Patents by Inventor James Patrick Lyons
James Patrick Lyons 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: 7446435Abstract: A power system for providing an output power to a load is provided. The system comprises a generator configured to generate an alternating current input power and an power converter system coupled to the generator and configured to generate an output power and provide the output power to the load through at least one transformer. The system further comprises a converter control system coupled to the converter system and configured to drive the converter system in an interleaved pattern to reduce harmonic components in the output power and the alternating current input power.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard S. Zhang, Changyong Wang, Lei Li, James Patrick Lyons, Zhuohui Tan, Allen Michael Ritter
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Patent number: 7154192Abstract: The machine includes a rotor with an inner rotor core and an outer rotor core and a double-sided stator with an inner stator side and an outer stator side. The double-sided stator is concentrically disposed between the inner rotor core and the outer rotor core of the wind turbine generator. The double-sided stator is configured to enable at least a portion of magnetic flux to be shared between the inner stator side and the outer stator side. Examples of particularly useful embodiments for the machine include wind turbine generators and ship propulsion motors.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Lee Jansen, James Patrick Lyons, Ralph James Carl, Jr., Ronghai Qu, James Michael Fogarty, Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Aniruddha Dattatraya Gadre, Jivtesh Garg, Fulton Jose Lopez
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Patent number: 7154193Abstract: Machines useful for wind turbine and ship propulsion purposes include a wind turbine generator or a ship propulsion motor with two concentric air gaps. In one embodiment, the machine includes a rotor with an inner rotor core and an outer rotor core; and a double-sided stator with an inner stator side and an outer stator side. The double-sided stator is concentrically disposed between the inner rotor core and the outer rotor core.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Lee Jansen, James Patrick Lyons, Ralph James Carl, Jr., Ronghai Qu, James Michael Fogarty
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Patent number: 7154191Abstract: Machines useful for wind turbine and ship propulsion purposes include a double-sided generator or motor with two concentric air gaps. In one embodiment, the machine includes a double-sided rotor with an inner rotor side and an outer rotor side; and a stator with an inner stator core and an outer stator core, wherein the double-sided rotor is concentrically disposed between the inner stator core and the outer stator core.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Lee Jansen, James Patrick Lyons, Ralph James Carl, Jr., Ronghai Qu, James Michael Fogarty
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Patent number: 6917271Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Publication number: 20040196677Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Patent number: 6751106Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Publication number: 20040017689Abstract: A cross current control system for multiple, parallel-coupled power converters includes common mode chokes, local cross current feedback controllers, and local converter controllers. Each common mode choke is coupled to a respective power converter. Each local cross current feedback controller is configured for receiving common mode cross currents from a respective local cross current detector, calculating a resultant cross current, and generating a local feedback control signal. Each local converter controller is configured for using a respective local feedback control signal to drive the respective power converter in accordance with a coordinated switching pattern. An integral choke assembly includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke with common and differential mode choke cores configured with at least one magnetic flux path being shared by magnetic flux generated by common mode coils and differential mode coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2002Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard S. Zhang, James Patrick Lyons, Luis Jose Garces, Xiaoming Yuan
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Patent number: 6534949Abstract: A high power motor drive converter comprises: a three level neutral point clamped (NPC) output power conversion stage including switches for supplying power to an AC drive motor; a split series connected DC capacitor bank coupled in parallel with the NPC output power conversion stage; and a controller for selecting switch positions for controlling the NPC output power conversion stage and compensating for a neutral point voltage imbalance of the DC capacitor bank by adjusting amplitudes of carrier voltages according to an amount of voltage imbalance in the split series connected DC capacitor bank.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul Michael Szczesny, Nikola Celanovic, James Patrick Lyons, Vlatko Vlatkovic
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Publication number: 20020172058Abstract: A high power motor drive converter comprises: a three level neutral point clamped (NPC) output power conversion stage including switches for supplying power to an AC drive motor; a split series connected DC capacitor bank coupled in parallel with the NPC output power conversion stage; and a controller for selecting switch positions for controlling the NPC output power conversion stage and compensating for a neutral point voltage imbalance of the DC capacitor bank by adjusting amplitudes of carrier voltages according to an amount of voltage imbalance in the split series connected DC capacitor bank.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Paul Michael Szczesny, Nikola Celanovic, James Patrick Lyons, Vlatko Vlatkovic
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Patent number: 6335631Abstract: An induction machine asymmetry detection instrument includes an interconnector and a voltmeter. The interconnector is configured to connect an electric source across a first terminal and a second terminal of a stator of an induction machine. The induction machine includes a rotor disposed for magnetic coupling with the stator. The interconnector is further configured to cause a flow of direct current between the first terminal and the second terminal of the stator during a rotation of the rotor when the induction machine is substantially unloaded. The voltmeter is connectable across the second terminal and a third terminal of the stator. A detection by the voltmeter of a meaningful voltage across the second terminal and the third terminal of the stator concurrent with the flow of direct current between the first terminal and the second terminal and concurrent with the rotation of the rotor serves to indicate an asymmetry of a portion of the induction machine.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gerald Burt Kliman, James Patrick Lyons, John Leonard Oldenkamp
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Publication number: 20010013792Abstract: An induction machine asymmetry detection instrument includes an interconnector and a voltmeter. The interconnector is configured to connect an electric source across a first terminal and a second terminal of a stator of an induction machine. The induction machine includes a rotor disposed for magnetic coupling with the stator. The interconnector is further configured to cause a flow of direct current between the first terminal and the second terminal of the stator during a rotation of the rotor when the induction machine is substantially unloaded. The voltmeter is connectable across the second terminal and a third terminal of the stator. A detection by the voltmeter of a meaningful voltage across the second terminal and the third terminal of the stator concurrent with the flow of direct current between the first terminal and the second terminal and concurrent with the rotation of the rotor serves to indicate an asymmetry of a portion of the induction machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 1998Publication date: August 16, 2001Inventors: GERALD BURT KLIMAN, JAMES PATRICK LYONS, JOHN LEONARD OLDENKAMP
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Patent number: 6141196Abstract: A method for obtaining a power system phasor includes sampling a power system signal at instants determined by a nominal power system frequency to provide a plurality of data samples; using the data samples to estimate a phasor having an elliptical trajectory; generating a deviation formula representing a frequency deviation between actual and nominal power system frequencies; and using the deviation formula to perform a coordinate transform of the estimated phasor to provide a scaled phasor having a substantially circular trajectory. If the data samples are unevenly spaced, a method in another embodiment includes minimizing squares of errors between the unevenly spaced data samples and an approximating sinusoidal function of the data samples.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William James Premerlani, David Jeremiah Hoeweler, Albert Andreas Maria Esser, James Patrick Lyons, Gerald Burt Kliman, Rudolph Alfred Albert Koegl, Mark Gerald Adamiak
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Patent number: 6058031Abstract: A high power motor drive converter includes: a five level hybrid NPC output power conversion stage including three NPC phase bridges having switches and coupled in a wye configuration through a converter neutral point, each NPC phase bridge receiving power on a respective direct current bus; three isolated split series-connected DC capacitor banks each coupled in parallel to a respective one of the three NPC phase bridges; and a controller for selecting switch positions with active control of neutral voltages. The controller is adapted to select switch positions using feedforward sine-triangle modulation with third harmonic injection, zero sequence injection, and/or discontinuous modulation injection.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Patrick Lyons, Vlatko Vlatkovic, Paul Martin Espelage, Albert Andreas Maria Esser, Yifan Zhao, Fei Fred Wang, Sr.
