Ramsey Engineering Company

Thermo Fisher Scientific Gmbh

Thermo Ramsey Inc.

Union Tank Car Company

Thermo Instrument Controls Inc.

Tom Lee Erb

Wendell D Miller

Darrel Thomas Butler

James V Motsinger

Buford R Jean

Kevin M Johnson

Sergey A Moskalenko

Frederick Lynn Whitehead

Thomas H Dalrymple

Hugh L Perry, Iii

Jeffrey Ferguson

David Gessner

Michael H Fesler

Bruce Herbes

Frederick Cash

Lorna Lockman

Yuriy Bro

Gary Dickinson

Doug Schmidt

Teresa Ainsworth

Scott Eggerth

A cylindrical waveguide () for analyzing a flowing material () using guided microwave spectroscopy (GMS). Spaced apart plates () each define a plane within the waveguide housing () that is parallel to the direction () of material flow through the waveguide. Two opposed frames () each surround an aperture () that permits access to the region between the waveguide plates (). A microwave probe assembly () is mounted at each frame () to permit the radiation and reception of electromagnetic waves within the housing (). A temperature probe () is inserted into the interior of the housing () via fitting (). A y-shaped assembly () can be used to divide the flow into two separate paths including a diverter vane () that permits flow to be equalized within the two separate flow paths.

Guided wave cutoff spectroscopy using a cylindrical measurement cell

The present invention includes a guided microwave spectroscopy system () that eliminates the need for an automatic gain control feature by providing multiple signal processing paths having differing fixed voltage gains. An emitted signal which exits a test chamber () containing a material under test is simultaneously amplified by at least a first fixed gain amplifier () and a second fixed gain amplifier (). The output signal of each amplifier is separately digitized and then normalized for further digital signal processing by a computer () in order to determine parameters of the material under test which may have variable microwave radiation characteristics that are a function of the frequency of the signal emitted into the test chamber. During the signal processing step a system clock () causes the computer to sample only an integral number of complete output signal cycles. A calibration protocol (-) is conducted based on laboratory samples of each potential material to be processed by the system ().

Signal processing in guided wave cutoff spectroscopy

A cylindrical waveguide () used for analyzing a flowing stream of corn masa () using a guided microwave spectroscopy (GMS) process. The waveguide () includes opposed spaced apart plates () that each define a plane within the waveguide housing () that is parallel to the direction () of corn masa flow through the waveguide. The housing () includes two opposed frames () that each surround an aperture () that permits access to the region between the waveguide plates (). A microwave probe assembly () is mounted at each frame () to permit the radiation and reception of electromagnetic waves within the housing () as required to perform the GMS process. A temperature probe () is inserted into the interior of the housing () at a fitting (). In an actual installation a y-shaped assembly () can be used to divide the corn masa flow into two separate paths with one path containing the waveguide (). A diverter vane () within the y-shaped assembly permits flow to be equalized within the two separate flow paths.

A contaminant detection machine () including a conveyor () which causes an object under inspection () to pass through a plane () of emitted x-ray radiation. The plane is generated by an x-ray tube () that emits a lateral beam, thereby permitting the distance () between the x-ray tube and the object under inspection to be reduced. A photo diode arch mounting assembly () is placed above the object under inspection and is mated to a collimator assembly () that also serves as the mounting bracket for the x-ray generation assembly (), thereby preserving optical alignment between the photo diode detector array () and the emitted x-ray plane (). The detector array () scans the object under inspection () so as to produce a continuous series of discrete lines, each line being analyzed by an image processing unit () to determine the presence or absence of a contaminant. The conveyor () passes over a pair of slider bed surfaces () which are mounted in a hinged manner such that the leading edge () of one surface () is parallel to and spaced apart from the trailing edge () of the other surface (), thereby creating a gap that is coplanar with the collimation slot () and the emitted x-ray plane (). Each bed surface () is rigidly constrained within open ended mounting brackets (and) yet can be removed by hand without the use of tools. Similarly, the conveyor () is supported by a roller assembly () that includes a tracking block () and pivot pin () which permits the roller assembly to be mounted to and removed from flip up mounts () by hand and without the need of tools. Graphical user interfaces (and) permit a user to operate the machine () by means of a liquid crystal display touch screen ().

