Patents by Inventor Edward Maurer Schroeder

Edward Maurer Schroeder 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: 10566800
    Abstract: A method for controlling a genset system is provided. The method includes recognizing a communication failure between one or more gensets of a plurality of gensets and a control system and determining an operating state of each of the one or more gensets prior to the communication failure. The method further includes operating the genset system, upon communication failure, according to a load control scheme. The load control scheme includes determining an available power of the genset system based on the determined operating state of each of the one or more gensets and coupling one or more loads to the genset system based on the available power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Christopher Gayles, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Stephen Charles Nofsinger, Josenia Yuen-Sai Gerdes, Andrew W Black
  • Publication number: 20170324250
    Abstract: A method for controlling a genset system is provided. The method includes recognizing a communication failure between one or more gensets of a plurality of gensets and a control system and determining an operating state of each of the one or more gensets prior to the communication failure. The method further includes operating the genset system, upon communication failure, according to a load control scheme. The load control scheme includes determining an available power of the genset system based on the determined operating state of each of the one or more gensets and coupling one or more loads to the genset system based on the available power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Christopher Gayles, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Stephen Charles Nofsinger, Josenia Yuen-sai Gerdes, Andrew W. Black
  • Patent number: 8841787
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of gensets during a failsafe condition is provided. The method may include operating one or more of the gensets according to a modified isochronous control scheme, and operating a remainder of the gensets according an adaptive droop control scheme. The modified isochronous control scheme may include varying the frequency of each isochronous genset with respect to load for lower-range loads and upper-range loads, and maintaining the frequency of each isochronous genset at nominal frequencies for mid-range loads. The adaptive droop control scheme may include adjusting the frequency of each droop genset to match the frequency of the isochronous gensets, and varying the load of each droop genset with respect to frequency for lower-range loads and upper-range loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Folken, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Andrew William Black
  • Publication number: 20140265354
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of gensets during a failsafe condition is provided. The method may include operating one or more of the gensets according to a modified isochronous control scheme, and operating a remainder of the gensets according an adaptive droop control scheme. The modified isochronous control scheme may include varying the frequency of each isochronous genset with respect to load for lower-range loads and upper-range loads, and maintaining the frequency of each isochronous genset at nominal frequencies for mid-range loads. The adaptive droop control scheme may include adjusting the frequency of each droop genset to match the frequency of the isochronous gensets, and varying the load of each droop genset with respect to frequency for lower-range loads and upper-range loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Keith Folken, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Andrew William Black
  • Patent number: 8519565
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have at least one load discrete signal cable, a ramping discrete signal cable, a switching device, and a control module associated with a first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may be configured to detect a signal on the at least one load discrete signal cable generated by a second of the plurality of generator sets indicative of a load on the second of the plurality of generator sets, and to activate the switching device to implement an operational status change of the first of the plurality of generator sets based on the detection. The control module may also be configured to generate a signal on the ramping discrete signal cable to inhibit others of the plurality of generator sets from changing operational status during the operational status change of the first of the plurality of generator sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Keith Ronald Folken, Joydip Chakravarty, Douglas William Fisher
  • Patent number: 8358036
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner
  • Publication number: 20120089270
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Chad Eric DOZIER, Edward Maurer SCHROEDER, Matthew Lee WAGNER
  • Patent number: 8106633
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner
  • Publication number: 20110320053
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a transmission network connected to a load and separately connectable to each of the plurality of generator sets. The control system may also have a selection module configured to receive from a user a selection of available parameters for use as criteria in determining connections of the plurality of generator sets with the transmission network, and a controller in communication with the plurality of generator sets and the selection module. The controller may be configured to detect a change in the load, and determine a desired change in a connection device of at least one of the plurality of generator sets with the transmission network based on the change in the load. The controller may be further configured to selectively affect the desired change based on the selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Chad Eric DOZIER, Edward Maurer SCHROEDER, Matthew Lee WAGNER
  • Publication number: 20100156191
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner
  • Publication number: 20100102637
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have at least one load discrete signal cable, a ramping discrete signal cable, a switching device, and a control module associated with a first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may be configured to detect a signal on the at least one load discrete signal cable generated by a second of the plurality of generator sets indicative of a load on the second of the plurality of generator sets, and to activate the switching device to implement an operational status change of the first of the plurality of generator sets based on the detection. The control module may also be configured to generate a signal on the ramping discrete signal cable to inhibit others of the plurality of generator sets from changing operational status during the operational status change of the first of the plurality of generator sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner