Patents by Inventor Curtis Lee Hoffman

Curtis Lee Hoffman 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: 10650613
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Patent number: 10401848
    Abstract: A protection monitoring system is provided that includes a protection fault handler. The protection fault handler includes a protection fault indicator. The protection fault handler is configured to activate the protection fault indicator upon indication of a protection fault signal. Moreover, the protection fault signal is indicative of a critical fault which has occurred in a protection system monitored by the protection monitoring system. The protection monitoring system also includes a user inhibit handler. The user inhibit handler includes a user inhibit indicator. Moreover, the user inhibit handler is configured to activate the user inhibit indicator upon indication of a user inhibit signal. Furthermore, the user inhibit signal is indicative of a user-enabled alarm inhibit or a user-enabled bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Foster Richetta, Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190139325
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Patent number: 10157506
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Publication number: 20180120825
    Abstract: A protection monitoring system is provided that includes a protection fault handler. The protection fault handler includes a protection fault indicator. The protection fault handler is configured to activate the protection fault indicator upon indication of a protection fault signal. Moreover, the protection fault signal is indicative of a critical fault which has occurred in a protection system monitored by the protection monitoring system. The protection monitoring system also includes a user inhibit handler. The user inhibit handler includes a user inhibit indicator. Moreover, the user inhibit handler is configured to activate the user inhibit indicator upon indication of a user inhibit signal. Furthermore, the user inhibit signal is indicative of a user-enabled alarm inhibit or a user-enabled bypass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Foster Richetta, Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9869997
    Abstract: A protection monitoring system is provided that includes a protection fault handler. The protection fault handler includes a protection fault indicator. The protection fault handler is configured to activate the protection fault indicator upon indication of a protection fault signal. Moreover, the protection fault signal is indicative of a critical fault which has occurred in a protection system monitored by the protection monitoring system. The protection monitoring system also includes a user inhibit handler. The user inhibit handler includes a user inhibit indicator. Moreover, the user inhibit handler is configured to activate the user inhibit indicator upon indication of a user inhibit signal. Furthermore, the user inhibit signal is indicative of a user-enabled alarm inhibit or a user-enabled bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Foster Richetta, Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20170337751
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Patent number: 9672664
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Publication number: 20160335811
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Patent number: 9406174
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Publication number: 20150325060
    Abstract: A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman, Paul Foster Richetta
  • Publication number: 20140236319
    Abstract: A protection monitoring system is provided that includes a protection fault handler. The protection fault handler includes a protection fault indicator. The protection fault handler is configured to activate the protection fault indicator upon indication of a protection fault signal. Moreover, the protection fault signal is indicative of a critical fault which has occurred in a protection system monitored by the protection monitoring system. The protection monitoring system also includes a user inhibit handler. The user inhibit handler includes a user inhibit indicator. Moreover, the user inhibit handler is configured to activate the user inhibit indicator upon indication of a user inhibit signal. Furthermore, the user inhibit signal is indicative of a user-enabled alarm inhibit or a user-enabled bypass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Foster Richetta, Michael Alan Tart, Thomas Franklin Kalb, Kyle Allan Farwell, Curtis Lee Hoffman