Southwest Research Institute

Other

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Gas Research Institute

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Herdx, Inc.

Vital Accuracy Partners

King, James Derwin

Laurence, Jack C.

Laurence, Laird W.

James Derwin King

William L Rollwitz

Armando De Los Santos

Laird W Laurence

Jack C Laurence

Michael R Williams

James C Lyman

George A Matzkanin

Ronald B Hicks

Qingwen Ni

Allen Nance

Erroll S Riewerts

Harold F Donoho

Gary Lane Burkhardt

Laurie Ann Coyle

Kevin Michael Finucane

Colin I Nicholls

Xiaodu Wang

John R Barton

Phillip A Hornung

A system and method for managing a herd of animals possibly requiring medical treatment, such as cows in a feedlot. The animals are herded individually into a chute, where identification data is collected from a tag, and core temperature data is collected using a special non-contacting core temperature sensor. The animal is tagged with a color coded tag representing a range of temperatures into which that animal's temperature falls. The animal is then delivered to a pen corresponding to that range of temperatures, where appropriate medicinal treatment is automatically dosed and applied to the animal.

Core-temperature-based herd management system and methods

Core-temperature based herd management system and method

A method and apparatus for measuring the core temperature of an animal or human. Thermal black body emissions from the eyeball are detected, at one or more wavelengths selected on the basis of various factors, including the ability of that wavelength to reach the interior of the eyeball. An illumination marker shines a spot of light on the eyeball, such that the spot corresponds to the area from which emissions are being detected.

Means and apparatus for rapid, accurate, non-contacting measurement of the core temperature of animals and humans

A method and apparatus for measuring the core temperature of an animal or human. Emissions from the eyeball are detected, at one or more wavelengths selected on the basis of various factors, including the ability of that wavelength to reach the interior of the eyeball. An illumination marker shines a spot of light on the eyeball, such that the spot corresponds to the area from which emissions are being detected.

Method and apparatus for rapid, non-contact measurement of the core temperature of animals and humans

Magnetic resonance technology can be used to non-invasively measure bone porosity, pore size distribution, and other bone properties, including aging, in situ. Spin-lattice (T ) as well as spin-spin (T ) relaxation time data and spectra are used to determine porosity and pore size distribution in human bones, including compact bones.

Nuclear magnetic resonance technology for non-invasive characterization of bone porosity and pore size distributions

A method and apparatus ( ) for detecting and measuring the amount of crude oil in underground rock formations. EPR measurements are used to calculate the amount of crude oil, and may be calibrated to determine the particular type of crude oil. These measurements may be used in conjunction with NMR measurements, to provide accurate estimations of pore size and permeability.

Porosity and permeability measurement of underground formations containing crude oil, using EPR response data

An H-field electromagnetic heating system for fusion bonding, particularly useful in the sealing of telecommunications cables and closures, comprises a composite bonding material having a bonding matrix and susceptors, the susceptors being magnetically reactive at a frequency above 50 MHz, and an applicator for applying radiant electromagnetic energy to the composite bonding material, at a frequency above 50 MHz (preferably 75-500 MHz). The applicator may take the form of a quarter-wave resonator having an inner conductor and an outer conductor which at least partially surrounds the inner conductor, the two conductors being shorted at a common end. The material to be heated is placed between the conductors. The inner conductor may include a resonator tube which is capacitively coupled to the power supply by a capacitive probe connected to the center conductor of a coaxial connector. Different applicators (having different geometries) may be used with the same power supply, or a variety of heater adapters may be provided which can be removably attached to the applicator base. An alternative applicator employs many wires, electrically insulated from one another, each forming a coil with a common axis, and all of the wires being electrically connected in parallel. Several of these wires are stacked to form multiple layers of coils, such that the effective resistance of said applicator is reduced and the current-carrying capacity is increased. Individual capacitors may be connected in series with a respective one of the wire coils, to make the current in the coils more uniform for coil circumferences which are greater than 0.1 of the wavelength of the radiant electromagnetic energy.

H-field electromagnetic heating system for fusion bonding

A method and apparatus for sampling and measuring a physical property of a product in a container (11). The container (11) has an aperture (11a) in its bottom surface, to which a sampling tube (13) is affixed. A piston (14) moves back and forth in the sampling tube (13), thereby withdrawing and replacing samples of product via the aperture (11a). While a sample is in the sampling tube (13), a sensor (15) senses a measured value of the physical property of interest. The piston (14) has a calibration layer (14a) that is made from a material having a property that is similar to that of the product with respect to the property of interest. For calibration, the piston (14) is positioned so that the sensor (15) senses a measured value that can be compared to a reference value to determine if the sensor output is properly calibrated.

Sampling and measuring device with calibrating piston

An apparatus for corring aqueous surfactant composition and sampling moisture content wherein the apparatus includes a device for delivering composition to a main collection port; a device for coring the composition in the main collection port to form a sample; a device for delivering the sample into an NMR sensor area; a device for measuring moisture level of the sample in the NMR sensor area; and a device for extracting the sample from the NMR sensor area or returning the sample to a main collection port which includes a cross feed piston assembly.

