The wear-resistant ceramic coating is a coating formed with a first thin film nitride layer formed by laser nitriding and a second thin film layer of titanium nitride or other ceramic material formed by physical vapor deposition. For example, the coating may be formed on a Ti-6Al-4V alloy by first directing a CO | 02-11-2010 |
20100263839 | Moving carbon nanotube heat sink - The moving carbon nanotube heat sink includes a heat transfer belt comprised of highly thermally efficient carbon nanotubes. Laterally disposed cooling fins extend away from a top surface of the belt. The belt is slidingly disposed over a C-shaped channel made of metal or other suitable material that is mechanically and/or chemically connected to a top surface of an electronic chip. Belt movement may be powered and guided by a plurality of rollers. The cooling occurs primarily as a result of conduction and convection heat transfer modes. | 10-21-2010 |
20110084572 | Piezoelectric damping device - The piezoelectric damping device is a passive piezoelectric vibration suppression and damping device for reducing amplitude of vibration in structures. The piezoelectric damping device includes a magnetic layer having opposed inner and outer faces, with the inner face thereof being adapted for releasable magnetic attachment to a vibrating structure, such as a metallic pipe, for example. A piezoelectric layer is secured to the outer face of the magnetic layer. Preferably, an electrically insulating layer is sandwiched between the magnetic layer and the piezoelectric layer. The electrically insulating layer is preferably an electrically insulating adhesive. An electrical shunting circuit is in electrical communication with the piezoelectric layer, such that vibration in the piezoelectric layer caused by the vibrating structure generates electrical energy, which is then dissipated by the electrical shunting circuit, thus damping vibration in the vibrating structure. | 04-14-2011 |
20110180520 | Apparatus and method for controlling laser cutting through surface plasma monitoring - The apparatus and method for controlling laser cutting through surface plasma monitoring provides real-time monitoring and control of laser cutting quality. Laser cutting of a workpiece is controlled through monitoring of surface plasma generation, particularly during a laser gas-assisted cutting process. The apparatus includes a Langmuir probe positioned adjacent the impingement point of the laser beam on the workpiece. The Langmuir probe is in communication with a signal analyzer for measuring electrical voltage generated by plasma generated by the cutting of the workpiece. A controller is provided for comparing the measured electrical voltage with a desired threshold voltage. Control signals are generated to selectively adjust output power of the laser responsive to the compared measured electrical voltage and the desired threshold voltage to minimize plasma generation. | 07-28-2011 |
20120103069 | ACOUSTIC LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH ENVIROMENTAL NOISE ISOLATION - The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation provides for the acoustic detection of leaks in a pipe while minimizing interference from external or environmental noise. The acoustic leak detection system includes a hollow shell adapted for positioning about the pipe to be inspected. A pair of gaskets are circumferentially secured to the inner surface of the hollow shell so that the pair of gaskets bear against the outer surface of the pipe to form an acoustically isolated region defined between the pipe, the pair of gaskets and the inner surface of the hollow shell. An acoustic sensor, microphone or the like is mounted on the hollow shell within the acoustically isolated region for detecting any acoustic signals; i.e., the sound produced by a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region. Upon detection of a leak, an alert signal is generated. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103954 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING FORMATION OF STRIATION PATTERNS IN LASER CUTTING - The system and method for minimizing formation of striation patterns in laser cutting provides real-time monitoring and control of laser cutting quality. Laser cutting of a workpiece is controlled through monitoring of thermal radiation generation, particularly during a laser gas-assisted cutting process. The apparatus includes an optical probe positioned adjacent the impingement point of the laser beam on the workpiece. The optical probe is in communication with a signal analyzer for measuring electrical voltage generated by thermal radiation generated by the cutting of the workpiece. A controller is provided for comparing the measured electrical voltage with a desired threshold voltage. Control signals are generated to selectively adjust output frequency of the laser responsive to the compared measured electrical voltage and the desired threshold voltage to minimize striation pattern generation. | 05-03-2012 |
