Patents by Inventor Hendrik Pieter Jacobus De Bock
Hendrik Pieter Jacobus De Bock 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: 11923569Abstract: A fuel cell unit that includes a support structure having a plurality of flow channels and an active layer membrane coupled with the support structure, the active layer membrane comprising at least one electrode layer. Each flow channel of the plurality of flow channels is configured to direct one of air and fuel across at least one electrode layer of an active layer membrane to create electric current. Each flow channel of the plurality of flow channels includes at least one enhancement feature that is configured to disrupt a formation of a boundary layer near a surface of the active layer membrane where reactions occur. The plurality of flow channels can be positioned in a zig-zag configuration to allow for an increase in power density of the fuel cell unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Richard L. Hart, Honggang Wang, Narendra D. Joshi
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Patent number: 11858613Abstract: An aerospace vehicle including: a body, wherein the body is configured to generate heat during operation; a coating disposed over at least a portion of the body, the coating being configured to shift a frequency of at least one wavelength of the heat generated by the body from a first frequency to a second frequency having higher transmissivity relative to a neighboring medium surrounding the body as compared to the first frequency.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Anant Achyut Setlur, James William Bray
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Patent number: 11815024Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a heat source heat exchanger configured to collect heat from the turbomachine during operation; a heat sink heat exchanger; and a thermal transport bus having a heat exchange fluid configured to flow therethrough at a pressure within an operational pressure range. The thermal management system defines an operational temperature range for the heat exchange fluid, the operational temperature range having a lower temperature limit less than about zero degrees Fahrenheit at a pressure within the operational pressure range and an upper temperature limit of at least about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit at a pressure within the operational pressure range.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Adon Delgado, Jr., Brandon Wayne Miller, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
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Patent number: 11810696Abstract: A power cable is presented. The power cable includes a power link. The power cable further includes an enclosure coupled to the power link, where the enclosure is partially open. Moreover, the power cable includes a contactor disposed at least partially within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the power link, where the contactor is configured to be connected to a receiver such that an open end of the enclosure forms a fluid-tight coupling with the receiver and a cavity is defined between the enclosure and the receiver. A system including the power cable and a method for controlling a supply of an electrical power are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
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Patent number: 11752622Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11692650Abstract: A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Publication number: 20230108512Abstract: A thermal structure for management of thermal energy, the thermal structure including: a first wall structure defining a first cavity; a second wall structure defining a second cavity, the second cavity in fluid communication with the first cavity; and a barrier cavity defined at least in-part by the first wall structure and the second wall structure, wherein the barrier cavity is disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity and includes a pressurized barrier fluid therein or is configured to receive the pressurized barrier fluid during operation of the thermal structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Daniel Jason Erno, William Dwight Gerstler, Biao Fang, Laura Cerully Dial, Voramon Supatarawanich Dheeradhada, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
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Patent number: 11613003Abstract: An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another. The plurality of sequentially arranged links include a first link. The extension tool further includes a line assembly having a line, the line including a first portion extending through the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the first link and a transition portion extending from the first portion through the first link. The extension tool further includes an attachment feature coupled to or formed integrally with the line of the line assembly at the transition portion of the line to support the line in the event of a failure of the line.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics LimitedInventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Tim Henri Ann Francois, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Michael Robert Millhaem
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Patent number: 11606017Abstract: An armature is presented. The armature includes an armature winding having a plurality of coils, wherein each coil of the plurality of coils is spaced apart from adjacent coils and comprise includes a first side portion and a second side portion. The armature further includes a first electrically insulating winding enclosure. Furthermore, the armature includes a second electrically insulating winding enclosure disposed at a radial distance from the first electrically insulating winding enclosure, wherein the armature winding is disposed between the first electrically insulating winding enclosure and the second electrically insulating winding enclosure. Moreover, the armature includes an electrically insulating coil side separator disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion of the plurality of coils of the armature winding. A superconducting generator including the armature and a wind turbine having such superconducting generator are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Allan Torrey, Wei Zhang, Mark Ernest Vermilyea, James William Bray, Siddharth Navinchandra Ashar, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Weijun Yin, Alexander Kagan, Anoop Jassal, Joseph John Zierer, Rammohan Rao Kalluri
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Patent number: 11591965Abstract: A thermal management system for transferring heat between fluids includes a thermal transport bus through which a heat exchange fluid flows. Additionally, the system includes a heat source heat exchanger arranged along the bus such that heat is added to the fluid flowing through the heat source heat exchanger. Moreover, the system includes a plurality of heat sink heat exchangers arranged along the bus such that heat is removed from the fluid flowing through the plurality of heat sink heat exchangers. Furthermore, the system includes a bypass conduit fluidly coupled to the bus such that the bypass conduit allows the fluid to bypass one of the heat source heat exchanger or one of the heat sink heat exchangers. In addition, the system includes a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid through the bypass conduit based on a pressure of the fluid within the bus.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Brian Gene Brzek, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Kevin Edward Hinderliter
