Celebrity Inventors
Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) received Patent No. 121,992 for "An Improvement in Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments." He later received two more patents: one for a self-pasting scrapbook and one for a game to help players remember important historical dates.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8164329 | Wire rope flaw detector A wire rope flaw detector comprises a back yoke and excitation permanent magnets, which form a main magnetic path in a predetermined section of a wire rope in the axial direction; a magnetic path member arranged in the predetermined section to be magnetically insula... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8164328 | Eddy current system and method for crack detection An eddy current system and method enables detection of sub-surface damage in a cylindrical object. The invention incorporates a dual frequency, orthogonally wound eddy current probe mounted on a stepper motor-controlled scanning system. The system is designed to ins... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8159216 | Method and device for eddy current imaging for the detection and the characterisation of defects hidden in complex structures This eddy current imaging method includes the steps of: positioning (72), in the vicinity of a large inspection region, elements for the measurement of a surface magnetic field, generating (74, 92) a ... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8154279 | Non-destructive testing apparatus for the detection of graphitization of iron A sensor measures the interaction of an applied magnetic field to an iron sample surface to determine whether the sample surface has been graphitized. The sensor measures the magnetic force resulting from the interaction or the magnetic flux density to determine the... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8143885 | Surface flaw detection and verification on metal bars by Eddy current testing and imaging system An inspection system for detecting flaws on a moving metal (e.g., steel) bar coordinates the operation of an eddy current testing (ECT)-based flaw detection apparatus and an imaging-based flaw detection apparatus. The ECT-based flaw detection apparatus and the imagi... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8138755 | Enhanced wireless eddy current probe for a non-destructive inspection system An enhanced wireless eddy current probe is disclosed which has means to wirelessly couple to a non-destructive inspection (NDI) system situated some distance away from an inspection point on a material under inspection. The disclosed enhanced wireless eddy current p... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8125220 | Magnetic induction tomography system and method A magnetic induction tomography system and method for studying the electromagnetic properties of an object includes generator coils adapted for generating a primary magnetic field, and sensor coils adapted for sensing a secondary magnetic field. Actuators provide re... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8098065 | Magnetostrictive sensor probe for guided-wave inspection and monitoring of wire ropes/cables and anchor rods An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) probe assembly for use on longitudinal cylindrical structures, for guided-wave, volumetric inspection of the structures is described. The paired flexible plate MsS probes each include a flexible strip of magneto... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8035373 | Device and method for inspecting scratches on cell external case It is possible to accurately and stably inspect a scratch in the vicinity of a surface of a cell external case formed by a cylindrical copper plate by using a simple device. The cell external case (1) is rotated around the center axis of the cylindrical shape... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8018228 | High resolution and flexible eddy current array probe Disclosed is a method and an NDT/NDI probe deploying a slit or a flexible joint of probe bending region, preferably between two rows of probe elements to allow free bending between rows of probe elements and along the direction of the rows of elements and to allow t... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8013599 | Methods and apparatus for testing a component A method for inspecting a component having a surface profile that includes a local minima and a local maxima. The method includes positioning an eddy current probe proximate to a surface of the component to generate a first position indication, positioning the eddy ... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8013600 | Mountable eddy current sensor for in-situ remote detection of surface and sub-surface fatigue cracks A wireless, integrated, mountable, portable, battery-operated, non-contact eddy current sensor that provides similar accuracy to 1970's laboratory scale equipment (e.g., a Hewlett-Packard GP4194A Impedance Analyzer) at a fraction of the size and cost. ... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7994780 | System and method for inspection of parts with an eddy current probe An inspection system for detecting a flaw in a part is provided. The inspection system includes a generally C-shaped core having an opening for receiving the part. The system also includes a driver coil wrapped around the core for creating a magnetic field in the op... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7994781 | Eddy current sensor with concentric segments Reference standards or articles having prescribed levels of damage are fabricated by monitoring an electrical property of the article material, mechanically loading the article, and removing the load when a change in electrical properties indicates a prescribed leve... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7982458 | Wire-rope flaw detector There is obtained a wire-rope flaw detector capable of realizing a high signal-to-noise ratio even in the case where only one detection coil is disposed. In the wire-rope flaw detector, there are provided a magnetizer that forms main magnetic flux in a predetermined... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7982459 | Hydraulic cylinder rod position sensing method A method for detecting a position of a cylinder rod includes depositing a plurality of welds substantially along the length of a steel rod and depositing a corrosion resistant material onto the steel rod by laser cladding. The cylinder rod is then placed proximate t... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7952348 | Flexible eddy current array probe and methods of assembling the same A method of assembling an eddy current probe for use in nondestructive testing of a sample is described. The method includes positioning at least one substantially planar spiral drive coil within the eddy current probe, such that the drive coil is at least one of ad... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7902819 | Rivet rotating eddy current probe An eddy current probe adapted for detecting cracks in material directly beneath a raised-head fastener is disclosed. The probe comprises an eddy current coil and a support for carrying the coil in an orientation suitable for introducing eddy currents into material d... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7876096 | Detecting failures in flexible multistrand steel structures A flexible elongate structure, such as a flexible riser (10) for connecting oil and gas wells to floating production platforms, comprising at least one layer (20) of steel wires near the surface which extend at least partly along the length of the stru... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7821258 | Method and system for generating and receiving torsional guided waves in a structure A method is shown for magnetostrictive testing of structures using magnetostrictive techniques. A torsional guided wave is generated in the structure either directly, or through a magnetostrictive strip dry coupled or bonded to the structure. A permanent magnetic fi... