Patents by Inventor Benjamin Avery Freer

Benjamin Avery Freer 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).

  • Publication number: 20170261558
    Abstract: A testing circuit assembly can include a first variable resistive load configurable for a range of electrical resistances, where the first variable resistive load is configured to couple to at least one first ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker and a current source. The testing circuit assembly can also include a first local controller coupled to the first variable resistive load, where the first local controller controls the first variable resistive load to simulate a range of fault currents, corresponding to the range of electrical resistances, flowing to the at least one first GFCI breaker to determine at least one actual trip point of the at least one first GFCI breaker. Each electrical resistance in the range of electrical resistances can correspond to a fault current in the range of fault currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Benjamin Avery Freer
  • Publication number: 20170194746
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing with a plurality of electrical contacts, including a ground contact, extending therefrom. The connector has a shell with the housing positioned therein. A monitor circuit is positioned in the housing and configured to determine continuity between the shell and the ground contact. In some examples, the monitor circuit includes an output connected to an indicator that is configured to output a signal in response to the continuity determination to indicate the condition of the connection between the ground contact and the connector shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Benjamin Avery Freer
  • Publication number: 20170184388
    Abstract: A joint sensing system within an enclosure can include an electrical circuit through which a first current flows, where the first current creates a magnetic field, where the electrical circuit is disposed proximate to a joint of the enclosure. The system can also include a target disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, where the magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the target. The system can further include a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target to generate a plurality of measurements. The plurality of measurements can indicate a width of the joint of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Joseph Michael Manahan
  • Publication number: 20170187180
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker testing system can include an enclosure having at least one wall that forms a cavity. The system can also include at least one GFCI breaker disposed within the cavity. The system can further include a sensing circuit assembly having at least one switch, where the at least one switch is electrically coupled to the at least one GFCI breaker. The system can also include a user interface assembly disposed, at least in part, outside the cavity, where the user interface assembly is coupled to the sensing circuit assembly, where the user interface assembly instructs the at least one switch to test the at least one GFCI breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P. Iannce, Joseph Michael Manahan
  • Publication number: 20170184343
    Abstract: An electrical connector testing system can include a first connector end and a controller coupled to first connector end. The system can also include an electrical load coupled to the first connector end, where the electrical load includes an electrical cable and a second connector end coupled to an end of the electrical cable. The controller can determine whether an adverse electrical condition exists with respect to the electrical load before allowing power to flow between the first connector end and the second connector end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Joseph Michael Manahan, Charles John Luebke, David McClanahan
  • Publication number: 20170184675
    Abstract: A system can include at least one circuit breaker. The system can also include a prognostic and health monitoring (PHM) system. The PHM system can include at least one measuring device that measures at least one parameter associated with the at least one circuit breaker. The PHM system can also include a controller that receives measurements made by the at least one measuring device and analyzes the measurements to evaluate a performance of the at least one circuit breaker. The measurements can be made while the at least one circuit breaker is in service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P Iannce, Joseph Michael Manahan
  • Publication number: 20170160237
    Abstract: A corrosion tracking system within an enclosure can include an electrical circuit through which a first current flows, where the first current creates a magnetic field. The system can also include a target component disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, where the magnetic field induces a number of second currents to flow within the target component. The system can further include a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target component to generate a plurality of measurements. The measurements can indicate whether the target component is experiencing corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Jesse Wade Taylor
  • Publication number: 20170163065
    Abstract: An electrical circuit can include a power supply that generates a power output. The electrical circuit can also include a load that receives the power output from the power supply. The electrical circuit can further include an electrical conductor coupled to the power supply and the load, where the electrical conductor emits a magnetic field when the power output flows through the electrical conductor to the load. The electrical circuit can also include a response circuit coupled to the power supply and disposed proximate to the electrical conductor, where the response circuit generates a feedback output based on the magnetic field, and where the power output generated by the power supply is based on the feedback output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Benjamin Avery Freer
