Timothy Michael Wolfe

US Patent:

20220343709, Oct 27, 2022

Filed:

Apr 22, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/237920

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
Yongyao Cai - Malden MA, US
Rebecca R. Jaeger - Somerville MA, US
Suresh R. Nair - Nashua NH, US
Lee A. Lane - Medford MA, US
Brian J. Taylor - Boston MA, US
Burt Sacherski - Nashua NH, US
Ashley M. Killian - Eastlake OH, US
Michelle L. Poublon - Nashua NH, US
Linxi Gao - Reading MA, US
Timothy P. Wolfe - Medford MA, US
Wayne R. Foster - Tyngsborough MA, US

International Classification:

G07C 9/22
G07C 9/28
G07C 9/10
G07C 9/00
G05B 19/048

Abstract:

A component includes a housing mounted at an entry point of an enclosure protecting a machine. The component includes a first RFID sensor, in the housing, that reads a first RFID tag in close proximity to the first RFID sensor indicating a closed status of a movable barrier of the enclosure at the entry point. Opening of the movable barrier allows entry to the enclosure. The component includes a second RFID sensor, in the housing, that reads a second RFID tag of an authorized person. The component includes a barrier access module that sends an open alert that the movable barrier is in an open state in response to the first RFID sensor not being close enough to read the first RFID tag, and an identification module that sends tag information unique to a person from the second RFID tag.

US Patent:

20220214316, Jul 7, 2022

Filed:

Jan 5, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/142104

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
Lee A. Lane - Medford MA, US
Brian J. Taylor - Boston MA, US
Yongyao Cai - Maldan MA, US
Burt Sacherski - Nashua NH, US
Ashley M. Killian - Eastlake OH, US
Kevin Zomchek - Nashua NH, US
Michelle L. Poublon - Nashua NH, US
Linxi Gao - Reading MA, US
Timothy P. Wolfe - Medford MA, US
Rebecca R. Jaeger - Somerville MA, US
Wayne R. Foster - Tyngsborough MA, US

International Classification:

G01N 29/44
G01M 13/00
G01N 29/14
G01N 29/46
G05B 19/05

Abstract:

A method for monitoring machine operation for various machine speed and loads includes measuring vibration information at a sensor associated with a machine and an associated machine speed. The machine is a rotating machine. The method includes performing an operational frequency analysis of the vibration information and comparing results from the operational frequency analysis with a vibration signature for the machine. The vibration signature is for a machine speed that matches the machine speed of the measured vibration information. The vibration signature is one of several vibration signatures for the machine where each is for a different machine speed. The method includes identifying a potential failure mode based on a frequency range where the frequency analysis of the measured vibration information exceeds, by a threshold amount, the vibration signature of the plurality of vibration signatures that matches the machine speed, and transmitting an alert comprising the identified potential failure mode.

US Patent:

20220214675, Jul 7, 2022

Filed:

Jan 4, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/141109

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
Lee A. Lane - Medford MA, US
Brian J. Taylor - Boston MA, US
Yongyao Cai - Maldan MA, US
Burt Sacherski - Nashua NH, US
Ashley M. Killian - Eastlake OH, US
Kevin Zomchek - Nashua NH, US
Michelle L. Poublon - Nashua NH, US
Linxi Gao - Reading MA, US
Timothy P. Wolfe - Medford MA, US
Rebecca R. Jaeger - Somerville MA, US
Wayne R. Foster - Tyngsborough MA, US

International Classification:

G05B 23/02

Abstract:

A method for risk assessment violation monitoring during a functional safety process includes receiving parameters from a risk assessment of a portion of a system with physical devices. The parameters of the risk assessment are applicable to a safety device of a machine safety system. The safety device is configured to prevent a hazardous condition in the system. The method includes detecting a change of a condition of the safety device. The condition is indicative of a potential safety issue affecting operation of the machine safety system. The method includes comparing parameters related to the change of the condition of the safety device with the parameters from the risk assessment and sending an alert in response to determining that the change of the condition of the safety device results in a violation of the risk assessment.

