Patents by Inventor Richard Epp

Richard Epp 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: 10199834
    Abstract: A method for controlling the supply of power to a power system for an aircraft having a plurality of power-consuming components includes supplying power to the power system with a generator having a power output, determining a power requirement of the power system, and supplying the power to the power-consuming components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Vorwerk Radun, Phillip Henry Richard Epps
  • Patent number: 10128662
    Abstract: A power system for an aircraft having a plurality of power-consuming components, some of which have transient power requirements, which is greater than the average power requirement, the power system includes at least one generator, a power distribution buss, a non-battery power source, a battery power source, and a power controller selectively coupling the non-battery power source and the battery power source to the power distribution buss to satisfy the transient power requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Vorwerk Radun, Phillip Henry Richard Epps
  • Patent number: 9692322
    Abstract: An inverter phase leg for a DC-AC inverter includes a high supply line and a low supply line across which a DC voltage is provided. A high side gate controlled switch is connected to the high supply line and a low side gate controlled switch is connected to the low supply line, with an output node between the high side switch and the low side switch. An inverting driver is connected to the high side gate controlled switch. The inverting driver's voltage source is configured in such a way as to hold the high side gate controlled switch off during the turn on cycle until the driver output has overcome the negative bias generated across the high side switch gate, producing high immunity to spurious turn on. A digital isolator is connected between the inverting driver and a control signal for switching the inverter phase leg. A differential transmitter and differential receiver may be used to further increase noise immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole
  • Patent number: 9606147
    Abstract: A device for measuring electrical current in a line may include, among other things, a Hall effect sensor wherein a first response is generated by electrical current in the line; a current transformer disposed with the line extending axially therethrough and connected in series to the Hall effect sensor wherein a second response is generated by the electrical current in the line. An equalizer may be connected to the Hall effect sensor and to the current transformer and may be configured to flatten the first and second responses relative to each other. The permeability magnetic path length and cross section of the current transformer is selected such that low frequency roll-off of the current transformer is at a lower frequency than high frequency roll-off of the Hall effect sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Philip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole, Predrag Hadzibabic
  • Patent number: 9425706
    Abstract: A three phase inverter consisting of three single phase legs using either switch mode or linear control is fed by a DC-DC converter to provide input output isolation. This requires that the DC-DC converter delivers equal positive and negative voltages to the single phase legs to allow each output to generate a high fidelity sine wave outputs to the load. By measuring the error voltages on the positive output, the negative output and the total output of the DC-DC converter it is possible to control a single duty cycle while maintaining all three output voltages within the limits required by the DC-AC phase legs. This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the DC-DC converter and eliminates the need to use a fourth phase leg to generate the neutral connection for a three phase output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole
  • Publication number: 20160214737
    Abstract: A method for controlling the supply of power to a power system for an aircraft having a plurality of power-consuming components includes supplying power to the power system with a generator having a power output, determining a power requirement of the power system, and supplying the power to the power-consuming components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur Vorwerk RADUN, Phillip Henry Richard EPPS
  • Publication number: 20160218638
    Abstract: An inverter phase leg for a DC-AC inverter includes a high supply line and a low supply line across which a DC voltage is provided. A high side gate controlled switch is connected to the high supply line and a low side gate controlled switch is connected to the low supply line, with an output node between the high side switch and the low side switch. An inverting driver is connected to the high side gate controlled switch. The inverting driver's voltage source is configured in such a way as to hold the high side gate controlled switch off during the turn on cycle until the driver output has overcome the negative bias generated across the high side switch gate, producing high immunity to spurious turn on. A digital isolator is connected between the inverting driver and a control signal for switching the inverter phase leg. A differential transmitter and differential receiver may be used to further increase noise immunity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Phillip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole
  • Publication number: 20160204615
    Abstract: A power system for an aircraft having a plurality of power-consuming components, some of which have transient power requirements, which is greater than the average power requirement, the power system includes at least one generator, a power distribution buss, a non-battery power source, a battery power source, and a power controller selectively coupling the non-battery power source and the battery power source to the power distribution buss to satisfy the transient power requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur Vorwerk RADUN, Phillip Henry Richard EPPS
  • Publication number: 20150091558
    Abstract: A device for measuring electrical current in a line may include, among other things, a Hall effect sensor wherein a first response is generated by electrical current in the line; a current transformer disposed with the line extending axially therethrough and connected in series to the Hall effect sensor wherein a second response is generated by the electrical current in the line. An equalizer may be connected to the Hall effect sensor and to the current transformer and may be configured to flatten the first and second responses relative to each other. The permeability magnetic path length and cross section of the current transformer is selected such that low frequency roll-off of the current transformer is at a lower frequency than high frequency roll-off of the Hall effect sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Philip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole, Predrag Hadzibabic
  • Publication number: 20150092461
    Abstract: A three phase inverter consisting of three single phase legs using either switch mode or linear control is fed by a DC-DC converter to provide input output isolation. This requires that the DC-DC converter delivers equal positive and negative voltages to the single phase legs to allow each output to generate a high fidelity sine wave outputs to the load. By measuring the error voltages on the positive output, the negative output and the total output of the DC-DC converter it is possible to control a single duty cycle while maintaining all three output voltages within the limits required by the DC-AC phase legs. This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the DC-DC converter and eliminates the need to use a fourth phase leg to generate the neutral connection for a three phase output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Philip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole
  • Publication number: 20060245864
    Abstract: A discharge system for a grain storage bin has a discharge auger extending from the center of the bin floor to an exterior location and a sweep auger pivotally supported at an inner end on a post at the center and extending across the floor to the periphery of the bin for sweeping movement over the floor. The sweep auger is carried on a pivot link arm which pivots at one end on the post and at the other end on the sweep auger to allow it to move from a first position along one side of the discharge auger to a second position along the other side. The sweep auger is driven by a wheel at the outer end carried on a plate attached to an end plate of the shroud of the sweep auger and extending parallel thereto to a location behind the shroud at which is located the hydraulic motor directly driving the wheel with the motor shaft parallel to the auger shaft and behind the shroud. An extra weight plate can be slid into a receptacle on the mounting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Epp, Dwayne Epp
  • Publication number: 20060213909
    Abstract: A closure member for a top opening of a storage bin wherein the storage bin includes a roof with a top opening through which the bin can be filled by material discharged downwardly through the opening; the closure member comprising: a sleeve for engagement with the bin at the opening, the sleeve having a peripheral wall surrounding an axis of the sleeve; the sleeve being arranged to be mounted on the bin at the opening so as to hold the axis to stand substantially upright from the opening with the sleeve extending upwardly from the opening; the sleeve defining an open top end for pouring material through the sleeve into the bin; a cover plate for movement between a closed position covering the open top end and an open position in which the open top end is exposed; the sleeve having a plurality of openings therethrough at angularly spaced positions therearound for allowing vent air to pass between the interior and the exterior of the bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Epp, Dwayne Epp
  • Publication number: 20050091824
    Abstract: A floor for a storage bin comprising a circular metal sheet defined by sheet pieces arranged for connection together with overlapping edges. The sheet pieces include a central circular piece. The sheet pieces include a plurality of generally pie-shaped pieces arranged for side by side connection along radial edges thereof so as to define a ring surrounding the central piece having a circular outer edge and with an inner circular edge defined by the pie-shaped pieces being connected to an outer edge of the central circular piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Epp, Dwayne Epp