Patents by Inventor Robert A. Shaffer
Robert A. Shaffer 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: 11208129Abstract: System includes a controller configured to obtain one or more of a route parameter or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of one or more of a route or a vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the one or more of the route or the vehicle system separated from each other by one or more of location or time. The controller is configured to examine the one or more of the route parameter or the vehicle parameter to determine whether the one or more of the route or the vehicle system is damaged. The system also includes examination equipment configured to continually monitor the one or more of the route or the vehicle system responsive to determining that the one or more of the route or the vehicle is damaged.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Martin Paget, Daniel Rush, Brad Thomas Costa, Seneca Snyder, Jerry Duncan, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Bellesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico, Suresh Govindappa, Manibabu Pippalla, Sethu Madhavan, Arunachala Karthik Sridharan, Prabhu Marimuthu, Jared Klineman Cooper, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Paul Kenneth Houpt, David Lowell McKay
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Patent number: 11142088Abstract: A vehicle control system controls operation of motors of a vehicle and determines whether there is sufficient stored electric energy to power the vehicle through an unpowered segment of a route. The controller changes operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can travel completely through the unpowered segment by switching which energy storage device provides energy, changing vehicle speed, changing motor torque, changing which route is traveled on, selecting fewer motors to power the vehicle, requesting rendezvous with a recharging vehicle, running the energy storage devices in a degraded mode, initiating a motor to generate power to aid in propulsion and/or recharge the energy storage devices, selecting a different route, controlling the vehicle to draft or mechanically couple to another vehicle, and/or controlling the vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Sharath Srinivas Deshpande, Vishram Vinayak Nandedkar, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer
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Patent number: 11039055Abstract: A camera system and method capture image data with a camera, a data storage device electrically connected to the camera and configured to store the video data and/or a communication device electrically connected to the camera and configured to communicate the image data to a system receiver located remote from the camera. The system receiver may be located onboard a vehicle such that an operator can carry the camera off board the vehicle and communicate the image data back to the vehicle, when performing, for example, work on the vehicle or inspecting the vehicle or the environs of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak
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Patent number: 10798282Abstract: A device for detecting proximity to an active alternating current (AC) voltage source is provided. The device includes a housing, at least one antenna configured to generate a signal in response to exposure to electromagnetic radiation, signal processing circuitry configured to process the signal generated by the at least one antenna, a microprocessor configured to determine, from the processed signal, whether the alert device is proximate to the active AC voltage source, a communication device configured to generate a signal in response to a determination that the alert device is proximate the active AC voltage source, and an interference reduction device configured to discharge an accumulated charge on the alert device to reduce electromagnetic interference from sources other than the active AC voltage source.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLCInventors: Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Glen William Brooksby, Christopher Gushee, Jeffrey Mayton, Cheng-Po Chen, Nancy Cecelia Stoffel, Wyatt Smith, Jose Luis R. Virgen, Daniel L. Olson
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Publication number: 20200129358Abstract: A dental cabinet assembly includes a stationary support defining a rotational axis. At least one cabinet is coupled with the stationary support and is configured to pivot about the rotational axis relative to the stationary support.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventor: Robert A. Shaffer
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Patent number: 10569792Abstract: A system and method for examining a route and/or vehicle system obtain a route parameter and/or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system are separated from each other by location and/or time. The route parameter and/or the vehicle parameter are examined to determine whether the route and/or the vehicle system is damaged and, responsive to determining that the route and/or the vehicle is damaged, the route and/or the vehicle system are continually monitored, such as by examination equipment onboard the vehicle system.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sameh Fahmy, Jared Klineman Cooper, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Paul Kenneth Houpt, David Lowell McKay
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Publication number: 20190263430Abstract: A system and method includes determining, with a sensor assembly disposed onboard a first aerial vehicle, a direction in which a fluid flows within or through the first aerial vehicle, and determining an orientation of the first aerial vehicle relative to a second aerial vehicle based at least in part on the direction in which the fluid flows within or through the first aerial vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Eugene Smith, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Martin Paget, Daniel Rush, Sameh Fahmy, Brad Thomas Costa, Seneca Snyder, Jerry Duncan, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffret James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico, Suresh Govindappa, Manibabu Pippalla, Sethu Madhavan, Jared Klineman Cooper, Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick, Brad Thomas Costa, James D. Brooks, Micahel Scott Miner, Harry Kirk Matthews, JR., Bradford Wayne Miller, Neeraja Subrahmaniyan, Brian Joseph McManus, Frank Wawrzyniak, Ralph C. Haddock, III, Robert James Foy, James Glen Corry, Steven Andrew Kellner, Joseph Mario Nazareth, Brian William Schroeck, Shawn Arthur McClintic