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Patent number: 11573053Abstract: A cyclone cooler device includes a housing that defines an interior channel elongated along a center axis. One or more of the fluid passage or configuration of an inlet end of the channel is shaped to induce a swirling flow of a cooling fluid within the channel while the channel is thermally coupled with one or more heat sources. The swirling flow of the cooling fluid removes thermal energy from and cools the one or more heat sources. During the swirling flow, the cooling fluid rotates around the center axis of the channel while also moving along the length of the center axis. The cooling fluid changes phases during the swirling flow to cool the heat source(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Corey Bourassa, William Dwight Gerstler
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Publication number: 20220367890Abstract: An engine assembly includes a combustor, a fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the combustor, the fuel cell stack being configured (i) to generate power using fuel and air directed into the fuel cell stack and (ii) to direct fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into the combustor, a compressor fluidly connected upstream of (i) the combustor and (ii) the fuel cell stack, the compressor being configured to generate compressed air to direct into the fuel cell stack, a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor, the turbine having a turbine inlet temperature, and a controller that is configured to control a power allocation between the fuel cell stack and the turbine based upon the turbine inlet temperature of the turbine. The combustor is configured to combust the fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into one or more gaseous combustion products that power the turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2021Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Honggang Wang, Narendra D. Joshi, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Richard L. Hart
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Publication number: 20220356848Abstract: An engine assembly includes a combustor, a fuel cell stack integrated with the combustor, the fuel cell stack configured (i) to direct fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into the combustor and (ii) to generate electrical energy, a catalytic partial oxidation convertor that is fluidly connected to the fuel cell stack, the catalytic partial oxidation convertor being configured to optimize a hydrogen content of a fuel stream to be directed into the fuel cell stack, and one or more subsystems electrically connected with the fuel cell stack, the one or more subsystems being configured to receive the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack. The combustor is configured to combust the fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into one or more gaseous combustion products that drive a downstream turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Narendra D. Joshi, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Richard L. Hart, Anil R. Duggal, Seung-Hyuck Hong
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Publication number: 20220356847Abstract: An engine assembly includes a combustor, a fuel cell stack integrated with the combustor, and a pre-burner system fluidly connected to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is configured to direct fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into the combustor. The pre-burner system is configured to control a temperature of an air flow directed into the fuel cell stack. The combustor is configured to combust the fuel and air exhaust from the fuel cell stack into one or more gaseous combustion products that drive a downstream turbine. The engine assembly can further include a catalytic partial oxidation convertor that is fluidly connected to the fuel cell stack. The catalytic partial oxidation convertor is configured to develop a hydrogen rich fuel stream to be directed into the fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Narendra D. Joshi, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Honggang Wang, Anil R. Duggal, Richard L. Hart, Seung-Hyuck Hong
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Publication number: 20220344678Abstract: A fuel cell unit that includes a support structure having a plurality of flow channels and an active layer membrane coupled with the support structure, the active layer membrane comprising at least one electrode layer. Each flow channel of the plurality of flow channels is configured to direct one of air and fuel across at least one electrode layer of an active layer membrane to create electric current. Each flow channel of the plurality of flow channels includes at least one enhancement feature that is configured to disrupt a formation of a boundary layer near a surface of the active layer membrane where reactions occur. The plurality of flow channels can be positioned in a zig-zag configuration to allow for an increase in power density of the fuel cell unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Richard L. Hart, Honggang Wang, Narendra D. Joshi
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Publication number: 20220307419Abstract: A thermal management system for transferring heat between fluids includes a thermal transport bus through which a heat exchange fluid flows. Additionally, the system includes a heat source heat exchanger arranged along the bus such that heat is added to the fluid flowing through the heat source heat exchanger. Moreover, the system includes a plurality of heat sink heat exchangers arranged along the bus such that heat is removed from the fluid flowing through the plurality of heat sink heat exchangers. Furthermore, the system includes a bypass conduit fluidly coupled to the bus such that the bypass conduit allows the fluid to bypass one of the heat source heat exchanger or one of the heat sink heat exchangers. In addition, the system includes a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid through the bypass conduit based on a pressure of the fluid within the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Brian Gene Brzek, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Kevin Edward Hinderliter
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Publication number: 20220161919Abstract: An aerospace vehicle including: a body, wherein the body is configured to generate heat during operation; a coating disposed over at least a portion of the body, the coating being configured to shift a frequency of at least one wavelength of the heat generated by the body from a first frequency to a second frequency having higher transmissivity relative to a neighboring medium surrounding the body as compared to the first frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Anant Achyut Setlur, James William Bray
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Publication number: 20220128317Abstract: A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
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Patent number: 11300365Abstract: A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
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Patent number: 11236953Abstract: An inverted heat exchanger device includes an exterior conduit elongated and extending around a center axis between a first end and second end. The exterior conduit including a body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a center core elongated along the center axis, and plural walls extending between the center core and the interior surface. A first conduit is disposed inside the exterior conduit that includes an inlet, plural core passages, an outlet, and internal manifolds. A first fluid is configured to flow along the first conduit. A second conduit is also disposed inside the exterior conduit. The second conduit includes an inlet, plural core passages, an outlet, and internal manifolds. A second fluid is configured to flow along the second conduit. The plural walls are configured to define the first conduit and the second conduit within the body of the exterior conduit.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel J. Erno, John C. Glessner, Neil R. Garrigan, Jeffrey Rambo