Patents by Inventor Craig B. Williams

Craig B. Williams 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: 10243345
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is described herein. In one aspect, the circuit breaker includes a communication module, a non-transitory memory device, and a memory controller. The communication module is configured to receive protection settings and breaker information from a trip unit coupled to the communication module. The protection settings and the breaker information are received upon powering-on the trip unit. The non-transitory memory device is configured to store the protection settings and the breaker information associated with the circuit breaker. The memory controller is configured to cause the protection settings and the breaker information received to be written to the non-transitory memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Craig B. Williams, Srinath Topucharla, Arun Kumar Singh, Jeyaprakash Kandasamy, Alok Kumar Bharati
  • Publication number: 20170005462
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is described herein. In one aspect, the circuit breaker includes a communication module, a non-transitory memory device, and a memory controller. The communication module is configured to receive protection settings and breaker information from a trip unit coupled to the communication module. The protection settings and the breaker information are received upon powering-on the trip unit. The non-transitory memory device is configured to store the protection settings and the breaker information associated with the circuit breaker. The memory controller is configured to cause the protection settings and the breaker information received to be written to the non-transitory memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Craig B. Williams, Srinath Topucharla, Arun Kumar Singh, Jeyaprakash Kandasamy, Alok Kumar Bharati
  • Patent number: 8593133
    Abstract: A current measuring system for measuring a current through a conductor is described. The system includes a first sensor configured to measure a first magnetic flux and to generate a first signal proportional to the first magnetic flux. The system also includes a second sensor configured to measure a second magnetic flux and to provide a second signal proportional to the second magnetic flux, the second sensor having a higher sensitivity to stray magnetic fields than the first sensor. The system also includes a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal. The processor is further configured to determine a presence of a stray magnetic field by comparing the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 8589094
    Abstract: A method of setting a ground fault trip response function for a trip unit includes enabling a ground fault protection mode for the trip unit, setting the ground fault trip response function for the trip unit, wherein the ground fault trip response function is a double knee time current function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carmine Giglio, Todd Greenwood, Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 8400321
    Abstract: An electronic trip device is described that includes a test signal generator coupled to at least one of a line conductor and a neutral conductor and configured to create a test signal. The electronic trip device also includes a leakage current detection circuit configured to compare a current in the line conductor and a current in the neutral conductor, the leakage current detection circuit configured to output an error signal if the test signal is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 8280670
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an actuator, a switching device connected to the actuator, and a test unit configured to test a connection between the actuator and the switching device by detecting a first connection voltage at the connection between the actuator and the switching device. The test unit is further configured to test the operation of the switching device by turning the switching device on without operating the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120169328
    Abstract: A current measuring system for measuring a current through a conductor is described. The system includes a first sensor configured to measure a first magnetic flux and to generate a first signal proportional to the first magnetic flux. The system also includes a second sensor configured to measure a second magnetic flux and to provide a second signal proportional to the second magnetic flux, the second sensor having a higher sensitivity to stray magnetic fields than the first sensor. The system also includes a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal. The processor is further configured to determine a presence of a stray magnetic field by comparing the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120119918
    Abstract: An electronic trip device is described that includes a test signal generator coupled to at least one of a line conductor and a neutral conductor and configured to create a test signal. The electronic trip device also includes a leakage current detection circuit configured to compare a current in the line conductor and a current in the neutral conductor, the leakage current detection circuit configured to output an error signal if the test signal is not detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110093234
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an actuator, a switching device connected to the actuator, and a test unit configured to test a connection between the actuator and the switching device by detecting a first connection voltage at the connection between the actuator and the switching device. The test unit is further configured to test the operation of the switching device by turning the switching device on without operating the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Craig B. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20110054713
    Abstract: A method of setting a ground fault trip response function for a trip unit includes enabling a ground fault protection mode for the trip unit, setting the ground fault trip response function for the trip unit, wherein the ground fault trip response function is a double knee time current function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Carmine Giglio, Todd Greenwood, Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Craig B. Williams
  • Publication number: 20100165520
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a circuit breaker includes an electronics unit, the electronics unit being configured to generate a re-occurring signal, and a self-test trip unit in signal communication with the electronics unit and being configured to receive the re-occurring signal and effect tripping of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 7692903
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sean Dwyer, Henry Hall Mason, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr., Sohaib Uddin Shaikh, Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 7656641
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry Hall Mason, Jr., Craig B. Williams, Cecil Rivers, Jr., Sohaib U. Shaikh, Sean R. Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20080151462
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Henry Hall Mason, Craig B. Williams, Cecil Rivers, Sohaib U. Shaikh, Sean R. Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20080151463
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Sean Dwyer, Henry Hall Mason, Cecil Rivers, Sohaib Uddin Shaikh, Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 7108101
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming cast members. Steps are provided in the cast member by sliding mounting flanges of hollow plastic step inserts into slots provided in the inner mold shell. The cast material is then poured into the mold. Once the cast material has set, the cast member is withdrawn from the mold assembly. The step insert mounting flanges are broken away, leaving hollow step inserts into which manhole steps are force-fittingly mounted. The inserts are provided with integral cover tabs which cover larger slots provided to facilitate insertion of the step inserts, preventing leakage of the cast material into the mold assembly. Integral cover tabs are similarly provided on enforcement ring support members mounted in a similar fashion to insertion slots provided on one of the mold members to cover larger width slot portions to prevent seepage of cast material. Similar seals are provided by cylindrical-shaped inserts for use in wetcast and drycast fabrication methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Poly-Tec Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Westhoff, James A. Kelly, Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: 7075310
    Abstract: A device for testing for a wiring fault condition is disclosed. The device includes an electrical connector, a first signal generator, a second signal generator, and a user interface. The electrical connector includes first and second contacts that are configured to establish an electrical connection to the wiring. The first signal generator is in signal communication with the electrical connector, and is configured to generate a signal on the wiring and to receive a reflected signal therefrom. The second signal generator is in signal communication with the electrical connector, and is configured to generate a radio frequency signal on the wiring. The user interface is in signal communication with either or both of the first and second signal generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry H. Mason, Jr., Craig B. Williams, Michael S. Tignor, Geoff Butland, Michael Bradley, Greg Lavoie, Raymond Seymour
  • Patent number: D615849
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: American Step Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: D627210
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: American Step Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams
  • Patent number: D645731
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: American Step Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig B. Williams