Patents by Inventor Allan Crane

Allan Crane has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10790772
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power system that includes an electrical machine, e.g., wind turbine generator, a power converter, a DC circuit and a dynamic braking system (DBS) having a braking circuit having a braking resistor and being connected in series to the DC circuit, is provided. The method includes operating the DBS and controlling operation of the electrical machine based on a prevailing temperature of the braking circuit, stopping the electrical machine and controlling the electrical machine to be restarted at its rated output power once the prevailing temperature of the braking resistor reaches or falls below a lower temperature threshold. The electrical machine may be restarted at a lower output power and after restarting, its output power can be increased based on a power starting profile as the braking resistor cools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Aravazhi Anabarasu, Ramasamy Anabarasu, Martin Butcher, Allan Crane
  • Publication number: 20190245465
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power system that includes an electrical machine, e.g., wind turbine generator, a power converter, a DC circuit and a dynamic braking system (DBS) having a braking circuit having a braking resistor and being connected in series to the DC circuit, is provided. The method includes operating the DBS and controlling operation of the electrical machine based on a prevailing temperature of the braking circuit, stopping the electrical machine and controlling the electrical machine to be restarted at its rated output power once the prevailing temperature of the braking resistor reaches or falls below a lower temperature threshold. The electrical machine may be restarted at a lower output power and after restarting, its output power can be increased based on a power starting profile as the braking resistor cools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Aravazhi ANABARASU, Ramasamy ANABARASU, Martin BUTCHER, Allan CRANE
  • Patent number: 9184003
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprising a first dc line electrically connectable to first incoming and first outgoing dc lines, wherein the first dc line comprises a first fault-interrupting switch contact system and a first switching aid network. The first switching aid network comprises first and second rectifier strings, wherein each rectifier string comprises one or more series connected reverse blocking power electronic devices that define a first H-bridge rectifier. The first switching aid network further comprises a snubber string, the snubber string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a capacitor. The first switching aid network further comprises a pre-charge string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a resistor, and a surge arrester connected between the first and second dc output terminals of the first H-bridge rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan Crane
  • Publication number: 20140078622
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprising a first dc line electrically connectable to first incoming and first outgoing dc lines, wherein the first dc line comprises a first fault-interrupting switch contact system and a first switching aid network. The first switching aid network comprises first and second rectifier strings, wherein each rectifier string comprises one or more series connected reverse blocking power electronic devices that define a first H-bridge rectifier. The first switching aid network further comprises a snubber string, the snubber string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a capacitor. The first switching aid network further comprises a pre-charge string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a resistor, and a surge arrester connected between the first and second dc output terminals of the first H-bridge rectifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Allan Crane
  • Publication number: 20140062269
    Abstract: A dc electrical machine with a large number of phases. The machine includes a rotor and a stator assembly. The rotor has Np rotating field poles. The stator has Ns winding slots, where Ns/Np is a non-integer ratio. A stator winding includes a plurality of coils received in the winding slots and defines a plurality of stator phases. A power electronic switching assembly includes first and second dc load terminals that can be connected to external equipment and a plurality of switching modules. Each switching module includes power electronic devices and is connected to a respective stator coil. A first proportion of the switching modules are connected together in series between the first and second dc load terminals and a second proportion of the switching modules are connected together in series between the first and second dc load terminals to define two parallel dc circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Allan Crane
  • Publication number: 20070145928
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic commutator circuit for use with a stator winding of an electrical machine. The stator winding of the electrical machine includes a number of coils linked by the same number of points of common coupling. The electronic commutator circuit comprising the same number of switching stages, each switching stage being connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second dc terminals. Each switching stage further includes a first reverse blocking semiconductor power device (such as a Reverse Blocking Gate Turn Off Thyristor (RB-GTO 1) capable of being turned on and off by gate control having its anode connected to the first dc terminal, and a second reverse blocking semiconductor power device (RB-GTO 2) capable of being turned on and off by gate control having its cathode connected to the second dc terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Allan Crane