Patents Assigned to Fischer Block, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240142543
    Abstract: A method for predicting time-to-failure and remaining-life of an electrical power system asset includes analyzing characteristics of the power system asset over a specified time interval; based on the analysis, associating the power system asset with a pool of similar power system assets having similar historical performance characteristics; and based on the association, calculating time-to-failure and remaining-life probability factors for the power system asset. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method, and the method may further include a mechanism whereby the computer program learns ways to modify and enhance the analysis of the performance characteristics to provide for higher confidence levels in time-to-failure and remaining-life probability calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Wolfe, Margaret Paietta
  • Publication number: 20240018940
    Abstract: A technique for performing condition monitoring of a plurality of components of a plurality of wind turbines is disclosed. The technique includes, for each of the plurality of wind turbines, measuring at least one time-series electrical output signal of the wind turbine generator, each time-series electrical output signal representing an aggregate of a plurality of subset signals. Such condition monitoring further includes mathematically extracting one or more such subset signals from the at least one time-series electrical output signal of the generator, and associating one or more such subset signals with one or more wind turbine components. A fault threshold value for each such one or more subset signals may be determined, and the one or more such subset signals are compared to such fault threshold value. Based on such association and comparison, the condition of such a wind turbine component of the plurality of wind turbines is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Paietta, Gregory Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11867770
    Abstract: A method for predicting time-to-failure and remaining-life of an electrical power system asset includes analyzing characteristics of the power system asset over a specified time interval; based on the analysis, associating the power system asset with a pool of similar power system assets having similar historical performance characteristics; and based on the association, calculating time-to-failure and remaining-life probability factors for the power system asset. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method, and the method may further include a mechanism whereby the computer program learns ways to modify and enhance the analysis of the performance characteristics to provide for higher confidence levels in time-to-failure and remaining-life probability calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Wolfe, Margaret Paietta
  • Patent number: 11808248
    Abstract: A technique for performing condition monitoring of a plurality of components of a plurality of wind turbines is disclosed. The technique includes, for each of the plurality of wind turbines, measuring at least one time-series electrical output signal of the wind turbine generator, each time-series electrical output signal representing an aggregate of a plurality of subset signals. Such condition monitoring further includes mathematically extracting one or more such subset signals from the at least one time-series electrical output signal of the generator, and associating one or more such subset signals with one or more wind turbine components. A fault threshold value for each such one or more subset signals may be determined, and the one or more such subset signals are compared to such fault threshold value. Based on such association and comparison, the condition of such a wind turbine component of the plurality of wind turbines is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Paietta, Gregory Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11243263
    Abstract: A method for predicting time-to-failure and remaining-life of an electrical power system asset includes analyzing characteristics of the power system asset over a specified time interval; based on the analysis, associating the power system asset with a pool of similar power system assets having similar historical performance characteristics; and based on the association, calculating time-to-failure and remaining-life probability factors for the power system asset. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method, and the method may further include a mechanism whereby the computer program learns ways to modify and enhance the analysis of the performance characteristics to provide for higher confidence levels in time-to-failure and remaining-life probability calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Wolfe, Margaret P. Paietta
  • Patent number: 11210191
    Abstract: A device, which may be embedded in a power distribution enclosure, enables analysis of the conditions of an electromechanical machine operating on a commonly supplied network with other electromechanical machines. The analysis preferably uses aggregate operating voltage and current signals supplied to or from such machines along with known changes in steady-state conditions of one or more machines to discern the discrete effect of one or more machines to the aggregate electrical signal. Such discrete effect can then be associated with the operating performance of the individual machine. And, since such voltage and current signals are normally readily available at the enclosure, wiring or any other communication means to any sensors on the electromechanical machines or devices are not necessary. The embedded device may optionally receive or transmit information to a computing or monitoring device remote from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Wolfe, Margaret P. Paietta
  • Publication number: 20210116506
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is a test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes a plurality of test switch conductors; at least one signal probe operatively couplable to the analyzer hub and to at least one of the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, each of the at least one signal probes being configured to receive electrical signals from one of the plurality of test switch conductors and to generate one or more probe signals that corresponds to the received electrical signals; a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub and configured to receive the one or more probe signals from the at least one signal probe, the signal processing unit configured to determine a plurality of electrical signal values based on the probe signals received from the at least one signal probe; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Paietta, Gregory R. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 10877096
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is a test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes a plurality of test switch conductors; at least one signal probe operatively couplable to the analyzer hub and to at least one of the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, each of the at least one signal probes being configured to receive electrical signals from one of the plurality of test switch conductors and to generate one or more probe signals that corresponds to the received electrical signals; a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub and configured to receive the one or more probe signals from the at least one signal probe, the signal processing unit configured to determine a plurality of electrical signal values based on the probe signals received from the at least one signal probe; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Paietta, Gregory Wolfe
  • Patent number: 10816573
    Abstract: A mounting mechanism comprising: a first end and a second end; and a shaft extending from the first end to the second end, the shaft including: a peripheral wall; threading extending along at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the shaft; a first port hole opening and a second port hole opening; a through-hole extending from the first port hole opening to the second port hole opening to provide a via for wiring to pass within the shaft from the first port hole opening to the second port hole opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Paietta, Gregory Wolfe
  • Patent number: 10678668
    Abstract: A device, which may be embedded in a power distribution enclosure, enables analysis of the conditions of an electromechanical machine operating on a commonly supplied network with other electromechanical machines. The analysis preferably uses aggregate operating voltage and current signals supplied to or from such machines along with known changes in steady-state conditions of one or more machines to discern the discrete effect of one or more machines to the aggregate electrical signal. Such discrete effect can then be associated with the operating performance of the individual machine. And, since such voltage and current signals are normally readily available at the enclosure, wiring or any other communication means to any sensors on the electromechanical machines or devices are not necessary. The embedded device may optionally receive or transmit information to a computing or monitoring device remote from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Wolfe, Margaret P. Paietta
  • Publication number: 20200057108
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is a test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes a plurality of test switch conductors; at least one signal probe operatively couplable to the analyzer hub and to at least one of the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, each of the at least one signal probes being configured to receive electrical signals from one of the plurality of test switch conductors and to generate one or more probe signals that corresponds to the received electrical signals; a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub and configured to receive the one or more probe signals from the at least one signal probe, the signal processing unit configured to determine a plurality of electrical signal values based on the probe signals received from the at least one signal probe; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positi
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Paietta, Gregory Wolfe
  • Patent number: 10459032
    Abstract: A test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes test switch conductors; signal probe(s) couplable to the analyzer hub and to the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positionable within a test switch cover that mates with the test switch base when the signal probe is coupled to the test switch conductor(s) and the test switch cover is secured to the test switch base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FISCHER BLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Margaret Wolfe, Gregory Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20170276731
    Abstract: A test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes test switch conductors; signal probe(s) couplable to the analyzer hub and to the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positionable within a test switch cover that mates with the test switch base when the signal probe is coupled to the test switch conductor(s) and the test switch cover is secured to the test switch base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Wolfe, Gregory Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9638755
    Abstract: A test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes test switch conductors; signal probe(s) couplable to the analyzer hub and to the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positionable within a test switch cover that mates with the test switch base when the signal probe is coupled to the test switch conductor(s) and the test switch cover is secured to the test switch base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Fischer Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Wolfe, Gregory Wolfe