Patents Represented by Attorney GE Global Patent Operation
  • Patent number: 8347502
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a heatsink and a method for forming a heatsink. In one embodiment, a method for forming the heatsink includes forming at least one thermo pyrolytic graphite element. The at least one TPG element includes a first side having a wedge-shaped surface and a second side having a flat surface. The method further includes layering a metal material over the at least one TPG element, the metal configured to be complementary to the first side of the at least one TPG element, and applying pressure to fasten the metal material to the at least one TPG element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Slaton, David L. McDonald
  • Patent number: 8343661
    Abstract: A cathode composition and a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising same are disclosed. The cathode composition is described as comprising (i) particles including a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, V, and combinations thereof; (ii) alkali halometallate; (iii) alkali halide; (iv) source of Zn; and (v) source of chalcogenide. Also described is a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising the composition. The source of Zn and source of chalcogenide in the cathode composition of a cell may be effective to improve the extractable capacity of cells, and decrease the cell resistance, relative to their absence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roy Christie Galloway, Richard Louis Hart, Charles Dominic Iacovangelo, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik
  • Patent number: 8339044
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are mercury free ceramic metal halide high intensity discharge lamps of specified arc tube geometry and composition of ionizable fill. Embodiments herein generally employ a discharge vessel formed of a ceramic material having an aspect ratio satisfied by 1<ITL/ID<4.5 where ITL is the inner total length of the discharge vessel and ID is the inner diameter of the discharge vessel. The ionizable fill typically comprises xenon at a cold fill pressure of from about 3 to about 15 bar, and a halide component comprising sodium halide, thallium halide and/or indium halide, and at least one rare earth halide. Disclosed advantages may include betterment in both lumen run-up and color shift upon dimming, as compared to mercury-containing CMH HID lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tamás Panyik, István Csányi, József Gábeli, István Maros
  • Patent number: 8331084
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing electronic equipment. The apparatus includes an electronic device having a first mating portion. The device is removably secured within a shell, which has an open end allowing access to the first mating portion. The apparatus further includes a dock having a second mating portion and an output connector in electrical communication with the second mating portion. The dock removably receives the shell to facilitate electrical communication between the first and second mating portions. The output connector facilitates electrical communication between the electronic device and a device external to the dock. The apparatus also includes a damping mechanism to reduce vibratory forces on the first and second mating portions and relative movement between the portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wing Yeung Chung, Gerard Michael Cafferty
  • Patent number: 8328506
    Abstract: A turbocharger system, in certain embodiments, includes a compressor, a turbine, a shaft of common diameter coupling the compressor to the turbine, and a first fluid film bearing disposed about the shaft at a compressor end portion of the shaft. The system also includes a second fluid film fixed pad bearing disposed about the shaft at a turbine end portion of the shaft, wherein the first and second fluid film fixed pad bearings have different clearance ratios, effective lengths, or both, relative to one another. The system, in some embodiments, includes a compressor fluid film fixed pad bearing and a turbine fluid film fixed pad bearing, wherein the compressor and turbine fluid film fixed pad bearings have different clearance ratios and effective lengths, relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, Kendall Roger Swenson, Daniel Edward Loringer, Suresha Kumar Panambur
  • Patent number: 8328591
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an air induction system for an engine. In one example, the air induction system includes an intake conduit and an assembly coupled to the intake conduit which includes a water spray for removing particulates from, and for cooling, intake air flowing through the water spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon James Larson, Joseph Brower
  • Patent number: 8328145
    Abstract: A method for controlling a railroad train (10) comprising a lead unit (14), a remote unit (12A) and a communications system communicating information between the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A), wherein the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A) are each operable in a traction operational mode and a dynamic brake operational mode. The method comprises determining operability of the communications system; determining a direction of train travel; determining an operational mode of the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A); and indicating a train condition responsive to the operability of the communications system, the direction of train travel and the operational mode of the lead (14) and remote units (12A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eugene Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 8328144
    Abstract: A method for controlling a railroad train (10) comprising a lead unit (14), a remote unit (12A) and a communications system communicating information between the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A), wherein the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A) are each operable in a traction operational mode and a dynamic brake operational mode. The method comprises determining operability of the communications system; determining a direction of train travel; determining an operational mode of the lead unit (14) and the remote unit (12A); and indicating a train condition responsive to the operability of the communications system, the direction of train travel and the operational mode of the lead (14) and remote units (12A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eugene Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 8327623
    Abstract: Electrical power from a dynamic braking process in an off-highway vehicle is used to power an auxiliary system in the vehicle. The auxiliary system may be a urea storage container heating unit or a particulate filter regeneration heating unit. When dynamic braking electricity is unavailable, and to the extent the dynamic braking electricity is insufficient for powering the auxiliary system, electrical power from an energy device on board the vehicle is used to power the auxiliary system. The energy device may be an auxiliary energy storage device, devoted for use in powering the auxiliary system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Venkatesh Raman
