Patents by Inventor Michael Lee Whaley

Michael Lee Whaley 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: 7890276
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve monitoring system and method is disclosed. In one aspect there is an online pressure relief valve monitoring system that includes at least one acoustic sensor located about a pressure relief valve that obtains ultrasonic measurements therefrom. One or more temperature sensors located about the pressure relief valve obtain temperature measurements therefrom. A data acquisition system receives the ultrasonic measurements from the at least one acoustic sensor and the temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors. An online monitor monitors the measurements received by the data acquisition system for detection of a leak about the pressure relief valve. The online monitor detects the presence of the leak as a function of the ultrasonic measurements and temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lane Thomas Killion, John Wesley Grant, William Charles Jost, Michael Lee Whaley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100250195
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for providing dynamic segmental signal analysis. According to one embodiment, a method can include acquiring a first signal array and a second signal array, defining at least one event characteristic corresponding to the first signal array, and identifying at least one index in the first signal array that displays the event characteristic. The method can further include analyzing at least one segment from the second signal array corresponding to the index identified in the first signal array, and determining that at least one system condition exists based on analyzing the segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Lee Whaley, John Wesley Grant, Olga Malakhova, Brian F. Howard
  • Publication number: 20100154515
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve monitoring system and method is disclosed. In one aspect there is an online pressure relief valve monitoring system that comprises at least one acoustic sensor located about a pressure relief valve that obtains ultrasonic measurements therefrom. One or more temperature sensors located about the pressure relief valve obtain temperature measurements therefrom. A data acquisition system receives the ultrasonic measurements from the at least one acoustic sensor and the temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors. An online monitor monitors the measurements received by the data acquisition system for detection of a leak about the pressure relief valve. The online monitor detects the presence of the leak as a function of the ultrasonic measurements and temperature measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lane Thomas Killion, John Wesley Grant, William Charles Jost, Michael Lee Whaley, JR.
  • Patent number: 7711500
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve monitoring system and method is disclosed. In one aspect there is an online pressure relief valve monitoring system that includes at least one acoustic sensor located about a pressure relief valve that obtains ultrasonic measurements therefrom. One or more temperature sensors located about the pressure relief valve obtain temperature measurements therefrom. A data acquisition system receives the ultrasonic measurements from the at least one acoustic sensor and the temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors. An online monitor monitors the measurements received by the data acquisition system for detection of a leak about the pressure relief valve. The online monitor detects the presence of the leak as a function of the ultrasonic measurements and temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lane Thomas Killion, John Wesley Grant, William Charles Jost, Michael Lee Whaley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100106434
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve monitoring system and method is disclosed. In one aspect there is an online pressure relief valve monitoring system that includes at least one acoustic sensor located about a pressure relief valve that obtains ultrasonic measurements therefrom. One or more temperature sensors located about the pressure relief valve obtain temperature measurements therefrom. A data acquisition system receives the ultrasonic measurements from the at least one acoustic sensor and the temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors. An online monitor monitors the measurements received by the data acquisition system for detection of a leak about the pressure relief valve. The online monitor detects the presence of the leak as a function of the ultrasonic measurements and temperature measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lane Thomas Killion, John Wesley Grant, William Charles Jost, Michael Lee Whaley, JR.