Patents by Inventor William E. Fish

William E. Fish 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).

  • Method and apparatus for operating electrical machines
    Patent number: 7633259
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for operating an electrical machine includes providing a brushless excitation system including at least one rectifier having at least one diode. The method also includes providing at least one voltage amplitude limiter assembly including at least one resistor and at least one transient voltage suppressor (TVS) electrically coupled with the at least one resistor to form at least one voltage suppression unit. The method further includes transmitting an electrical signal having a current and a voltage to each voltage suppression unit, the voltage having an amplitude. The method also includes electrically coupling the at least one voltage amplitude limiter assembly to the at least one diode. The method further includes transmitting the electrical signal through the rectifier and the voltage suppression unit such that voltage amplitude excursions of the electrical signal are facilitated to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William E. Fish
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A FAULT IN A BRUSHLESS EXCITER FOR A GENERATOR
    Publication number: 20090296777
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrical machine including: providing a brushless excitation system including a diode rectifier having at least one diode; sensing heat energy generated by the at least one diode; detecting a deviation of the generated heat energy from the at least one diode, and generating a signal indicating a failed or faulty diode if the deviation in generated heat energy exceeds a predetermined threshold deviation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William E. Fish
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRICAL MACHINES
    Publication number: 20080024941
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for operating an electrical machine includes providing a brushless excitation system including at least one rectifier having at least one diode. The method also includes providing at least one voltage amplitude limiter assembly including at least one resistor and at least one transient voltage suppressor (TVS) electrically coupled with the at least one resistor to form at least one voltage suppression unit. The method further includes transmitting an electrical signal having a current and a voltage to each voltage suppression unit, the voltage having an amplitude. The method also includes electrically coupling the at least one voltage amplitude limiter assembly to the at least one diode. The method further includes transmitting the electrical signal through the rectifier and the voltage suppression unit such that voltage amplitude excursions of the electrical signal are facilitated to be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: William E. Fish