Patents by Inventor William David Shields
William David Shields 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: 10288218Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a back plate, at least one lower receiving channel adjacent to a lower edge of the back plate and configured to receive a lower holding tab of a line-replaceable unit, at least one upper receiving channel adjacent to an upper edge of the back plate and configured to receive an upper holding tab of the line-replaceable unit, and at least one tensioning member configured to urge the lower holding tab and the upper holding tab into the at least one lower receiving channel and the at least one upper receiving channel, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Alstom Transport TechnologiesInventors: James Strecker, Nick David Nagrodsky, William David Shields, Steven Henry
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Patent number: 10292230Abstract: A system includes at least one signal light having at least one lamp. The system further includes a control device electrically connected to the at least one lamp by a conductive cable. The at least one lamp is configured to flash in response to the loss of an audio signal generated by the control device.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIESInventors: William David Shields, Forrest Henry Ballinger, Jeffrey Michael Fries, Larry John Anderson, Wayne Nelson Wheeler
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Patent number: 10252735Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLCInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20170050653Abstract: A monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20160381758Abstract: A system includes at least one signal light having at least one lamp. The system further includes a control device electrically connected to the at least one lamp by a conductive cable. The at least one lamp is configured to flash in response to the loss of an audio signal generated by the control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: William David Shields, Forrest Henry Ballinger, Jeffrey Michael Fries, Larry John Anderson, Wayne Nelson Wheeler
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Publication number: 20160334055Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a back plate, at least one lower receiving channel adjacent to a lower edge of the back plate and configured to receive a lower holding tab of a line-replaceable unit, at least one upper receiving channel adjacent to an upper edge of the back plate and configured to receive an upper holding tab of the line-replaceable unit, and at least one tensioning member configured to urge the lower holding tab and the upper holding tab into the at least one lower receiving channel and the at least one upper receiving channel, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: James Strecker, Nicholas David Nagrodsky, William David Shields, Steven Henry
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Patent number: 9481385Abstract: A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20150192636Abstract: A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20150158511Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a points machine obtains operating characteristics of the points machine that are representative of operations of the points machine during a movement event of rails at a switch. A waveform of the operating characteristics is examined to at least one of identify or predict a problem with the operations of the points machine. The waveform is examined by comparing the operating characteristics during the first movement event with at least one of: the operating characteristics obtained during a previous movement event; an expected value of the operating characteristics; or an expected duration of a moving time period during which the first rail is expected to move from or to an unlocked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields
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Publication number: 20150158510Abstract: A wayside monitoring method and system monitor a transmitted current that is injected into conductive components of a route traveled by vehicle systems, monitor a received current that represents a portion of the transmitted current that is conducted through the conductive components of the route, examine changes in the transmitted and/or received current over time to determine when the vehicle systems are on the route between a first location where the transmitted current is injected into the conductive components and a second location where the received current is monitored, and examine the changes in the transmitted and/or received currents. The changes are examined to identify (a) a contaminated portion of a surface on which the route is disposed, (b) a foreign object other than the vehicle systems that is contacting the route, and/or (c) a damaged or broken portion of at least one of the conductive components of the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Richard Lee Lawson, Aric Albert Weingartner, Curtis Doyle Mechling, Aaron Richard Mitti, Martin Paget, William David Shields