Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Terry M. Sanks
  • Patent number: 6827464
    Abstract: A light controller device to control illumination characteristics of a light system, the device comprising a plurality of switches wherein each switch is operable to select at least one of a color of light and a pattern of light colors, a plurality of lights to illuminate at least one of a color of light and a pattern of light colors based on which switch of the plurality of switches is selected, a viewer window where the plurality of lights illuminates through the viewer window when the switch is selected, and a structure to hold the plurality of switches, plurality of lights, and viewer window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: SuperVision International, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinhas Paul Koren, Richard Heiner
  • Patent number: 6810406
    Abstract: Computerized method and system for servicing a selected piece of equipment made up of a plurality of systems and subject to unique system configurations and servicing requirements are provided. The method allows to respectively provide a database including detailed system configuration data regarding a selected piece of equipment, and a database including service modules for facilitating the servicing of equipment of a group of equipment that includes a selected piece of equipment. The method further allows to provide a respective identifier for uniquely identifying any selected equipment, and an input/output device to communicate with the databases. Respective accessing steps allow to access the database having configuration data to interface with the detailed system configuration data, and the database having the service modules to interface with at least one of the service modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Schlabach, Nabeel Ahmed Zuberi
  • Patent number: 6803734
    Abstract: A dynamic braking system for a vehicle, the system comprising an engine, an alternator, a plurality of alternating current (AC) electric traction motors, each coupled in driving relationship to a respective one of a plurality of driven wheels, a plurality of power inverters where each of the traction motors has excitation windings coupled in circuit with a corresponding one of the plurality of power inverters, a fuel-free dynamic braking controller, a fuel-free dynamic braking transfer switch located between one of the plurality of traction motors and the one of the plurality of power inverters in circuit with the corresponding one of the plurality of power inverters, wherein the one of the plurality of traction motors in circuit with the corresponding one of the plurality of power inverters that is separated by the fuel-free dynamic braking transfer switch does not generate and does not consume power, and wherein the fuel-free dynamic braking controller commands one of the plurality of power inverters that i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Peter Loring Valentine
  • Patent number: 6799873
    Abstract: A third brake light apparatus for a truck, the apparatus comprising an attachment comprising a front side, a top side and a back side wherein the attachment fits over an upper edge of a tailgate, a reflector cover comprising a top surface connected to the top side of the attachment, a light within the reflector cover, and a wire assembly connected to the light at a first end and comprising a connector at a second end for connecting the cord to a brake light system in the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald M. Fox
  • Patent number: 6752930
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a solute to a solvent, the apparatus comprising a feed line where the feed line comprises a mixer-injector having at least a body with a carrier stream inlet, an additive stream inlet, and an outlet, a metering valve for controlling an amount of solute to supply to the solvent, a flow meter to determine the amount of solute to supply to the solvent, a strainer to remove a foreign substance from the solute, a cleanout valve, an additive feed line, a solenoid valve to control when a release of the solute to the flow meter is made, and a shut-off valve to prevent the release of said solute to the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Peter L. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6647934
    Abstract: An enhanced split cooling system and method for a turbocharged internal combustion engine including a liquid cooled turbocharger 19 and an engine liquid coolant jacket 18, the system comprising a coolant pump 12 for pumping coolant from a coolant storage tank 16 in heat exchange relationship with the engine jacket 18 and turbocharger 19; an oil cooler 32 having coolant input and output lines; a valve assembly 74, 83 including a multi-port rotary valve actuated by a single actuator; a first coolant output line connected for conveying coolant from the engine to the valve assembly 74, 83; a radiator 22 connected via a second coolant line for receiving coolant from the valve assembly 74, 83 and having a coolant outflow line to return coolant to the coolant tank 16; an intercooler 28 operatively associated with the turbocharger 19 for passing the coolant in hear exchange relationship with compressed air in the turbocharger 19; a lube oil subcooler 46 coupled by a third coolant flow line to receive coolant from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Marsh, Peter Loring Valentine
  • Patent number: 6626356
    Abstract: A credit card system and method for configuring a vehicle specific to a user and for transacting financial transactions, the system comprising a User Preference and Information Database containing information specific to said user for configuring a specific vehicle, a credit card capable of storing financial transaction information and information to access said User Preference Database, a credit card data receptacle located in said vehicle, a global communication network, a User Transaction History Database containing information about said user's prior transactions, a display monitor located in said vehicle, and a point of sale where said credit card is used for a financial transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Michael Davenport, John Erik Hershey
  • Patent number: 6561700
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting an end of a first fiber optic cable to an end of a second fiber optic cable, the apparatus comprising a first fiber optic cable comprising at least one plastic fiber, a second fiber optic cable comprising at least one plastic fiber, a first fitting have a cavity for securing the end of said first fiber optic cable, a second fitting for securing the end of said second fiber optic cable, and a connector for joining the first fitting to the second fitting to hold the end of the first fiber optic cable in alignment with the end of the second fiber optic cable to allow light to pass therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: SuperVision International, Inc.
    Inventor: Pinhas Paul Koren
  • Patent number: 6484952
    Abstract: A waterfall illuminated by a plurality of optical fibers having their ends disposed into an outlet of the waterfall and directing light from the fiber ends onto water within the waterfall. The waterfall comprises a water conduit having an inlet for receiving water into the interior of the water conduit and having an outlet formed by a top plate and bottom plate for producing a waterfall as the water flows out of the water conduit, a fiber optic cable bundle attached to the water conduit, and the fiber optic cable bundle comprising a plurality of fibers where each fiber adapted to receive light at an input end and to emit light at an output end. The output ends of the respective fibers are disposed within the outlet whereby the output ends are positioned to direct light onto water in the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Super Vision International, Inc.
