Patents by Inventor Joseph Uphaus

Joseph Uphaus 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: 12051987
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of motors includes: a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to control at least one property of the motors, the VFD having a current interruption rating that is greater than a continuous current rating of all of the plurality of motors combined; a bus electrically connected to the VFD; and a plurality of protection modules, each protection module including: a motor overload device electrically connected to a particular one of the plurality of motors; and a switching relay in series with the motor overload device, the switching relay configured to connect the protection module to and disconnect the protection module from the bus. A state of the switching relay determines whether the protection module is electrically connected to the bus, the VFD is configured to control the state of the switching relay, and the switching relay has a current interruption rating that is less than the continuous current rating of the particular one of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus
  • Publication number: 20220115967
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of motors includes: a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to control at least one property of the motors, the VFD having a current interruption rating that is greater than a continuous current rating of all of the plurality of motors combined; a bus electrically connected to the VFD; and a plurality of protection modules, each protection module including: a motor overload device electrically connected to a particular one of the plurality of motors; and a switching relay in series with the motor overload device, the switching relay configured to connect the protection module to and disconnect the protection module from the bus. A state of the switching relay determines whether the protection module is electrically connected to the bus, the VFD is configured to control the state of the switching relay, and the switching relay has a current interruption rating that is less than the continuous current rating of the particular one of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus
  • Patent number: 11233469
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of motors includes: a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to control at least one property of the motors, the VFD having a current interruption rating that is greater than a continuous current rating of all of the plurality of motors combined; a bus electrically connected to the VFD; and a plurality of protection modules, each protection module including: a motor overload device electrically connected to a particular one of the plurality of motors; and a switching relay in series with the motor overload device, the switching relay configured to connect the protection module to and disconnect the protection module from the bus. A state of the switching relay determines whether the protection module is electrically connected to the bus, the VFD is configured to control the state of the switching relay, and the switching relay has a current interruption rating that is less than the continuous current rating of the particular one of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus
  • Patent number: 11228262
    Abstract: A motor driver control system is configured for connection to a plurality of motors, the motor control system includes a motor driver command module, and the motor driver command module is configured to: access information related to one or more operating metrics of the plurality of motors; analyze the information to determine whether a maintenance condition exists in any of the plurality of motors; and if a maintenance condition exists in any of the plurality of motors: prevent electrical power from reaching any of the plurality of motors, identify which one or more of the plurality of motors has the maintenance condition, disconnect the one or more identified motors from the motor driver control system, and restore electrical power to all of the plurality of motors other than the identified motors after disconnecting the one or more identified motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus
  • Publication number: 20200336088
    Abstract: A motor driver control system is configured for connection to a plurality of motors, the motor control system includes a motor driver command module, and the motor driver command module is configured to: access information related to one or more operating metrics of the plurality of motors; analyze the information to determine whether a maintenance condition exists in any of the plurality of motors; and if a maintenance condition exists in any of the plurality of motors: prevent electrical power from reaching any of the plurality of motors, identify which one or more of the plurality of motors has the maintenance condition, disconnect the one or more identified motors from the motor driver control system, and restore electrical power to all of the plurality of motors other than the identified motors after disconnecting the one or more identified motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus
  • Publication number: 20200336089
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of motors includes: a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to control at least one property of the motors, the VFD having a current interruption rating that is greater than a continuous current rating of all of the plurality of motors combined; a bus electrically connected to the VFD; and a plurality of protection modules, each protection module including: a motor overload device electrically connected to a particular one of the plurality of motors; and a switching relay in series with the motor overload device, the switching relay configured to connect the protection module to and disconnect the protection module from the bus. A state of the switching relay determines whether the protection module is electrically connected to the bus, the VFD is configured to control the state of the switching relay, and the switching relay has a current interruption rating that is less than the continuous current rating of the particular one of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus