Patents by Inventor Mark E. Garlow

Mark E. Garlow 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: 9124169
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method to reduce total harmonic distortion input into a 24-pulse autotransformer system and the autotransformer system itself. The 24-pulse autotransformer system is configured to receive an input of a first voltage and produce an output voltage of a second voltage. The system includes a pair of autotransformers coupled to an AC power source. One winding of each phase of the first autotransformer has a turn ratio to effect a decrease in the voltage across said winding over a symmetric voltage value and a second winding of each phase of the first autotransformer has a turn ratio to effect a decrease in the voltage across said winding over a symmetric voltage value, thereby reducing total harmonic distortion (THD) in the input current to the system without a zero sequence blocking transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Garlow, William S. Hammel
  • Publication number: 20140265955
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method to reduce total harmonic distortion input into a 24-pulse autotransformer system and the autotransformer system itself. The 24-pulse autotransformer system is configured to receive an input of a first voltage and produce an output voltage of a second voltage. The system includes a pair of autotransformers coupled to an AC power source. One winding of each phase of the first autotransformer has a turn ratio to effect a decrease in the voltage across said winding over a symmetric voltage value and a second winding of each phase of the first autotransformer has a turn ratio to effect a decrease in the voltage across said winding over a symmetric voltage value, thereby reducing total harmonic distortion (THD) in the input current to the system without a zero sequence blocking transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Garlow, William S. Hammel
  • Patent number: 8444393
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, echo meters, flow sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura
  • Patent number: 8384318
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Michael D. Dry, Mark E. Garlow, Michael O. Lucas, Michael A. MacDonald, Ronald G. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8197219
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for estimating and/or precluding stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, through use of a virtual transducer, which precludes the need for having sensors located adjacent to a driven element of the system, or adjacent contact surfaces at which the stick-slip relative motion may occur. Parameters measurable at a drive mechanism are utilized for controlling a system in a manner which precludes stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, of a driven element of the system. Relative motion between contacting surfaces in the driven element, prone to stick-slip behavior, is controlled after sufficient force is applied by the drive element to overcome static friction forces between the contacting surfaces and break them free from one another, relative motion between the surfaces is maintained at a high enough relative speed that the surfaces are precluded from contacting one another, so that stick-slip behavior is precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Garlow
  • Publication number: 20120091931
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: UNICO, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Michael D. Dry, Mark E. Garlow, Michael O. Lucas, Michael A. MacDonald, Ronald G. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8080950
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Michael D. Dry, Mark E. Garlow, Michael O. Lucas, Michael A. MacDonald, Ronald G. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20100231146
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: UNICO, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Michael D. Dry, Mark E. Garlow, Michael O. Lucas, Michael A. MacDonald, Ronald G. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7786691
    Abstract: Presented is a harmonic regulator that regulates a plurality of individual harmonics in a system having periodic torque disturbances to commanded values, including zero. For each harmonic being regulated, a feedback signal having at least one harmonic component due to the harmonic being regulated is transformed from a source reference frame to a harmonic reference frame of the harmonic being regulated to form a qd feedback signal. The qd feedback signal is subtracted from the commanded value to form a qd signal and regulated. The regulated qd signal is transformed to a destination reference frame to form a compensation signal and the compensation signal is added to a control signal to form a qd control signal that drives each harmonic being regulated towards the commanded value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Garlow, William S. Hammel
  • Publication number: 20100076609
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for estimating and/or precluding stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, through use of a virtual transducer, which precludes the need for having sensors located adjacent to a driven element of the system, or adjacent contact surfaces at which the stick-slip relative motion may occur. Parameters measurable at a drive mechanism are utilized for controlling a system in a manner which precludes stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, of a driven element of the system. Relative motion between contacting surfaces in the driven element, prone to stick-slip behavior, is controlled after sufficient force is applied by the drive element to overcome static friction forces between the contacting surfaces and break them free from one another, relative motion between the surfaces is maintained at a high enough relative speed that the surfaces are precluded from contacting one another, so that stick-slip behavior is precluded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Mark E. Garlow
  • Patent number: 7645124
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating and/or precluding stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, through use of a virtual transducer, which precludes the need for having sensors located adjacent to a driven element of the system, or adjacent contact surfaces at which the stick-slip relative motion may occur. Parameters measurable at a drive mechanism are utilized for controlling a system in a manner which precludes stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, of the driven element. Relative motion between contacting surfaces in the driven element, prone to stick-slip behavior, is controlled such that, after sufficient force is applied by the drive element to overcome static friction forces between the contacting surfaces and break them free from one another, relative motion between the surfaces is maintained at a high enough relative speed that the surfaces are precluded from statically contacting one another, so that stick-slip behavior is precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Garlow
  • Patent number: 7545113
    Abstract: Presented is a harmonic regulator that regulates a plurality of individual harmonics in a system having periodic torque disturbances to commanded values, including zero. For each harmonic being regulated, a feedback signal having at least one harmonic component due to the harmonic being regulated is transformed from a source reference frame to a harmonic reference frame of the harmonic being regulated to form a qd feedback signal. The qd feedback signal is subtracted from the commanded value to form a qd signal and regulated. The regulated qd signal is transformed to a destination reference frame to form a compensation signal and the compensation signal is added to a control signal to form a qd control signal that drives each harmonic being regulated towards the commanded value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Garlow, William S. Hammel, David R. Seidl
  • Patent number: 7437215
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a progressing cavity pump to maintain the motor operating under power disturbance conditions. For a blackout condition, a backspin controller uses regenerative power to provide controlled deceleration of the pump, counteracting backspin and preventing backspinning freely. For a brownout condition, a power dip controller weakens the motor field to maximize pump production consistent with reduced input power availability. For a phase loss or voltage imbalance condition, a phase loss controller reduces motor power output to keep drive system output power at or below single phase capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Robb G. Anderson, Mark E. Garlow, Harry W. Schulz
  • Publication number: 20080180975
    Abstract: Presented is a harmonic regulator that regulates a plurality of individual harmonics in a system having periodic torque disturbances to commanded values, including zero. For each harmonic being regulated, a feedback signal having at least one harmonic component due to the harmonic being regulated is transformed from a source reference frame to a harmonic reference frame of the harmonic being regulated to form a qd feedback signal. The qd feedback signal is subtracted from the commanded value to form a qd signal and regulated. The regulated qd signal is transformed to a destination reference frame to form a compensation signal and the compensation signal is added to a control signal to form a qd control signal that drives each harmonic being regulated towards the commanded value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: UNICO, INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Garlow, William S. Hammel, David R. Seidl
  • Publication number: 20080094020
    Abstract: Presented is a harmonic regulator that regulates a plurality of individual harmonics in a system having periodic torque disturbances to commanded values, including zero. For each harmonic being regulated, a feedback signal having at least one harmonic component due to the harmonic being regulated is transformed from a source reference frame to a harmonic reference frame of the harmonic being regulated to form a qd feedback signal. The qd feedback signal is subtracted from the commanded value to form a qd signal and regulated. The regulated qd signal is transformed to a destination reference frame to form a compensation signal and the compensation signal is added to a control signal to form a qd control signal that drives each harmonic being regulated towards the commanded value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Garlow, William S. Hammel
  • Patent number: 7168924
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, rod load sensors, flow sensors, acoustic fluid level sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura
  • Publication number: 20040062657
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, rod load sensors, flow sensors, acoustic fluid level sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura