Patents by Inventor Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.

Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr. 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: 10145903
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Jeremy David Smith
  • Patent number: 9251980
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thangavelu Asokan, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Govardhan Ganireddy
  • Publication number: 20150046122
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marcelo Esteban Valdes, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Jeremy David Smith
  • Patent number: 8666520
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keith Kucinskas, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130329325
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Govardhan Ganireddy, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Asokan Thangavelu, Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori, Deepak Rajaram Raorane, Srinivas Naga Palvadi
  • Patent number: 8570713
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, Peter James Greenwood, Brian Frederick Mooney, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Kanakasabapathi Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8564915
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George William Roscoe, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Daniel Edward Delfino, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8548638
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George William Roscoe, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Cecil Rivers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8472154
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cecil Rivers, Jr., Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8385035
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radoslaw Narel, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Joseph Rao
  • Publication number: 20130003262
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brent Charles Kumfer, Peter James Greenwood, Brian Frederick Mooney, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Kanakasabapathi Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20120181253
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thangavelu Asokan, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Govardhan Ganireddy
  • Publication number: 20120147507
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Cecil Rivers, JR., Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR.
  • Patent number: 8189311
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Radoslaw Narel, Joseph Yuan Rao
  • Publication number: 20120089265
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith Kucinskas, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Cecil Rivers, JR.
  • Patent number: 8144438
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cecil Rivers, Jr., Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120057263
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: George William Roscoe, Robert Joseph Caggiano, Daniel Edward Delfino, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120014026
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Radoslaw Narel, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Joseph Rao
  • Publication number: 20110172840
    Abstract: A method and system for a power distribution system, the method including defining with the central controller at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system, wherein the at least one alternate mode configuration setting includes a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting. The method further includes determining with the central controller if the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers is in a pick-up mode and operating the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting, wherein the operating the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is delayed for a predetermined period if the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers is in a pick-up mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Radoslaw NAREL, Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Joseph Rao
  • Publication number: 20110127852
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Papallo, JR., Theodore Drummond Hill, III, Radoslaw Narel, Joseph Yuan Rao