Patents Represented by Attorney Global Patent Operation
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Patent number: 8257040Abstract: A wind power generation system includes a wind turbine at a wind turbine location, a measuring device for providing a wind condition signal at a test location, a sensor for providing a wind condition signal at the wind turbine, and a controller. The controller is configured for receiving the wind condition signals, using a wind correlation database and the wind condition signal at the test location for providing a wind condition estimation at the wind turbine location, obtaining a difference between the wind condition signal at the wind turbine location and the wind condition estimate at the wind turbine location, and using the difference for adjusting the wind condition signal at the wind turbine location.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Weiguo Chen, Jiyang Xia, Lei Zhao
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Patent number: 8258642Abstract: A resonance damping system for a wind turbine having a generator connected to a power grid, the resonance damping system comprising an adaptive resonance damper, operable to provide a control signal for the generator, wherein the variable torque signal of the adaptive resonance damper is automatically adjusted according to a parameter which represents a grid condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Arne Koerber
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Patent number: 8260487Abstract: Methods and systems for a vital bus system for communicating data in a control system are provided. The system includes a plurality of data communication buses configured in a multiple redundant orientation and at least one safety supervisor module including a database including a plurality of logic rules. The logic rules are programmed to receive data from the plurality of data communication buses and to determine the validity of the received data from each bus using one or more of the plurality of the logic rules. If the received data is invalid, the logic rules are programmed to restore the validity of the data using one or more of the plurality of the logic rules. If the data can not be restored the logic rules are programmed to transmit an alert to the control system. Otherwise, the logic rules are programmed to transmit the validated data to an intended destination.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Daniel Walter Plawecki
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Patent number: 8256234Abstract: A method for cooling an icemaker is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold body having a channel for transport of coolant and a plurality of ice cavities. The method includes the steps of injecting a coolant into the channel, adding water to the ice cavities, forming ice cubes in the ice cavities, removing coolant from the channel, heating the ice mold body, and ejecting the ice cubes from the ice mold body. The removal step is performed by reversing direction of a coolant pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric K. Watson, Omar Haidar, Matthew William Davis, Ronald Scott Tarr
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Patent number: 8258746Abstract: A charger adapted for charging at least one energy storage device to be charged by means of an electrical charging power provided by an electrical power supply grid is provided. The charger includes a grid parameter detector unit adapted for detecting at least one electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid and for outputting a grid parameter detection signal on the basis of the at least one detected electrical grid parameter. A control unit receives the grid parameter detection signal and determines a control signal, wherein a charging power adjustment unit adjusts the electrical charging power on the basis of the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Andreas Kirchner
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Patent number: 8253074Abstract: A wiring assembly for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance has a main body and a door movably attached to the main body. The wiring assembly includes a base attachable to the door and having a first end and a second end; a slide slidably mounted on the base so that the slide is moveable between a first position where the slide is adjacent to the first end and a second position where the slide is adjacent to the second end; a tensioning or biasing member engaging the slide with the base and biasing the slide to the first position; and a cable assembly including a power/communication cable attachable to the main body and connected to the slide. An appliance incorporating such a wiring assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Derek Lee Watkins, John Mark Chilton, Steve B. Froalicher, Jay Andrew Broniak, Michael Paul McGonagle
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Patent number: 8251033Abstract: A system is provided for varying a duration of a closing phase of an intake valve of an engine. The system includes a tappet assembly coupled to the intake valve, where the tappet assembly includes a first tappet body and a second tappet body within a guide housing. The system also includes a cam coupled to the main shaft. The cam engages the tappet assembly to initiate the relative oscillation of the first tappet body to the second tappet body. The system also includes a hydraulic piston positioned within the guide housing and coupled to the first tappet body. The hydraulic piston selectively varies a duration of the relative oscillation of the first tappet body to the second tappet body based upon a parameter of a hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic piston, to selectively vary the duration of the closing phase of the intake valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Yager, Paul Flynn
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Patent number: 8253782Abstract: An industrial inspection handset is disclosed, comprising a connector for connecting a peripheral device to the handset, wherein the connector is oriented such that the peripheral device can extend substantially parallel to the housing surface of the handset, and a cover tethered to the handset by a first tab, wherein the cover when mounted on the housing of the handset encloses the connector and the peripheral device. In an alternative embodiment, the handset comprises a connector oriented such that the peripheral device can extend substantially perpendicular to the housing surface of the handset, and a cover tethered to the handset by a first tab and a second tab, wherein the cover when mounted on the mounting member encloses the connector.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies, LPInventors: Joshua Lynn Scott, James J. Delmonico, Joseph V. Lopez, Todd B. Abernethy
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Patent number: 8250875Abstract: An appliance includes a compression stage, a condensation stage, and an evaporation stage. The evaporation stage includes a first evaporator for a first refrigerated enclosure and a second evaporator for a second refrigerated enclosure. A first valve in a condensation stage bypass line is openable to allow a supply of refrigerant to bypass the condensation stage during a defrost mode, where a condensation stage bypass line is positioned between an output of the compression stage and the second evaporator. A second valve is positioned in a line from the second evaporator to the input to the compression stage and is closeable to block a supply of refrigerant from the second evaporator to the compression stage during the defrost mode. An additional line positioned between the second evaporator and the first evaporator carries the supply of refrigerant from the second evaporator to the first evaporator in the defrost mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alexander Rafalovich, Timothy Allen Hamel
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Patent number: 8245400Abstract: A method for assembling a modular wind turbine rotor blade, includes aligning a first blade module and a second blade module such that a first receptacle of the first blade module and a second receptacle of the second blade module are co-axial; and forming a detachable mechanical connection between a first inlay of the first blade module and a second inlay of the second blade module using a threaded fastener that extends into the first receptacle and into the second receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronny Stam, Andreas Starke, Bart Veldkamp, Jendrik Meyer
