Patents by Inventor Frederick William Block

Frederick William Block 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).

  • Publication number: 20140129000
    Abstract: A system may include a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) system. The DRCE includes a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The DRCE further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The DRCE additionally includes a run-time risk calculation engine configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input, and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Maria Cecilia Mazzaro, Pablo Enrique Acevedo Giraldi, Charles Scott Sealing, Atanu Talukdar, Mark Andrew Runkle
  • Patent number: 8661880
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system associated with multiple powerplant machines of a powerplant. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while at least one of the powerplant machines is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system by adjusting the speed of a shaft while at least one of the powerplant machines operates at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, George Allen Ellis, Steven Michael Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20130262064
    Abstract: A system may include a model library configured to model a safety system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The system further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The system further includes a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Maria Cecilia Mazzaro, Frederick William Block, Pablo Enrique Acevedo Giraldi, Charles Scott Sealing, Atanu Talukdar, Mark Andrew Runkle
  • Patent number: 8370100
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
  • Patent number: 8365583
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising a shaft and integrated with a safety control system. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine by adjusting the speed of a shaft while operating at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Bret Stephen Dalton, Jay Lynn Johnson, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20120290104
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and a method. In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a risk calculation system configured to calculate a risk based on a static input and a dynamic input, and a decision support system configured to use the risk to derive a decision. The system also includes a plant control system configured to update operations of a plant based on the decision, wherein the decision predicts future plant conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Donnell Holt, Richard Lee Nichols, Frederick William Block, Michael Joseph Alexander
  • Patent number: 8302625
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an approach that validates the sensitivity of a working fluid parameter indicator in a system using centrifugal machines. In one aspect, a lead centrifugal machine and a lag centrifugal machine supply a working fluid to a distribution conduit. A working fluid parameter indicator measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid supplied to the distribution conduit by the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine. A controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator to measure the process parameter associated with the working fluid as a function of operation of the lag centrifugal machine relative to the lead centrifugal machine during an operational test performed on the centrifugal machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Runkle, Frederick William Block
  • Publication number: 20110232258
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system associated with multiple powerplant machines of a powerplant. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while at least one of the powerplant machines is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system by adjusting the speed of a shaft while at least one of the powerplant machines operates at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, George Allen Ellis, Steven Michael Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20110232297
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising at least one shaft. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is decelerating from full-speed-no-load (FSNL). Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine while the powerplant machine is accelerating to FSNL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20110238358
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
  • Publication number: 20110232259
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising a shaft and integrated with a safety control system. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine by adjusting the speed of a shaft while operating at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Bret Stephen Dalton, Jay Lynn Johnson, George Allen Ellis
  • Patent number: 7716971
    Abstract: A method and system of testing an overspeed protection system of a turbomachine. The method and system may include providing an overspeed protection system on a turbomachine that may have a single or multiple shafts; determining whether the speed the shaft or shaft(s) exceeds a shutdown value; changing an overspeed trip value of the turbomachine; and determining whether the overspeed protection system would operate to trip the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Mark P. Bombard, Michael J. Dell'Anno, Guillermo Garcia, Eamon Patrick Gleeson, Kenneth Lee Leary, Richard Lee Nichols
  • Patent number: 7677089
    Abstract: A method and system of testing an overspeed protection system of a turbomachine may include providing an overspeed protection system on a turbomachine having at least one shaft. The method may: determine whether a permissive or permissive(s) is satisfied; initiate an overspeed test; automatically adjusting the speed of a shaft; determining if the speed exceeds an overspeed trip value; and automatically disabling the automatic adjustment of the speed after the test is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Mark P. Bombard, Michael J. Dell'Anno, Guillermo Garcia, Eamon Patrick Gleeson, Kenneth Lee Leary, Richard Lee Nichols
  • Publication number: 20080101918
    Abstract: A method and system of testing an overspeed protection system of a turbomachine may include providing an overspeed protection system on a turbomachine having at least one shaft. The method may: determine whether a permissive or permissive(s) is satisfied; initiate an overspeed test; automatically adjusting the speed of a shaft; determining if the speed exceeds an overspeed trip value; and automatically disabling the automatic adjustment of the speed after the test is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Mark P. Bombard, Michael J. Dell'Anno, Guillermo Garcia, Eamon Patrick Gleeson, Kenneth Lee Leary, Richard Lee Nichols
  • Publication number: 20080095609
    Abstract: A method and system of testing an overspeed protection system of a turbomachine. The method and system may include providing an overspeed protection system on a turbomachine that may have a single or multiple shafts; determining whether the speed the shaft or shaft(s) exceeds a shutdown value; changing an overspeed trip value of the turbomachine; and determining whether the overspeed protection system would operate to trip the turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Mark P. Bombard, Michael J. Dell'Anno, Guillermo Garcia, Eamon Patrick Gleeson, Kenneth Lee Leary, Richard Lee Nichols