Patents by Inventor Laurence Virgil Feight

Laurence Virgil Feight 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: 8159362
    Abstract: A faulted circuit indicator utilizes digitized fault indication curves to determine if a fault has occurred in a monitored conductor. Fault indication curves are intended to be similar to trip curves of common power protection devices, and consist of a plurality of associated fault current levels and fault times. The faulted circuit indicator only displays a fault when the current within the monitored conductor exceeds one of the fault current levels for its associated fault time. This results in more accurate fault detection through the ability to distinguish between small and large amplitude faults coupled with the flexability of a fault indicator suitable for use on many different power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan W. Swartzendruber, Laurence Virgil Feight, Tyson J. Salewske
  • Patent number: 8059006
    Abstract: A system for communicating information between a detection device and a wireless device is provided. The system generally includes a detection device adapted to monitor a condition related to a power system. A radio interface unit is in communication with the detection device via a communication member. A wireless device is further provided which is in radio communication with the radio interface unit such that the detection device communicates information to the wireless device through a radio interface unit. The system's components are further adapted to endure harsh conditions (e.g., prolonged exposure to water).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Luthor S. Anderson, Witold R. Teller, Mark J. Bosold, Douglas A. Park, Steven A. McMahon, James R. Kesler, Laurence Virgil Feight, Donald C. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7746241
    Abstract: A system for communicating information from a detection device is provided through a waterproof and wireless interface. The system generally includes a communication member having an inductor and coupled to the detection device. An interface including another inductor is in communicating relation with the communication member. Upon a signal from the detection device, a magnetic field is produced by the inductor of the communication member and is transmitted to the inductor of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence Virgil Feight, Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Witold R. Tellor, Donald C. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7683261
    Abstract: An article for providing a sealing engagement between an electronic component and an encapsulate material is provided, wherein the electronic component extends from the encapsulate material. The article includes a housing including at least one opening for receiving the electronic component. The housing is filled with an encapsulate material such that it provides a seal between the housing and the electrical component. A sealing member is further disposed between the encapsulate material and the housing. A compression member is provided which exerts force onto the sealing member such that the sealing member engages the encapsulate material to provide a sealing engagement therebetween, and thereby provide a secondary seal between the housing and the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Kesler, Laurence Virgil Feight
  • Publication number: 20080284585
    Abstract: A system for communicating information between a detection device and a wireless device is provided. The system generally includes a detection device adapted to monitor a condition related to a power system. A radio interface unit is in communication with the detection device via a communication member. A wireless device is further provided which is in radio communication with the radio interface unit such that the detection device communicates information to the wireless device through a radio interface unit. The system's components are further adapted to endure harsh conditions (e.g., prolonged exposure to water).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Luther S Anderson, Witold R. Teller, Mark J. Bosold, Douglas A. Park, Steven A. McMahon, James R. Kesler, Laurence Virgil Feight, Donald C. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20080012702
    Abstract: A system for communicating information from a detection device is provided through a waterproof and wireless interface. The system generally includes a communication member having an inductor and coupled to the detection device. An interface including another inductor is in communicating relation with the communication member. Upon a signal from the detection device, a magnetic field is produced by the inductor of the communication member and is transmitted to the inductor of the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Laurence Virgil Feight, Edmund O. Schweitzer, Witold R. Teller, Donald C. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7315169
    Abstract: A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor has a housing, a high capacity battery, at least one light emitting diode (LED) visible from the exterior of the fault indicator upon the occurrence of a fault and which may be automatically reset to a non-fault indicating position a predetermined time after the occurrence of the fault, and electronic circuitry for sensing a fault, for actuating the LEDs to indicate a fault and for resetting the LEDs to a non-fault indicating condition a predetermined time after the fault has occurred. The electronic circuitry conserves energy by drawing insubstantial current from the high capacity battery during non-fault conditions. The electronic circuitry may also include in-rush restraint to avoid false tripping of the fault indicator during surges. An inrush restraint circuit has an output signal that is logically combined with a fault indicator signal to disable the fault indicator during inrush conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt James Fenske, Laurence Virgil Feight