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Patent number: 6041850Abstract: A system for temperature control of an electronic component includes a heat plate supporting the component; a heat plate temperature sensor; a fan capable of providing air for cooling the heat plate; and a fan control for using the heat plate temperature to control the operation of the fan to provide a substantially constant heat plate temperature. The system can further include a heat pipe assembly having fins and coupled to the heat plate with the fan capable of providing air to the fins. The heat pipe assembly can include at least two heat pipes each having first ends coupled to the heat plate and second ends situated in a condensation section where at least one of the heat pipes has a different working fluid than an other.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Albert Andreas Maria Esser, James Patrick Lyons, Lyle Thomas Keister, Steven Wade Sutherland, Melvin La Vern Hughes, Howard Ross Edmunds, Stephen Daniel Nash, Paul Stephen Pate, Patrick Henry McGinn, Conrad Angelo Pecile
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Patent number: 5982646Abstract: A three-level NPC converter includes at least one phase leg including four series coupled electrical switches having a first pair junction between the first two switches and a second pair junction between the second two switches. First and second inner switch snubber capacitors are coupled in series at a neutral junction. First and second inner switch snubber diodes are respectively coupled to the first and second pair junctions and respectively coupled at first and second inner diode-capacitor junctions to the first and second inner switch snubber capacitors. First and second inner switch snubber resistors are respectively coupled between the first and second inner diode-capacitor junctions and respective portions of a DC bus. In one embodiment, the NPC converter further includes first and second outer switch snubber diodes coupled between respective first and second inner diode-capacitor junctions and respective portions of the DC bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Patrick Lyons, Paul Martin Espelage, Vlatko Vlatkovic, Jing Wang
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Patent number: 5969451Abstract: A magnetic thrust compensator for a mechanical thrust bearing includes a parallel operating axial magnetic bearing including a stator including two parallel stator extensions, a rotor disk situated between the two stator extensions, and first and second electromagnets each situated on a respective stator extension and facing the rotor disk. A controller selectively energizes one of the electromagnets. Additional stator extensions and rotor disks can be used to provide fault tolerance. The electromagnets can each include dual annular windings. The compensator can include an additional stator extension, an additional rotor disk, and bias magnet situated on the additional stator extension and facing the additional rotor disk with the controller being adapted to selectively supply current to the bias magnet.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Patrick Lyons, Mark Alan Preston, Eike Richter, Albert Frank Storace
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Patent number: 5910892Abstract: A high power motor drive converter includes a three level neutral point clamped (NPC) output power conversion stage including switches; a split series connected DC capacitor bank coupled in parallel with the NPC output power conversion stage; and a controller for selecting switch positions for controlling the NPC output power conversion stage and controlling a neutral voltage balance of the DC capacitor bank by using space vector modulation and predictive charge calculations.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Patrick Lyons, Vlatko Vlatkovic, Paul Martin Espelage, Albert Andreas Maria Esser
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Patent number: 5907192Abstract: Stored rotational energy in an operating variable speed wind turbine is used to pitch blades and brake the wind turbine in the event of utility power grid failure. In one embodiment, a generator IGBT converter and the main power utility grid IGBT converter supply control and pitch servo power during turbine deceleration, and a ride-through capacitor on a DC emergency power supply bus and the main DC link capacitor provide additional energy storage. In another embodiment, a step-down DC/DC power converter adds to the intermediate DC link of the power conversion system with the secondary of the step down converter powering both the hub pitch controller and the wind turbine control system.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Patrick Lyons, Albert Andreas Maria Esser, Paul Scott Bixel
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Patent number: 5864217Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating rotor position in and commutating a switched reluctance motor (SRM), using both a flux/current SRM angle estimator and a toothed wheel generating a magnetic pickup. Commutation is based on the flux/current SRM at startup and lower speeds. At higher speeds, when magnetic pickup sensed from the toothed wheel is sufficiently large in amplitude to create frequent reliable interrupts, commutation is based on signals from the toothed wheel magnetic pickup. Phase errors can be compensated by adjusting the angle input to the commutator as a function of estimated speed. Alternatively, the flux/current SRM angle estimator can be run in a background mode to tune the toothed wheel interrupt angle signal at different speeds.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1997Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Patrick Lyons, Mark Alan Preston