Patents Represented by Attorney Global Patent Operation
  • Patent number: 8280566
    Abstract: In a locomotive consist having at least a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive with a distributed power system on each locomotive in the locomotive consist, a system for establishing distributed power operations of the locomotive consist from a single location, the system including a communication network providing communications to and from at least one distributed power system, and a distributed power setup unit in communication with the distributed power system by way of the communication network. The distributed power setup unit has at least one of a processor, display and an input device to allow a user to establish distributed power operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert James Foy, III, James Glen Corry
  • Patent number: 8280569
    Abstract: A multi-mode control system for a locomotive includes a throttle control device having notch settings corresponding to, for a first, long haul mode, control signals for providing respective tractive effort or power from the locomotive, a master controller in communication with the throttle control device and adapted to receive said control signals from the throttle control device and to transmit respective command signals to power-train components of the locomotive to achieve the respective tractive effort or power, the master controller also adapted for sending alternative command signals when a user-operable mode selector is set to one of one or more alternative modes. The user-operable mode selector includes one or more user interface devices in communication with the master controller for selecting one alternative mode of the one or more alternative modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith K. Kumar, Bret D. Worden
  • Patent number: 8278811
    Abstract: A device for diverting energy away from an electrical arc flash is provided. The device comprises an arc source configured to create a second arc flash, a plasma gun configured to inject plasma in proximity of the arc source in response to the arc flash, an arc containment device to house the arc source and the plasma gun, an exhaust port configured to route exhaust gases out of the device in a first direction, and an exhaust duct coupled in flow communication with the exhaust port, the exhaust duct comprising a substantially hollow tube including a first tube portion and a second tube portion, the first tube portion coupled in flow communication with the exhaust port, the second tube portion defining an exhaust vent and coupled in flow communication with the first tube portion to route the exhaust gases out of the device in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Engel, Daniel Edward Delfino, Dean Arthur Robarge
  • Patent number: 8275577
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for diagnosing faults in a monitored system that is monitored by sensors. An empirical model is generated for a targeted component of the monitored system. The empirical model is trained with an historical data source that contains example observations of the sensors. Substantially real-time estimates are generated based on instrumented data corresponding to the targeted component. The substantially real-time estimates are compared and differenced with instrumented readings from the sensors to provide residual values. The residual values are analyzed to detect the faults and determine a location of the faults in the monitored system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: SmartSignal Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Herzog
  • Patent number: 8272841
    Abstract: A propeller blade assembly having mounting arrangements for composite aircraft propeller blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: GE Aviation UK
    Inventor: Kevin Pentony
  • Patent number: 8270139
    Abstract: A circuit protection device for use with a circuit that includes at least one conductor includes at least one phase electrode assembly that is electrically coupled to the at least one conductor, wherein the at least one phase electrode assembly comprising an adjustable electrode assembly. The circuit protection device also includes a conductor base comprising at least one isolation area sized to secure the adjustable electrode assembly therein, and a conductor cover coupled to the conductor base and including at least one isolation channel, wherein the adjustable electrode assembly extends at least partially through the at least one isolation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Caggiano, Dean Arthur Robarge
  • Patent number: 8270172
    Abstract: A wedge lock for use with a single board computer includes a cooling plate positioned with respect to a printed circuit board (PCB), a clamp device configured to secure the single board computer in an operating environment, and a heat conductance plate positioned along a top surface of the cooling plate and a top surface of the clamp device to facilitate conduction cooling of the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: GE Intelligent Platforms Embedded Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Sporer, Robert Ireland
  • Patent number: 8270167
    Abstract: An electrical device includes an enclosure having an interior surface, at least one bus bar, and an element enclosing at least a portion of the bus bar, wherein the element includes a first surface contacting the interior surface and is configured to transfer heat from the bus bar to the enclosure and configured to provide electrical isolation between the enclosure and the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter James Greenwood, Javier Ignacio Larranaga
  • Patent number: 8266922
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator includes a storage tank in fluid communication with a water inlet. The storage tank is configured to retain water flowing into the water inlet. An auxiliary tank is in fluid communication with the storage tank. The auxiliary tank includes a housing with a piston disposed therein. The piston is movable in a first direction to fill a portion of an interior volume of the housing with water and in a second direction to expel water from the interior volume of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby Whitaker, Mark Wayne Wilson, John Joseph Roetker
  • Patent number: 8267655
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, the wind turbine including at least one movable portion which is movable during operation of the wind turbine and at least one movable portion device including at least one of a movable portion transmitter or a movable portion receiver, the movable portion transmitter or the movable portion receiver being disposed at the least one movable portion; the method including: at least one of sending to or receiving from at least three reference points at least one signal by at least one of the movable portion transmitter or movable portion receiver; and determining at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine depending on at least one characteristic of the at least one received signal. Further the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine arrangement and a system for controlling a wind turbine, comprising a controller of the wind turbine and a movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Friedrich Loh, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Till Hoffmann, Juergen Esser
  • Patent number: 8271153
    Abstract: A system for verifying data in a track database comprises a track profile database stored in a memory having data relative to one or more track grades and geographic coordinates or range of coordinates associated with each of the one or more track grades. A vehicle trip plan is developed according to the track profile data that comprises a designated path of travel of the vehicle over the track system and a planned vehicle operating condition associated with each of the one or more track grades and the associated coordinates or range of coordinates of the track grades. A controller is configured to compare a stored current vehicle operating condition of the vehicle and associated geographic coordinates to the planned vehicle operating condition to verify the accuracy of the track grade data at the associated geographic coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 8264129
    Abstract: A piezoelectric sensing device is described for measuring material thickness of target such as pipes, tubes, and other conduits that carry fluids. The piezoelectric sensing device comprises a substrate such as a flexible circuit material, a piezoceramic element, and a solder layer disposed therebetween. These features are arranged in manner that provides a low-profile measurement device suitable for high-temperature applications such as those applications in which the temperature exceeds 120° C. Embodiments of the piezoelectric sensing device can be configured for use as stand-alone units separately located on the target or for use as a string of sensing elements coupled together by way of the flexible circuit material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Krohn, Paul Aloysius Meyer, James Norman Barshinger, Ying Fan, Fred Matthews, Nathan Smith
  • Patent number: 8265816
    Abstract: A security device for use with an electric vehicle is provided. The security device includes a processor that is programmed to receive at least one signal representative of a disconnection between a charging station and a battery within the electric vehicle. The processor is further programmed to generate a command signal based on the signal. Moreover, the security device includes a control module that is coupled to the processor, wherein the security device is configured to receive the command signal. The control module is also configured to transmit a control signal to lock the battery to render the electric vehicle inoperable when the disconnection between the charging station and the battery is performed by an unauthorized user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ryan Marc LaFrance
  • Patent number: 8262354
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connecting device adapted for connecting a hub and a main shaft of a wind turbine. The connecting device comprises at least one sensor bolt connecting the hub and the main shaft, wherein a stress detection element is mounted inside the sensor bolt. The stress detection element is adapted to detect a length variation of the sensor bolt and to output a sensor signal indicative of the length variation of the sensor bolt. A signal output device is used for outputting the sensor signal which is indicative of a stress applied to the sensor bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8264074
    Abstract: A sensor package, and in one embodiment a sensor package for surface mount applications, that comprises a leadframe with an upper and lower surface for receiving a device thereon. Embodiments of the sensor package comprise a first device secured to the upper surface, and a second device secured to the lower surface so as to place connective pads from each of the first device and the second device proximate to one side of the leadframe. The sensor package further comprises a lead that is positioned in the sensor package in a manner that prevents electrical connection with circuitry that is external of the housing. The lead has an end proximate the side of the lead frame where the connective pads are positioned on the upper and lower surfaces. The end configured to receive connections, e.g., wirebonds, from the connective pads in a manner connecting the first device and the second device independent of any external connections of the sensor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Woojin Kim, Aniela Bryzek, John Dancaster, Dong-Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 8264330
    Abstract: A communications system for use in transmitting data in a railroad system is provided. The communications system includes a track circuit having a plurality of rails configured to transmit an electrical signal thereon, a first processor communicatively coupled to the track circuit via a first locomotive on said track circuit, and a trackside communications station operable to output cab signaling data, wherein the trackside communications station includes a second processor communicatively coupled to the track circuit. The first processor is programmed to compare a received data signal to a pre-stored database, and generate a response based on the comparison. The second processor is programmed to generate a corrected signal using the generated response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Berry B. Yeldell, Samuel R. Mollet
  • Patent number: 8261618
    Abstract: There are provided embodiments of a sensing device that comprise a sensing element, a substrate, and a bonding element, each being selected for environments that utilize caustic working fluids such as automotive fuel. Material for use as the bonding element can form molecular bonds with ceramics and glass. In one embodiment, the sensing device comprises a receptacle or cavity, in which are located the sensing element and the bonding element. This configuration facilitates the formation of bonds between the bonding element and each of the sensing element and a peripheral wall of the cavity. Such bonds are configured in a tensile bonding area and a shear bonding area, the combination of which is useful to secure the sensing element in the cavity. The sensing device can further comprise a seal such as an o-ring disposed in annular relation to the substrate to seal the sensing device to a peripheral device such as a fluid fitting, which may be found in a fuel system of an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Allen Engle, Matthew Ingco, Chris Wagner
  • Patent number: 8264809
    Abstract: An arc transfer device for use in a switchgear includes at least one first electrical connector configured to connect the arc transfer device to a voltage supply within the switchgear, and a racking cassette. The racking cassette includes at least one second electrical connector that is configured to be electrically coupled to the at least one first electrical connector based on the racking position of the arc transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Robert Joseph Caggiano, George William Roscoe
  • Patent number: 8258643
    Abstract: A method of controlling at least one wind turbine, comprising selecting a first effective operational curve from a plurality of operational curves, and applying the first effective operational curve to control at least one wind turbine. The operational curves may be operational curve segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Laurent Bonnet
  • Patent number: 8256625
    Abstract: A filter cartridge includes a top end cap and a bottom end cap spaced apart from one another. A filter media is disposed between the top and bottom end caps. An outlet channel is within the filter media and extends between the top end cap and the bottom end cap. The outlet channel includes an open top end proximate the top end cap and a closed bottom end proximate the bottom end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ratnakar Sahasrabudhe, Samuel Vincent DuPlessis, Markus Dantinne, Terry Zerger