Patents by Inventor Brian Nedward Meyer
Brian Nedward Meyer 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).
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Patent number: 9610948Abstract: A system and method for detecting movement of a vehicle and/or for changing operating modes of the vehicle switch between transitional operating mode of the vehicle at a first vehicle speed and a moving mode of the vehicle at a second vehicle speed. Movement of the vehicle is controlled to maintain a speed and/or location of the vehicle within designated limits during operation of the vehicle in the transitional operating mode. Movement of the vehicle is controlled to keep an operating parameter of the vehicle below a designated limit during operation of the vehicle in the moving mode. The vehicle switches between the transitional operating mode and the moving mode based at least in part on the vehicle speed, a distance from the target stopping location, an environmental condition, a vehicle characteristic, and/or a route occupancy condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Brian Nedward Meyer
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Publication number: 20160368495Abstract: An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Juli-Ann Luther, Jeffrey Twichel, Brian Nedward Meyer, Joseph Daniel Wakeman, Swapna Rameshbabu Gaikwad, John William Brand, James Brooks, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Kevin Kapp, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, William Martin, James Andrew Napolitano, Saravanan Thiyagarajan, Eric Vorndran
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Publication number: 20160257309Abstract: A system and method for detecting movement of a vehicle and/or for changing operating modes of the vehicle switch between transitional operating mode of the vehicle at a first vehicle speed and a moving mode of the vehicle at a second vehicle speed. Movement of the vehicle is controlled to maintain a speed and/or location of the vehicle within designated limits during operation of the vehicle in the transitional operating mode. Movement of the vehicle is controlled to keep an operating parameter of the vehicle below a designated limit during operation of the vehicle in the moving mode. The vehicle switches between the transitional operating mode and the moving mode based at least in part on the vehicle speed, a distance from the target stopping location, an environmental condition, a vehicle characteristic, and/or a route occupancy condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: AJITH KUTTANNAIR KUMAR, BRIAN NEDWARD MEYER
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Publication number: 20160257323Abstract: A system (e.g., a control system) includes a sensor configured to monitor an operating condition of a vehicle system during movement of the vehicle system along a route. The system also includes a controller configured to designate one or more operational settings for the vehicle system as a function of time and/or distance along the route. The controller is configured to operate in a first operating mode responsive to the operating condition of the vehicle system being at least one of at or above a designated threshold, and in a second operating mode responsive to the operating condition of the vehicle system being below the designated threshold. The controller designates operational settings to drive the vehicle system toward achievement of a first objective when in the first operating mode and toward achievement of a different, second objective when in the second operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Brian Nedward MEYER, Harry Kirk MATHEWS, JR., James D. BROOKS, Kristopher Ryan SMITH
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Patent number: 9376971Abstract: An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Juli-Ann Luther, Jeffrey Twichel, Brian Nedward Meyer, Joseph Daniel Wakeman, Swapna Rameshbabu Gaikwad, John William Brand, James Brooks, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Kevin Kapp, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, William Martin, James Andrew Napolitano, Saravanan Thiyagarajan, Eric Vorndran
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Publication number: 20160047656Abstract: A system includes an energy management processing unit that includes a trip planning module, a plurality of estimator modules, and an arbiter module. The trip planning module plans a trip profile specifying power settings based on trip data including a plurality of parameters having expected values. Each of the estimator modules generates an estimation re-plan request when the difference between an expected and experienced respective trip planning parameter value exceeds a threshold. The arbiter module receives at least one estimation re-plan request from the plurality of estimator modules, determines whether a re-plan is to be performed based on at least one of a state of the vehicle system or additional estimation re-plan requests, and provides an arbitrated re-plan request to the trip planning module for re-planning the trip profile when it is determined that a re-plan is to be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: James Andrew Napolitano, Brian Nedward Meyer
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Patent number: 9229448Abstract: An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Juli-Ann Luther, Jeffrey Twichel, Brian Nedward Meyer, Joseph Daniel Wakeman, Swapna Rameshbabu Gaikwad
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Patent number: 9150209Abstract: A method (e.g., for monitoring a braking system of a vehicle system) includes monitoring fluid pressures of a braking system and modeled braking efforts of the braking system in a vehicle system traveling along a route, identifying one or more time periods at least one of before a brake event of the braking system or after the brake event, calculating residual forces exerted on the vehicle system during the one or more time periods, and determining at least one of an estimated braking effort of the braking system or an estimated propagation rate at which the estimated braking effort is applied by the braking system using the residual forces that are calculated.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bryan Scott Hermsen, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Harry Kirk Matthews, Jr., John Harry Down, Brian Nedward Meyer
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Publication number: 20150232097Abstract: An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Juli-Ann Luther, Jeffrey Twichel, Brian Nedward Meyer, Joseph Daniel Wakeman, Swapna Rameshbabu Gaikwad, John William Brand, James Brooks, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Kevin Kapp, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, William Martin, James Andrew Napolitano, Saravanan Thiyagarajan, Eric Vorndran
