Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Philips

Andrew J. Philips 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).

  • Indicators for early detection of potential failures due to water exposure of polymer-clad fiberglass
    Patent number: 7002079
    Abstract: A composite insulator containing means for providing early warning of impending failure due to stress corrosion cracking, flashunder, or destruction of the rod by discharge activity conditions is described. A composite insulator comprising a fiberglass rod surrounded by a polymer housing and connected with metal end fittings on either end of the rod is doped with a dye-based chemical dopant. The dopant is located around the vicinity of the outer surface of the fiberglass rod. The dopant is formulated to possess migration and diffusion characteristics, and to be inert in dry conditions and compatible with the insulator components. The dopant is positioned within the insulator such that upon the penetration of moisture through the housing to the rod through a permeation pathway in the outer surface of the insulator, the dopant will become activated and will leach out of the same permeation pathway or diffuse through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Joseph N. Mitchell, Spring M. Haby, Dennis S. Rushforth, Mark E. Van Dyke, Henry W. Oviatt, Jr., Andrew J. Philips, Ralph H. Hill, Jr., Mary C. Marshall
  • Chemically-doped composite insulator for early detection of potential failures due to exposure of the fiberglass rod
    Patent number: 6930254
    Abstract: A composite insulator containing means for providing early warning of impending failure due to stress corrosion cracking, flashunder, or destruction of the rod by discharge activity conditions is described. A composite insulator comprising a fiberglass rod surrounded by a polymer housing and fitted with metal end fittings on either end of the rod is doped with a dye-based chemical dopant. The dopant is located around the vicinity of the outer surface of the fiberglass rod. The dopant is formulated to possess migration and diffusion characteristics correlating to those of water, and to be inert in dry conditions and compatible with the insulator components. The dopant is placed within the insulator such that upon the penetration of moisture through the housing to the rod through a permeation pathway in the outer surface of the insulator, the dopant will become activated and will leach out of the same permeation pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Andrew J. Philips, Ralph H. Hill, Jr., Mary C. Marshall, Joseph N. Mitchell, Stephen J. Hudak, Jr.