Patents by Inventor Norman D. McCollough
Norman D. McCollough 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: 9753469Abstract: A device for harvesting energy from a power line carrying AC current including: a transformer having a core with separate first and second sections, the core being formed of ceramic material or layered nickel alloy tape; a first secondary winding wound around the first section of the core; a second secondary winding wound around the second section of the core; a first DC core-flux control winding wound around the first section of the core; and a second DC core-flux control winding wound around the second section of the core; wherein the core is configured to be in operative communication with a magnetic field radiated from the power line, such that an AC voltage is generated in the first and second secondary windings, and the maximum AC voltage produced by the first and second secondary windings is limited by the first and second DC core-flux control windings.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventor: Norman D. McCollough
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Publication number: 20170199533Abstract: A device for harvesting energy from a power line carrying AC current including: a transformer having a core with separate first and second sections, the core being formed of ceramic material or layered nickel alloy tape; a first secondary winding wound around the first section of the core; a second secondary winding wound around the second section of the core; a first DC core-flux control winding wound around the first section of the core; and a second DC core-flux control winding wound around the second section of the core; wherein the core is configured to be in operative communication with a magnetic field radiated from the power line, such that an AC voltage is generated in the first and second secondary windings, and the maximum AC voltage produced by the first and second secondary windings is limited by the first and second DC core-flux control windings.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventor: Norman D. MCCOLLOUGH
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Patent number: 8013718Abstract: An electric street light controller apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic street light turn-on and turn-off characteristics to be field programmable using RFID technology, lamp current magnitude recording, auxiliary sensor input, diagnostic alarming and data storage for later retrieval in a remote electric street lighting monitoring system. The apparatus and method includes, from a remotely located exciter apparatus using an antenna to transmit a specific frequency and code key to the antenna of an electric street light control and monitoring apparatus associated with the electric street light allowing remote wireless field programming of turn-on fight levels, turn-off light levels, rate of change of light levels, specific turn-on, turn-off, and turn back on sequences during dark hours, and specific remote wireless sensors or internal sensor inputs useful for radiological, biological, chemical, or environmental sensing and alarming.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Marmon Utility LLCInventor: Norman D. McCollough, Jr.
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Patent number: 7808400Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of (1) providing continuous monitoring of various operating and environmental characteristics using RFID technology or similar wireless technology and (2) capturing data on historical events that have occurred on the circuits used for the transmission and distribution of electric power. The invention has the additional capability to communicate the information to operators at the site, in remote locations, or to other equipment (peer to peer). The invention provides a low cost method and apparatus to monitor and store operating characteristics and events on the electric power distribution circuit. The information can be used to reduce the duration of outages, for improving system reliability, to study the impact on the power grid of various environmental factors, to enhance the ability to react to operating conditions such as overloads, etc.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Marmon Utility LLCInventor: Norman D. McCollough
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Patent number: 7710069Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of (1) providing continuous monitoring of various operating and environmental characteristics using RFID technology or similar wireless technology and (2) capturing data on historical events that have occurred on the circuits used for the transmission and distribution of electric power. The invention has the additional capability to communicate the information to operators at the site, in remote locations, or to other equipment (peer to peer). The invention provides a low cost method and apparatus to monitor and store operating characteristics and events on the electric power distribution circuit. The information can be used to reduce the duration of outages, for improving system reliability, to study the impact on the power grid of various environmental factors, to enhance the ability to react to operating conditions such as overloads, etc.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.Inventor: Norman D. McCollough
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Publication number: 20090218891Abstract: RFID devices can be powered by one or more sources of RF energy, including available RF energy. RFID devices can be utilized to measure data, or receive data transmitted to the RFID device, and can preferably store the data and transmit the data to an RFID reader or other data receiver. In some examples, RFID devices can include one or more sensors that can measure data. In other examples, RFID devices can receive data transmitted from a remote data gathering device. In some examples, the RFID devices also include data logging capabilities, and can store data that corresponds to one or more data readings.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, JR.