  • Patent number: 8313291
    Abstract: A nozzle segment is disclosed that includes a first platform configured to be connected with a casing of a gas turbine engine, a second platform configured to be connected with the casing, the second platform being disposed apart from the first platform in a radial direction of the gas turbine engine, and a plurality of blades disposed between the first and second platforms and connected thereto, a portion of an inside surface of the first platform or the second platform being scalloped so as to increase a throat area of the nozzle segment in order to increase the nozzle segment's mass flow rate handling capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Mariotti, Craig Allen Bielek, Michele D'Ercole, Luciano Mei
  • Patent number: 8310070
    Abstract: A method for generating electricity along a roadway is provided. The method includes actuating an energy transfer assembly coupled to the roadway, wherein the energy transfer assembly is actuated by a force acting upon the roadway. The method also includes generating electricity at a generator coupled to the energy transfer assembly, the generator being driven by actuation of the energy transfer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John William Brand, Daniel Joseph Rush, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Steven Andrew Kellner, Christopher Louis Rekucki, Armin H. Pfoh, Brian William Schroeck
  • Patent number: 8311688
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a run-time configuration change for domain data in a database for an information systems where the domain data defines entities which are acted upon by the information system and where the reconfiguration of the domain data can take place without taking the information system offline and making it inaccessible to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Scott Smith, Daniel Keith Pagano
  • Patent number: 8311689
    Abstract: A method for controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train to insure effective braking, the method including calculating an estimated total energy of a train, calculating a threshold representing a predetermined braking capability limit of the locomotive, determining whether the estimated total energy is at least one of approaching and exceeding the threshold, and decreasing a velocity of the train until the threshold is at least one of no longer being approached and is no longer exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel W. Plawecki, John W. Brand
  • Patent number: 8307645
    Abstract: A method for preventing a surge event prior to a first surge event occurring in an engine system including a turbocharger and a diesel engine operable at a plurality of discrete speeds, the method comprising sensing an operating parameter of the engine system that determines a surge margin, determining whether a change in the sensed operating parameter may result in exceeding the surge margin, and controlling an operating input to the engine system to prevent the surge event from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Robert Mischler, Kendall Roger Swenson
  • Patent number: 8310979
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a distributed power repeater for a train system. The method includes: (a) monitoring all radio traffic on a wireless communications channel used by the repeater to relay distributed power commands between a plurality of transmitters and receivers disposed on a plurality of trains for distributed power control of the trains; (b) determining the level of channel loading on the communications channel; (c) comparing the channel loading to a predetermined limit; (d) if the channel loading is less than the predetermined limit, relaying messages over the wireless communications channel at a first activity level; and (e) if the channel loading exceeds the predetermined limit, relaying messages over the wireless communications channel at a second activity level less than the first activity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary W. Mason, Mark E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8302915
    Abstract: A control mechanism for a railroad switch machine, the mechanism including a hydraulic circuit operable to move a rail end point of a switch point assembly of the railroad switch machine, a pump to hydraulically operate the hydraulic circuit, and a motor to operate the pump, wherein the only electromechanical parts of the control mechanism are within the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Maurizio Biagiotti
  • Patent number: 8300424
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for securing a mezzanine card in a stacked single board computer includes a main body that includes a first end, an opposite second end, a first side surface, and an opposite second side surface. The main body is sized to be positioned along a side surface of the mezzanine card, wherein the first side surface or the second side surface contacts the side surface of the mezzanine card to facilitate securing the side surface of the mezzanine card with respect to a top PCB. The mounting bracket also includes a first arm formed at the first end of the main body, a second arm formed at the second end of the main body, and at least one top rail coupled to the main body, wherein the top rail is configured to secure a top surface of the mezzanine card with respect to a top PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GE Intelligent Platforms Embedded Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Wright, David L. McDonald
  • Patent number: 8301330
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present innovation provide a method and system for providing supplemental services to telematics systems. The method and system receives data from a telematics provider in a non-proprietary format, parses the data, stores the data, provides the data to a third party application, obtains an output from the third party application, and transmits the output to a customer. The method and system may also receive data from any portable device, parse the data, store the data, provide the data to a third party application, obtain an output from the third party application, and transmit the output to a customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Jason Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8301328
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring at least one characteristic of a vehicle is provided, wherein the method includes generating a data set that includes data responsive to the at least one characteristic. The method further includes comparing the data set against predetermined parametric data and creating trend data for a plurality of the data sets. Furthermore, the method includes analyzing the trend data to determine if action should be taken regarding the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis William McAndrew, Adam Josef Oser
  • Patent number: D672903
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: James H. Toney, Jr., Gabriel Michael Smith