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Patent number: 8247959Abstract: Disclosed herein are solid state illumination systems which provide improved color quality and/or color contrast. The systems provide total light having delta chroma values for each of the fifteen color samples of the color quality scale that are preselected to provide enhanced color contrast relative to an incandescent or blackbody light source, in accordance with specified values which depend on color temperature. Illumination systems provided herein may comprise one or more organic electroluminescent element, or they may comprise a plurality of inorganic light emitting diodes, wherein at least two inorganic light emitting diodes have different color emission bands. Methods for the manufacture of illumination systems having improved color quality and/or color contrast are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Winder Beers, Gary Robert Allen
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Patent number: 8249852Abstract: A method for monitoring a wind turbine is provided. The method includes defining at least one subsystem of the wind turbine and providing a simulation model for the at least one subsystem. During normal operation of the wind turbine at least an input parameter of the at least one subsystem is determined a behavior of the at least one subsystem is simulated using the at least one input parameter as an input of the simulation model. Based on the simulated behavior, it is determined, if the at least one subsystem operates within a given specification.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Matthias Thulke
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Patent number: 8245983Abstract: A system and method for communicating information between wayside equipment and a railcar is provided, wherein the communication system includes a wayside monitoring system located at the wayside of a railway, wherein the wayside monitoring system is configured to generate wayside system data responsive to an operational characteristic of the railcar. A wayside communication device communicated with the wayside monitoring system to receive the wayside system data is also provided, wherein the wayside communication device is configured to generate digital wayside data and transmit at least one of the wayside system data and the digital wayside data to the railcar via a dispatch voice channel. Furthermore, an on-board communication device is provided, wherein the on-board communication device is configured to receive the digital wayside data from the wayside communication device via the dispatch voice channel.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Keith Gilbertson
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Patent number: 8248077Abstract: A wind energy system is provided including a geographical position sensing module and a cable for transmitting energy from the wind energy system. The cable includes a first sensing device at a first location of the cable. The first sensing device is adapted for sensing a relative position of the first sensing device. Further, the cable includes a second sensing device at a second location of the cable. The second sensing device is adapted for sensing a relative position of the second sensing device. The first and the second sensing devices are adapted to communicate with each other; and one of the first and second sensing devices is adapted to communicate with a geographical position sensing module of the wind energy system.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Po Wen Cheng
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Patent number: 8249763Abstract: A method for powering a powered system having a first power generating unit where power settings for the first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for a second power generating unit, the method including developing a power operating plan which is independent of a coupled power setting, and determining a power setting responsive to the power operating plan. A computer software code operable within a processor and configured to reside on a computer readable media for powering a powered system having at least a first power generating unit where power settings for the at least first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for at least a second power generating unit is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James D. Brooks, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
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Patent number: 8245520Abstract: A method and a recovery container for collecting a hydrocarbon refrigerant are disclosed. The method includes releasing the hydrocarbon refrigerant from the refrigeration system, and collecting the released hydrocarbon refrigerant with a recovery container containing a hydrocarbon refrigerant adsorptive substance thereby binding the released hydrocarbon refrigerant to the hydrocarbon refrigerant adsorptive substance.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Alden Junge, Martin Mitchell Zentner, Alan Joseph Mitchell
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Patent number: 8248086Abstract: A proximity detection system for an appliance is disclosed. The system includes an electrically conductive sensor for a capacitive proximity detection system, the sensor forming a part of an accessory device for the appliance; and an electrically conductive member disposed substantially opposite a location of the sensor and electrically connected to a ground potential to form a ground shield for the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Anthony Cooper, Phillip Hombroer, Joshua Kopecky, Douglas Robertson, Haralabos Alexander Vassos
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Patent number: 8244276Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a site-specific activity at a plurality of remote locations, for example, the inspection of geographically remote equipment or the gathering of data for a census. A mobile operator transports a portable tool (14) to a plurality of locations where a site-specific activity is to be conducted. The portable tool includes a location detection device (32). Processing of data using the portable tool is enabled only when the portable tool is located proximate a designated site, as determined by the location detection device. In various embodiments, the enabled site-specific activity may include data recordation, data transmission, data reception, data processing, and/or the display of a data entry form.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Alan Wetzel, Patrick Joseph Venneman
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Patent number: 8240995Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wind turbine (10) including: a rotor (18) including a rotatable hub (20) and a plurality of rotor blades (22), each of the plurality of rotor blades (22) being attached to the hub (20); and at least one airfoil body (120) including an aerodynamic profile (156) and an airfoil body root portion (122); wherein the aerodynamic profile (156) is configured for increasing aerodynamic lift of at least an inner portion of a rotor blade (22); and the at least one airfoil body (120) is attached to the hub (20) at the airfoil body root portion (122). In addition thereto, the present disclosure relates to an aerodynamic assembly (118) for a wind turbine (10) and a method of assembling a wind turbine (10).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Pedro Luis Benito Santiago, Eugenio Yegro Segovia
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Patent number: 8240138Abstract: An aftertreatment system is provided for reducing particulate matter emission and chemical emissions in diesel engine exhaust gas. The system includes a diesel particulate filter including a plurality of diesel particulate filter units configured to engage respective cross-sectional regions of the diesel engine exhaust gas including particulate matter. Each diesel particulate filter unit includes a plurality of channels aligned in a flow direction of the diesel engine exhaust gas. The channels are selectively configured with a distinct cross-sectional area density. Additionally, each diesel particulate filter unit includes a plurality of walls separating adjacent channels of the plurality of channels, where the walls have a respective thickness. A plurality of pores are configured to vacate a distinct ratio of the area of the walls.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Shuguang Lu, Roy Primus, William Douglas Glenn