Patents by Inventor Graeme N. McClure

Graeme N. McClure 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: 6867958
    Abstract: A system and methods that enable a restoration scheme for power distribution systems that is independent of power distribution system component configuration, the number of power distribution system components, and component settings are provided. In a power distribution system, a number of intelligent reclosers having restoration control modules are deployed that execute a restoration scheme. The intelligent reclosers constantly poll cooperating power distribution lines to determine changes in current or voltage provided by the power distribution lines. In the event of a power distribution system fault, the reclosers act in accordance to a predefined restoration scheme to reanimate the unaffected portions of the failing power distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Graeme N. McClure, Jeffrey L. McElray, Sr., Robert A. Smith, Carl LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf
  • Publication number: 20040105204
    Abstract: A recloser is adaptively controlled so that it will operate in a manner responsive to prevailing conditions such as time of day, day of week, and/or load current. A protection setting group is stored in a memory accessible by the recloser controller, and contains a set of instructions for controlling the recloser based on the prevailing conditions. The prevailing conditions are continuously monitored, and the control of the recloser is based on the prevailing conditions and the protection setting group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McElray, Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf, Graeme N. McClure
  • Patent number: 6735534
    Abstract: A recloser trips on one phase for single-phase only fault conditions, or all phases for multi-phase fault conditions. During power delivery, the recloser monitors the three phases of a power line (e.g., phases A, B, and C). If a fault is detected on one phase, then a timer is started and subsequently decremented. If the timer finishes counting down while the fault is still present, then it is determined if any of the other two phases are timing a fault. If so, then all three phases are tripped; otherwise, only the faulted phase is tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Graeme N. McClure, Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf
  • Patent number: 6735533
    Abstract: A recloser trips on one phase for single-phase only fault conditions, two phases for two-phase fault conditions, or all three phases for three-phase fault conditions. During power delivery, the recloser monitors the three phases of a power line (e.g., phases A, B, and C). If a fault is detected on one phase, then a timer is started and subsequently decremented. If the timer finishes counting down while the fault is still present, then it is determined if any of the other two phases are timing a fault. If so, then those phases having a fault are tripped. Thus, only the faulted phase(s) is (are) tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Graeme N. McClure, Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf
  • Patent number: 6707655
    Abstract: A recloser is adaptively controlled so that it will operate in a manner responsive to prevailing conditions such as time of day, day of week, and/or load current. A protection setting group is stored in a memory accessible by the recloser controller, and contains a set of instructions for controlling the recloser based on the prevailing conditions. The prevailing conditions are continuously monitored, and the control of the recloser is based on the prevailing conditions and the protection setting group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McElray, Sr., Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf, Graeme N. McClure
  • Patent number: 6687573
    Abstract: An automatic power restoration device has a modifiable end point. The end point is indicative of the operational parameters of the automatic power restoration device. A user can modify the end point and thus the operational parameters of the automatic power restoration device. The end point can be modified according to the protection characteristics of other fault protection devices within a power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: William M. Egolf, David G. Hart, Carl J. LaPlace, Graeme N. McClure
  • Patent number: 6667866
    Abstract: A three phase trip of a power line is prevented in a power distribution network delivering electrical power through multiple current carrying conductors and a neutral/ground line. The three phase trip is prevented after a change in the current in the neutral/ground line caused by a partial trip of a recloser. A partial trip is detected in the power distribution network, and then a threshold current is automatically adjusted from a first level to a second level for the neutral/ground line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf, Graeme N. McClure
  • Publication number: 20020131222
    Abstract: A recloser trips on one phase for single-phase only fault conditions, two phases for two-phase fault conditions, or all three phases for three-phase fault conditions. During power delivery, the recloser monitors the three phases of a power line (e.g., phases A, B, and C). If a fault is detected on one phase, then a timer is started and subsequently decremented. If the timer finishes counting down while the fault is still present, then it is determined if any of the other two phases are timing a fault. If so, then those phases having a fault are tripped. Thus, only the faulted phase(s) is (are) tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Graeme N. McClure, Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf
  • Publication number: 20020133304
    Abstract: A recloser trips on one phase for single-phase only fault conditions, or all phases for multi-phase fault conditions. During power delivery, the recloser monitors the three phases of a power line (e.g., phases A, B, and C). If a fault is detected on one phase, then a timer is started and subsequently decremented. If the timer finishes counting down while the fault is still present, then it is determined if any of the other two phases are timing a fault. If so, then all three phases are tripped; otherwise, only the faulted phase is tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Graeme N. McClure, Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf
  • Publication number: 20020080539
    Abstract: A system and methods that enable a restoration scheme for power distribution systems that is independent of power distribution system component configuration, the number of power distribution system components, and component settings are provided. In a power distribution system, a number of intelligent reclosers having restoration control modules are deployed that execute a restoration scheme. The intelligent reclosers constantly poll cooperating power distribution lines to determine changes in current or voltage provided by the power distribution lines. In the event of a power distribution system fault, the reclosers act in accordance to a predefined restoration scheme to reanimate the unaffected portions of the failing power distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Graeme N. McClure, Jeffrey L. McElray, Robert A. Smith, Carl LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf
  • Publication number: 20020080540
    Abstract: A recloser is adaptively controlled so that it will operate in a manner responsive to prevailing conditions such as time of day, day of week, and/or load current. A protection setting group is stored in a memory accessible by the recloser controller, and contains a set of instructions for controlling the recloser based on the prevailing conditions. The prevailing conditions are continuously monitored, and the control of the recloser is based on the prevailing conditions and the protection setting group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McElray, Carl J. LaPlace, David G. Hart, William M. Egolf, Graeme N. McClure
  • Publication number: 20010034568
    Abstract: An automatic power restoration device has a modifiable end point. The end point is indicative of the operational parameters of the automatic power restoration device. A user can modify the end point and thus the operational parameters of the automatic power restoration device. The end point can be modified according to the protection characteristics of other fault protection devices within a power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: William M. Egolf, David G. Hart, Carl J. LaPlace, Graeme N. McClure