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Publication number: 20090166925Abstract: A new cross linked polyolefin material combination that is designed to replace current high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) materials for use with molded or over-molded electrical transmission products. Such molded or over-molded electrical transmission products include, for example, vise-top pin insulators, line post insulators, F-neck, C-neck, and J-neck pin insulators of classes ANSI 55-3, 55-4, and 55-5, Spacer cable spacers, Brackets, hangers, Line post sensors, cable restraint insulators, and transmission style insulators.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Gary C. Grenier, Norman D. McCollough, JR.
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Publication number: 20080191897Abstract: An electric street light controller apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic street light turn-on and turn-off characteristics to be field programmable using RFID technology, lamp current magnitude recording, auxiliary sensor input, diagnostic alarming and data storage for later retrieval in a remote electric street lighting monitoring system. The apparatus and method includes, from a remotely located exciter apparatus using an antenna to transmit a specific frequency and code key to the antenna of an electric street light control and monitoring apparatus associated with the electric street light allowing remote wireless field programming of turn-on fight levels, turn-off light levels, rate of change of light levels, specific turn-on, turn-off, and turn back on sequences during dark hours, and specific remote wireless sensors or internal sensor inputs useful for radiological, biological, chemical, or environmental sensing and alarming.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventor: NORMAN D. MCCOLLOUGH
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Patent number: 7369056Abstract: An electric street light controller apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic street light turn-on and turn-off characteristics to be field programmable using RFID technology, lamp current magnitude recording, auxiliary sensor input, diagnostic alarming and data storage for later retrieval in a remote electric street lighting monitoring system. The apparatus and method includes, from a remotely located exciter apparatus using an antenna to transmit a specific frequency and code key to the antenna of an electric street light control and monitoring apparatus associated with the electric street light allowing remote wireless field programming of turn-on light levels, turn-off light levels, rate of change of light levels, specific turn-on, turn-off, and turn back on sequences during dark hours, and specific remote wireless sensors or internal sensor inputs useful for radiological, biological, chemical, or environmental sensing and alarming.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, Jr.
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Patent number: 7295133Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of (1) providing continuous monitoring of various operating and environmental characteristics using RFID technology or similar wireless technology and (2) capturing data on historical events that have occurred on the circuits used for the transmission and distribution of electric power. The invention has the additional capability to communicate the information to operators at the site, in remote locations, or to other equipment (peer to peer). The invention provides a low cost method and apparatus to monitor and store operating characteristics and events on the electric power distribution circuit. The information can be used to reduce the duration of outages, for improving system reliability, to study the impact on the power grid of various environmental factors, to enhance the ability to react to operating conditions such as overloads, etc.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2005Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, Jr.
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Patent number: 7187275Abstract: An electric power line characteristic monitoring method that allows automatic conductor circuit fault data logging of average nominal and maximum magnitudes of conductor current, voltage, temperature and strain. Additionally, an alarm is implemented to enunciate a faulted condition on the power line. Parametric data storage is provided for later retrieval by a remote exciter. The parametric data is retrieved from the exciter through the transmission of a specific frequency and code key that activates the exciter.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Inventor: Norman D McCollough, Jr.
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Patent number: 7072163Abstract: An electric power line characteristic apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic conductor current data logging of maximum current magnitudes and data storage for later retrieval in a remote electric power line conductor faulted circuit current monitoring system 2. The apparatus and method includes, from a remotely located exciter 3 apparatus using an antenna 5 to transmit a specific frequency and code key to an antenna 10 of an electric power line conductor faulted circuit current monitoring apparatus associated with the electric power line phase conductor. Additionally the method and apparatus includes a delay circuit to allow a fixed delay time before the faulted circuit monitor responds to the instantaneous re-application of power to the conductor after a fault. This fixed period of time for the current to settle to a nominal value constitutes an inrush delay time before the faulted circuit monitor responds to the current level flowing in the power line.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Inventor: Norman D McCollough, Jr.