Patents by Inventor Cecil Rivers
Cecil Rivers 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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Publication number: 20110254455Abstract: An ablative plasma gun having a dual power source pulse generator is configured to generate a high voltage low current pulse and a low voltage high current pulse. A pair of electrodes are disposed and configured to receive the high voltage low current pulse, and to receive the low voltage high current pulse in response to the high voltage low current pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: George William Roscoe, John James Dougherty, Cecil Rivers, JR., Thangavelu Asokan, Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori
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Patent number: 7986505Abstract: A dual power source pulse generator in power connection with a pair of electrodes having a first electrode, a second electrode and an air gap therebetween. The dual power source pulse generator includes a first pulse source producing a high voltage low current pulse across the pair of electrodes to allow dielectric breakdown, and a second pulse source electrically connected in parallel with an output of the first pulse source, and producing a low voltage high current pulse to thereby produce a current flow of high-density plasma between the same electrodes of the pair of electrodes in response to the high voltage low current pulse.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: George William Roscoe, John James Dougherty, Cecil Rivers, Jr., Thangavelu Asokan, Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori
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Patent number: 7944213Abstract: A device and method to determine the presence of a ground fault that distinguishes between the capacitive portion of the currents to ground, and the resistive portion of the currents to ground by ascertaining aspects of the voltage and residual current waveforms.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: George William Roscoe, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110068802Abstract: A device and method to determine the presence of a ground fault that distinguishes between the capacitive portion of the currents to ground, and the resistive portion of the currents to ground by ascertaining aspects of the voltage and residual current waveforms.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventors: George William Roscoe, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Cecil Rivers, JR.
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Patent number: 7839611Abstract: A programmable logic controller is disclosed. The programmable logic controller includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the current path. The programmable logic controller further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch. The programmable logic controller also may include a MEMS switch and a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the MEMS switch. The MEMS switches are arranged to transmit or receive logic signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecil Rivers, Jr., Brent Charles Kumfer, William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian
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Patent number: 7826184Abstract: A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor is provided. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a bimetal, a microprocessor, a series arc detection sequence, a low-pass filter circuit, and a high-pass filter circuit. The trip mechanism selectively opens the separable contacts when activated. The series arc detection sequence is resident on the microprocessor and includes a plurality of series fault detection algorithms. The low-pass filter circuit provides a low-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The high-pass filter circuit provides a high-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The sequence selects a particular algorithm from the plurality of algorithms based on the low-pass signal. The sequence calculates a plurality of statistical features from the high-pass signal and sends an output signal to activate the trip mechanism based on a comparison of the plurality of statistical features to the particular algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecil Rivers, Weizhong Yan, Yingneng Zhou, Xiao Hu, Sean Dwyer, Pradeep Vijayan, Vijaysai Prasad, Karim Younsi
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Publication number: 20100211233Abstract: An energy management system manages energy consumption of managed device(s) disposed to receive energy via a meter connected to an energy supply, the energy supply. A system controller has a computer processor that instructs the managed device(s) to employ an operational mode based on the priority, the energy need, the demand state, and whether the energy consumption rate of the managed device(s) exceeds energy available from at least one of the external energy source and internal energy source.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: George William Roscoe, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Cecil Rivers, JR.
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Publication number: 20100207728Abstract: An energy management system includes a module for an energy consuming device. The module has a module main controller including a computer processor in communication with a module computer readable storage medium containing computer executable code. When the computer executable code is executed by the computer processor, it performs a method including determining whether a demand state is a peak demand state, employing a reduced operational mode of the energy consuming device during a peak demand state, and employing a normal operational mode of the energy consuming device during a demand state other than a peak demand state. In an embodiment, the system also includes a system main controller in communication with the module.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: General Electric CorporationInventors: George William Roscoe, John Keith Besore, Darko Ilickovic, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr., Brian Michael Schork
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Patent number: 7719257Abstract: A current sensing module for disposal proximate a conductor is disclosed. The current sensing module includes a housing having a first section and a second section that together define an opening for receiving the conductor therethrough. The second section is in operable connection with the first section. The current sensing module further includes a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) based current sensor disposed within the first section proximate the opening for receiving the conductor.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Cecil Rivers, Jr., Roossely Delica
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Publication number: 20100085669Abstract: An arc fault detector which includes a filter which receives an input signal and filters the input signal, an amplifier which amplifies a signal output from the filter, an analog-to-digital converter disposed to receive the amplified signal from the amplifier and convert the amplified signal into a digital signal, and a processing unit responsive to computer executable instructions when executed thereon that receives samples of data associated with the digital signal and performs an arc detection algorithm on the data using fuzzy logic.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Cecil Rivers, JR.
