Patents by Inventor William Eakins
William Eakins 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: 11923096Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a machine includes an inspection vehicle constructed for wireless operation while submersed in a dielectric liquid medium. The inspection vehicle is self-propelled. A controller is operative to direct the activities of the inspection vehicle. A plurality of status interrogation systems is disposed on the inspection vehicle. The status interrogation systems are operative to capture inspection data regarding a plurality of inspection procedures performed on the machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Hitachi Energy LtdInventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos W. Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Stefan Rakuff, Saumya Sharma, Nolan W. Nicholas, Gregory F. Rossano, Sanguen Choi
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Patent number: 11465653Abstract: An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Harald Staab, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Edward Zhang, Harshang Shah, Stefan Rakuff, Gregory Cole, Gregory Rossano, Andrew Salm, Sang Choi, Remus Boca
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Patent number: 11468628Abstract: A submersible vehicle which includes a plurality of cameras can be used to collect visual images of an object of interest submerged in a liquid environment, such as in a tank (e.g. transformer tank). In one form the submersible vehicle is remotely operated such as an ROV or an autonomous vehicle. Image information from the submersible along with inertial measurements in some embodiments is used with a vision based modelling system to form a model of an internal object of interest in the tank. The vision based modelling system can include a number of processes to form the model such as but not limited to tracking, sparse and dense reconstruction, model generation, and rectification.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AGInventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos W. Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Harald Josef Staab, Saumya Sharma
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Patent number: 10583905Abstract: A submersible inspection drone used for inspection can include a ballast system used to control depth of the submersible inspection drone. The submersible can be configured to communicate to a base station using a wireless transmitter and receiver. The ballast system can include a pressure vessel for storing fluid and a bag for inflating and deflating as it receives a fluid. Buoyancy of the submersible inspection drone can be provided by change in density of the pressure vessel as a compressible gas is expanded when the ballast bag is caused to inflate or deflate. A pump can be used to draw fluid from the ballast bag and store the fluid in the pressure vessel. In one form the pressure vessel can include a compressible fluid and an incompressible fluid, where the incompressible fluid is used to inflate and deflate the bag.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AGInventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Biao Zhang, Sanguen Choi, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Andrew Salm
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Publication number: 20190322292Abstract: An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Harald Staab, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Edward Zhang, Harshang Shah, Stefan Rakuff, Gregory Cole, Gregory Rossano, Andrew Salm, Sang Choi, Remus Boca
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Publication number: 20180157251Abstract: A submersible inspection device used for inspection of, for example, liquid cooled electrical transformers can include a number of separate cameras for imaging the internal structure of the transformer. The submersible can be configured to communicate to a base station using a number of wireless transmitters and receivers. Signals transmitted to the submersible include command signals useful to effect an action on the submersible but also a heartbeat signal to indicate health of the transmitted signal. A redundant channel selection logic is provided to switch from a channel which no longer receives a heartbeat to another channel that includes a current heartbeat. Multiple signals can be received and evaluated in software, and another signal received via a firmware radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Andrew Salm
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Publication number: 20180158232Abstract: A submersible vehicle which includes a plurality of cameras can be used to collect visual images of an object of interest submerged in a liquid environment, such as in a tank (e.g. transformer tank). In one form the submersible vehicle is remotely operated such as an ROV or an autonomous vehicle. Image information from the submersible along with inertial measurements in some embodiments is used with a vision based modelling system to form a model of an internal object of interest in the tank. The vision based modelling system can include a number of processes to form the model such as but not limited to tracking, sparse and dense reconstruction, model generation, and rectification.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Harald Staab, Saumya Sharma
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Publication number: 20180154995Abstract: A submersible inspection drone used for inspection can include a ballast system used to control depth of the submersible inspection drone. The submersible can be configured to communicate to a base station using a wireless transmitter and receiver. The ballast system can include a pressure vessel for storing fluid and a bag for inflating and deflating as it receives a fluid. Buoyancy of the submersible inspection drone can be provided by change in density of the pressure vessel as a compressible gas is expanded when the ballast bag is caused to inflate or deflate. A pump can be used to draw fluid from the ballast bag and store the fluid in the pressure vessel. In one form the pressure vessel can include a compressible fluid and an incompressible fluid, where the incompressible fluid is used to inflate and deflate the bag.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Biao Zhang, Sanguen Choi, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Andrew Salm
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Patent number: 9926052Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container includes a hull adapted to be received in the fluid container and a control mechanism carried by the hull. The control mechanism movably positions a weight about the hull so as to adjust an angular orientation of the hull within the fluid container.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gregory A. Cole, Gregory F. Rossano, William Eakins, Daniel T. Lasko, George Zhang
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Patent number: 9914513Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container includes at least one thrust device, at least one ballast device and a cage which carries the at least one thrust device and the at least one ballast device. The cage includes at least two bars. Each bar provides an opening, the openings forming a cage cavity to carry the at least one thrust device and the at least one ballast device.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gregory F. Rossano, William Eakins, Daniel T. Lasko, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Andrew M. Salm, George Zhang
