Patents by Inventor Thomas Frederick Papallo
Thomas Frederick Papallo 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: 10145903Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system are described. In one example, a method for use in a power distribution system including a plurality of devices is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of data signals associated with the power distribution system, determining a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system based on the plurality of data signals, comparing the determined measurement error value to a dynamic threshold, and generating an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Jeremy David Smith
-
Patent number: 9251980Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus, such as an electrical system, is provided. The electrical system can include a pair of conductors across which an arc is sporadically supported, the arc including load current from a load circuit. The electrical system can also include an energy source that is separate from the load circuit and configured to selectively charge an electrode assembly. The conductors and electrode assembly can be configured such that the arc, when present, will be lengthened or constricted due to the charge on the electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thangavelu Asokan, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Govardhan Ganireddy
-
Publication number: 20150046122Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system are described. In one example, a method for use in a power distribution system including a plurality of devices is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of data signals associated with the power distribution system, determining a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system based on the plurality of data signals, comparing the determined measurement error value to a dynamic threshold, and generating an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Jeremy David Smith
-
Patent number: 8830026Abstract: A thermal trip unit for a circuit breaker having a primary conductive path for conducting a load current is provided. The thermal trip unit comprises a shape memory alloy (SMA) member adapted to change from a first shape to a second shape at a predetermined thermal condition, a holding member coupled electrically in series with the circuit breaker primary conductive path, said holding member arranged to operatively support said SMA member, wherein said SMA member is configured and disposed within the circuit breaker to trigger a trip response of the circuit breaker at said predetermined thermal condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian Frederick Mooney, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Brent Charles Kumfer
-
Patent number: 8666520Abstract: A load shedding system for operating at least one circuit breaker positioned within an enclosure is described. The load shedding system includes a processor configured to receive a demand signal and to provide a predetermined load shedding signal. The load shedding system also includes at least one load shedding apparatus configured to receive the load shedding signal from the processor. The load shedding apparatus is configured to be coupled to a door of the enclosure. The load shedding apparatus is further configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one circuit breaker and further configured to actuate the at least one circuit breaker in response to the load shedding signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Keith Kucinskas, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20130329325Abstract: An electrical fault mitigation system includes a mitigation device including a containment chamber defining a cavity, a first electrode positioned within the cavity and coupled to a first conductor, and a second electrode positioned within the cavity and coupled to a second conductor. The mitigation device also includes a first voltage source, and a plasma gun positioned within the cavity and configured to emit ablative plasma using the first voltage source to discharge energy from an electrical fault. The system also includes a first voltage limiter device configured to limit a voltage of the first conductor from increasing above a predetermined threshold to prevent a second voltage source from generating a second electrical arc between the first electrode and the second electrode when the second voltage source applies a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Govardhan Ganireddy, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Asokan Thangavelu, Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori, Deepak Rajaram Raorane, Srinivas Naga Palvadi
-
Patent number: 8570713Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes at least one circuit breaker device having an electrical interruption system provided with an electrical pathway, at least one micro electro-mechanical switch (MEMS) device electrically coupled in the electrical pathway, at least one hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) connection, and at least one control connection. A HALT circuit member is electrically coupled to HALT connection on the circuit breaker device and a controller is electrically coupled to the control connection on the circuit breaker device. The controller is configured and disposed to selectively connect the HALT circuit member and the at least one circuit breaker device via the HALT connection to control electrical current flow through the at least one circuit breaker device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, Peter James Greenwood, Brian Frederick Mooney, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Kanakasabapathi Subramanian
-
Patent number: 8564915Abstract: A power equipment protection system includes a circuit breaker, a current sensor configured to measure a current through a circuit, a light sensor configured to detect a light event, and a controller communicatively coupled to the current sensor and to the light sensor, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the light event originated from operation of the circuit breaker.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: George William Roscoe, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Daniel Edward Delfino, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8548638Abstract: An energy management system manages energy consumption of managed device(s) disposed to receive energy via a meter connected to an energy supply, the energy supply. A system controller has a computer processor that instructs the managed device(s) to employ an operational mode based on the priority, the energy need, the demand state, and whether the energy consumption rate of the managed device(s) exceeds energy available from at least one of the external energy source and internal energy source.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: George William Roscoe, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8472154Abstract: A leakage current masking device for use with a circuit includes at least one inductive load device coupled to the circuit and configured to supply an inductive load to the circuit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the inductive load device. The processor is configured to receive a signal representative of a current through the circuit, calculate a capacitive leakage current component of the current, and cause the inductive load device to adjust the inductive load supplied to the circuit to reduce the capacitive leakage current component.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecil Rivers, Jr., Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8385035Abstract: A method to protect a circuit having at least a first circuit breaker, and a second circuit breaker arranged upstream of said first circuit breaker, said first circuit breaker having configuration settings selectable between a normal mode and an alternate mode, the alternate mode setting including a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting having a RELT mode trip time delay. The method including determining if said first circuit breaker is configured in said RELT mode, determining a. dynamic delay time for opening said second circuit breaker, wherein said dynamic delay time is based at least in part on said RELT mode trip time delay of said first circuit breaker, and triggering said second circuit breaker to open after said dynamic delay time has elapsed.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Radoslaw Narel, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Joseph Rao
-
Publication number: 20130003262Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes at least one circuit breaker device having an electrical interruption system provided with an electrical pathway, at least one micro electro-mechanical switch (MEMS) device electrically coupled in the electrical pathway, at least one hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) connection, and at least one control connection. A HALT circuit member is electrically coupled to HALT connection on the circuit breaker device and a controller is electrically coupled to the control connection on the circuit breaker device. The controller is configured and disposed to selectively connect the HALT circuit member and the at least one circuit breaker device via the HALT connection to control electrical current flow through the at least one circuit breaker device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, Peter James Greenwood, Brian Frederick Mooney, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Kanakasabapathi Subramanian
-
Publication number: 20120181253Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus, such as an electrical system, is provided. The electrical system can include a pair of conductors across which an arc is sporadically supported, the arc including load current from a load circuit. The electrical system can also include an energy source that is separate from the load circuit and configured to selectively charge an electrode assembly. The conductors and electrode assembly can be configured such that the arc, when present, will be lengthened or constricted due to the charge on the electrode assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thangavelu Asokan, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Govardhan Ganireddy
-
Publication number: 20120169451Abstract: A thermal trip unit for a circuit breaker having a primary conductive path for conducting a load current is provided. The thermal trip unit comprises a shape memory alloy (SMA) member adapted to change from a first shape to a second shape at a predetermined thermal condition, a holding member coupled electrically in series with the circuit breaker primary conductive path, said holding member arranged to operatively support said SMA member, wherein said SMA member is configured and disposed within the circuit breaker to trigger a trip response of the circuit breaker at said predetermined thermal condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Brian Frederick Mooney, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Brent Charles Kumfer
-
Publication number: 20120147507Abstract: A leakage current masking device for use with a circuit includes at least one inductive load device coupled to the circuit and configured to supply an inductive load to the circuit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the inductive load device. The processor is configured to receive a signal representative of a current through the circuit, calculate a capacitive leakage current component of the current, and cause the inductive load device to adjust the inductive load supplied to the circuit to reduce the capacitive leakage current component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Cecil Rivers, JR., Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR.
-
Patent number: 8189311Abstract: A method of circuit breaker control includes determining if a trip event for a circuit breaker has occurred, determining a set of redundancy parameters for the circuit breaker, and transmitting a trip signal and a shunt trip signal to the circuit breaker based on the set of redundancy parameters.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Radoslaw Narel, Joseph Yuan Rao
-
Publication number: 20120089265Abstract: A load shedding system for operating at least one circuit breaker positioned within an enclosure is described. The load shedding system includes a processor configured to receive a demand signal and to provide a predetermined load shedding signal. The load shedding system also includes at least one load shedding apparatus configured to receive the load shedding signal from the processor. The load shedding apparatus is configured to be coupled to a door of the enclosure. The load shedding apparatus is further configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one circuit breaker and further configured to actuate the at least one circuit breaker in response to the load shedding signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Keith Kucinskas, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Cecil Rivers, JR.
-
Patent number: 8144438Abstract: A motor control center communication system configured to interface with a communication network. The system includes a plurality of motor control units (MCUs), and a MCU controller configured to transmit and receive data signals via the communication network to and from, the plurality of MCUs. Each of the plurality of MCUs includes a magnetic contactor having electrical contacts operable between open and closed positions, and a local control module operatively connected to the associated magnetic contactor and to the MCU controller, and configured to monitor a status of the electrical contacts, transmit the monitored status information to the MCU controller, and actuate the associated magnetic contactor based on data signals received from the MCU controller.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecil Rivers, Jr., Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20120057263Abstract: A power equipment protection system includes a circuit breaker, a current sensor configured to measure a current through a circuit, a light sensor configured to detect a light event, and a controller communicatively coupled to the current sensor and to the light sensor, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the light event originated from operation of the circuit breaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: George William Roscoe, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Daniel Edward Delfino, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR.
-
Publication number: 20120014026Abstract: A method and system to protect a circuit having at least a first circuit breaker, and a second circuit breaker arranged directly upstream of said first circuit breaker, said first circuit breaker having configuration settings selectable between a normal mode and an alternate mode, the alternate mode setting including a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting having a RELT mode trip time delay, by determining if said first circuit breaker is configured in said RELT mode, determining a dynamic delay time for opening said second circuit breaker, wherein said dynamic delay time is based at least in part on said RELT mode trip time delay of said first circuit breaker, and triggering said second circuit breaker to open after said dynamic delay time has elapsed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2010Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventors: Radoslaw Narel, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Joseph Rao