Apparatus for accurately controlling moisture levels of aqueous

A method of using a transient NMR response signal to determine physical properties of gases, specifically calorific content and compressibility, while the gas is in-line. The amplitude of the free induction decay signal, as well as relaxation time constants, are used to identify components of a gas mixture and to determine relative composition. This data is then used to calculate calorific value and compressibility as a function of the hydrogen content of components of the gas rather than as a function of the total hydrogen content of the gas.

Hydrocarbon gas measurements using nuclear magnetic resonance

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a method and apparatus for measuring the flow of non-homogeneous materials in an incompletely filled channel is set forth. In one embodiment, a NMR (or ESR) flow meter arrangement including a magnet forming the requisite magnetic field H.sub.o across a flow channel is incorporated. The magnet cooperates with a coil providing an NMR or ESR output signal from selected specie(s) or sub-atomic patricles (i.e. nuclei or unpaired electrons) in the material in the flow stream. It is desirable for the signal to be representative of the total amount of material in the flow stream. This signal may be in error, unable to sort out prospective combined variations due to (1) incomplete filling of the sensing volume or (2) a non-homogeneous composition of material. A composition sensor coil inscribing a very small volume in selected portions of the flow channel is included to form an NMR output signal indicative of composition, the small volume being filled for that sensor. Its output signal thus determines one of the two variables, and is input to a data combining circuit to indicate the flow volume from the two signals.

Method and apparatus for measuring flow of non-homogeneous material in

A method and apparatus are set forth for measuring flow velocity of an element of interest in a compound within a pipe. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a static magnetic field is imposed on the flowing material of interest. Preferably, a uniform field of finite width is imposed. There is a first coil around the path for imposing an RF magnetic field at right angles to the static magnetic field. There is a relationship between the flowing material including the element, frequency of the RF field and static magnetic field intensity which aligns nuclei or electrons of the element. There is a second (detection) coil spaced downstream from the first coil, the second coil also being around the pipe. By turning the first coil off or on, the NMR or EMR signal observed at the second coil can be made to change abruptly as the 'tagged' element flows to the second coil. By measuring the time of travel of the element of interest evidenced by the second coil signal, the flow velocity can be measured. An alternate embodiment utilizes a magnetic field gradient at the coils to narrow the coil field dimensions.

Method and apparatus for nuclear magnetic resonant measurement of flow

This method and apparatus is directed to measuring flow velocity of a flowing solid or fluid in a pipe. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a single magnet is utilized to impress a magnetic field on the flow, the field having a gradient. A concentrically arranged detection coil is positioned in the field and is connected with a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or electron magnetic resonance (EMR) detection apparatus. A segment of the material moves through the magnetic field. The frequency of a the magnetic resonance signal emitted by the nuclei or electron changes proportionate to field intensity. In a fixed gradient, the time rate of change of the emitted NMR or EMR frequency signal is a linear function of flow velocity. This apparatus provides a measure of flow velocity by interrogating with pulses thereby obtaining a frequency dependent signal. The approach has the advantage of utilization of a single coil and yields measurements which are independent of density or filling factor and also independent of elemental couplings identified as T.sub.1 and T.sub.2.

Method and apparatus for measuring flow in a pipe or conduit

A flow meter apparatus and method for measuring the flow, composition and heat content of coal is set forth. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the free or unpaired electron population of flowing coal is measured by electron magnetic resonance (EMR); the hydrogen nucleii population is measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). By calibration utilizing a standard specimen for a given type of coal, a profile for various types of coal can be obtained wherein measurement data is converted into an indication of the heat content typically measured in BTU per pound. This enables provision of a volumetric flow meter, a flow meter indicating flow in calorie content. This device enables integration to provide total heat content flow. Other variables describing the coal can be obtained.

Method and apparatus for coal analysis and flow measurement

This method and apparatus are directed to baggage inspection, and more particularly, baggage inspection to locate explosives. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a conveyor system is utilized to transport a bag past a first magnet to achieve an initial nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) polarization of a selected element. The element in the preferred embodiment is hydrogen, it being noted that hydrogen in explosives has a long T.sub.1 and a short T.sub.2. The first magnet provides an initial polarization. The bag continues on the conveyor belt past a second magnet. The second magnet provides the measurement field intensity and a coil contains an interacting RF forming the interrogation pulses. Echos are received. In the preferred embodiment, first and subsequent second echos are received and stored. The two signals are subtracted from one another to a null. The NMR response of elemental hydrogen in compounds typified by explosives (having a long T.sub.1 and short T.sub.2) is accented by subtraction of the two stored signals to form a response indicative of explosive materials. The apparatus includes means for adjusting the magnetic field to accommodate distortions for metal in the baggage.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

James Derwin King