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Patent number: 9831016Abstract: Stripping structure strips insulation from ends of a plurality of leads of a lead bundle. Each lead includes a conductor member coated with the insulation. The structure includes a housing having wall structure defining a stripping chamber, an inlet in fluid communication with the stripping chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the stripping chamber. A cover has an opening for receiving an end of the lead bundle in a sealing manner so that the leads thereof are received in the stripping chamber. Chemical stripping solution is in communication with the inlet. When the lead bundle is received through the opening with the leads in the stripping chamber and when the chemical stripping solution is provided though inlet and in the stripping chamber, the chemical stripping solution strips the insulation from the conductor members, with the stripping solution along with stripped insulation exiting through the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Thomas H. McDonald, Rodney Lee Woll, William Eakins, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Harald Staab, Jeremy Newkirk, George Zhang
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Publication number: 20170190396Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container includes a hull adapted to be received in the fluid container and a control mechanism carried by the hull. The control mechanism movably positions a weight about the hull so as to adjust an angular orientation of the hull within the fluid container.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: GREGORY A. COLE, GREGORY F. ROSSANO, WILLIAM EAKINS, DANIEL T. LASKO, GEORGE ZHANG
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Patent number: 9682429Abstract: A reaction tool for forming openings in an aircraft fuselage joint is provided. The joint includes (i) a first side from which a forming tool is to be applied at a plurality of opening locations and (ii) an opposing second side. The reaction tool includes a plurality of connectors configured to couple to the joint second side, and a reaction bar coupled to the plurality of connectors. The reaction bar is configured to extend across the plurality of opening locations. The reaction tool also includes a plurality of reaction members coupled to the reaction bar. Each of the reaction members includes a clamping surface configured to couple to the joint second side such that each clamping surface at least partially surrounds a corresponding one of the plurality of opening locations.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert William Eakins, Ryan Paul Evans, Jason Kenneth Hahn, Richard Lynn Hopkins, Maro Ellen Mansourian, Diego Fernando Mayorga, Abdifatah Mustafa Mohamed
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Patent number: 9564697Abstract: A method of assembling a circuit board may include inserting a first electrical terminal into a first side of a circuit board, and applying a second layer of solder paste to a second side of the circuit board, the second side disposed opposite of the first side. The first electrical terminal may include a solder tab, a maximum length of the solder tab may be shorter than a minimum thickness of the circuit board, and if the first electrical terminal is inserted into the circuit board, the solder tab may extend at least partially into the circuit board without extending entirely through the circuit board. One or more electrical terminals with short and/or long solder tabs may be inserted into the second side of the circuit board and/or one or more electrical components may be attached to second side of circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Bert William Eakins, George E. Fox
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Publication number: 20160311034Abstract: A reaction tool for forming openings in an aircraft fuselage joint is provided. The joint includes (i) a first side from which a forming tool is to be applied at a plurality of opening locations and (ii) an opposing second side. The reaction tool includes a plurality of connectors configured to couple to the joint second side, and a reaction bar coupled to the plurality of connectors. The reaction bar is configured to extend across the plurality of opening locations. The reaction tool also includes a plurality of reaction members coupled to the reaction bar. Each of the reaction members includes a clamping surface configured to couple to the joint second side such that each clamping surface at least partially surrounds a corresponding one of the plurality of opening locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Robert William Eakins, Ryan Paul Evans, Jason Kenneth Hahn, Richard Lynn Hopkins, Maro Ellen Mansourian, Diego Fernando Mayorga, Abdifatah Mustafa Mohamed
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Publication number: 20160141776Abstract: A method of assembling a circuit board may include inserting a first electrical terminal into a first side of a circuit board, and applying a second layer of solder paste to a second side of the circuit board, the second side disposed opposite of the first side. The first electrical terminal may include a solder tab, a maximum length of the solder tab may be shorter than a minimum thickness of the circuit board, and if the first electrical terminal is inserted into the circuit board, the solder tab may extend at least partially into the circuit board without extending entirely through the circuit board. One or more electrical terminals with short and/or long solder tabs may be inserted into the second side of the circuit board and/or one or more electrical components may be attached to second side of circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Bert William Eakins, George E. Fox
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Publication number: 20160129979Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container includes at least one thrust device, at least one ballast device and a cage which carries the at least one thrust device and the at least one ballast device. The cage includes at least two bars. Each bar provides an opening, the openings forming a cage cavity to carry the at least one thrust device and the at least one ballast device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Gregory F. ROSSANO, William EAKINS, Daniel T. LASKO, Thomas A. FUHLBRIGGE, Andrew M. SALM, George ZHANG
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Publication number: 20150369751Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container having at least an opening includes a housing sized to fit through the opening. The housing has at least two fluid flow channels extending therethrough, each having an inlet and an outlet, and a pump maintained in the housing within each fluid flow channel. The pumps are selectively controlled to maneuver the housing within the fluid container. The inspection device continues with a method of in-situ inspection of a container having at least one opening to receive a fluid, that includes up-loading a virtual model of the container into a computer, inserting the device into the container, generating a position signal by the device and receiving the position signal on a computer. A virtual image of the device in the virtual model of the container is generated to determine an actual position of the device within the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Luiz V. Cheim, George Zhang, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Harald Staab, William Eakins, Gregory F. Rossano, Biao Zhang, Poorvi Patel, Marek Budyn
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Patent number: 9126336Abstract: A robot is used to pick parts from a bin. The robot has a compliant apparatus and one or more tools are connected to the apparatus to perform the picking. The compliant apparatus has mechanisms for monitoring and/or controlling its compliance. The compliant apparatus can have various embodiments. Force sensing can be used during removal of grasped parts from the bin to determine the force exerted on the picking tool(s). The signal indicative of the exerted force can be used by the robot controller to determine the weight of the parts that may be held by the picking tool(s). The robot has one or more devices which can be the picking tool to stir the parts in the bin.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: William Eakins, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Heping Chen, Gregory Rossano
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Patent number: D742801Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AGInventors: Gregory F. Rossano, William Eakins, Daniel T. Lasko, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Andrew M. Salm, George Zhang