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Patent number: 7692903Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a solenoid in a circuit breaker includes a control circuit configured to receive an activation signal in response to a predetermined condition. The control circuit, in response to said activation signal, provides a first energizing signal to the solenoid for a first predetermined period, and cuts off the first energizing signal for a second predetermined period. The control circuit further provides a second energizing signal to the solenoid for a third predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sean Dwyer, Henry Hall Mason, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr., Sohaib Uddin Shaikh, Craig B. Williams
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Publication number: 20100052761Abstract: A dual power source pulse generator in power connection with a pair of electrodes having a first electrode, a second electrode and an air gap therebetween. The dual power source pulse generator includes a first pulse source producing a high voltage low current pulse across the pair of electrodes to allow dielectric breakdown, and a second pulse source electrically connected in parallel with an output of the first pulse source, and producing a low voltage high current pulse to thereby produce a current flow of high-density plasma between the same electrodes of the pair of electrodes in response to the high voltage low current pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: George William Roscoe, John James Dougherty, Cecil Rivers, JR., Thangavelu Asokan, Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori
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Patent number: 7656641Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a solenoid includes a control circuit configured to receive an activation signal in response to a predetermined condition. The control circuit, in response to said activation signal, provides a first energizing signal to the solenoid for a first predetermined period, and cuts off the first energizing signal for a second predetermined period. The control circuit further provides a second energizing signal to the solenoid for a third predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Henry Hall Mason, Jr., Craig B. Williams, Cecil Rivers, Jr., Sohaib U. Shaikh, Sean R. Dwyer
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Publication number: 20090184829Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method for monitoring a thermal profile proximate a housing, the apparatus comprising at least one temperature sensor supportable by the housing and configured for monitoring a thermal profile proximate the housing, at least one thermoelectric generator in circuit with the at least one temperature sensor and configured to provide electrical energy sufficient to power the at least one temperature sensor, and an indicator device in circuit with the temperature sensor and configured to provide at least an indication where the thermal profile is outside a predetermined thermal profile range.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventor: Cecil Rivers, JR.
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Publication number: 20090168277Abstract: A circuit interrupter for interrupting alternating current electrical signal on a line conductor of a circuit feeding a load, including: an electrical contact in operatively connected in series with the line conductor; a trip mechanism for selectively opening the electrical contact when activated; a current sensor connected in series with the line conductor for obtaining a sample alternating current electrical signal from the circuit feeding the load; a microprocessor in electrical communication with the trip mechanism and comprising a series arc fault detection program resident thereon; the series arc detection program comprising a discrete wavelet transform for determining the presence of a series arc fault current in the circuit feeding the load; wherein, when the discrete wavelet transform determines the presence of a series arc fault, the microprocessors signals the trip mechanism to activate and open the electrical contact in operatively connected in series with the line conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Sriram Changali, Vijaysai Prasad, Cecil Rivers,, JR., Pradeep Vijayan
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Publication number: 20090171603Abstract: A method of detecting a series arc fault in an alternating current electrical signal is provided. A method for detecting a series arc fault in an alternating current electrical signal, comprising: a) calculating discrete wavelet coefficients using a current signal as an input for the discrete wavelet coefficient calculations, and outputting discrete wavelet coefficient filtered output; b) subsampling the discrete wavelet coefficient filtered output and outputting a subsampled output; c) calculating critical variables from the subsampled output; d) determining from the critical variables whether a series arc fault is present in the current signal; and e) outputting an signal indicating that a series arc fault is present in the current signal, if substantially all of the critical variables meet a predetermined criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Sriram Changali, Vljaysai Prasad, Cecil Rivers, JR., Pradeep Vijayan
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Patent number: 7546214Abstract: An electrical sub-metering system for making available information associated with power consumption of at least one circuit of a plurality of circuits is disclosed. The system includes an electrical panel board configured to distribute power to the plurality of circuits, a circuit breaker in power connection with a conductor of the at least one circuit, a voltage sensor, a hub to collect the information associated with power consumption from the voltage sensor and the circuit breaker, and a data collector to collect and make available to a user the information associated with power consumption. The circuit breaker includes a current measuring device to measure current through the at least one circuit and is in signal communication with the hub via a single communication interface that has a plurality of communication paths.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecil Rivers, Jr., Robert Joseph Caggiano, Roossely Delica, Ertugrul Berkcan
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Publication number: 20090125124Abstract: A programmable logic controller is disclosed. The programmable logic controller includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the current path. The programmable logic controller further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch. The programmable logic controller also may include a MEMS switch and a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the MEMS switch. The MEMS switches are arranged to transmit or receive logic signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Brent Charles Kumfer, Cecil Rivers, JR.
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Publication number: 20090059449Abstract: A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor is provided. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a bimetal, a microprocessor, a series arc detection sequence, a low-pass filter circuit, and a high-pass filter circuit. The trip mechanism selectively opens the separable contacts when activated. The series arc detection sequence is resident on the microprocessor and includes a plurality of series fault detection algorithms. The low-pass filter circuit provides a low-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The high-pass filter circuit provides a high-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The sequence selects a particular algorithm from the plurality of algorithms based on the low-pass signal. The sequence calculates a plurality of statistical features from the high-pass signal and sends an output signal to activate the trip mechanism based on a comparison of the plurality of statistical features to the particular algorithm.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Cecil Rivers, Weizhong Yan, Yingneng Zhou, Xiao Hu, Sean Dwyer, Pradeep Vijayan, Vijaysai Prasad, Karim Younsi
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Patent number: 7493221Abstract: An electrical sub-metering system for making available information associated with power consumption is disclosed. The system includes an electrical panel board configured to distribute power to a plurality of circuits, means for measuring voltage of each circuit, a module including means for measuring current flow, a hub in signal communication with the module and the means for measuring voltage, and a data collector in signal communication with the hub. The hub is configured to collect the information associated with power consumption from the means for measuring voltage and the module, and the data collector is configured to collect and make available to a user the information associated with power consumption for each circuit. The module is in signal communication with the hub via a single communication link, the single communication link having a plurality of communication paths.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Joseph Caggiano, Radhika Dixit, Julia Maria Fonseca, Cecil Rivers, Jr., Ertugrul Berkcan, Roossely Delica