  • Publication number: 20070267210
    Abstract: An article for providing a sealing engagement between an electronic component and an encapsulate material is provided, wherein the electronic component extends from the encapsulate material. The article includes a housing including at least one opening for receiving the electronic component. The housing is filled with an encapsulate material such that it provides a seal between the housing and the electrical component. A sealing member is further disposed between the encapsulate material and the housing. A compression member is provided which exerts force onto the sealing member such that the sealing member engages the encapsulate material to provide a sealing engagement therebetween, and thereby provide a secondary seal between the housing and the electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: James R. Kesler, Laurence Virgil Feight
  • Patent number: 7053601
    Abstract: A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor has a housing, a high capacity battery, a plurality of emitting diodes (LEDs) visible from the exterior of the fault indicator upon the occurrence of a fault, and electronic circuitry for sensing a fault, for actuating the LEDs to indicate a fault and to provide a timed reset of the LEDs to a non-fault indicating condition a predetermined time after the fault has occurred. The electronic circuitry, including a microprocessor that is normally in a sleep mode, conserves energy by drawing insubstantial current from a high capacity battery during non-fault conditions. Preferably, the microprocessor controls activation of the fault indicating LEDs with pulse width modulated (PWM) signals during defined time intervals for improved visibility. Visibility is further improved where the PWM signals for the indicator LEDs are interleaved in time to provide a highly distinctive flicker effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: E.O. Schweitzer Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Kurt James Fenske, Laurence Virgil Feight
  • Patent number: 7023691
    Abstract: A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor has a housing, a high capacity battery, a permanent fault display for indicating the occurrence of a permanent fault, a temporary fault display for indicating the occurrence of a temporary fault, a current sensor for sensing the load current in a monitored conductor, a microcontroller for determining when a fault condition occurs and for activating the permanent or temporary fault displays. Preferably, each display includes one or more LEDs. Upon detecting a fault, the microcontroller begins flashing the permanent fault LEDs. After a predetermined interval, the microcontroller again senses the load current. If the current is zero, the fault is permanent and the permanent LEDs continue to flash until a timed reset occurs. If the load current is present, the fault is temporary and the temporary LED is flashed until the timed reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: E.O. Schweitzer Mfg. LLC
    Inventors: Laurence Virgil Feight, Kurt James Fenske
  • Patent number: 6963197
    Abstract: A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor is reset at a predetermined time after the fault is detected, such as about 4 hours. The fault indicator has a housing, a high capacity battery, a fault sensor, a display for indicating a fault condition, and a programmable controller with a sleep state that draws low quiescent current. As a result the battery is expected to last the lifetime of the fault indicator. The fault indicator may optionally include current inrush restraint and/or voltage inrush restraint to inhibit the controller from activating the display to the fault indicating condition during the inrush conditions. The electromagnetic field about the conductor causes an electrostatic sensor to develop a differential voltage signal between two electrodes of different areas for the voltage inrush restraint circuit. Auxiliary contacts are provided to remotely monitor the fault indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: E.O. Schweitzer Manufacturing Co., LLC.
    Inventors: Laurence Virgil Feight, James Manley Duros, Kurt James Fenske
  • Patent number: 6822576
    Abstract: A fault indicator for monitoring an electrical conductor has a housing, an indicator flag or a light emitting diode (LED) that becomes visible from the exterior of the fault indicator upon the occurrence of a fault, and electronic circuitry for sensing a fault, for actuating the indicator flag or LED to a fault indicating condition and for resetting the indicator flag or LED to a non-fault indicating condition a predetermined time after the fault has occurred. An overload indicator provides an overload indication, such as a fast flash rate, for a predetermined time when an overload threshold is exceeded, and provides a different overload indication, such as a slow flash rate, for a predetermined time when the line current in the monitored conductor falls below the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: E.O. Schweitzer Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence Virgil Feight, Kurt James Fenske