Patents by Inventor Philippe Giguere
Philippe Giguere 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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Publication number: 20230384144Abstract: A tow aid system used while operating a towing vehicle adapted to tow a towed vehicle, the towing vehicle comprising an underlift arm extending rearward from the towing vehicle, wherein the underlift arm is adapted to lift at least a part of the vehicle for towing. The tow aid system comprises: a plurality of geometry sensors and force sensors mounted to components of the towing vehicle that are indicative of a load applied on the underlift arm while holding the part of the towed vehicle in a towing position; and a controller processing the signals from the sensors to calculate the payload resulting from lifting the part of the towed vehicle, and operating limits of the towing vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Sébastien DAIGNEAULT, Francis DIONNE, Philippe GIGUÈRE, Normand CARON
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Patent number: 11820372Abstract: A tow aid system used while operating a wrecker adapted to tow a vehicle, the wrecker comprising an underlift arm extending rearward from the wrecker, wherein the underlift arm is adapted to lift at least a part of the vehicle for towing. The tow aid system comprises: axle load sensors mounted along different longitudinal positions on the wrecker, the axle load sensors generating signals indicative of loads along the different longitudinal positions; an underlift arm load sensor mounted about the underlift arm, the underlift arm load sensor generating signals indicative of a load applied on the underlift arm while holding the vehicle in a towing position; and a controller processing the signals from the axle load sensors and the underlift arm load sensor to calculate operating limits of the wrecker.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: INDUSTRIES N.R.C. INCInventors: Sébastien Daigneault, Francis Dionne, Philippe Giguère, Normand Caron
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Publication number: 20230101101Abstract: An aid system for a wrecker adapted to perform a lifting operation of an object having a weight, the wrecker comprising an extendable boom wherein the extendable boom is adapted to perform the lifting operation through which the wrecker either hauls or lifts the object. The aid system comprises: sensors mounted to the wrecker adapted to collect intrinsic information associated with the wrecker and extrinsic information on the interaction of the wrecker with the operating environment or on the environment in which the lifting operation is performed; a processing unit adapted to collect and process data collected from the sensors to generate dynamic load chart data; and a display for displaying a graphical representation based on the dynamic load chart data, comprising a depiction of the wrecker and of a limit of an operating condition of the wrecker.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Sébastien DAIGNEAULT, Philippe GIGUÈRE, Normand CARON, Benoit Landelle-Théberge
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Publication number: 20210078576Abstract: A tow aid system used while operating a wrecker adapted to tow a vehicle, the wrecker comprising an underlift arm extending rearward from the wrecker, wherein the underlift arm is adapted to lift at least a part of the vehicle for towing. The tow aid system comprises: axle load sensors mounted along different longitudinal positions on the wrecker, the axle load sensors generating signals indicative of loads along the different longitudinal positions; an underlift arm load sensor mounted about the underlift arm, the underlift arm load sensor generating signals indicative of a load applied on the underlift arm while holding the vehicle in a towing position; and a controller processing the signals from the axle load sensors and the underlift arm load sensor to calculate operating limits of the wrecker.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Sébastien DAIGNEAULT, Francis DIONNE, Philippe GIGUÈRE, Normand CARON
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Publication number: 20150056074Abstract: A system and method for deicing a wind turbine rotor blade includes simultaneously directing heated air through an internal leading edge circulation loop and a separate internal trailing edge circulation loop within the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bart Jan Veldkamp, Philippe Giguere
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Patent number: 8834127Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine and a method for increasing a loading capability of a rotor blade within a maximum load limit for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes an extension connected to a surface of the rotor blade, the extension having at least one design characteristic configured for increasing a loading capability of the rotor blade within a maximum load limit for the wind turbine. The design characteristic is one of extension length, extension width, extension curvature, span-wise extension location, chord-wise extension location, or extension angle with respect to a chord line of the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Philippe Giguere, Stefan Herr, Peter James Fritz, Scott Gabell Riddell, Jeffrey Eric Bergman
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Publication number: 20120141269Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine and a method for increasing a loading capability of a rotor blade within a maximum load limit for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes an extension connected to a surface of the rotor blade, the extension having at least one design characteristic configured for increasing a loading capability of the rotor blade within a maximum load limit for the wind turbine. The design characteristic is one of extension length, extension width, extension curvature, span-wise extension location, chord-wise extension location, or extension angle with respect to a chord line of the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Philippe Giguere, Stefan Herr, Peter James Fritz, Scott Gabell Riddell, Jeffrey Eric Bergman