20120255363 | SYSTEM FOR DUAL PRESSURE SENSING - The sensor includes a deformable diaphragm responsive to applied pressure and a rigid beam mounted to move as the diaphragm deforms. The rigid beam includes a mirrored surface for receiving light from and reflecting light into an optical fiber thereby forming a Fabry-Perot cavity to detect changes in the position of the rigid beam. The rigid beam further includes inter-digital fingers extending from the mirrored surface and moving with the rigid beam with respect to fixed inter-digital fingers to create a change in electrical charges in the fingers to detect changes in the position of the rigid beam thereby providing two measures of rigid beam displacement which are measures of pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber. | 10-11-2012 |
20120273078 | ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR PIPELINE REHABILITATION - System for pipeline rehabilitation. The system includes repairing a leak in a pipe using a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical parts connected through a compliant joint. When the parts are compressed, the semi-cylindrical parts form a cylinder whose outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of a pipe with a defect thereby allowing the cylinder to be inserted into the pipe at a location of a leak. Once in place, the parts engage the inside surface of the pipe when the compression is released thereby to seal the leak. | 11-01-2012 |
20120285221 | ACOUSTIC PROBE FOR LEAK DETECTION IN WATER PIPELINES - Acoustic system for leak detection. The system includes a disk-shaped probe for insertion into fluid flowing within a pipe. The probe has a convex front surface facing in the flow direction and a substantially flat rear surface. The probe further includes wheels to engage a pipe wall to maintain the probe's orientation within the pipe. At least one pressure sensor is embedded in the probe and is responsive to pressure changes resulting from a leak in the pipe wall. Data collection circuitry is disposed in the probe to receive probe location data and to receive an acoustic signal from the pressure sensor from which the pressure and location of a leak may be determined. | 11-15-2012 |
20120312629 | EXPANDABLE CHAMBER ACOUSTIC SILENCER - The expandable chamber acoustic silencer may be installed at the inlet or outlet of virtually any mechanism that processes air or other gas flow therethrough, to reduce the audible output of the gas flow. The silencer may be used to reduce the noise produced in an air conditioning system, in the inlet or outlet side of an air compressor, or as a muffler for an internal combustion engine, among other applications. The device includes an expansion chamber having adjustable walls driven by actuators installed within the walls to adjust the cross-sectional area of the chamber, with a portion of the walls being formed of a flexible or resilient material to enable such expansion and retraction. One or more microphones are installed at the outlet and/or inlet ends of the silencer and communicate with a controller that operates the actuators in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. | 12-13-2012 |
20140020450 | PIPELINE LEAK DETECTOR - The pipeline leak detector travels through a pipeline passively due to the flow of liquid through the pipeline. The device includes leading and trailing rings shaped to produce hydrodynamic resistance in order for the device to be carried through the pipeline. Wheels are provided about each ring. At least one wheel has an odometer to measure distance traveled through the pipe. The rings are joined by a plurality of axially oriented connecting rods. A plurality of sensing elements extend between the rings. Each sensing element has a thin laminate of a piezoelectric film sandwiched between two electrically conductive layers, and an electrically insulating coating on the outside of each conductive layer. One of the rings, e.g., the trailing ring, includes microelectronic circuitry for data acquisition and storage, e.g., estimates of the magnitude of any leakage encountered, the location of the leakage based upon the odometer travel, etc. | 01-23-2014 |
20140020863 | ADD-ON HEAT SINK - The add-on heat sink includes an elongate base having a plurality of fins extending from a surface thereof. A magnetic layer is disposed on the bottom of the base, which permits the add-on heat sink to be installed on any ferromagnetic heated surface. The magnetic layer is composed of either a polymer matrix having a plurality of thermally conductive structural components and a plurality of magnetic particles dispersed therein, or a thermally conductive polymer having magnetic particles dispersed therein. Alternatively, if the heated surface is not ferromagnetic, the heat sink may be magnetically attached by adhesively attaching mating magnetic and ferromagnetic pads to the heat sink and to the heated surface. This configuration allows the add-on heat sink to be installed with minimal footprint. Optionally, a fan may be magnetically attached to the heat sink to cool the heated surface by both conduction and convection. | 01-23-2014 |
20140037909 | Actuation and Control of Stamp Deformation in Microcontact Printing - A practical implementation of a flexible and transparent capacitive sensor is disclosed. The results show that, while PDMS is an inherently nonlinear material, linear behavior with minimal hysteresis can be obtained over an appropriately small range of operation. Moreover, high resolution has been achieved during these tests. | 02-06-2014 |