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Publication number: 20150025737Abstract: A method (e.g., for monitoring a braking system of a vehicle system) includes monitoring fluid pressures of a braking system and modeled braking efforts of the braking system in a vehicle system traveling along a route, identifying one or more time periods at least one of before a brake event of the braking system or after the brake event, calculating residual forces exerted on the vehicle system during the one or more time periods, and determining at least one of an estimated braking effort of the braking system or an estimated propagation rate at which the estimated braking effort is applied by the braking system using the residual forces that are calculated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bryan Scott Hermsen, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Harry Kirk Matthews, JR., John Harry Down, Brian Nedward Meyer
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Patent number: 8838302Abstract: A method includes identifying power outputs to be provided by propulsion-generating vehicles of a vehicle system for different locations along a route and calculating handling parameters of the vehicle system at the locations along the route. The handling parameters are representative of at least one of coupler forces, coupler energies, relative vehicle velocities, or natural forces exerted on the vehicle system. The method also includes determining asynchronous operational settings for the propulsion-generating vehicles at the locations. The asynchronous operational settings represent different operational settings that cause the propulsion-generating vehicles to provide at least the power outputs at the locations while changing the handling parameters of the vehicle system to designated values at the locations.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Brian Nedward Meyer, Ramu Sharat Chandra, James D. Brooks, Dan Dai
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Publication number: 20140188375Abstract: A method includes identifying power outputs to be provided by propulsion-generating vehicles of a vehicle system for different locations along a route and calculating handling parameters of the vehicle system at the locations along the route. The handling parameters are representative of at least one of coupler forces, coupler energies, relative vehicle velocities, or natural forces exerted on the vehicle system. The method also includes determining asynchronous operational settings for the propulsion-generating vehicles at the locations. The asynchronous operational settings represent different operational settings that cause the propulsion-generating vehicles to provide at least the power outputs at the locations while changing the handling parameters of the vehicle system to designated values at the locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Brian Nedward Meyer, Ramu Sharat Chandra, James D. Brooks, Dan Dai
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Patent number: 7740448Abstract: A method for controlling a pitch control system of a wind turbine includes providing a charged backup battery configured to supply no energy to a DC link when full AC input power is available, wherein the DC link includes a DC link capacitor. The method further includes using energy stored in the DC link capacitor to operate a pitch control system during a loss or dip of AC input power, and maintaining charge on the DC link capacitor using the charged backup battery as voltage across the DC link capacitor drops during the operation of the pitch control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian Nedward Meyer, Jeffrey Alan Melius, Cyrus David Harbourt, Christopher L. Tschappatt, Howard Ross Edmunds, William John Bonneau, Amy Marlene Ridenour, Andrew Scott Wilkinson
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Patent number: 7642748Abstract: A method for charging a plurality of batteries wherein each battery includes an anode and a cathode. The method includes electrically coupling n batteries to form a string of batteries, electrically coupling n battery charger assemblies to the n batteries such that each respective battery charger assembly is coupled to an anode and a cathode of a respective battery, and charging the plurality of batteries utilizing the n battery charger assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Joseph Glosser, Jr., William John Bonneau, Brian Nedward Meyer
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Publication number: 20080258909Abstract: Methods and systems for preserving content in a data recorder are provided. The method includes acquiring at least one of image data and audio data relative to an environment in a vicinity of a camera, receiving a data preservation request, and stamping the at least one of image data and audio data for future download using the data preservation request.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Brian Nedward Meyer, Joel Burlingham, Daniel Ballesty, David Joseph Schroeck
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Patent number: 6917180Abstract: A method of controlling electrical energy in a battery-powered vehicle wherein the vehicle includes a battery and a traction motor is provided. The method includes electrically coupling an external source of electrical energy to a unitary, integrated traction motor controller/vehicle battery charge controller positioned on-board the vehicle, controlling electrical energy flow to a vehicle battery with the unitary, integrated traction motor controller/vehicle battery charge controller during a charging period, and controlling electrical energy flow to a vehicle traction motor that is operable to propel the vehicle with the unitary, integrated traction motor controller/vehicle battery charge controller during a transport period.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Springer Harrison, Brian Nedward Meyer
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Publication number: 20040239288Abstract: A method of controlling electrical energy in a battery-powered vehicle wherein the vehicle includes a battery and a traction motor is provided. The method includes electrically coupling an external source of electrical energy to a unitary, integrated traction motor controller/vehicle battery charge controller positioned on-board the vehicle, controlling electrical energy flow to a vehicle battery with the unitary, integrated traction motor controller/vehicle battery charge controller during a charging period, and controlling electrical energy flow to a vehicle traction motor that is operable to propel the vehicle with the unitary, integrated traction motor controller/vehicle battery charge controller during a transport period.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2003Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: John Springer Harrison, Brian Nedward Meyer