Patents by Inventor Nolan W. Nicholas
Nolan W. Nicholas 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).
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Patent number: 11923096Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a machine includes an inspection vehicle constructed for wireless operation while submersed in a dielectric liquid medium. The inspection vehicle is self-propelled. A controller is operative to direct the activities of the inspection vehicle. A plurality of status interrogation systems is disposed on the inspection vehicle. The status interrogation systems are operative to capture inspection data regarding a plurality of inspection procedures performed on the machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Hitachi Energy LtdInventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos W. Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Stefan Rakuff, Saumya Sharma, Nolan W. Nicholas, Gregory F. Rossano, Sanguen Choi
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Publication number: 20230302656Abstract: A visual-tactile sensing device includes a visual-tactile sensing pad useful to capture image data related to a work piece during contact with the pad and as it approaches the pad. The sensing device can be used as part of a robotic gripper or other device. One or more lights can be used to illuminate the work piece and/or project light through the pad. The pad includes a rigid base, an elastic layer structured to deform upon contact with the work piece, a light layer 70 structured to emit light at a first wavelength, and a spectrally absorbing layer structured to absorb light at a target wavelength but allow light at other wavelengths to pass. In one form the light layer can be a fluorescent layer. The spectrally absorbing layer can be a dye layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2020Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventor: Nolan W. Nicholas
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Publication number: 20230294306Abstract: A robotic gripper includes a number of fingers useful to grasp a work piece. Each finger can include a visual-tactile contact pad useful to provide contact information related to the work piece when it is grasped by the fingers. The hand and fingers of the robotic gripper can include one or more optical elements such as mirrors/lenses/etc which aid in transmitting optical information from the pad to a camera. A single image sensor can be used to capture the optical data originating from the different pads. The different pads can be configured to project unique wavelengths to permit simultaneous imaging by the single image sensor. The optical paths can be configured to image on different portions of the image sensor to permit simultaneous imaging. In still other forms a shutter or similar device can be used to alternate projection of image data onto the image sensor from the different pads.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2020Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventor: Nolan W. Nicholas
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Publication number: 20230294300Abstract: A visual-tactile sensing device includes a visual-tactile sensing pad useful to capture image data related to a work piece during contact with the pad and as it approaches the pad. The sensing device can be used as part of a robotic gripper or other device. One or more lights can be used to illuminate the work piece and/or project light through the pad. The pad includes a rigid base, an elastic layer structured to deform upon contact with the work piece, and a diffraction layer structured to diffract light at different colors depending on the angle of the incoming light rays and camera placement.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2020Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventor: Nolan W. Nicholas
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Patent number: 11471789Abstract: A chromatograph is provided for identifying components of a mixture. Components are identified by different rates of adsorption and/or desorption with a material phase. In one embodiment, an electrical lead is connected to the material phase for supplying an electrical charge to the material phase. The electrical charge alters the rate of adsorption/desorption of the components with the material phase. In another embodiment, the material phase is disposed between two conductors with electrical leads connected to each of the conductors. A charge differential between the two conductors alters the rate of adsorption and/or desorption of components with the material phase.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Nolan W. Nicholas, Thomas Morgan
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Patent number: 11247165Abstract: A chromatograph is provided for identifying components of a mixture. Components are identified by different rates of adsorption and/or desorption with a material phase. In one embodiment, an electrical lead is connected to the material phase for supplying an electrical charge to the material phase. The electrical charge alters the rate of adsorption/desorption of the components with the material phase. In another embodiment, the material phase is disposed between two conductors with electrical leads connected to each of the conductors. A charge differential between the two conductors alters the rate of adsorption and/or desorption of components with the material phase.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Nolan W. Nicholas, Thomas Morgan
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Patent number: 10690232Abstract: A system includes a gearbox having an external surface; a fan or impeller constructed to generate a first cooling airflow when rotated; a shroud operative to guide and discharge the first cooling airflow over the external surface and cool the gearbox, wherein at least a portion of the shroud is spaced apart from the gearbox and disposed radially outward of the external surface; and a flow entrainment structure coupled to the gearbox and/or the shroud, wherein the flow entrainment structure is constructed to entrain a second cooling airflow and combine the second cooling airflow with the first cooling airflow to form a combined cooling airflow directed across the external surface to cool the gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Joe J. Liou, Stefan Rakuff, Nolan W. Nicholas
