Patents by Inventor Francis M. Grabowski

Francis M. Grabowski 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: 5432413
    Abstract: A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a large wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means driven by the engine. The control system measures selected parameters and controls the engine and generating means to maximize output, and records historical operating data relating to the vehicle and its systems, and has a 2 digit display that provides information useful in troubleshooting problems. The control system also enhances fuel consumption by conserving fuel use, particularly on flat terrain and when the vehicle is approaching the overspeed point. Depression of the foot pedal is no longer input directly to the engine controller. Based on the amount of depression of the foot pedal, a fuel enhancement means determines the horsepower request from the operator of the foot pedal, but generates an engine rpm signal which will run the engine at only the rpm necessary to provide the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amy D. Duke, Frederick G. Beach, Francis M. Grabowski, Wing Y. Chung
  • Patent number: 5373219
    Abstract: A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a large wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means driven by the engine. The control system measures selected parameters and controls the engine and generating means to maximize output, and records historical operating data relating to the vehicle and its systems, and has a 2 digit display that provides information useful in troubleshooting problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Francis M. Grabowski, Amy D. Duke, Frederick G. Beach, James W. Nash, Paul H. Curtis
  • Patent number: 5280223
    Abstract: A control system for an electrical propulsion system for a large wheeled vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric generating means driven by the engine. The control system measures selected parameters and controls the engine and generating means to maximize output, and records historical operating data relating to the vehicle and its systems, and has a 2 digit display that provides information useful in troubleshooting problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Francis M. Grabowski, Amy D. Duke, Frederick G. Beach, James W. Nash, Paul H. Curtis
  • Patent number: 5070959
    Abstract: An electrical propulsion system for a traction vehicle adapted to haul a payload, the vehicle being equipped with weight sensing device for distinguishing between loaded and unloaded conditions and with communication device adapted to receive from an external source a coded signal indicative of a given speed limit, the system including electric motors driving a pair of vehicle wheels, a controllable source of electric power for the motors, a device for switching from propulsion to electrical retarding modes of operation in response to the actual speed of the vehicle becoming greater than a desired maximum, and a device connected to the weight sensing device and to the communication device for automatically adjusting the maximum propulsion speed so that it is lower when said loaded condition is true than when said unloaded condition is true and for automatically changing the maximum propulsion speed as necessary to avoid exceeding the limit indicated by the coded signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Francis M. Grabowski