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Publication number: 20190193711Abstract: A vehicle control system controls operation of motors of a vehicle and determines whether there is sufficient stored electric energy to power the vehicle through an unpowered segment of a route. The controller changes operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can travel completely through the unpowered segment by switching which energy storage device provides energy, changing vehicle speed, changing motor torque, changing which route is traveled on, selecting fewer motors to power the vehicle, requesting rendezvous with a recharging vehicle, running the energy storage devices in a degraded mode, initiating a motor to generate power to aid in propulsion and/or recharge the energy storage devices, selecting a different route, controlling the vehicle to draft or mechanically couple to another vehicle, and/or controlling the vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Sharath Srinivas Deshpande, Vishram Vinayak Nandedkar, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer
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Publication number: 20190176862Abstract: System includes a controller configured to obtain one or more of a route parameter or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of one or more of a route or a vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the one or more of the route or the vehicle system separated from each other by one or more of location or time. The controller is configured to examine the one or more of the route parameter or the vehicle parameter to determine whether the one or more of the route or the vehicle system is damaged. The system also includes examination equipment configured to continually monitor the one or more of the route or the vehicle system responsive to determining that the one or more of the route or the vehicle is damaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Martin Paget, Daniel Rush, Brad Thomas Costa, Seneca Snyder, Jerry Duncan, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico, Suresh Govindappa, Manibabu Pippalla, Sethu Madhavan, Arunachala Karthik Sridharan, Prabhu Marimuthu, Jared Klineman Cooper, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Paul Kenneth Houpt, David Lowell McKay
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Publication number: 20190168787Abstract: An inspection management system is provided. The inspection management system includes an inspection data provider that receives inspection data relating to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, an inspection plan, etc. A display of the inspection management system presents one or more graphical user interfaces based upon the inspection data. The graphical user interfaces may facilitate inspection planning, execution, preparation, and/or real-time inspection monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Jason Howard Messinger, Robert Carroll Ward, Michael Christopher Domke, Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Scott Leo Sbihli, Thomas Eldred Lambdin, Steven Clifton, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Peter Henry Tu, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Shannon Joseph Clouse
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Patent number: 10302598Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for detecting, corrosion and cracks in fastener nuts. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can be configured to couple to a fastener nut to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut for detection of flaws in the fastener nut, such as corrosion and cracks. The apparatus can be configured to couple to the fastener nut when the fastener nut is mounted on a fastener and in use in a larger system such as a subsea drilling apparatus or other system in which fasteners with fastener nuts attached thereto are used. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic probe configured to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut using ultrasonic waves.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Manuel K. Bueno, Robert Shaffer, Gary Lamberton
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Publication number: 20190149715Abstract: A device for detecting proximity to an active alternating current (AC) voltage source is provided. The device includes a housing, at least one antenna configured to generate a signal in response to exposure to electromagnetic radiation, signal processing circuitry configured to process the signal generated by the at least one antenna, a microprocessor configured to determine, from the processed signal, whether the alert device is proximate to the active AC voltage source, a communication device configured to generate a signal in response to a determination that the alert device is proximate the active AC voltage source, and an interference reduction device configured to discharge an accumulated charge on the alert device to reduce electromagnetic interference from sources other than the active AC voltage source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Glen William Brooksby, Christopher Gushee, Jeffrey Mayton, Cheng-Po Chen, Nancy Cecelia Stoffel, Wyatt Smith, Jose Luis R. Virgen, Daniel L. Olson
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Patent number: 10259444Abstract: A vehicle control system controls operation of motors of a vehicle and determines whether there is sufficient stored electric energy to power the vehicle through an unpowered segment of a route. The controller changes operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can travel completely through the unpowered segment by switching which energy storage device provides energy, changing vehicle speed, changing motor torque, changing which route is traveled on, selecting fewer motors to power the vehicle, requesting rendezvous with a recharging vehicle, running the energy storage devices in a degraded mode, initiating a motor to generate power to aid in propulsion and/or recharge the energy storage devices, selecting a different route, controlling the vehicle to draft or mechanically couple to another vehicle, and/or controlling the vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLCInventors: Sharath Srinivas Deshpande, Vishram Vinayak Nandedkar, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer
