Patents by Inventor Conner B. Shane

Conner B. Shane 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).

  • Patent number: 10539116
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to provide wind turbine control and compensate for wind induction effects. An example method includes receiving wind speed data from a Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor. The example method includes receiving operating data indicative of wind turbine operation. The example method includes determining an apriori induction correction for wind turbine operating conditions with respect to the LIDAR wind speed data based on the operating data. The example method includes estimating a wind signal from the LIDAR sensor that is adjusted by the correction. The example method includes generating a control signal for a wind turbine based on the adjusted LIDAR estimated wind signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samuel Davoust, Conner B. Shane, Fabiano Daher Adegas, Thomas Stephen Markham, Dale Robert Mashtare
  • Patent number: 10338202
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for sequencing Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor beam signals from a LIDAR sensor mounted on a nacelle of a wind turbine with the rotor position of the wind turbine so as to improve signal availability. More specifically, the method includes generating, via the LIDAR sensor, one or more laser signals towards the rotor of the wind turbine, the rotor having one or more rotor blades. The method also includes receiving, via a controller, a rotor position of the rotor of the wind turbine. Thus, the method further includes coordinating, via a control algorithm programmed within the controller, the rotor position with the one or more laser signals of the laser sensor so as to minimize interference between the laser signal(s) and the rotor blades during rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dale Robert Mashtare, Samuel David Draper, Thomas Stephen Markham, Conner B. Shane, Katherine Derksen Stinson
  • Patent number: 10288659
    Abstract: A system for determining identity information corresponding to an electrically operable machine is disclosed, where the electrically operable machine receives electricity from a power supply port. The system includes at least one sensor to generate a signal indicative of the electricity being drawn by the electrically operable machine from the power supply port. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to determine the identity information corresponding to the electrically operable machine based on one or more electrical characteristics of the signal sensed by the at least one sensor. Method and non-transitory computer readable media for determining the identity of the electrically operable vehicle are also disclosed. Moreover, a system for controlling charging of a vehicle that is operated at least partially by the electricity is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jigar Jayesh Shah, Matthew Christian Nielsen, Conner B Shane, Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10107261
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing oscillation loads of a wind turbine induced by high turbulence and/or combined with other environmental conditions are provided. The method includes determining at least one wind parameter at the wind turbine; monitoring an operating condition of the wind turbine; determining, by a processor, a variance of at least one of the monitored operating condition or a plurality of the wind parameters, wherein the variance is indicative of an oscillation occurring at one or more wind turbine components; determining, by a processor, an operating set point based on the variance; and, operating the wind turbine based on the operating set point when the variance indicates that the oscillation has a frequency within a certain frequency band so as to modify the frequency, wherein the modified frequency is outside of the frequency band and reduces oscillation loads occurring at the one or more wind turbine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Xiongzhe Huang, William Edwin Holley, Conner B. Shane, Raveendra Penmatsa, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Timothy Botsford Cribbs
  • Publication number: 20180017039
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to provide wind turbine control and compensate for wind induction effects. An example method includes receiving wind speed data from a Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor. The example method includes receiving operating data indicative of wind turbine operation. The example method includes determining an apriori induction correction for wind turbine operating conditions with respect to the LIDAR wind speed data based on the operating data. The example method includes estimating a wind signal from the LIDAR sensor that is adjusted by the correction. The example method includes generating a control signal for a wind turbine based on the adjusted LIDAR estimated wind signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel Davoust, Conner B. Shane, Fabiano Daher Adegas, Thomas Stephen Markham, Dale Robert Mashtare
  • Publication number: 20170219697
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for sequencing Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor beam signals from a LIDAR sensor mounted on a nacelle of a wind turbine with the rotor position of the wind turbine so as to improve signal availability. More specifically, the method includes generating, via the LIDAR sensor, one or more laser signals towards the rotor of the wind turbine, the rotor having one or more rotor blades. The method also includes receiving, via a controller, a rotor position of the rotor of the wind turbine. Thus, the method further includes coordinating, via a control algorithm programmed within the controller, the rotor position with the one or more laser signals of the laser sensor so as to minimize interference between the laser signal(s) and the rotor blades during rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Dale Robert Mashtare, Samuel David Draper, Thomas Stephen Markham, Conner B. Shane, Katherine Derksen Stinson
  • Patent number: 9683553
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring wind turbine loading are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a main shaft, a bedplate, and a gearbox coupled to the main shaft and mounted to the bedplate. The gearbox includes an outer casing and a torque arm extending from the outer casing. The system further includes an isolation mount coupled to the torque arm, and a sensor configured to measure displacement of the torque arm. In another embodiment, a method includes operating the wind turbine, and detecting displacement of a torque arm of a gearbox of the wind turbine. The method further includes calculating a moment for a main shaft of the wind turbine based on the displacement of the torque arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dale Robert Mashtare, James Henry Madge, Charudatta Subhash Mehendale, George Albert Goller, Conner B. Shane
  • Publication number: 20160305403
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing oscillation loads of a wind turbine induced by high turbulence and/or combined with other environmental conditions are provided. The method includes determining at least one wind parameter at the wind turbine; monitoring an operating condition of the wind turbine; determining, by a processor, a variance of at least one of the monitored operating condition or a plurality of the wind parameters, wherein the variance is indicative of an oscillation occurring at one or more wind turbine components; determining, by a processor, an operating set point based on the variance; and, operating the wind turbine based on the operating set point when the variance indicates that the oscililation has a frequency within a certain frequency band so as to modify the frequency, wherein the modified frequency is outside of the frequency band and reduces oscillation loads occurring at the one or more wind turbine components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Xiongzhe Huang, William Edwin Holley, Conner B. Shane, Raveendra Penmatsa, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Timothy Botsford Cribbs
  • Publication number: 20160274157
    Abstract: A system for determining identity information corresponding to an electrically operable machine is disclosed, where the electrically operable machine receives electricity from a power supply port. The system includes at least one sensor to generate a signal indicative of the electricity being drawn by the electrically operable machine from the power supply port. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to determine the identity information corresponding to the electrically operable machine based on one or more electrical characteristics of the signal sensed by the at least one sensor. Method and non-transitory computer readable media for determining the identity of the electrically operable vehicle are also disclosed. Moreover, a system for controlling charging of a vehicle that is operated at least partially by the electricity is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jigar Jayesh Shah, Matthew Christian Nielsen, Conner B. Shane, Harry Kirk Mathews, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150069762
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring wind turbine loading are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a main shaft, a bedplate, and a gearbox coupled to the main shaft and mounted to the bedplate. The gearbox includes an outer casing and a torque arm extending from the outer casing. The system further includes an isolation mount coupled to the torque arm, and a sensor configured to measure displacement of the torque arm. In another embodiment, a method includes operating the wind turbine, and detecting displacement of a torque arm of a gearbox of the wind turbine. The method further includes calculating a moment for a main shaft of the wind turbine based on the displacement of the torque arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dale Robert Mashtare, James Henry Madge, Charudatta Subhash Mehendale, George Albert Goller, Conner B. Shane