IP Library Granted Patent US 11,446,716
Granted Patent B1
US 11,446,716 · App. 16/871,337 · Granted Sep 20, 2022

Automated cleaning system for internal cavities of pressure instruments

Inventors: Amir Gnessin (Woodland Hills, CA); Nathan J. Ransom (Woodland Hills, CA); Robert T. Welther (Woodland Hills, CA)
Assignee: King Nutronics Corporation
B08B9/0326B08B9/0325G01L7/04B08B2209/032
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,446,716
App. No.
16/871,337
Granted
Sep 20, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

Various automated cleaning systems for internal cavities of pressure instruments are disclosed. The systems comprise a computer controlled fluid flow system that enables the use of various cleaning fluids for cleaning internal cavities of pressure instruments to high cleanliness levels. Various pressure instruments, including complex shapes such as Bourdon tube gauges, are accommodated. The system can include a computerized cleaning cycle selection and a multi-fluid combination of cleaners for efficient and low cost cleaning solution. A servo controlled agitation system can allow for filling, evacuation, and drying of aqueous solutions as well as high performance solvents for Oxygen Clean service.

Claims (30)

1. A system configured to clean an internal cavity of a Bourdon tube pressure gauge comprising a front faceplate, the system comprising:

a housing;

a mount that is configured to receive the Bourdon tube pressure gauge;

a fluid system comprising a manifold, a plurality of input fluid containers, a plurality of output fluid containers, and a plurality of valves, wherein each of the input fluid containers and the output fluid containers is connected to the manifold via tubing and a respective one of the valves;

a pressure pump configured to increase the pressure within the input fluid containers;

a vacuum pump configured to reduce the pressure within the output fluid containers;

a rotation unit comprising a rotating union having a rotating side and a stationary side, the rotating union configured to allow for fluid passage from the rotating side to the stationary side;

an agitation unit comprising a motorized pulsation mechanism;

an electronic controller configured to control operation of the valves, the pressure pump, the vacuum pump, the rotation unit, and the agitation unit;

the system being configured such that, during operation of the system:

a cleaning fluid from at least one of the input fluid containers flows into the internal cavity;

the rotation unit rotates the Bourdon tube pressure gauge relative to the housing about an axis of rotation that passes through and is generally perpendicular to the front faceplate of the Bourdon tube pressure gauge;

the agitation unit agitates the cleaning fluid in the internal cavity; and

the cleaning fluid in the internal cavity flows into at least one of the output fluid containers.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the agitation unit further comprises a piston or a flexible bladder.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprise solenoid valves.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input fluid containers comprise an aqueous cleaner container, a water container, and a cleaning chemical container.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of output fluid containers comprise a used cleaning chemical container and a waste container.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a trap configured to capture a sample of the cleaning fluid as it flows from the internal cavity into the at least one of the output fluid containers, the trap comprising a turbidity sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an ambient air inlet, the air inlet connected to the manifold via a control valve and a filter.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mount is configured to rotate relative to the housing.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotation unit comprises a motor.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first tube connected with the rotating side, the first tube configured to connect with the Bourdon tube pressure gauge; and

a second tube connected with the stationary side and with the manifold.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mount further comprises:

a body configured to receive the Bourdon tube pressure gauge; and

a plurality of clamps spaced substantially equally in a circumferential direction around the body.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotation unit is configured to rotate the Bourdon tube pressure gauge in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotation unit is configured to accelerate and decelerate the Bourdon tube pressure gauge.

