Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder P.C.
  • Patent number: 8291938
    Abstract: A pressure-compensated accumulator bottle is provided. In one embodiment, the accumulator bottle includes a housing and an interior wall that generally define first, second, and third chambers within the housing. In this embodiment, a spring is disposed in the second chamber and configured to apply a biasing force on a first piston disposed within the first chamber. Further, in this embodiment, an additional piston is disposed within the third chamber and is configured to facilitate balancing of the pressure of a fluid disposed in the second chamber with the pressure of the external environment such that the magnitude of a second biasing force applied on the first piston by the pressure of the fluid depends at least in part on the pressure of the external environment. Hydraulic circuits and systems including a pressure-compensated accumulator bottle are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Mac M. Kennedy, Scott D. Ward, Thomas M. Bell
  • Patent number: 8287285
    Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes an electronic sub-assembly and a conductive interior trim component at least partially disposed about the electronic sub-assembly. The conductive interior trim component is electrically coupled to a conductive structure at a reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Steven M. Mainville, Sreeniwas Ranganathan, Bryan Shafer, Scott W. Mee
  • Patent number: 8289680
    Abstract: Embodiment relate to an extruded high power electrical distribution. The bus can be employed in a MCC, a drive cabinet, or any such electrical enclosure to facilitate transmission of power. A body of the bus includes an elongate metal extrusion with first and second ridges extending along a length of the body from opposite edges of the body. Further, the bus includes a first groove and a second groove extending along the length of the body and into the body from a face of the body such that each of the first and second grooves comprises a cross-section having a narrow passage extending from the face into a broader cavity within the body. Additionally, the bus includes machined openings into each groove, wherein each of the machined openings is wider than the width of the corresponding groove to which it provides access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Keegan, Rangarajan M. Tallam, Scott D. Day, Abdolmehdi Kaveh Ahangar
  • Patent number: 8290630
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosed method includes controlling operation of a machine system via actuators and a first set of signals received from sensors, receiving a second signal from a vibration sensor, calculating vibration parameters based on the second signal. The method further includes the steps of normalizing each of the vibration parameters and presenting the normalized vibration parameters in an operator interface. In another embodiment, the system includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals from a machine system and to control operation of the machine system via actuators. The system also includes a condition monitoring user interface configured to display normalized vibration parameters for the machine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason E. Lakomiak, Gilles Lanthier
  • Patent number: 8288686
    Abstract: A welding system including a welding power supply coupled to a wire feeder via a spool gun connection is provided. The welding system is adapted to utilize the power and control capabilities originating from the spool gun connection for wire feeder operations during an initial period. The wire feeder is adapted to utilize the welding arc power and an internal controller to power and control wire feeder operations after the initial period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Lyle Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8282168
    Abstract: A component for a vehicle seat includes a plurality of plate-like elements generally parallel to one another, with pairs of the elements being connected, such as by welding. At least one element of each pair has a bend that creates a gap spacing with respect to the other element of the pair. Each element is connected to a next element to form a further pair in the region of the spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ingo Kienke, Jurgen Otto, Mario Budweg, Kirubaharan Reginold Albert
  • Patent number: 8285359
    Abstract: One or more techniques are provided for determining the overall motion of an organ of interest relative to a viewer or imager. Motion data is acquired for the organ of interest and/or for one or more proximate organs using sensor-based and/or image data-based techniques. The sensor-based techniques may include electrical and non-electrical techniques. The image data-based techniques may include both pre-acquisition and acquisition image data. The motion data for the organ of interest and proximate organs may be used to determine one or more quiescent periods corresponding to intervals of minimal motion for the organ of interest and the proximate organs, which may be used to determine one or more gating points that may be used retrospectively, as well as one or more motion compensation factors that may be used to reduce motion-related artifacts during processing and reconstruction of the acquired image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prathyusha K. Salla, Gopal B. Avinash, Cherik Bulkes
  • Patent number: 8281442
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a blade maintenance vehicle. The blade maintenance vehicle includes a self-contained balance configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on an upwardly facing edge of a horizontally positioned wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eric Eggleston
  • Patent number: 8278601
    Abstract: A spool gun having a quick connector connectable to an electrical power source and a gas source is disclosed. A connection line extends from the spool gun and is attached to a connector. The connector both fluidly connects the spool gun to a shielding gas source and electrically connects the spool gun to a power source constructed to generate a welding-type power. Such a spool gun is quickly and efficiently connectable to the gas and power systems required for performing welding processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Stanzel
  • Patent number: 8278630
    Abstract: A system and method for imaging biological samples on multiple surfaces of a support structure are disclosed. The support structure may be a flow cell through which a reagent fluid is allowed to flow and interact with the biological samples. Excitation radiation from at least one radiation source may be used to excite the biological samples on multiple surfaces. In this manner, fluorescent emission radiation may be generated from the biological samples and subsequently captured and detected by detection optics and at least one detector. The detected fluorescent emission radiation may then be used to generate image data. This imaging of multiple surfaces may be accomplished either sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the techniques of the present invention may be used with any type of imaging system. For instance, both epifluorescent and total internal reflection methods may benefit from the techniques of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Feng, Jason Bryant, Dale Buermann
