Patents by Inventor Dale Robert McMullin

Dale Robert McMullin 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: 9293920
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing switching within a power distribution network are provided. A switch plan for restoring electrical power to a power distribution network following a power outage may be identified by a control system. The control system may be associated with a power utility and may include one or more computers. A plurality of switching operations associated with the switch plan may be identified by the control system. The plurality of switching operations may include at least one automatic switching operation and at least one manual switching operation. A synchronized execution of the plurality of switching operations may be coordinated by the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Patent number: 8729858
    Abstract: A method of delivering power from a power supply to an electric vehicle is described herein. The method includes receiving a request to deliver power from the power supply to the electric vehicle. A first monitoring signal indicative of a combustible gas is transmitted from a sensor to a controller. The controller determines whether electrical power is to be delivered, from a charging device to the electric vehicle, based at least in part on the received first monitoring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Patent number: 8718833
    Abstract: Controlling localized load conditions to extend electrical distribution system component life includes forming a load-dependent time-to-failure estimate for at least one of the components, creating an operating load to be experienced by the at least one of the components, and generating an instruction that causes power to be diverted away from the at least one of the components when a required power through the at least one of the components exceeds the operating load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Patent number: 8712595
    Abstract: A method for dynamic load profiling in a power network can include receiving static load data in the power network, generating a load forecast from the static load data, generating dynamic load data from data related to distributed assets in the power network and modifying the load forecast based on the dynamic load data for profiling the dynamic load data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Patent number: 8589198
    Abstract: A distribution control center includes a processor operative to receive damaged asset data, the damaged asset data including an identification and assessment of at least one damaged asset of a power grid, process the damaged asset data to associate a repair time with the damaged asset, generate a proposed switch plan, process the proposed switch plan to identify the damaged asset in the proposed switch plan and assigning a priority for repairing the damaged asset, generate switch plan modification data, modify the proposed switch plan to define a modified switch plan, and output the modified switch plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20130026985
    Abstract: A method of delivering power from a power supply to an electric vehicle is described herein. The method includes receiving a request to deliver power from the power supply to the electric vehicle. A first monitoring signal indicative of a combustible gas is transmitted from a sensor to a controller. The controller determines whether electrical power is to be delivered, from a charging device to the electric vehicle, based at least in part on the received first monitoring signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20130018518
    Abstract: Controlling localized load conditions to extend electrical distribution system component life includes forming a load-dependent time-to-failure estimate for at least one of the components, creating an operating load to be experienced by the at least one of the components, and generating an instruction that causes power to be diverted away from the at least one of the components when a required power through the at least one of the components exceeds the operating load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20120268271
    Abstract: A packet inspection system for use in a power grid control system comprising a plurality of subsystems is described. The packet inspection system includes a memory device configured to store information associated with the plurality of subsystems. The packet inspection system also includes a first deep packet inspection device configured to extract at least one data packet sent to a central subsystem of the plurality of subsystems. The packet inspection system also includes a processing device coupled to the first deep packet inspector and to the memory device. The processing device is configured to identify a compatibility issue within the power grid control system by analyzing the at least one data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Dale Robert McMullin, John Christopher Boot
  • Publication number: 20120253539
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing switching within a power distribution network are provided. A switch plan for restoring electrical power to a power distribution network following a power outage may be identified by a control system. The control system may be associated with a power utility and may include one or more computers. A plurality of switching operations associated with the switch plan may be identified by the control system. The plurality of switching operations may include at least one automatic switching operation and at least one manual switching operation. A synchronized execution of the plurality of switching operations may be coordinated by the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20120253532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forecasting electrical load are provided. A baseline load forecast for a future time period may be determined by a forecasting system associated with a power utility. As desired, the forecasting system may include one or more computers. Information associated with at least one of (i) a scheduled demand for the future time period or (ii) a planned outage associated with the future time period may be determined by the forecasting system. Based at least in part on the determined information, the forecasting system may modify the baseline load forecast. Based at least in part on the modified baseline load forecast, the forecasting system may generate a bid contract for the future time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dale Robert McMullin, Kenneth James Caird
  • Publication number: 20120185105
    Abstract: A method for dynamic load profiling in a power network can include receiving static load data in the power network, generating a load forecast from the static load data, generating dynamic load data from data related to distributed assets in the power network and modifying the load forecast based on the dynamic load data for profiling the dynamic load data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20120173296
    Abstract: A method and system for managing electric grid operation and maintenance are provided. The system includes a work crew locator configured to receive a location of a work crew based on a location of a work vehicle associated with the work crew, a work crew management subsystem, and an asset management subsystem configured to determine repair requirements for electric grid assets and repair times associated with the determined repair requirements. The system also includes an outage management subsystem and a restoration optimizer configured to determine a capable crew to respond to a grid configuration change request where the capable crew includes crew members qualified to perform the change request, tools and equipment required to effect the change request, and a work crew location determined to satisfy a response timing requirement and initiate crew instructions detailing work requirements and actions for the work crew to fulfill the grid configuration change request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20120173299
    Abstract: A method for use in operating a production process. A plurality of correction scenarios is determined for a predicted production asset failure. A total cost for each correction scenario of the plurality of correction scenarios is estimated by the computing device based at least in part on a cost of repair and a cost of downtime associated with the correction scenario. One of the correction scenarios is selected based at least in part on the total cost of the correction scenario.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20120130767
    Abstract: A distribution control center includes a processor operative to receive damaged asset data, the damaged asset data including an identification and assessment of at least one damaged asset of a power grid, process the damaged asset data to associate a repair time with the damaged asset, generate a proposed switch plan, process the proposed switch plan to identify the damaged asset in the proposed switch plan and assigning a priority for repairing the damaged asset, generate switch plan modification data, modify the proposed switch plan to define a modified switch plan, and output the modified switch plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin