Patents by Inventor Eugene McKenzie

Eugene McKenzie 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: 10437209
    Abstract: Systems and methods that provide trackers and tracking assemblies having node managers, such as smart node managers are described herein. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: DRIFT MARKETPLACE, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie
  • Publication number: 20190139159
    Abstract: A system is provided to identify energy opportunities for an entity (e.g., supplier or consumer) to help ensure than an objective of the entity is met. An objective of an entity may be to consume electrical power that is at least 50% provided by clean energy. Another objective may be to reduce energy consumption during periods of electrical shortages. Yet another objective may be to supply electrical power during periods of high price and consume electrical power during periods of low price. The system inputs data relating to the day-ahead energy market, the real-time energy market, historical supply and demand, forecast supply and demand, and so on and identifies various energy opportunities for entities. The system then notifies the entities of the energy opportunities that may be of interest so that the entities can decide whether to take advantage of the energy opportunities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Mushfiqur Rahman Sarker, Herbert Alan Tilley, Edwin Eugene McKenzie, III, Gregory William Robinson
  • Publication number: 20170255172
    Abstract: Systems and methods that provide trackers and tracking assemblies having node managers, such as smart node managers are described herein. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie
  • Patent number: 9488968
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: WOVN, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie, III
  • Patent number: 9471050
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a solar tracker assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a base having a track, a centrally-positioned base member, a motor operably coupled to the base member, and a plurality of arms extending from the base member towards the track, with the track including a plurality of arcuate members that are assembled to form the track. A rotatable frame is coupled to the arms and has one or more towers and an actuator positioned on the one or more towers. A pivoting frame is coupled to the one or more towers, with the pivoting frame configured to carry a solar panel array. In operation, the motor can rotate the base member and arms around a Z-axis to position the rotatable frame at azimuth and the actuator can move the pivoting frame around an X-Y axis to position the pivoting frame at zenith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: WOVN, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie, III
  • Publication number: 20140201109
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie, III
  • Publication number: 20140200717
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to, for example, methods for operating a node manager such as a node manager operably coupled to a solar tracker assembly. In one embodiment, the method includes providing control signals to motors of the solar tracker assembly to control an orientation of a photovoltaic array and receiving status information form one or more sensors configured to measure at least one of ambient, operating, and performance conditions local to tracker electronics of the tracker assembly. The method further includes modifying the control signals based, at least in part, on the status information and communicating, via the tracker electronics, at least a portion of the status information over a cellular communication via a cellular link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Questar Energy Systems
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie, III
  • Publication number: 20140196761
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a solar tracker assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a base having a track, a centrally-positioned base member, a motor operably coupled to the base member, and a plurality of arms extending from the base member towards the track, with the track including a plurality of arcuate members that are assembled to form the track. A rotatable frame is coupled to the arms and has one or more towers and an actuator positioned on the one or more towers. A pivoting frame is coupled to the one or more towers, with the pivoting frame configured to carry a solar panel array. In operation, the motor can rotate the base member and arms around a Z-axis to position the rotatable frame at azimuth and the actuator can move the pivoting frame around an X-Y axis to position the pivoting frame at zenith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Tilley, Gregory William Robinson, Edwin Eugene McKenzie
  • Publication number: 20070101873
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a jam detection and safety system for machines prone to jamming, such as a baler. In particular embodiments, the system is implemented in a horizontal baler having a shear bar and a hydraulic ram that advances material being baled past the shear bar into a compression chamber. The system includes a strain gage mounted on the shear bar and a controller that is electrically connected to the strain gage. The controller receives strain signals from the stage gage and compares the strain of the shear bar to a predetermined strain threshold corresponding to a jamming condition. If the strain exceeds the predetermined threshold, the controller automatically deactivates the ram, such as by disconnecting line power from the baler and/or by turning off the control power of the baler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: John Etherton, John Powers, Eugene McKenzie, Kenneth Means, Brad Newbraugh
  • Publication number: 20070090232
    Abstract: A protective barricade system to prevent persons from accidentally falling through holes in roofs or floors or from the edges of stairwells, balconies, or pitched roofs. The barricade system comprises a plurality of barricade brackets that are spaced apart and can be releasably attached to the underlying surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas Cantis, Eugene McKenzie, Thomas Bobick, Herbert Edgell