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Patent number: 8141416Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an approach by which low-performing turbines may be identified from among a plurality of wind turbines, such as may be present at a wind power plant. In accordance with one embodiment, low-performing turbines are identified from among pairs of turbines and based upon a comparison of the observed and expected performance of the turbines within each pair.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Vineel Chandrakanth Gujjar, Colin Craig McCulloch, Philippe Giguere, Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, Angshuman Saha, Pameet Singh
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Publication number: 20110270450Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an approach by which low-performing turbines may be identified from among a plurality of wind turbines, such as may be present at a wind power plant. In accordance with one embodiment, low-performing turbines are identified from among pairs of turbines and based upon a comparison of the observed and expected performance of the turbines within each pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Vineel Chandrakanth Gujjar, Colin Craig McCulloch, Philippe Giguere, Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, Angshuman Saha, Pameet Singh
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Patent number: 8050899Abstract: A method for determining wind turbine location within a wind power plant based on at least one design criteria. A wind turbine layout including at least one wind turbine location is prepared and site conditions at each wind turbine location are determined. One or more plant design metrics are evaluated in response to the site conditions. The plant design metrics are analyzed in response to the site conditions. The method further includes applying constraints to the wind turbine layout and comparing the plant design metrics to the design criteria and constraints. Thereafter, the wind turbine locations are selectively adjusted within the layout in response to the comparing step until a stop criteria is reached.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Philippe Giguere, Venkatarao Ryali, Manish Gupta, Karsten Hilt, Srinivasa Reddy Gujju
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Patent number: 8038397Abstract: A system for deicing a wind turbine blade includes an electrically powered active plasma actuator applied to a desired portion of a wind turbine blade. The activated plasma actuator energizes the air in the vicinity of the plasma actuator to increase the surface temperature of the wind turbine blade in the vicinity of the plasma actuator sufficiently to reduce or eliminate the collection of ice on a desired portion of the wind turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2010Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, Bruce John Badding, Philippe Giguere, Matthew Patrick Boespflug, Grover Andrew Bennett, Jr., Anurag Gupta
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Publication number: 20110223018Abstract: A control system for a wind turbine configured to generate an acoustic emission during operation includes a communication device. The communication device is configured to receive at least one penalty notification identifying a penalty to be assessed based on the acoustic emission generated. The control system also includes a processor coupled to the communication device. The processor is configured to calculate an acoustic emission level to be generated by the wind turbine based on the penalty and based on at least one of a power generated by the wind turbine and an economic value attributed to the wind turbine, and adjust at least one characteristic of the wind turbine to cause the wind turbine to operate at the calculated acoustic emission level.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Prashant Srinivasan, Philippe Giguere, Manish Gupta, Rwitam Mitra
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Patent number: 7987067Abstract: A method for optimizing an operation of at least one wind turbine includes defining a plurality of test parameters that include a plurality of test points for at least one wind turbine operational parameter, wherein each test point includes a plurality of test values for the wind turbine operational parameter, and defining at least one test sequence of the plurality of test points. The method also includes initiating a test that executes the plurality of test points within the at least one randomized test sequence and measures at least one operating condition of the at least one wind turbine at each test point.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paula Marie Harrison, Angela Patterson, Philippe Giguere, Nicholas Tobergte, Colin McCulloch
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Publication number: 20110135467Abstract: A system for deicing a wind turbine blade includes an electrically powered active plasma actuator applied to a desired portion of a wind turbine blade. The activated plasma actuator energizes the air in the vicinity of the plasma actuator to increase the surface temperature of the wind turbine blade in the vicinity of the plasma actuator sufficiently to reduce or eliminate the collection of ice on a desired portion of the wind turbine blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, Bruce John Badding, Philippe Giguere, Matthew Patrick Boespflug, Grover Andrew Bennett, JR., Anurag Gupta
