Wayne S Hill

US Patent:

6381547, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Jun 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/591726

Inventors:

Frank J. Heirtzler - Londonderry NH
Wayne S. Hill - Westborough MA

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

702 39, 702 35, 702 56, 73146, 73462

Abstract:

A tire defect detection system including a support structure for receiving a tire; an actuator disposed proximate the tire for impacting the tire; a microphone disposed proximate the actuator for receiving a sound wave generated when the actuator impacts the tire; and a computer responsive to the microphone, the computer programmed to calculate a number of discriminator quantities from the resulting sound wave and to compare the calculated discriminator quantities with stored discriminator quantities indicative of a defect to determine whether a defect is present in the tire.

US Patent:

7017857, Mar 28, 2006

Filed:

Sep 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/244583

Inventors:

Wayne Hill - Westborough MA, US
Lev S. Tsimring - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

B64C 27/51

US Classification:

244 1713

Abstract:

An active vibration control system including a sensor responsive to a source of vibration and which provides an output signal representative of the vibrations; at least one actuator positioned to impart canceling vibrations to the source of vibrations based on an input signal; a correction subsystem responsive to the actuator for estimating the sensor output in the absence of the canceling vibrations and which outputs a corrected output signal representative only of the vibrations emanating from the source; and a state space predictor responsive to the corrected output signal for determining the input signal to the actuator based on variations in the corrected output signal to better control vibrations especially in chaotic systems.

US Patent:

7341410, Mar 11, 2008

Filed:

Mar 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/385398

Inventors:

Wayne S. Hill - Westborough MA, US
Bruce N. Barck - Franklin MA, US

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

B23C 3/00
G01N 29/14

US Classification:

409234, 73587

Abstract:

A dynamical instrument for machining comprising a sensor responsive to a non-rotating part of a machine proximate the tool of the machine for outputting a vibration signal, and a processor responsive to the sensor output configured to calculate a plurality of signature quantities which characterize the dynamics of the vibration signal and correlate the signature quantities to detect parameters associated with the operation of the machine.

US Patent:

47982403, Jan 17, 1989

Filed:

Mar 18, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/712863

Inventors:

Joseph Gerstmann - Framingham MA
George M. Celorier - Milford MA
Wayne S. Hill - Boston MA

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F25B 2900

US Classification:

165 481

Abstract:

Space heating and cooling and potable water heating are provided by a single appliance. The housing appliance is divided into four sections: a lower water storage section, a middle hardware section, an upper internal air handling section and a side external air handling section which may protrude through a building wall. A heating medium from a single burner heat exchanger may be directed to either a liquid to air heat exchanger for space heating or to a hot water storage tank for heating potable water. The storage tank contains a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the heating medium to the potable water. A single thermostatic flow control maintains a constant temperature of heating medium directed to either the liquid to air heat exchanger or the storage tank to provide condensation of products of combustion during the space heating mode of operation and part of the water heating mode of operation and yet preclude overheating of the heating medium. As a result of the thermostatic flow control, a low flow rate for higher efficiency is feasible and the flow rate may be varied with changes in the temperature of the stored water. For added efficiency, refrigerant from the air conditioner compressor may pass in heat exchange relationship with the stored water to recover heat of compression by the stored water.

US Patent:

60146524, Jan 11, 2000

Filed:

Oct 24, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/736441

Inventors:

Wayne S. Hill - Westborough MA
Frank J. Heirtzler - Londonderry NH

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G06F 1518

US Classification:

706 16

Abstract:

An object classification and identification system including stored discriminator quantities indicative of the surface characteristics of known objects; an arm coupled to a detector which provides a voltage signal which varies relative to the surface characteristics of a detected object as the arm moves over the detected object; a computer programmed to calculate a plurality of discriminator quantities indicative of the surface characteristics of the detected object based on the voltage signal; and a neural network used for matching the calculated discriminator quantities of the detected object with the stored discriminator quantities indicative of the surface characteristics of known object.

US Patent:

56000731, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Nov 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/333213

Inventors:

Wayne S. Hill - Westborough MA

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G01F 174

US Classification:

7386104

Abstract:

A method of and system for analyzing a two-phase flow in a conduit in which acoustic energy is transmitted through a conduit and into the flow therein; return echoes are detected, one or more flow indicator quantities are computed from the return echoes; and the mass flow rate and/or the flow quality is determined from the computed flow indicator quantities.

US Patent:

57419809, Apr 21, 1998

Filed:

Jan 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/784787

Inventors:

Wayne S. Hill - Westborough MA
Bruce N. Barck - Franklin MA

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G01F 174

US Classification:

7386104

Abstract:

A non-invasive flow analysis system and method wherein a sensor, such as an acoustic sensor, is coupled to a conduit for transmitting a signal which varies depending on the characteristics of the flow in the conduit. The signal is amplified and there is a filter, responsive to the sensor signal, and tuned to pass a narrow band of frequencies proximate the resonant frequency of the sensor. A demodulator generates an amplitude envelope of the filtered signal and a number of flow indicator quantities are calculated based on variations in amplitude of the amplitude envelope. A neural network, or its equivalent, is then used to determine the flow rate of the flow in the conduit based on the flow indicator quantities.

US Patent:

57146918, Feb 3, 1998

Filed:

Oct 24, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/736523

Inventors:

Wayne S. Hill - Westborough MA

Assignee:

Foster-Miller, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G01F 174

US Classification:

7386104

Abstract:

A method of and system for analyzing a two-phase flow in a conduit in which acoustic energy is transmitted through a conduit and into the flow therein; return echoes are detected, one or more flow indicator quantities are computed from the return echoes; and the mass flow rate and/or the flow quality is determined from the computed flow indicator quantities.