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Publication number: 20200016514Abstract: A chromatograph is provided for identifying components of a mixture. Components are identified by different rates of adsorption and/or desorption with a material phase. In one embodiment, an electrical lead is connected to the material phase for supplying an electrical charge to the material phase. The electrical charge alters the rate of adsorption/desorption of the components with the material phase. In another embodiment, the material phase is disposed between two conductors with electrical leads connected to each of the conductors. A charge differential between the two conductors alters the rate of adsorption and/or desorption of components with the material phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Nolan W. Nicholas, Thomas Morgan
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Publication number: 20200016526Abstract: A chromatograph is provided for identifying components of a mixture. Components are identified by different rates of adsorption and/or desorption with a material phase. In one embodiment, an electrical lead is connected to the material phase for supplying an electrical charge to the material phase. The electrical charge alters the rate of adsorption/desorption of the components with the material phase. In another embodiment, the material phase is disposed between two conductors with electrical leads connected to each of the conductors. A charge differential between the two conductors alters the rate of adsorption and/or desorption of components with the material phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Nolan W. Nicholas, Thomas Morgan
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Publication number: 20190368595Abstract: A system includes a gearbox having an external surface; a fan or impeller constructed to generate a first cooling airflow when rotated; a shroud operative to guide and discharge the first cooling airflow over the external surface and cool the gearbox, wherein at least a portion of the shroud is spaced apart from the gearbox and disposed radially outward of the external surface; and a flow entrainment structure coupled to the gearbox and/or the shroud, wherein the flow entrainment structure is constructed to entrain a second cooling airflow and combine the second cooling airflow with the first cooling airflow to form a combined cooling airflow directed across the external surface to cool the gearbox.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Joe J. Liou, Stefan Rakuff, Nolan W. Nicholas
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Patent number: 10462876Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) sensor including a first LED device disposed on a support and configured to emit a radiation, and a second LED device disposed on the support and configured to receive the emitted radiation. A structure is formed on the support, the first LED device, and the second LED device. The structure defines a contoured surface. A material is located adjacently to the contoured surface, wherein the material includes a property adapted to reflect the emitted radiation from the first LED to the second LED. The structure includes an ellipsoid and the contoured surface defines an ellipsoidal surface. First and second foci are defined by the ellipsoid, wherein emitted radiation from the first LED device converges at the first foci and the second foci and is reflected to the second LED device. The device is configured to determine a temperature or a chemical property of an analyte.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Nolan W. Nicholas, Saumya Sharma, Yixin Liu
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Publication number: 20190325668Abstract: A submersible inspection system for inspection of liquid cooled electrical transformers having a wirelessly controlled submersible inspective device. A submersion depth of the submersible can be controlled using a ballast system. The system can also include an input/output selector to switch between camera images from the submersible. A heartbeat signal indicative of a health of the transmitted signal can be transmitted to the submersible, and redundant channel selection logic can facilitate switching to a channel that includes a current heartbeat. A plurality of status interrogation systems disposed on the submersible can capture data regarding inspection procedures performed on the transformer, and the submersible can include tools for repair procedures. Data transmitted from the submersible, and overlayed with input data from an operator, can facilitate real time inspection analysis. The system can also form a model of an internal in the transformer, as well as produce a three-dimensional field of view.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, William J. Eakins, Daniel T. Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Morato, Luiz V. Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Biao Zhang, Sanguen Choi, Gregory F. Rossano, Andrew M. Salm, Saumya Sharma, Stefan Rakuff, Nolan W. Nicholas
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Publication number: 20190287689Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a machine includes an inspection vehicle constructed for wireless operation while submersed in a dielectric liquid medium. The inspection vehicle is self-propelled. A controller is operative to direct the activities of the inspection vehicle. A plurality of status interrogation systems is disposed on the inspection vehicle. The status interrogation systems are operative to capture inspection data regarding a plurality of inspection procedures performed on the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, William J. Eakins, Daniel T. Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz V. Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Stefan Rakuff, Saumya Sharma, Nolan W. Nicholas, Gregory F. Rossano, Sanguen Choi
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Publication number: 20180347797Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) sensor including a first LED device disposed on a support and configured to emit a radiation, and a second LED device disposed on the support and configured to receive the emitted radiation. A structure is formed on the support, the first LED device, and the second LED device. The structure defines a contoured surface. A material is located adjacently to the contoured surface, wherein the material includes a property adapted to reflect the emitted radiation from the first LED to the second LED. The structure includes an ellipsoid and the contoured surface defines an ellipsoidal surface. First and second foci are defined by the ellipsoid, wherein emitted radiation from the first LED device converges at the first foci and the second foci and is reflected to the second LED device. The device is configured to determine a temperature or a chemical property of an analyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Nolan W. Nicholas, Saumya Sharma, Yixin Liu