US Patent:

20220214680, Jul 7, 2022

Filed:

Jan 5, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/142092

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
Lee A. Lane - Medford MA, US
Brian J. Taylor - Boston MA, US
Yongyao Cai - Maldan MA, US
Burt Sacherski - Chelmsford MA, US
Ashley M. Killian - Eastlake OH, US
Kevin Zomchek - Nashua NH, US
Michelle L. Poublon - Nashua NH, US
Linxi Gao - Reading MA, US
Timothy P. Wolfe - Medford MA, US
Robecca R. Jaeger - Somverville MA, US
Wayne R. Foster - Tyngsborough MA, US

International Classification:

G05B 23/02
G06N 20/00

Abstract:

A method for predicting end-of-life for a component includes determining a baseline lifetime model for a component connected to a machine functional safety system. The component is part of a system with physical devices. The method includes monitoring environmental conditions and usage conditions of the component and modifying the baseline lifetime model based on the monitored environmental and usage conditions to produce a modified lifetime model for the component. The method includes tracking a lifetime progress of the component with respect to the modified lifetime model and sending an alert in response to lifetime progress of the component reaching a lifetime threshold associated with the modified lifetime model.

US Patent:

20230040166, Feb 9, 2023

Filed:

Oct 27, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/975292

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
Yongyao Cai - Malden MA, US
Rebecca R. Jaeger - Somerville MA, US
Suresh R. Nair - Nashua NH, US
Lee A. Lane - Medford MA, US
Brian J. Taylor - Boston MA, US
Burt Sacherski - Nashua NH, US
Ashley M. Killian - Eastlake OH, US
Michelle L. Poublon - Nashua NH, US
Linxi Gao - Reading MA, US
Timothy P. Wolfe - Medford MA, US
Wayne R. Foster - Tyngsborough MA, US

International Classification:

G07C 9/22
G07C 9/28
G07C 9/10
G05B 19/048
G07C 9/00

Abstract:

A method includes sending a first safety instruction to a machine in response to, within an entry window of time, receiving an open alert that a movable barrier is in an open state, where the movable barrier is at an entry point of an enclosure protecting personnel from the machine, receiving tag information of a person from a reader at the movable barrier, and confirming that the tag information belongs to a person authorized to enter the enclosure. The method includes sending a second safety instruction to the machine in response to, within the entry window of time, receiving the open alert, and without receiving tag information or confirming that the tag information belongs to a person authorized to enter the enclosure. The first and second safety instructions are different and the first safety instruction is less restrictive than the second safety instruction in terms of actions to prevent injury.

US Patent:

20200378153, Dec 3, 2020

Filed:

May 13, 2020

Appl. No.:

15/931172

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
Timothy P. Wolfe - Chelmsford MA, US

International Classification:

E05B 47/00
G01D 5/20
G06K 7/10

Abstract:

For locking industrial safety guarding, a sensor includes an inductive coil that generates a second sensing field about a second sensing field axis at a second frequency that detects advancement of a locking bolt. The sensor further includes at least two radio frequency identifier (RFID) coils that generate a first sensing field at a first frequency that detects an RFID tag. A second RFID coil of the at least two RFID coils has a second polarity reversed from a first polarity a first RFID coil of the at least two RFID coils and reduces the first sensing field at the second sensing field axis.

US Patent:

20170248481, Aug 31, 2017

Filed:

May 11, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/592399

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
ANDREW L. TSANG - Lowell MA, US
BURT SACHERSKI - Nashua NH, US
STEVEN ROBERT TAMBEAU - Marlborough MA, US
ARVIND ANANTHANARAYANAN - Medford MA, US
JAMES EDWARD DOGUL - Hudson NH, US
TIMOTHY P. WOLFE - Somerville MA, US

International Classification:

G01L 5/10
G08B 21/18
G08B 29/18
G01L 1/22
H01H 17/16

Abstract:

An apparatus for an imbalance test includes a strain measurement module that measures a strain voltage across terminals of a strain gauge. The strain voltage is representative of an amount of force on the strain gauge. The apparatus includes a test measurement module that measures a test voltage across the terminals of the strain gauge while a test resistor is connected in parallel with a resistor of the strain gauge. The test resistor is connected while the test measurement module measures the test voltage and is disconnected while the strain module measures strain voltage. The apparatus includes an average module that calculates an average strain voltage from two strain voltage measurements. The strain voltages are measured preceding and after the test voltage measurement. The apparatus includes a difference module that determines a difference voltage. The difference voltage is a difference between the average strain voltage and the test voltage.