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).

  • Patent number: 9753469
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough
  • Publication number: 20170199533
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Norman D. MCCOLLOUGH
  • Patent number: 8013718
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Marmon Utility LLC
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7808400
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Marmon Utility LLC
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough
  • Patent number: 7710069
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough
  • Publication number: 20090218891
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090166925
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Gary C. Grenier, Norman D. McCollough, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080191897
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: NORMAN D. MCCOLLOUGH
  • Patent number: 7369056
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7295133
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7187275
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Norman D McCollough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7072163
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Norman D McCollough, Jr.