Assignments (15)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2025
From: TRANSDIGM INC.; 17111 WATERVIEW PKWY LLC; 4455 GENESEE PROPERTIES, LLC; 4455 GENESEE STREET, LLC; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC LLC; AIRBORNE ACQUISITION, INC.; AIRBORNE GLOBAL, INC.; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF CA INC.; AMSAFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ANGUS ELECTRONICS CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES TNO CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; ASHFORD PROPERTIES, LLC; AUXITROL WESTON USA, INC.; AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BETA TRANSFORMER TECHNOLOGY LLC; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC; BRIDPORT HOLDINGS, INC.; BRIDPORT-AIR CARRIER, INC.; BRUCE AEROSPACE INC.; CALSPAN, LLC; CALSPAN AIR FACILITIES, LLC; CALSPAN AIR SERVICES, LLC; CALSPAN ASE PORTUGAL, INC.; CALSPAN HOLDINGS, LLC; CALSPAN JETS LLC; CALSPAN TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION LLC; CDA INTERCORP LLC; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; CHELTON AVIONICS HOLDINGS, INC.; CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.; CHELTON DEFENSE PRODUCTS, INC.; CMC ELECTRONICS AURORA LLC; CPI EDB INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.; CPI ELECTON DEVICE BUSINESS, INC.; CTHC LLC; DART AEROSPACE USA, INC.; DART BUYER, INC.; DART HELICOPTER SERVICES, INC.; DART INTERMEDIATE, INC.; DART TOPCO, INC.; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ESTERLINE EUROPE COMPANY LLC; ESTERLINE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY; ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES SGIP LLC; FPT INDUSTRIES LLC; GENESEE HOLDINGS, LLC; GENESEE HOLDINGS II, LLC; GENESSE HOLDINGS III, LLC; HARCOSEMCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; HELI TECH, INC.; HYTEK FINISHES CO.; ICEMAN HOLDCO, INC.; ILC HOLDINGS, INC.; JANCO CORPORATION; JOHNSON LIVERPOOL LLC; KING NUTRONICS, LLC; KIRKHILL INC.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH HOLDING CORPORATION; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; LEACH MEXICO HOLDING LLC; LEACH TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE DE, INC.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE HOLDINGS, INC.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE US LLC; MEDTHERM LABS, LLC; MICROWAVE POWER PRODUCTS, INC.; NAT SEATTLE INC.; NMC GROUP, INC.; NORDISK AVIATION PRODUCTS LLC; NORTH HILLS SIGNAL PROCESSING CORP.; NORTH HILLS SIGNAL PROCESSING OVERSEAS LLC; NORWICH AERO PRODUCTS, INC.; OFFSHORE HELICOPTER SUPPORT SERVICES, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; PARAVION TECHNOLOGY, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; POWER DEVICE CORPORATION; RAPTOR LABS HOLDCO, LLC; RAPTOR LABS INTERMEDIATE, LLC; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SENSOR CONCEPTS, LLC; SERVOTRONICS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; SKANDIA, INC.; SKURKA AEROSPACE INC.; SPACE ELECTRONICS LLC; SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES, LLC; TA AEROSPACE CO.; TACTIAR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TDG ESL HOLDINGS INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR US LLC; TESTVONICS, INC.; TEXAS ROTRONICS, INC.; TRANSICOIL LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; BRIDPORT ERIE AVIATION, INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; TRANSDIGM UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 072473/0485 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2024
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 069500/0842 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2024
From: TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; TRANSDIGM INC.; TRANSDIGM UK HOLDINGS LIMITED; 17111 WATERVIEW PKWY LLC; 4455 GENESEE STREET, LLC; 4455 GENESEE PROPERTIES, LLC; 703 CITY CENTER BOULEVARD, LLC; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC LLC; AIRBORNE ACQUISITION, INC.; AIRBORNE GLOBAL, INC.; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF CA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; AMSAFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGUS ELECTRONICS CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES TNO CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; ASHFORD PROPERTIES, LLC; AUXITROL WESTON USA, INC.; AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BETA TRANSFORMER TECHNOLOGY LLC; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC; BRIDPORT HOLDINGS, INC.; BRIDPORT-AIR CARRIER, INC; BRIDPORT ERIE AVIATION, INC.; BRUCE AEROSPACE, INC.; CALSPAN AERO SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LLC; CALSPAN AIR FACILITIES, LLC; CALSPAN AIR SERVICES, LLC; CALSPAN ASE PORTUGAL, INC.; CALSPAN HOLDINGS, LLC; CALSPAN, LLC; CALSPAN JETS LLC; CALSPAN SYSTEMS LLC; CALSPAN TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION LLC; CDA INTERCORP LLC; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.; CHELTON AVIONICS HOLDINGS, INC.; CHELTON DEFENSE PRODUCTS, INC.; CMC ELECTRONICS AURORA LLC; CPI INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.; CPI INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CPI SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS LLC; CTHC LLC; DART AEROSPACE USA, INC.; DART BUYER, INC.; DART HELICOPTER SERVICES, INC.; DART INTERMEDIATE, INC.; DART TOPCO, INC.; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ESTERLINE EUROPE COMPANY LLC; ESTERLINE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY; ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES SGIP LLC; FPT INDUSTRIES LLC; GENESEE HOLDINGS, LLC; GENESEE HOLDINGS II, LLC; GENESEE HOLDINGS III, LLC; HARCOSEMCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; HELI TECH, INC.; HYTEK FINISHES CO.; ICEMAN HOLDCO, INC.; ICEMAN INTERMEDIATE MIDCO, LLC; ILC HOLDINGS, INC.; JANCO CORPORATION; JOHNSON LIVERPOOL LLC; KIRKHILL INC.; KING NUTRONICS, LLC; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH HOLDING CORPORATION; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; LEACH MEXICO HOLDING LLC; LEACH TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE DE, INC.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE HOLDINGS, INC.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE US LLC; MEDTHERM LABS, LLC; MICROWAVE POWER PRODUCTS, INC.; NAT SEATTLE INC.; NMC GROUP INC.; NORDISK AVIATION PRODUCTS LLC; NORTH HILLS SIGNAL PROCESSING CORP.; NORTH HILLS SIGNAL PROCESSING OVERSEAS LLC; NORWICH AERO PRODUCTS, INC.; OFFSHORE HELICOPTER SUPPORT SERVICES, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; PARAVION TECHNOLOGY, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; POWER DEVICE CORPORATION; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; RAPTOR LABS HOLDCO, LLC; RAPTOR LABS INTERMEDIATE, LLC; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SENSOR CONCEPTS, LLC; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; SKANDIA, INC.; SKURKA AEROSPACE INC.; SPACE ELECTRONICS LLC; SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES, LLC; TA AEROSPACE CO.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS INC.; TDG ESL HOLDINGS INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR US LLC; TESTVONICS, INC.; TEXAS ROTRONICS, INC.; TRANSICOIL LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068951/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 068481/0292 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 068481/0426 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 068481/0434 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 068481/0444 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2024
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 068481/0529 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED MARCH 1, 2023 AT REEL 062846 FRAME 0984. Recorded Aug 1, 2024
From: CADENCE BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE LENDERS
To: KING NUTRONICS, LLC; RAPTOR LABS HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 068264/0641 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED MARCH 1, 2023 AT REEL 062902 FRAME 0380. Recorded Aug 1, 2024
From: GRAYCLIFF MEZZANINE III (SBIC) LP, AS AGENT FOR THE LENDERS
To: KING NUTRONICS, LLC; RAPTOR LABS HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 068234/0246 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
To: KING NUTRONICS, LLC (A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
Reel/Frame 063212/0705 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: KING NUTRONICS CORPORATION (A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION)
To: KING NUTRONICS, LLC (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 063338/0626 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2023
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC; RAPTOR LABS HOLDCO, LLC
To: CADENCE BANK
Reel/Frame 062846/0984 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 1, 2023
From: KING NUTRONICS, LLC; RAPTOR LABS HOLDCO, LLC
To: GRAYCLIFF MEZZANINE III (SBIC) LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062902/0380 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2022
From: GNESSIN, AMIR; RANSOM, NATHAN J.; WELTHER, ROBERT T.
To: KING NUTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060721/0237 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62847072 · May 13, 2019