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Publication number: 20110133458Abstract: A method for optimizing an operation of at least one wind turbine includes defining a plurality of test parameters that include a plurality of test points for at least one wind turbine operational parameter, wherein each test point includes a plurality of test values for the wind turbine operational parameter, and defining at least one test sequence of the plurality of test points. The method also includes initiating a test that executes the plurality of test points within the at least one randomized test sequence and measures at least one operating condition of the at least one wind turbine at each test point.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Paula Marie Harrison, Angela Patterson, Philippe Giguere, Nicholas Tobergte, Colin McCulloch
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Publication number: 20090295165Abstract: A method for determining wind turbine location within a wind power plant based on at least one design criteria. A wind turbine layout including at least one wind turbine location is prepared and site conditions at each wind turbine location are determined. One or more plant design metrics are evaluated in response to the site conditions. The plant design metrics are analyzed in response to the site conditions. The method further includes applying constraints to the wind turbine layout and comparing the plant design metrics to the design criteria and constraints. Thereafter, the wind turbine locations are selectively adjusted within the layout in response to the comparing step until a stop criteria is reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: GE WIND ENERGY GMBHInventors: Philippe GIGUERE, Venkatarao RYALI, Manish GUPTA, Karsten HILT, Srinivasa Reddy GUJJU
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Publication number: 20090192868Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided to track performance of a strategy to perform an analysis on a product using a global portal system. The method includes providing the strategy to customers and obtaining, from the customers, customer input relating to the performance of at least some products and corresponding components. For each customer who provides customer input, the method further includes providing the customer input to the system to perform a relative analysis on the components of the corresponding product and using the results of the relative analysis to determine whether a specific analysis is to be performed and on which of the components. If a specific analysis is to be performed, the specific analysis is performed on the determined components using the system and using results of the specific analysis to provide service and/or operational recommendations for the corresponding product to the customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Vrinda Rajiv, Mark M. Kornfein, Michael R. Lablanc, Philippe Giguere, Stephen H. Black
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Patent number: 7427220Abstract: A control system for a robotic device maneuverable in at least a liquid medium, the system having at least one visual sensor retrieving an image of the device's environment, an image analyzing module receiving the image, determining a presence of an object of a given type therein and analyzing at least one property of the object, a motion calculator determining a desired motion of the device based on the property, and a controller operating a propulsion system of the device to obtain the desired motion. Also, a legged robotic device having a control system including at least one sensor providing data about an environment of the device, the control system using sensor data to determine a desired motion of the device, determining a corresponding required leg motion of each of the legs to produce the desired motion and actuating the legs in accordance with the corresponding required leg motion.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignees: McGill UniversityInventors: Greg Dudek, Chris Prahacs, Shane Saunderson, Philippe Giguere, Junaed Sattar, Michael Jenkin
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Patent number: 7387491Abstract: A wind turbine blade is situated on a wind turbine and includes a side and a tip. The blade is configured to rotate about an axis upon an impact of a wind flow on the blade. An active flow modification device is disposed on the blade. The active flow modification device is configured to receive active flow instructions and to modify the wind flow proximate to the blade. The resulting wind turbine blade uses these active flow modifications to achieve reduced loads, reduced aerodynamic losses, reduced noise, enhanced energy capture, or combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, Anurag Gupta, Philippe Giguere
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Publication number: 20080032571Abstract: A control system for a robotic device maneuverable in at least a liquid medium, the system having at least one visual sensor retrieving an image of the device's environment, an image analyzing module receiving the image, determining a presence of an object of a given type therein and analyzing at least one property of the object, a motion calculator determining a desired motion of the device based on the property, and a controller operating a propulsion system of the device to obtain the desired motion. Also, a legged robotic device having a control system including at least one sensor providing data about an environment of the device, the control system using sensor data to determine a desired motion of the device, determining a corresponding required leg motion of each of the legs to produce the desired motion and actuating the legs in accordance with the corresponding required leg motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: Gregory Dudek, Chris Prahacs, Shane Saunderson, Philippe Giguere, Junaed Sattar, Michael Jenkin