Patents Represented by Attorney Dority & Manning

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  • Piezoelectric sensors
    Patent number: 8102101
    Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor having a plurality of electrodes deposited on a single surface of the dielectric medium is generally provided. The plurality of electrodes can define a plurality of square-shaped electrodes forming a grid on the first surface of the dielectric medium while the second electrode defines a continuous electrode. An electrode border surrounding the plurality of electrodes can be deposited on the first surface of the dielectric medium. Alternatively, the plurality of electrodes can define column-shaped electrodes, while the second electrode defines a plurality of row-shaped electrodes separated by etchings. The direction of orientation of each column-shaped electrode and the direction of orientation of each row-shaped electrode can be substantially perpendicular. A method of making a piezoelectric sensor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Victor Giurgiutiu, James R. Kendall
  • Training progress indicator
    Patent number: 8101813
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. An absorbent article may be provided with selected electrical components used as wetness or other type sensors which may be determined by a coupled signaling device. An attached signaling device may automatically determine physiological changes of a wearer of the absorbent article including increases in void volume over time, increases in time between voids and proximity to bathroom fixtures. The signaling device may provide data analysis and/or display, and may provide remote alarm functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Ales, Keith William Magic, Shawn Jeffery Sullivan, Davis-Dang H. Nhan
  • System and method for measuring shaft deflection in a wind turbine
    Patent number: 8099255
    Abstract: A measurement system and a method for measuring a net deflection of a shaft in a wind turbine are disclosed. The measurement system includes at least one first sensor positioned proximate a first shaft component, the at least one first sensor configured to measure at least one first deflection of the first shaft component, and at least one second sensor configured to measure at least one reference deflection. The measurement system further includes a base, wherein the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are coupled together and configured on the base, and a processor configured to calculate the net deflection of the shaft utilizing the at least one first deflection and the at least one reference deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Henry Madge
  • Wind turbine rotor blades with enhanced lightning protection system
    Patent number: 8096765
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes a plurality of lightning receptors configured along either or both of the pressure side or suction side of the blade. At least one looped lightning conductive circuit is provided, with the lightning receptors configured in communication with a respective lightning conductive circuit. The lightning conductive circuit has terminal ends that extend through the root for connection of each terminal end with a grounding system within the wind turbine. The looped lightning conductive circuit provides a redundant path to each lightning receptor for conducting a lightning strike to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter James Fritz, Richard Hardison
  • Method for removing material from a patient's body
    Patent number: 8096957
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method for removal of bone marrow tissue from a patient's body. The method generally comprises the steps of providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving bone marrow tissue. The elongate member defines a lumen and comprises a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The apparatus further comprises an elongate tissue removal member for conveying bone marrow tissue through the lumen. The tissue removal member is rotatably disposed within the lumen. The method further comprises gathering a sample of said tissue into said lumen; and conveying with said tissue removal member at least a portion of the tissue sample proximally along said lumen. The step of gathering may be accomplished by advancing the apparatus through the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Conquergood, Mark Leung, Caitlyn Paget
  • Trackway and method for manufacturing a trackway
    Patent number: 8091797
    Abstract: A trackway for guiding rail-bound vehicles is disclosed that includes a plurality of pre-fabricated concrete slabs firmly attached to one another, wherein each of the concrete slabs includes positioning and connecting elements. At least one groove is formed in each of the concrete slabs and at least one elastic sleeve is configured to fit within the groove(s) of several of the concrete slabs. A plurality of rails are configured to fit within the elastic sleeve(s), wherein the length of one of the rails is longer than the length of one of the concrete slabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Max Bogl Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Reichel, Stefan Bogl
  • Method and system for providing increased turbine output for doubly fed induction generator
    Patent number: 8093741
    Abstract: A system and method for supplying increased frequency supporting current from a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) to assist in maintaining grid stability is provided. The output capability of a line side converter associated with the DFIG is enhanced by significantly increasing the current handling capacity of electric switches forming the converter. A dynamic brake is also provided across a DC link bus coupling the line side converter to another converter coupled to the rotor of the DFIG. The dynamic brake is controlled based on the voltage across the DC link bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Allen Michael Ritter, Jeffrey Alan Melius
  • Method of repairing a subsurface void or damage for a wind turbine blade
    Patent number: 8091229
    Abstract: A procedure for repairing subsurface defects in a shell member laminate of a wind turbine blade includes detecting the location and boundary of the subsurface defect and drilling a fill hole from an external surface of the laminate into the defect proximate to a boundary of the defect. A vent hole is drilled from the external surface of the laminate into the defect proximate to an opposite boundary from the fill hole. A flowable bonding material is injected into the fill hole until the bonding material flows from the vent hole. The repair zone is reinforced with at least one mechanical fastener defined through the laminate either within the boundary of the defect or outboard of the boundary of the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Deak, Scott Gabell Riddell
  • Face mask having baffle layer for improved fluid resistance
    Patent number: 8091550
    Abstract: A face mask is provided. The face mask includes a body portion that is configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user such that the air of respiration is drawn through the body portion. The body portion includes a baffle layer which helps prevent penetration from a fluid striking the mask. The baffle layer has an outer and an inner surface with a plurality of projections extending from one of the outer or inner surfaces. The baffle layer aids in absorbing energy associated with fluid striking the body portion of the mask. The baffle layer distributes fluid away form the point of impact in the channels between the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Steindorf
  • Hermetically sealed capacitor assembly
    Patent number: 8094434