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7800364 | Device for inspecting tangential recesses in a rotor disk An inspection device for inspecting tangential recesses in a rotor disk by means of eddy currents is disclosed. The device includes a probe containing a plurality of sensors arranged to acquire a plurality of data series during a scan stroke, and the probe is mounte... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7755351 | Method and apparatus for detecting inconsistencies in fiber reinforced resin parts using eddy currents Inconsistencies in a reinforced resin matrix part are detected using an inductive coupling probe connected with or part of a tuned resonant circuit. An alternating magnetic field produced by the probe is coupled to the part and produces eddy currents in the part. In... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7750626 | Method and apparatus for eddy current detection of material discontinuities A method of eddy current testing without the need for lift-off compensation. Signal response features similar to those used in pulsed eddy current techniques are applied to conventional (harmonic) eddy current methods. The described method provides advantages in ter... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7719266 | Non-destructive testing apparatus for the detection of corrosion A sensor measures the interaction of an applied magnetic field to a sample surface that includes magnetic materials to determine whether the samples surface has been corroded. The sensor measures the magnetic force resulting from the interaction or the magnetic flux... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7705589 | Sensor for detecting surface defects of metal tube using eddy current method A sensor for detecting surface defects of a metal tube solves a problem of a conventional eddy current probe in that it is difficult to detect a crack in the circumferential direction of a metal tube. The sensor includes a plurality of coils wound at a predetermined... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7696748 | Absolute property measurements using electromagnetic sensors Methods and apparatus are described for absolute electrical property measurement of materials. This is accomplished with magnetic and electric field based sensors and sensor array geometries that can be modeled accurately and with impedance instrumentation that perm... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7659715 | Device for inspecting a rectilinear cavity with eddy currents Inspecting an open cavity by successive broaching movements of an eddy-current sensor. The inspection device includes a probe body including the sensor installed laterally in the vicinity of the end of a rod and in line with a ramp, together with a resilient bias de... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7635976 | Surveying of buried pipelines A method of surveying a pipeline is provided. The pipeline comprises a tubular member with a protective wrapping. The method comprises the steps of applying signal to the pipeline from a first location, which first location is remote from the pipeline, and measuring... | 12/22/2009 |
| 7626383 | Apparatus and method for holding a rotatable eddy-current magnetic probe, and for rotating the probe around a boundary An RFEC excitation unit and sensor apparatus and method that facilitate detection of cracks or other anomalies within or under a surface and immediately next to an expected structure (such as a rivet) that would otherwise cause a signal change preventing detection o... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7589526 | Surface mounted sensor arrays having segmented primary windings One of the issues with planar eddy-current sensors is the placement of the current return for the primary winding. Often the ends of the primary winding are spatially distant from one another, which creates an extraneous and large inductive loop that can influence t... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7579831 | Test device for tubular specimens A test device for testing of tubular specimens has a plurality of individual, radially movable, finger-shaped test probes which are placed from all sides on the outside of the specimen to be tested. In this way, the test specimen is surrounded by test probes and can... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7573261 | Method and system for the generation of torsional guided waves using a ferromagnetic strip sensor A method is shown for magnetostrictive testing of structures using a magnetostrictive strip and magnetostrictive techniques. A torsional guided wave is generated in the magnetostrictive strip which is dry coupled or bonded to the structure. A magnetic field creates ... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7528598 | Fastener and fitting based sensing methods Damage and usage conditions in the vicinity of fasteners in joined structures are nondestructively evaluated using the fasteners themselves. Sensors or sensor conductors are embedded in the fasteners or integrated within the fastener construct, either in the clearan... | 05/05/2009 |
| 7518360 | Hybrid wound/etched winding constructs for scanning and monitoring Combined wound and micro-fabricated winding constructs are described for the inspection of materials and the detection and characterization of hidden features or flaws. These constructs can be configured as sensors or sensor arrays that are surface mounted or scanne... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7501814 | Apparatus and method for second-layer through-bushing inspection of aircraft wing attachment fittings using electric current perturbation A device and methods for using the device, that permit the rapid and accurate inspection of aircraft wing attachment fittings, including those wing to fuselage attachments modified according to a Structural Life Extension Program (SLEP). Such aircraft life extension... | 03/10/2009 |
| RE40515 | Method and apparatus for inspecting pipelines from an in-line inspection vehicle using magnetostrictive probes A method and system for implementing magnetostrictive sensor techniques for the nondestructive evaluation of pipeline structures. The system consists of a magnetostrictive sensor instrument unit, a data storage unit, and a plurality of magnetostrictive sensor probes... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7423424 | Method and apparatus for the non-destructive and contactless detection of faults in a test piece which is moved relative to a probe Method for nondestructive and contact-free detection of faults in a test specimen which is moved relative to a probe that detects a periodic electrical signal having a carrier oscillation whose amplitude and/or phase is/are modulated by any fault in the test specime... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7412359 | Mutual immittance calculation program, mutual immittance calculation apparatus and method, and electromagnetic-field strength calculation program In a mutual immittance calculation apparatus, an input section inputs data of a model of an electric circuit apparatus, being a target for analysis of the electromagnetic-field strength and being divided into a plurality of patches. A mutual immittance calculation s... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7410033 | Electrical connector and restraining device for use with elevator belts A device (30) for making electrically conductive contact with at least one tension member in an elevator belt (22) also provides a restraining feature to support loads on the belt. A connector portion (32) is secured to the belt. In one example,... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7397238 | Methods and apparatus for inspecting materials Apparatus and methods for inspecting materials such as cylindrical and tubular members are disclosed. One apparatus includes a frame that supports a magnetic coil and a detector assembly, the detector assembly having one or more magnetic detectors adapted to be spac... | 07/08/2008 |
