Patents Represented by Attorney Dave S. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7183665
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Northern Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Bywaters, William Danforth, Christopher Bevington, Stowell Jesse, Daniel Costin
  • Patent number: 7159444
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring the levels of combustible gas in a gas stream. The system includes means for controlling the relative humidity of the the gas stream to maintain a humidity level in the performance range of combustible gas sensors. A number techniques are illustrated for achieving the humidity control, including, secondary phase separations, mixing the gas with dry air and adjusting of the gas stream temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Demarest, John Koopman, Norman Schaefer, Andrzej Stanek, Iris Shiroma, Allan Tomasco, Elena Stockton, Frano Barbir, John Zagaja, Thomas Skoczylas, Lawrence Moulthrop
  • Patent number: 7119453
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Northern Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Bywaters, William Danforth, Christopher Bevington, Stowell Jesse, Daniel Costin
  • Patent number: 7111493
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the levels of combustible gas in a gas stream. The system includes means for controlling the relative humidity of the gas stream and maintain a humidity level in the performance range of combustible gas sensors. A number of methods are illustrated for achieving the humidity control including secondary phase separations and the adjusting of the gas stream temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stull, Justin Baltrucki, Andrzej Stanek, Edward Demarest, John Koopman, Daniel Rabbett
  • Patent number: 7109600
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Northern Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Lee Bywaters, William Danforth, Christopher Bevington, Jesse Stowell, Daniel Costin
  • Patent number: 7075192
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Northern Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Bywaters, William Danforth, Christopher Bevington, Jesse Stowell, Daniel Costin
  • Patent number: 6907735
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating electricity for use with liquid hydrogen storage facility. The system includes a liquid hydrogen storage tank with a pressure relief. An energy conversion device is connected to the pressure relief valve an converts the hydrogen into rotational energy to operate an electrical generator. Electricity created by the generator can be fed back to operate ancillary loads in the facility, or sold for use in a main electrical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wolff, Antonio John Speranza, Oscar Chow
  • Patent number: 6857397
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating hydrogen for use with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a venturi device coupled with an exhaust stream from the internal combustion engine. The venturi device creates a gas flow through a condenser to generate reactant water. After the reactant water is polished to remove contaminants, hydrogen and oxygen are disassociated using a PEM based electrolyzer. The hydrogen gas is used by the internal combustion engine to assist in the combustion process and reduce pollutant emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Zagaja, Trent Molter, Lawrence Moulthrop, William Smith
  • Patent number: 6659049
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating hydrogen for use with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a venturi device coupled with an exhaust stream from the internal combustion engine. The venturi device creates a gas flow through a condenser to generate reactant water. After the reactant water is polished to remove contaminants, hydrogen and oxygen are disassociated using a PEM based electrolyzer. The hydrogen gas is used by the internal combustion engine to assist in the combustion process and reduce pollutant emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems
    Inventors: John Zagaja, Trent Molter, Lawrence Moulthrop, William Smith
  • Patent number: 6416702
    Abstract: A circuit breaker assembly including a first and second circuit breakers each having toggle switch assemblies movable between ON and OFF positions. The toggle switch assemblies have connectors coupled thereto for preventing both circuit breakers from being in the ON position at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wade A. Montague, David A. Reid, J. Peter McCuin, George T. Parker, Herman Tremmel, Marshall B. Hart
  • Patent number: 6369340
    Abstract: A rotary contact circuit breaker employs a crank to couple a switching mechanism to the rotary contact pole structure. The use of a crank allows for the mechanism and pole structure the individually optimized without effecting the performance of the other. In particular the crank allows for a mechanism that is able to achieve maximum torque delivery to the pole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger Neil Castonguay, Randall Lee Greenberg, Dave Scot Christensen
  • Patent number: 6224234
    Abstract: A hollow carrier having a handle in the shape of a jack-o-lantern or the like is provided with a light and diffuser assembly. When the light is activated, a portion of the light is reflected onto a path external to the carrier while another portion is reflected back into the carrier illuminating the carriers interior allowing the person holding the carrier to be visible from all directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Renee Lynn Demmery
  • Patent number: 6094330
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter of the type including an electronic trip unit for overcurrent determination which includes a small-sized iron core current transformer to power the trip unit electronics along with a giant magnetic resistor semiconductor (GMR) to sense the current flow within the protected circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Criniti, Edward E. Kim, Javier I. Larranaga, Esteban Santos
  • Patent number: 6087913
    Abstract: A rotary contact circuit breaker employs a crank to couple a switching mechanism to the rotary contact pole structure. The use of a crank allows for the mechanism and pole structure the individually optimized without effecting the performance of the other. In particular the crank allows for a mechanism that is able to achieve maximum torque delivery to the pole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger N. Castonguay, Randall L. Greenberg, Dave S. Christensen
  • Patent number: 6084489
    Abstract: The circuit breaker is characterized by separable contacts operable between a closed and an open position a contact arm having a latching surface and a latch arranged to engage the latching surface when the contacts are blown-open under short-circuit conditions. The arrangement of the latch allows for a positive lock under high magnitude short circuit levels while minimizing the force required by a mechanism to unlock the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger N. Castonguay, Dean A. Robarge, Dave S. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5933306
    Abstract: A ground fault protection module is attached to a circuit breaker employing a thermal-magnetic trip unit to separate the circuit breaker contacts upon occurrence of a ground fault. The ground fault module contains a logic circuit and a giant magnetic resistor for detecting the ground fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Esteban Santos, Edward E. Kim, Joseph Criniti, Javier I. Larranaga