  • Patent number: 8277191
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a turbine engine that includes a turbine stage including a turbine rotor having multiple blades disposed in a first annular arrangement. The turbine engine also includes multiple cover plates disposed in a second annular arrangement along interfaces between the turbine rotor and the blades. The turbine engine further includes multiple lugs coupled to the turbine stage and a first ring coupled to the lugs to hold the cover plates to the turbine stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Luke J. Ammann
  • Patent number: 8276246
    Abstract: A fastening device, in particular for hand grips for the interior of a motor vehicle, is equipped with a bearing block, which can be inserted into a recess in a plate-like structure, with a stopper which can be inserted into the bearing block, and with means which, upon insertion of the stopper, make it possible for rear engagement of the fastening device behind a plate-like structure. The invention makes provision for the rear-engagement means to be formed separately and to be produced preferably in the manner of wings from sheet steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Patrick Welter, Frederic Selvini
  • Patent number: 8278588
    Abstract: A system and method for start flow approach control for a proportional valve in a plasma cutter is provided that includes a controller configured to determine a target gas pressure set point for a plasma cutting operation and determine a ramp pressure set point offset from the target gas pressure set point. The controller is also configured to apply a full-open drive signal to an air pressure-closing proportional valve and monitor a pressure of gas flow output from the air pressure-closing proportional valve via a sensing device. The controller is further configured to apply a ramping drive signal to the air pressure-closing proportional valve after the pressure of the gas flow has reached the ramp pressure set point and apply a target-pressure drive signal to the air pressure-closing proportional valve after the pressure of the gas flow has reached the target gas pressure set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony V. Salsich, Jeremy D. Overesch
  • Patent number: 8278599
    Abstract: A welding wire feed drive system is provided including belts mounted on wire drive rollers. One or both belts may be poly-V belts mounted on the rollers and positioned such that grooves of the belts are outward facing. Opposing grooves and projections of the belts may form an interfacing or interlocking arrangement suitable for the securement of a welding wire therein. The grooves and projections of the belts may be utilized to facilitate the movement of the welding wire towards a welding application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 8274782
    Abstract: A motor control center comprises a plurality of bays in which switchgear components, circuit protective components, automation components and power electronic components are disposed for driving motors and other loads. Network optical conductors are routed through one or more wireways adjacent to the bays. Distribution nodes are coupled to the conductors and are interconnected with respective network terminals within the bays. Components within individual bays for which EtherNet and/or Internet connectivity is desired are coupled to the network terminals. The conductors may comprise plastic optical fibers and may be designed to operate in the relatively high voltage environment of the motor control center bays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Brian Blodorn, David Lee Jensen
  • Patent number: 8269182
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided with a detector assembly that includes a support panel, a digital detector array with a rear side of the detector array being secured to a front side of the support panel, a backscattered X-ray and reflected light absorption layer disposed between the detector array and the support panel, a rear shock absorbing structure secured to a rear side of the support panel, and a front shock absorbing structure secured to a front side of the detector array. The digital X-ray detector further includes a shell assembly surrounding the detector assembly and secured to the rear shock absorbing structure. In another embodiment, a method is provided for assembling a digital X-ray detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Ryan Konkle, Gary Vernon McBroom
  • Patent number: 8268134
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system includes a turbine engine component that includes a first material having a surface exposed to a fluid flow path and a sacrificial anode layer disposed on the surface. The sacrificial anode layer includes a second material that is electrochemically more active than the first material and the second material is configured to preferentially corrode to protect the first material from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Albert Goller, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Rebecca Evelyn Hefner
  • Patent number: 8269895
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for recursive noise reduction. An exemplary method comprises receiving a first film frame having a first frame rate and a second film frame having the first frame rate and converting the first film frame into a first plurality of video frames having a second frame rate. The exemplary method further comprises converting the second film frame into a second plurality of video frames having the second frame rate, wherein the first plurality of video frames is positioned adjacent the second plurality of video frames at a border between the first plurality of video frames and the second plurality of video frames and updating a noise reduction correction signal only on the border between the first plurality of video frames and the second plurality of video frames when operating in a first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael Crabb, Mark Francis Rumreich
  • Patent number: 8267649
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a turbine engine having a first rotary component having a first annular coupling disposed about a rotational axis of the engine. The first annular coupling has an axially converging surface relative to the rotational axis. The system also includes a second rotary component having a second annular coupling disposed about the rotational axis of the turbine engine, wherein the second annular coupling comprises an axially diverging surface such that the axially converging surface of the first annular coupling mates with the axially diverging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ian David Wilson
  • Patent number: 8266912
    Abstract: A system, one embodiment, includes an annular seal configured to seal a turbine fuel nozzle to a turbine combustor, wherein the annular seal includes a first annular seal portion having an inner annular surface, a first base portion, and a first peripheral portion opposite from the first base portion. The embodiment also includes the first annular seal portion configured to couple to a second annular seal portion having an outer annular surface, a second base portion, and a second peripheral portion opposite from the second base portion. Further, the embodiment includes the first and second peripheral portions sealable by a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, James T. Brown