Patents by Inventor William Forrester Seely

William Forrester Seely 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: 11502904
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic feedback control are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for automatic feedback control may commence with receiving high-level control references by a low-level controller communicatively coupled to a high-level controller via the network connection. The method may further include generating, by the low-level controller, low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may continue with transferring control of the hardware asset to the low-level controller in response to a loss of the network connection. The method may further include adjusting the low-level control references by a low-level control mechanism associated with the low-level controller in response to the loss of the network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, David Ewens, Benjamin Laskowski, John Raffensperger, Karl Minto
  • Patent number: 11107169
    Abstract: A system for managing multiple power assets is provided. The system includes at least one volatile asset, at least one deterministic asset, and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one volatile asset and the at least one deterministic asset, the controller configured to receive data from said at least one volatile asset, predict a change in power output for said at least one volatile asset based on the received data, and control operation of said at least one deterministic asset to compensate for the predicted change in power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, Frederick William Block, John Joseph Raffensperger
  • Patent number: 11050651
    Abstract: Systems and methods for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller may commence with receiving, by a lower level controller from a high-level controller, high-level control references. The method may further include generating low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may include monitoring the network connection and detecting an error in the network connection. In response to the detection of the error in the network connection, a control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the low-level controller. The method may further include determining that the network connection has been restored. In response to the determination that the network connection has been restored, the control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the high-level controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin David Laskowski, John Raffensperger, Timothy Lee Janssen, William Forrester Seely, Christopher Long, Karl Dean Minto
  • Patent number: 10954824
    Abstract: A method includes determining, via a processor, a commanded fluid flow rate of a fluid entering or exiting the drum of an industrial system, wherein the commanded fluid flow rate comprises a rate of fluid entering the drum of the industrial system, exiting the drum of the industrial system, or a combination thereof. The method additionally includes determining, via the processor, a measured flow rate of the fluid. The method further includes determining, via the processor, a variable multiplier based at least in part on the commanded fluid flow rate and the measured flow rate; and deriving, via the processor, a multiplied flow rate command for the industrial system by applying the variable multiplier to the commanded fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin David Laskowski, William Forrester Seely
  • Patent number: 10954812
    Abstract: A flutter control system for a turbine includes a processor. The processor is configured to detect blade flutter of a turbine. The blade flutter indicates that blades of the turbine are in a deflected position different from a nominal operating position. The processor is configured to control operational parameters of the turbine that reduce or eliminate the blade flutter to improve the reliability and efficiency of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, Xu Fu, Mustafa Tekin Dokucu, Ronghui Zhou
  • Patent number: 10885689
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system that includes a processor configured to execute an augmented reality (AR) translator and visualizer system. The AR translator and visualizer system is configured to receive a language file that includes content, determine a background in the language file, remove the background, and retrieve the content from the language file. Moreover, the AR translator and visualizer system is configured to overlay the content onto a real world view via a display to form AR content that includes the content merged with the real world view. Furthermore the AR translator and visualizer system is configured to cause the system to display the real world view overlaid with the content via the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, Glen William Brooksby, Sandra Beverly Kolvick
  • Patent number: 10852217
    Abstract: A method for determining a potential cause of pre-identified conditions occurring in components of a plurality of rotary machines is provided. The method includes associating each rotary machine with a respective machine data set and identifying, in a component database, a first set of the components each having a first pre-identified condition. The method also includes identifying at least one common parameter from the machine data sets of the rotary machines associated with the first set of components, and identifying, in the component database, a second set of the components for which the machine data set of the associated rotary machine includes the at least one common parameter. The method further includes reporting the at least one common parameter as the potential cause of the first pre-identified condition, and as the potential cause of at least a second of the pre-identified conditions associated with the second set of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, Melissa Ann Seely
  • Patent number: 10713773
    Abstract: An imaging and analysis system for a component of a rotary machine includes an image capture device operable to capture image data from at least one selected type of electromagnetic radiation that is at least one of reflected from and transmitted through the component. The system also includes an image processor configured to generate processed data from the captured image data. The system further includes a control system configured to automatically identify a condition of the component by comparing the processed data to stored reference data. The reference data is stored in a format that enables direct comparison to the processed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melissa Ann Seely, William Forrester Seely
  • Patent number: 10677102
    Abstract: A method includes determining, via a processor, a commanded temperature rate for a component of a steam turbine system. The method further includes determining, via the processor, a measured temperature rate for the component of the steam turbine system. The method additionally includes determining, via the processor, a variable multiplier based at least in part on the commanded temperature rate and the measured temperature rate. The method also includes deriving, via the processor, a multiplied temperature rate command by applying the variable multiplier to the commanded temperature rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin David Laskowski, William Forrester Seely
  • Patent number: 10630106
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure pertain to a system that includes a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller in an arrangement that allows the high-level controller to cooperate with the low-level controller for controlling a power generation unit. The high-level controller generates supplementary signals and/or supplementary code that is provided to a surrogate controller. The surrogate controller uses the supplementary signals and/or supplementary code to generate control software that is provided to the low-level controller for controlling certain operational aspects of the power generation unit that cannot be independently controlled by the low-level controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Lee Janssen, Benjamin Laskowski, William Forrester Seely, John Raffensperger, Karl Joseph Minto
  • Patent number: 10620599
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments pertain to a system that can include a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller for controlling a physical asset. In one exemplary implementation, the high-level controller executes a first finite state machine for controlling a power generation unit via a network. The low-level controller executes a second finite state machine that may have fewer states than the first finite state machine. The second finite state machine places the low-level controller in a default mode of operation for controlling the power generation unit under various conditions such as when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset during a normal mode of operation; when the high-level controller is revising the first finite state machine; when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset using a revised first finite state machine; and/or upon detecting a loss of communications between the high-level controller and the low-level controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, John Raffensperger, Karl Minto