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Publication number: 20190106135Abstract: A locomotive control system includes a mobile platform that moves under remote and/or autonomous control, a sensor package supported by the mobile platform that obtains information relating to a component of a railroad, and one or more processors that receive the sensor information and analyze the information in combination with other information that is not obtained from the sensor package. The processors also generate an output that displays information relating to one or more of a status, a condition, and/or a state of health of the component of the railroad; initiates an action to change an operational state of the component; identifies a hazard to one or more locomotives traveling within the railroad; and/or collects the information relating to the component. Optionally, the component is not communicatively coupled to an information network and the mobile platform provides the information obtained by the sensor package to the information network.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Martin Paget, Daniel Rush, Sameh Fahmy, Brad Thomas Costa, Seneca Snyder, Jerry Duncan, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico
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Publication number: 20190020807Abstract: A camera system and method capture image data with a camera, a data storage device electrically connected to the camera and configured to store the video data and/or a communication device electrically connected to the camera and configured to communicate the image data to a system receiver located remote from the camera. The system receiver may be located onboard a vehicle such that an operator can carry the camera off board the vehicle and communicate the image data back to the vehicle, when performing, for example, work on the vehicle or inspecting the vehicle or the environs of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak
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Publication number: 20190002002Abstract: A system and method for examining a route and/or vehicle system obtain a route parameter and/or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system are separated from each other by location and/or time. The route parameter and/or the vehicle parameter are examined to determine whether the route and/or the vehicle system is damaged and, responsive to determining that the route and/or the vehicle is damaged, the route and/or the vehicle system are continually monitored, such as by examination equipment onboard the vehicle system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2015Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Sameh Fahmy, Jared Klineman Cooper, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Paul Kenneth Houpt, David Lowell McKay
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Patent number: 10110795Abstract: A camera system and method capture image data with a camera, a data storage device electrically connected to the camera and configured to store the video data and/or a communication device electrically connected to the camera and configured to communicate the image data to a system receiver located remote from the camera. The system receiver may be located onboard a vehicle such that an operator can carry the camera off board the vehicle and communicate the image data back to the vehicle, when performing, for example, work on the vehicle or inspecting the vehicle or the environs of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak
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Publication number: 20180186357Abstract: A vehicle control system controls operation of motors of a vehicle and determines whether there is sufficient stored electric energy to power the vehicle through an unpowered segment of a route. The controller changes operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can travel completely through the unpowered segment by switching which energy storage device provides energy, changing vehicle speed, changing motor torque, changing which route is traveled on, selecting fewer motors to power the vehicle, requesting rendezvous with a recharging vehicle, running the energy storage devices in a degraded mode, initiating a motor to generate power to aid in propulsion and/or recharge the energy storage devices, selecting a different route, controlling the vehicle to draft or mechanically couple to another vehicle, and/or controlling the vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Sharath Srinivas Deshpande, Vishram Vinayak Nandedkar, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer
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Publication number: 20180113097Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for detecting, corrosion and cracks in fastener nuts. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can be configured to couple to a fastener nut to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut for detection of flaws in the fastener nut, such as corrosion and cracks. The apparatus can be configured to couple to the fastener nut when the fastener nut is mounted on a fastener and in use in a larger system such as a subsea drilling apparatus or other system in which fasteners with fastener nuts attached thereto are used. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic probe configured to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut using ultrasonic waves.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Manuel K. Bueno, Robert Shaffer, Gary Lamberton
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Patent number: 9919723Abstract: An aerial system and method use a distance sensor to measure spatial distances between the distance sensor and plural vehicles in a vehicle system formed from the vehicles operably coupled with each other during relative movement between the distance sensor and the vehicle system. The spatial distances measured by the distance sensor are used to determine a size parameter of the vehicle system based on the spatial distances that are measured.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Aadeesh Shivkant Bhagwatkar, Sharon DSouza, Krishna Chaitanya Narra, Brad Thomas Costa, Seneca Snyder, Jerry Duncan, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico