Patents by Inventor Steven Wallace Eckroad

Steven Wallace Eckroad 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).

  • Underground utility vault inspection system and method
    Patent number: 8706340
    Abstract: An underground utility vault inspection system and method includes a pre-defined railway installed in an underground utility vault, and an inspection vehicle adapted to traverse the railway to provide inspection results to inspection personnel. The inspection vehicle includes inspection tools for inspecting underground power lines and equipment, recording inspection results, and transmitting the inspection results to the inspection personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiebin Zhao, Andrew John Phillips, Steven Wallace Eckroad
  • UNDERGROUND UTILITY VAULT INSPECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120271501
    Abstract: An underground utility vault inspection system and method includes a pre-defined railway installed in an underground utility vault, and an inspection vehicle adapted to traverse the railway to provide inspection results to inspection personnel. The inspection vehicle includes inspection tools for inspecting underground power lines and equipment, recording inspection results, and transmitting the inspection results to the inspection personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Tiebin Zhao, Andrew John Phillips, Steven Wallace Eckroad
  • Method and apparatus for improving AC transmission system dispatchability, system stability, and power flow controllability using DC transmission systems
    Patent number: 7518266
    Abstract: An electric power transmission system that isolates a local AC transmission network from a surrounding AC system includes a local AC load center having a plurality of local AC loads, and a distribution feeder serving the plurality of local AC loads and at least one distant electric power generating station or other power source for supplying AC power to the local AC load center. A complete or partial DC transmission ring is interposed between the local AC load center and the distant electric power generating station for isolating the AC power received from the distant electric power generating station from the local AC load center by converting the AC power to DC power. The DC power is re-converted into AC power based on load requirements and the distribution feeder supplies the AC power while all local AC loads are isolated from the distant electric power generating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Wallace Eckroad
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING AC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM DISPATCHABILITY, SYSTEM STABILITY, AND POWER FLOW CONTROLLABILITY USING DC TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20080103630
    Abstract: An electric power transmission system that isolates a local AC transmission network from a surrounding AC system includes a local AC load center having a plurality of local AC loads, and a distribution feeder serving the plurality of local AC loads and at least one distant electric power generating station or other power source for supplying AC power to the local AC load center. A complete or partial DC transmission ring is interposed between the local AC load center and the distant electric power generating station for isolating the AC power received from the distant electric power generating station from the local AC load center by converting the AC power to DC power. The DC power is re-converted into AC power based on load requirements and the distribution feeder supplies the AC power while all local AC loads are isolated from the distant electric power generating station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Steven Wallace Eckroad