Patents Represented by Attorney George L. Rideout, Jr., Esq.
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Patent number: 6958893Abstract: A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a “variable impedance” device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is connected in series with the trigger superconductor in the trigger matrix and physically surrounds the superconductor. The current surge during a fault will generate a trigger magnetic field in the series inductor to cause fast and uniform quenching of the trigger superconductor to significantly reduce burnout risk due to superconductor material non-uniformity.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Inventor: Xing Yuan
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Patent number: 6947265Abstract: An isolation transformer is introduced into a matrix fault current limiter (MFCL) and is used to couple elements in trigger matrices and current limiting matrices. The isolation transformer can either be a voltage step-up or step-down configuration. In step-up configurations, the increased voltage supplied to the current limiting elements improves the quenching of the superconductor. In step-down configurations, current limiting elements are subject to lower voltage potentials thereby reducing the electrical insulation requirement between the trigger matrix and the current limiting matrix. In addition, the voltage amplification coefficient of each isolation transformer can vary for different columns of the current limiting matrix to maximize the current limiting performance.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Inventors: Susumu Mine, Xing Yuan
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Patent number: 6854276Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing cryogenic cooling to HTS devices, in particular those that are used in high-voltage electric power applications. The method involves pressurizing liquid cryogen to above one atmospheric pressure to improve its dielectric strength, while sub-cooling the liquid cryogen to below its saturation temperature in order to improve the performance of the HTS components of the device. An apparatus utilizing such a cooling method consists of a vessel that contains a pressurized gaseous cryogen region and a sub-cooled liquid cryogen bath, a liquid cryogen heating coupled with a gaseous cryogen venting scheme to maintain the pressure of the cryogen to a value in a range that corresponds to optimum dielectric strength of the liquid cryogen, and a cooling system that maintains the liquid cryogen at a temperature below its boiling point to improve the performance of HTS materials used in the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Inventors: Xing Yuan, Susumu Mine
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Patent number: 6832617Abstract: A fine filter assembly for a dishwasher includes a filter body having an inlet and an outlet located substantially adjacent to one another, and an extended flow path joins the inlet and the outlet so that essentially an entire length of the filter body is used for filtration. The flow path is sloped from the inlet to the outlet and extends substantially 360 radial degrees around a circular outer perimeter of the filter body. Therefore, wash fluid naturally flows from the fine filter inlet to the fine filter outlet all the way around the filter body, and substantially the entire filter body is flushed when the fine filter is drained and a main pump assembly is energized.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arjan Johannes Hegeman, Gregory Alan Meyer
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Patent number: 6761381Abstract: A latch assembly includes a handle, a handle retainer, and a keeper. The keeper includes a biasing mechanism and a head comprising a catch, a lock release projection, and a switch actuator. The keeper biasing member configured to facilitate engaging the catch with the door. The handle biasing member configured to facilitate maintaining the handle in a first position. The handle includes a contact surface slidingly coupled to the lock release projection to facilitate coupling the door to the tub assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Luis Esteban Prada, Gregory Owen Miller, Christopher Raymond Geisen, Wenfeng Lu
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Patent number: 6718587Abstract: A method is provided for estimating the time required to perform an operational cycle of an appliance, the cycle including at least one variable operational mode. The method includes providing a memory for storing historical data of previously executed cycles of the appliance, accessing the memory in light of a user-selected option for a present cycle, and computing an initial estimated time for performing the present cycle of the appliance based, at least in part, on a time estimate for the at least one operational mode. The method continues with determining an actual time used for performing at least one occurrence of the operational mode, relating the actual time used to the time estimate used for computing the initial estimated time for performing the present cycle of the appliance, and adjusting the initial estimated time for performing the present cycle in light of any differences between the actual and estimated times for the at least one operational mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2001Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bobby Hayes, Mark Weaver
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Patent number: 6694990Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a dishwasher in a variable dry cycle mode is provided. The dishwasher includes a wash chamber, a heater element located within the wash chamber, a rinse aid product dispenser, and a fan unit for circulating air. The method comprises determining a temperature of the wash chamber, determining an amount of rinse aid product in the dispenser, and, based upon the determined temperature and the amount of rinse aid product, determining an optimized heater element cycle and an optimized fan unit cycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Joseph Spanyer, Peter Andrew Riddell
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Patent number: 6675129Abstract: The present invention provides a system by which the host can receive an ongoing reliability audit of a component supplier's production test results over the Internet. This invention analyses and graphs the test results to determine component reliability and to detect changes in reliability over time. One parameter used to detect these changes is mean time between failure (MTBF). This invention uses statistical analysis to determine the reliability status and to detect changes in reliability.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alexander Carswell Cambon, William Joseph Wunderlin, Todd Mark Heydt, Douglas Charles Kemp
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Patent number: 6666220Abstract: A cookware washer includes a wash chamber, and a lower rack positioned within said wash chamber. The lower rack includes a substantially unobstructed bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Joseph Spanyer, Kenneth D. Tripp
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Patent number: 6662814Abstract: A mid-level spray-arm assembly for a dishwasher includes a bracket for mounting a spray-arm hub to an upper rack of the machine, and a bearing coupling extending between the hub and the bracket. The bearing coupling forms a first bearing surface for rotation of the bearing coupling relative to the bracket, and a second bearing surface for rotation of the spray-arm relative to the bearing coupling. Thus, redundant bearing surfaces are provided that facilitate a more even wearing of the bearing surfaces and allow rotation of the spray-arm even when one of the bearing surfaces fails.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph Duane Tobbe, Jesse A. Curran
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Patent number: 6641058Abstract: A dishwasher spray arm hub assembly includes a hub having a first central bore extending therethrough and a conduit feed extending therefrom. The conduit feed is in flow communication with the central bore and a venturi insert is disposed in the hub central bore. The venturi insert also includes a second central bore extending therethrough. The first bore and the second bore together form a fluid bypass channel in flow communication with the conduit feed. Therefore, a lower spray arm assembly and a spray arm conduit for upper spray arm assemblies may be simultaneously fed through the hub assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arjan Johannes Hegeman, David V. Helmlinger
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Patent number: 6634048Abstract: An automatic temperature control system which limits the total number of valve cycles for the cold and hot water valves to, for example, a total of ten cycles yet also provides the desired temperature control of water supplied to the wash tub is described. To limit the number of valve cycles, and in one embodiment, the automatic temperature control (ATC) system includes a microprocessor which integrates the temperature of the water provided to the wash tub over time to predict the length of the time period required for the next water valve cycle. The integration balances the energy input on the “OFF” cycle with the energy input during the “ON” cycle. Such balancing limits the number of valve cycles thereby reducing the possibility for premature valve failure and facilitating reduced noise. The ATC control system also provides a pre-treater function. When the pre-treater function is selected, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Edward Hornung, David Anthony Schneider, Dennis Dane Tremblay
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Patent number: 6605157Abstract: A dishwasher fluid circulation assembly is provided including a main pump, a spray arm conduit, a fine filter assembly, a drain pump, and a sump. The main pump includes a pump inlet and a discharge in flow communication with the spray arm conduit. The fine filter assembly includes a fluid inlet in flow communication with the spray arm conduit and a drain tube The drain pump is in flow communication with the drain tube; and a sump is in flow communication with the main pump and the drain pump. The main pump and drain pump are simultaneously activated to flush the fine filter assembly and remove accumulated soil therein.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Arjan Johannes Hegeman
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Patent number: 6574996Abstract: A washing machine including a tub having a helical flow path defined by a channel and a sump located at a lower end of the channel with a dam therein is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a water outlet is located in the sump, and the dam is positioned in the sump upstream from the outlet. The dam, in the exemplary embodiment, is substantially perpendicular to flow path and extends from a tub sidewall to at least beyond the outer perimeter of the water outlet. The dam has a sufficient height to prevent debris heavier than water from flowing from the channel to the outlet during a non-spin portion of a wash cycle, yet is low enough so that when the spin cycle is initiated, the debris will flow over the dam to the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1997Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dwight William Jacobus, Robert Ray Cureton
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Patent number: 6571236Abstract: A method for problem diagnosis based on queries received from remote locations includes the steps of determining applicable solution recommendations based on a diagnosis query, displaying the applicable solution recommendations on a screen of a remote terminal, and determining whether a case based reasoning tool is available to answer the diagnosis query. When the case based reasoning tool is available, the method presents the case based reasoning tool on the screen with the applicable solution recommendations.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Kevin Michael Ruppelt