Contaminant detector for food inspection

A microwave waveguide is presented which includes a gas tight seal which provides pressure isolation between two portions of the waveguide. In accordance with an important feature of this invention, an upper flange includes a threaded axial opening for receiving and retaining a threadably mated dielectric filling material. If the thread pitch is small relative to the signal wavelength, the threaded section has essentially the same electrical characteristics as a smooth waveguide. The resulting structure provides an economical and practical method of retaining a solid dielectric filling material in a waveguide against high pressure without changing the effective diameter of the waveguide. In accordance with another feature of this invention, a novel high pressure seal is provided between the upper and lower flanges in the area surrounding the threaded axial opening. This high pressure seal comprises the capture of a membrane or disk of soft material, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), in an essentially constant volume, closed cavity. The PTFE thus acts like a compressed fluid and provides for high pressure gas operation in hostile environmental conditions with reduced failure relative to prior art PTFE (or like materials) to metal sealing arrangements. In accordance with still another feature of this invention, the sealing membrane or disk described above is rendered thin (on the order of 0.002 to 0.020 inches) and includes outer dimensions which are larger than the outer dimensions of the waveguide. The disk or membrane is thin enough so as not to impact the electrical characteristics of the waveguide.

Microwave waveguide seal assembly

A method and system for monitoring the level of flowable material contained in a transportable vessel that utilizes microwave gauging technology. The system includes a microwave lens/seal assembly, a microwave transceiver assembly, a controller/processor assembly and a computer. The lens/seal assembly is permanently secured to the vessel. The microwave transceiver assembly is adapted to be releasably attached to the vessel. The controller/processor assembly and the computer may be located at a loading/unloading facility.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a flowable material in a

A device is provided for enabling the signal generated by a sensing device to be presented which is representative of the property sensed of a flowing material over a conveyor, or the like. The output is presented for observation and/or as a usable input to control means responsive to the sensed property. A pair of signals, one with a slow time constant, the other with a fast time constant, is derived from the sensing device signal. An output signal is in turn derived from one of the two signals, normally the slow. From the event rate in the sensing device, the expected statistical deviation is computed and utilized as the threshold of divergence of the pair of signals. When the divergence exceeds the threshold, the fast signal is switched to be the same value as the slow signal so that no perceptible perturbation appears in the output and the output signal is derived from the fast signal. At the next and each successive fast time constant, if the convergence still exists, the slow signal is set equal to the fast signal. When the divergence ceases, the value of the slow signal is switched to be the value of the fast signal and the output is switched to come from the slow signal for stable representation of a stable condition.

Apparatus and method for digital specific gravity measurement

An apparatus for monitoring the level of material in a plurality of hoppers or bins includes a radiation source and sensor associated with each hopper. Each sensor generates an output signal representing the incidence of radiation passing through the material in the respective hopper. The sensor output signals are supplied to individual sample/hold circuits where they are temporarily stored. A central control circuit cyclically reads the stored signals from the sample/hold circuits and then generates a reset signal to clear the sample/hold circuits. The central control circuit compares the sum of the sensor output signals for each sensor over a predetermined time interval with at least one reference signal representing a predetermined material amount to generate a status signal for each hopper. A plurality of indicator circuits are responsive to respective condition of the status signals for visually and/or audibly indicating to an operator the status of the material level in the associated hopper.

Multi-point level indicator system

A method of placement of transducers on a pipe in positions where their beam axes intersect a point on the locus of points where the incremental flow is equal to the average flow is shown and described.

Method and apparatus for flow measurement using Doppler frequency shift

A coupling device for attachment of a sonic doppler flowmeter to pipes or conduits is shown and described. In this coupling, a temperature compensated liquid wedge is used to couple the transducer to the wall of the pipe or conduit, and means are shown and described for eliminating bubbles from the liquid wedge region.

Liquid coupling for doppler sonic flowmeter

In a switching circuit for controlling the level of material in a container, a first counter accumulates pulses generated at a rate inversely related to the level of the material up to a first predetermined total. A second counter accumulates clock pulses up to a second predetermined total representing a fixed counting interval. The counters are connected in a race circuit wherein the one to reach its predetermined total first resets both counters and controls the race circuitry. The first counter sets a control circuit to indicate a low level condition or to activate an alarm, and the second counter resets the control circuit to indicate a high level condition. After the control circuit has been set by the first counter, the race circuit is responsive to a third predetermined total of the first counter, less than the first predetermined total, representing, for example, a level to which a container is to be filled. The first and third predetermined totals provide a hysteresis effect to prevent the switching circuit from 'hunting' around the level at which material is to be added or an alarm condition shown.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Tom Lee Erb