    Inventor: Pinhas Paul Koren
  • Patent number: 6480810
    Abstract: A method for processing monitored data from a remote asset to optimize maintenance and operation schedules, the method comprising the steps of collecting data from the remote asset, building a data set based on the data collected, applying statistical scripts to the data set to create a statistical model, comparing the statistical model to the data set, creating a standardization model from the compared statistical model and the data set, applying a trending algorithm to the data, deriving statistical based control limits, and applying the control limits to a new set of collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Aidan Thomas Cardella, Evelyn Varner
  • Patent number: 6434452
    Abstract: A distributed power system for remotely controlling a locomotive, the system comprising a position-determining device for determining a position of the locomotive, a pre-stored track database comprising terrain and contour data about a railroad track, a track database integrity monitor for detecting errors with the pre-stored track database, a processor comprising an algorithm to determine a distributed power for the locomotive and to use the track database integrity monitor to determine if errors exist in the pre-stored track database, and a memory device connected to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Gray
  • Patent number: 6400111
    Abstract: A system and method for using a relatively high voltage power source on a locomotive to power a windshield wiper system that is capable of operating at variable and interval delay speeds comprising a first DC electric motor, a second DC electric motor, a controller operatively connected for enabling operation thereof, and a convertor power supply connected to the relatively high voltage power source where the convertor has a dynamic response characteristic emulating the electric power characteristics of a conventional vehicle battery whereby the convertor can be rated for supplying nominal motor current but can supply relatively high currents to the first DC motor to allow the motor to overcome stalled conditions
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gail Leroy Detar
  • Patent number: 6378282
    Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for dislodging produce from trees comprising a support structure, a boom vertically placed where a first end is connected to the support structure, a positioning apparatus to position a second end of the boom radially from the first end, horizontal posts connected to the boom wherein a first post is positioned above a second post, crank arm rotatably connected between the horizontal posts along an axis where the crank arm has a plurality of elbows, one of a plurality of spools rotatably attached to the crank arm at each respective elbow whereby each spool is free to rotate axially, a plurality of wands axialy attached to each spool and spaced around each spool, and a rotating apparatus for rotating the crank arm about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: James P. Carlton
  • Patent number: 6367100
    Abstract: A waterfall apparatus comprising a water confining base, said base including a bottom and a plurality of upwardly extending side walls connected to said bottom; a water inlet connected to said base for providing a path of travel for water entering said base; a water outlet connected to said base, said water outlet including an upper lip connected to at least a first one of said plurality of side walls and extending outwardly therefrom, and a lower lip spaced apart from said upper lip, connected to at least to a second one of said plurality of side walls, and extending outwardly therefrom so that water positioned within said base flows between said upper and lower lips and outwardly and downwardly therefrom; a water flow guiding arm connected to said base and extending downwardly at a predetermined angle therefrom into the inner confines of said base to provide a water flow path of travel from said water inlet, around said guiding arm and from said water outlet, the predetermined angle being less than 90 degre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventors: Pinhas P. Koren, Richard Heiner
  • Patent number: 6345594
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and correcting a Hot Manifold condition that occurs in turbocharged diesel engines where intake air used for combustion exceeds an acceptable operating temperature where sensors monitor conditions indicative of the Hot Manifold condition and power level reduction, speed control limits, varying coolant system operations, and cycling flow valves are controlled by a processor to correct the Hot Manifold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventors: Edward J. Orschek, Ronald H. Till
  • Patent number: 6308632
    Abstract: An apparatus for deploying a propeller assembly from a folded configuration to a deployed, operational configuration, the apparatus comprising a propeller assembly hub which in conjunction with a propeller hub nut maintains an aerodynamically efficient shape after the propeller assembly is deployed, the propeller hub nut which is diametrically large enough to allow assembly of a drive shaft and a drive shaft bevel gear and includes a cavity to accept a spring detent, a propeller blade which protrudes from a journal located in the surface of the propeller assembly hub where when in its folded configuration, the propeller blade is in the same parallel axial direction as the drive shaft and when deployed is nutated to a radially outwardly extending operative position in response to rotating of a propeller blade bevel gear, the drive shaft rotated about its axis where one end engages a prime mover and a second distal end engages the hub nut, drive shaft bevel gear fixed to the drive shaft near the distal end whic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: James E. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6284960
    Abstract: A woodwind instrument reed maintenance device that extends the life of a used reed by removing the tip of the reed by burning. The device achieves extended life, and a brighter or a more projected sound from a used reed due to the cauterization of the woody longitudinal fibers called vascular bundles, running vertically the entire length of the reed. The device holds the reed securely and is designed to retain the burned tip at the precise angles or arc of the cut of the tip so as to maintain a working relationship with the woodwind mouthpiece. In addition, the top portion utilizes an angled tip to not only secure the reed in the device, but to prevent back burn to playable areas of the reed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventors: Frank J. DaSilva, Joseph M. Ballaera
  • Patent number: D449180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Dudley Blake
  • Patent number: D451775
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Cecil Holt
  • Patent number: D457713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Trammel