  • Publication number: 20200013206
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system that includes a processor configured to execute an augmented reality (AR) translator and visualizer system. The AR translator and visualizer system is configured to receive a language file that includes content, determine a background in the language file, remove the background, and retrieve the content from the language file. Moreover, the AR translator and visualizer system is configured to overlay the content onto a real world view via a display to form AR content that includes the content merged with the real world view. Furthermore the AR translator and visualizer system is configured to cause the system to display the real world view overlaid with the content via the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, Glen William Brooksby, Sandra Beverly Kolvick
  • Patent number: 10474113
    Abstract: A system includes a power generation system and a controller. The controller includes processors that receive a first set of inputs. The processors also generate a first set of modeled outputs system based on a model of the power generation system and the first set of inputs. The processors further receive a first set of measured outputs corresponding to the first set of modeled outputs. The processors determine a first correction factor based on the first set of modeled outputs and the first set of measured outputs. The first correction factor includes differences between the first set of modeled outputs and the first set of measured outputs. The processors also generate a second set of modeled outputs based on the model, a second set of inputs, and the first correction factor. The processors further control an operation of the power generation system based on the second set of modeled outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Spencer Ewens, William Forrester Seely
  • Patent number: 10358983
    Abstract: A system includes a model-based control system configured to receive data relating to parameters of a machinery via a plurality of sensors coupled to the machinery and select one or more models configured to generate a desired parameter of the machinery based on a determined relationship between the parameters and the desired parameter. The one or more models represent a performance of a device of the machinery. The model-based control system is configured to generate the desired parameter using the data and the one or more models control a plurality of actuators coupled to the machinery based on the desired parameter. Further, the model-based control system is configured to empirically tune the one or more models based on the data, the one or more parameters, and the desired parameter, compare the empirical tuning to a baseline tuning, and determine an operational state of the device based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Scott William Szepek, William Forrester Seely, Mustafa Tekin Dokucu, John Joseph Raffensperger
  • Publication number: 20190207810
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic feedback control are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for automatic feedback control may commence with receiving high-level control references by a low-level controller communicatively coupled to a high-level controller via the network connection. The method may further include generating, by the low-level controller, low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may continue with transferring control of the hardware asset to the low-level controller in response to a loss of the network connection. The method may further include adjusting the low-level control references by a low-level control mechanism associated with the low-level controller in response to the loss of the network connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, David Ewens, Benjamin Laskowski, John Raffensperger, Karl Minto
  • Publication number: 20190207840
    Abstract: Systems and methods for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller may commence with receiving, by a lower level controller from a high-level controller, high-level control references. The method may further include generating low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may include monitoring the network connection and detecting an error in the network connection. In response to the detection of the error in the network connection, a control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the low-level controller. The method may further include determining that the network connection has been restored. In response to the determination that the network connection has been restored, the control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the high-level controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin David Laskowski, John Raffensperger, Timothy Lee Janssen, William Forrester Seely, Christopher Long, Karl Dean Minto
  • Publication number: 20190207419
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure pertain to a system that includes a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller in an arrangement that allows the high-level controller to cooperate with the low-level controller for controlling a power generation unit. The high-level controller generates supplementary signals and/or supplementary code that is provided to a surrogate controller. The surrogate controller uses the supplementary signals and/or supplementary code to generate control software that is provided to the low-level controller for controlling certain operational aspects of the power generation unit that cannot be independently controlled by the low-level controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Lee Janssen, Benjamin Laskowski, William Forrester Seely, John Raffensperger, Karl Joseph Minto
  • Publication number: 20190204802
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments pertain to a system that can include a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller for controlling a physical asset. In one exemplary implementation, the high-level controller executes a first finite state machine for controlling a power generation unit via a network. The low-level controller executes a second finite state machine that may have fewer states than the first finite state machine. The second finite state machine places the low-level controller in a default mode of operation for controlling the power generation unit under various conditions such as when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset during a normal mode of operation; when the high-level controller is revising the first finite state machine; when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset using a revised first finite state machine; and/or upon detecting a loss of communications between the high-level controller and the low-level controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, John Raffensperger, Karl Minto
  • Patent number: 10233771
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present technique a method includes receiving at least one of a speed and an acceleration of a rotating component in a rotating machine. The method includes determining whether at least one of the speed and the acceleration of the rotating component exceeds a non-trip operating (NTO) space in a speed-acceleration plane, wherein the NTO space is based on a trip overshoot model. The method further includes sending a notification for tripping the rotating machine in response to determining that at least one of the speed and the acceleration of the rotating component exceeds the NTO space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthijs Leonardus Gerardus Boerlage, Frederick William Block, William Forrester Seely
  • Patent number: 10100747
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for use in a gas turbine engine is provided. The fuel supply system includes a fuel manifold, and a shutoff valve coupled in flow communication with the fuel manifold and positioned upstream from said fuel manifold. The shutoff valve is configured to actuate into a closed position when the gas turbine engine is operating at an overspeed condition. The system also includes a relief valve coupled in flow communication with the fuel manifold, wherein the relief valve is configured to release fuel from within the fuel manifold when the shutoff valve is in the closed position, and when a pressure within the fuel manifold is greater than a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alberto Jose Negroni, David August Snider, William Forrester Seely, Keegan Saunders O'Donnell, Kyle Joseph Conger, Carlos Gabriel Roman