Patents by Inventor Donald G. Kilroy

Donald G. Kilroy 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: 7626797
    Abstract: A method of controlling a solid state power controller includes selectively allowing a transient current through a solid state power control switch in response to the transient current exceeding at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Kilroy, Nicholas J. Robertson, Josef Maier, Bernd Löfflad
  • Publication number: 20090103216
    Abstract: A method of detecting and indicating a presence of alternating current (AC) series arc fault events in current supplied by an AC electrical power source to an electrical load for the power source comprises the steps of: measuring positive and negative current through the load over a first sample cycle of the AC power to establish first measured positive and first measured negative current levels; determining the absolute value of the first measured positive and first measured negative current levels to establish a first absolute positive current level and a first absolute negative current level; adding the first absolute positive current level and the first absolute negative current level to establish a first sum current level; measuring positive and negative current through the load over a second sample cycle staggered from the first sample cycle to establish second measured positive and second measured negative current levels; determining the absolute value of the second measured positive and second measure
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne H. Oldenburg, Donald G. Kilroy
  • Patent number: 7453678
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electronic circuit breaker prevents the circuit breaker from contributing its own delay to a power interruption time window on a load. A monitor coupled to a control processor in the circuit breaker causes the control processor to operate in a low-energy consumption sleep mode if it detects a power interruption. During the sleep mode, the control processor draws current from an energy storage device until the power source is reconnected to the control processor. Because the control processor operation is suspended rather than stopped during the power interruption, the control processor does not need to conduct any preliminary power up operations when power is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Beneditz, Donald G. Kilroy
  • Publication number: 20080151451
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting an AC load from half-wave rectified power detects a half-wave rectified voltage or current, sets a status indication indicating the type of asymmetric fault causing the half-wave rectified power, and selectively turns the SSPC ON or OFF depending on the type of fault. There are two example circumstances that can cause an asymmetric fault: when the SSPC is OFF and a switch is shorted (“SSPC Failed Shorted”), or when the SSPC is commanded ON and a switch remains open (“SSPC Failed Open”). If the SSPC is OFF when the half-wave rectified AC voltage or current is detected, an “SSPC Failed Shorted” status indication is set, and the SSPC is turned ON to clear the fault. If the SSPC is commanded ON when the half-wave rectified AC voltage or current is detected, an “SSPC Failed Open” status indication is set, and the SSPC is turned OFF to clear the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Donald G. Kilroy, John Defenbaugh, Thomas Doubek
  • Publication number: 20080129113
    Abstract: An apparatus, and a method of controlling a solid state power controller (“SSPC”) selectively allows a current through a solid state power control switch in response to the current in a plurality of SSPCS exceeding at least one threshold. A microprocessor module collects power surge data from a plurality of groups of SSPCs, and determines if the amount of power surge data within a group of SSPCs is sufficient to constitute a lightning threat. If the microprocessor module determines a lightning threat is present, the microprocessor module sends a command to certain SSPCs in the afflicted group to lockout an instantaneous trip protection for the duration of the lightning threat, allowing the power surge to pass from the SSPCs to a load or plurality of loads, leaving the SSPCs undamaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Robertson, Donald G. Kilroy
  • Publication number: 20080019070
    Abstract: A method of controlling a solid state power controller includes selectively allowing a transient current through a solid state power control switch in response to the transient current exceeding at least one threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Donald G. Kilroy, Nicholas J. Robertson, Josef Maier, Bernd Lofflad
  • Patent number: 5729059
    Abstract: A power transfer control system for use in an AC electric power generation system comprises a generator control unit (GCU) which senses and controls the output of a generator, and a bus power control unit (BPCU) which communicates with the GCU to control and coordinate a power transfer between the generator and another source. Each unit communicates power transfer information, which eliminates the requirement of redundant sensing circuitry and wiring for the BPCU. The BPCU transmits master power control information and a synchronizing signal indicating a zero phase reference point of a control waveform to which the power transfer will take place. The GCU compares parameters of the output power of its respective source with the master power control information and the synchronizing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Donald G. Kilroy, Frank Joseph Ludicky
  • Patent number: 5689175
    Abstract: A digital voltage regulator for an electrical power system including a permanent magnet generator (PMG), an exciter, and a main generator. A controller multiplies the frequency of the generator output voltage by a predetermined value to provide a sampling signal having the multiplied frequency and synchronized with the generator output voltage. The controller also provides a sawtooth voltage signal having a repetition rate equal to the frequency of the sampling signal and an incrementing rate determined by the system clock signal. The generator output voltage is sampled at the frequency of the sampling signal. When the difference between the sampled signal and a reference voltage is greater than the sawtooth voltage, the PMG voltage is switched to provide voltage for the exciter field winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Hanson, Scott R. Myers, Frank Joseph Ludicky, Donald G. Kilroy
  • Patent number: 5049799
    Abstract: In a control (100) for a variable displacement hydraulic motor (12) having an electrically controlled hydraulic servo valve (14) for controlling the displacement of a hydraulic motor by varying position of a wobbler (28) in response to a servo valve control signal, a velocity transducer (72), coupled to a shaft (30) driven by the motor, for providing a velocity signal representative of the velocity of the shaft, and a wobbler position sensor (84), coupled to the wobbler, for producing a wobbler position signal indicative of the position of the wobbler, an improvement in accordance with the invention includes a controller (100) for producing the servo valve control signal as a function of a wobbler position command specifying a position of the wobbler wherein the wobbler position command is a function of at least one of the velocity signal representative of the velocity of the shaft and the wobbler position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Shan-Chin Tsai, Donald G. Kilroy