  • Publication number: 20170093147
    Abstract: A system includes a hot wire and a neutral wire configured to establish a closed circuit between a power source and a load. The system further includes first and second transformers as well as a sensor. The first current transformer is coupled to the hot wire and is configured to introduce a first test current, with a first polarity, into the hot wire. The second current transformer is coupled to the neutral wire and configured to substantially simultaneously introduce a second test current into the neutral wire. The second test current has the same polarity as the first test current. The sensor is configured to sense an asymmetry between the first and second test currents and is further configured to cause interruption of the closed circuit upon sensing the asymmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P. Iannce, Joseph Michael Manahan
  • Publication number: 20170089763
    Abstract: A thermal monitoring system includes at least one of an infrared sensor and a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an array. Each infrared sensor has a resolution including a plurality of pixels. A controller is configured to create a thermal image of an area to be monitored based at least in part on the plurality of pixels of each infrared sensor. A thermal monitoring assembly includes an electrical panel including a plurality of electrical components located within the electrical panel. The at least one of an infrared sensor and the plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an array, either alone or in combination with additional sensors, are located inside the electrical panel. Methods of monitoring various parameters including a temperature of the plurality of electrical components located inside the electrical panel are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P. Iannce, Joseph Michael Manahan, Rick Rothenberger, John Bonaccio
  • Publication number: 20170093220
    Abstract: A system comprises an explosion proof device and an intrinsically safe device. The explosion proof device is coupled to a power supply. The intrinsically safe device includes a user interface. The explosion proof device is configured to induce inductive coupling with the intrinsically safe device. The inductive coupling between the explosion proof device and the intrinsically safe device enables the transfer of power from the explosion proof device to the user interface of the intrinsically safe device. The inductive coupling can additionally enable the transfer of data between the explosion proof device and the intrinsically safe device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P. Iannce
  • Publication number: 20170092405
    Abstract: A moisture control system for an electrical enclosure can include a control module. The system can also include a drain assembly coupled to the control module, where the drain assembly is disposed, at least in part, within the cavity of the electrical enclosure, where the drain assembly is configured to remove, based on instructions received from the control module, liquid from the cavity to the ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Manahan, Jesse Wade Taylor, Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P. Iannce, Alvah B. Aldrich, Adam Douglas Ledgerwood
  • Publication number: 20170094444
    Abstract: A control system for hazardous environments decreases flame paths, decreases punctures to the control system when installing interfaces, and increases safety. The control system may be characterized as a “one size fits all” controller that is able to automatically recognize a plurality of user interfaces. The controller has an enclosure to which the interfaces can be attached. The interfaces may interact with control electronics wholly contained in the enclosure using a variety of “wireless” mechanisms. Such mechanisms include reflecting light waves, infrared (IR) communication, radio-frequency identification, inductive coils, short-range wireless communication, camera images, piezoelectricity, and magnetism, and the like. The interfaces may include switches, indicator lights, smoke detectors, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Manahan, Adikaramge Asiri Jayawardena, Stephan Iannce, Benjamin Avery Freer
  • Publication number: 20170092447
    Abstract: A system comprises an industrial enclosure, a first magnetic control and a second magnetic control. The industrial enclosure has a cover with an outer surface. The second magnetic control is nested within the first magnetic control, and the nested magnetic controls are secured to the outer surface of the cover of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Avery Freer, Stephan P. Iannce, Joseph Michael Manahan
  • Publication number: 20150338315
    Abstract: An enclosure diagnostic and control system is described herein. The system can include a controller having a storage repository, where the storage repository includes at least one threshold value and at least one algorithm. The system can also include an enclosure communicably coupled to the controller and electrically coupled to a field device. The system can further include a number of sensors communicably coupled to the controller, where the sensors measure a number of field values of a number of parameters associated with the field device. The controller can evaluate the field values using the at least one algorithm to generate an evaluated value. The controller can output a control signal based on the evaluated value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Manahan, Stephan P. Iannce, Richard E. Rothenberger, John M. Bonaccio, Benjamin Avery Freer