Thomas L Churchill, Age 89438 Modoc Way, La Conner, WA 98257

5132626, Jul 21, 1992

May 31, 1989

7/359642

Donald Limuti - Kirkland WA
James M. Ross - Bothell WA
Thomas L. Churchill - North Bend WA

Amoco Corporation - Chicago IL

G01N 27416
G01F 2300

324432

Nonintrusive sensors capable of measuring various storage cell parameters such as voltage, state-of-charge, electrolyte level, internal resistance, and temperature are attached to a monitoring module which gathers and processes signals representative of information concerning the condition of electrolytic storage cells and transmits the information to a central computer for further processing. In response to commands issued by the central computer, appropriate maintenance and/or repair operations can be initiated. Alternatively, the system described can be used to automatically perform such maintenance tasks as checking and adding electrolyte levels, reducing the voltage in cells whose output voltage is too high, and leveling the state-of-charge of each cell in an array of electrolytic storage cells. The system can monitor other functions of the electrolytic storage cells, including the evolution of hydrogen gas and the accumulation of sediments in individual electrolytic storage cells.

4704906, Nov 10, 1987

Apr 10, 1986

6/850234

Thomas L. Churchill - North Bend WA
James M. Ross - Bothell WA

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

G01N 2900

73660

The air gap between a rotor and a stator in rotating electrical machinery is determined using sonar techniques. An ultrasonic signal transmitter and receiver are mounted on one of the rotor and stator for transmitting ultrasonic signals to the other of the rotor and stator and receiving reflections therefrom. The time between signal transmission and reflected signal reception is determined, and the spacing of the rotor and stator is determined from the time, the velocity of sound, and the speed of rotation of the rotor.

5250903, Oct 5, 1993

Mar 13, 1992

7/851984

Donald Limuti - Kirkland WA
James M. Ross - Bothell WA
Thomas L. Churchill - North Bend WA

Amoco Corporation - Chicago IL

G01N 27416
G01N 2772

324427

Nonintrusive sensors capable of measuring various storage cell parameters such as voltage, state-of-charge, electrolyte level, internal resistance, and temperature are attached to a monitoring module which gathers and processes signals representative of information concerning the condition of electrolytic storage cells and transmits the information to a central computer for further processing. In response to commands issued by the central computer, appropriate maintenance and/or repair operations can be initiated. Alternatively, the system described can be used to automatically perform such maintenance tasks as checking and adding electrolyte levels, reducing the voltage in cells whose output voltage is too high, and leveling the state-of-charge of each cell in an array of electrolytic storage cells. The system can monitor other functions of the electrolytic storage cells, including the evolution of hydrogen gas and the accumulation of sediments in individual electrolytic storage cells.