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly that includes a conductive polymer electrolytic capacitor that is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas is provided. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the ceramic housing is capable of limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the conductive polymer of the capacitor. In this manner, the conductive polymer is less likely to oxidize in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Bharat Rawal, Gang Ning, Brady Jones, Zebbie Lynn Sebald, Stanislav Zednicek, Zdenek Sita
  • Intelligent active power management system for renewable variable power generation
    Patent number: 8095244
    Abstract: A method and system for intelligently directing output boost capabilities of wind turbine generators operating together in a wind plant has been provided. Selected ones of the wind turbine generators have their own individual boost modes of operation that can provide a limited time increase in power output. This boost capability of the selected individual generators is conveyed to the wind plant control upon request and is used to direct individual boot operations of the generators. In some embodiments, weather forecast information including wind forecast information is used to calculate the generators present and future forecasted boost capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahesh Amritlal Morjaria, Minesh Ashok Shah
  • Dot sighting device with large caliber
    Patent number: 8087196
    Abstract: Provided is a dot sighting device with large caliber for binocular vision in which sighting can be performed rapidly and accurately by minimizing parallax. The dot sighting device is attached to and detached from a mount for a heavy machine gun. In addition, by using the dot sighting device with large caliber, a user can rapidly and accurately sight and fire a target by taking into consideration types and characteristics of the target and a distance to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: In Jung, Dong Hee Lee
  • Filler neck for the fuel tank of a vehicle
    Patent number: 8087434
    Abstract: The invention refers to a filler neck for the fuel tank of a vehicle that encompasses a refueling channel (2), a first opening (3) and below it, arranged in a transversal wall (11), a second opening (7) that can be closed by a closing device. In a longitudinal section (27) of the refueling tank (2) that extends between the transversal wall (11) and the first opening (3), ends a drainage channel (10) via a drainage opening (12). In addition, a closing element (15) has been arranged in the longitudinal section (27), movable between a position that closes the drainage opening (12) and one position that releases it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Alfmeier Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen
    Inventors: Markus Stephan, André Brandis, Katrin Buchholz
  • Blade extension for rotor blade in wind turbine
    Patent number: 8083488
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade and a blade extension. The rotor blade has a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further has an aerodynamic profile. The blade extension is mounted to the rotor blade. The blade extension includes a cutaway mounting portion for mounting the blade extension to the rotor blade such that the blade extension is generally flush with at least one of the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade. The cutaway mounting portion defines a notch configured to locate the blade extension relative to the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Peter James Fritz
  • Method and system for managing probability of an outcome in a random generation event
    Patent number: 8083583
    Abstract: An online lottery game system and methodology involves, for each play of the game, a player choosing a number of player indicia from a field of the indicia. A subset of the indicia is randomly generated, and the player's indicia is compared to the subset to determine a winning game play. The number of indicia in the subsets is varied between different game plays such that a blend of the winning probabilities for each subset for all of the game plays produces a desired overall winning probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Bennett, III, Charles Holton, Aman Safaei
  • DC bus voltage control for two stage solar converter
    Patent number: 8085564
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for supplying AC power to an AC power grid from a DC power source, such as a photovoltaic (PV) array are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a converter coupled to the DC power source that provides DC power to a DC bus at a DC bus voltage. The systems and methods can further include an inverter coupled to the DC bus for converting the DC power of the DC bus to an output AC power. The systems and methods can further include a control system configured to regulate the DC bus voltage of the DC bus to operate at a variable DC bus voltage setpoint. The control system can adjust the DC bus voltage setpoint based at least in part on the DC bus voltage and the output AC current of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Klodowski, David Smith, Robert Gregory Wagoner, Sidney Allen Barker
  • Layered mixed-metal phosphonates for high dielectric strength polymer nanocomposites
    Patent number: 8080600
    Abstract: Mixed metal phosphonates are generally provided. The mixed metal phosphonate can generally have the composition: AB(RPO3)3, where A is Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Pb2+, La3+, Co2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, or combinations thereof; B is Ti4+, Zr4+, Al3+, or combinations thereof; and R is an organic group (e.g., aryl group, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, etc.). The mixed metal phosphonate can be combined with a polymeric material to form a polymeric film. Methods of making the mixed metal phosphonate by combining and reacting a metal oxide and an organophosphonic acid are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Arthur Peter Barber, III, Harry J. Ploehn, Hans-Conrad zur Loye
  • Method and apparatus for combustor nozzle with flameholding protection
    Patent number: 8079218
    Abstract: The structure and operation of a fuel nozzle for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed where the fuel nozzle provides for flameholding protection and, more specifically, to such a nozzle that provides for nondestructive protection from flameholding. The nozzle provides for differential thermal expansion between tubes forming fuel passages to allowing for the nondestructive venting of fuel during a flameholding condition. Upon extinguishing the flameholding condition, the nozzle returns to normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Adapter for pressure sensors for carrying out long-term cylinder pressure monitoring on internal combustion engines
    Patent number: 8079252
    Abstract: An adapter for pressure sensors for monitoring long-term cylinder pressures in internal combustion engines comprises a housing with a gas duct, a connection to a cylinder cover of an internal combustion engine, a rear opening of the gas duct from the housing with an apparatus for closing this rear opening in a gastight manner, and a connection for inserting a pressure sensor with a sensor membrane. The transition line of the opening in the gas duct, which is reached by the sensor membrane in the inserted state in order to be exposed to the gas pressure in the gas duct, is on a plane. The transition line forms the transition from the contour of the gas duct to the connection to the sensor. There is a continuous transition from the sensor membrane to the contour of the gas duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kistler Holding, AG
    Inventors: Alex Weber, Ulrich Staiger, Paul Engeler
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D651553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique
    Inventors: James DeWitt Knowles, Pascal Roger Germain Fickinger