Abstract: A ventilation arrangement for a wind turbine includes an air inlet opening located in a nose cone of said wind turbine, a manhole cover for covering a manhole of a rotor hub of said wind turbine, the manhole cover providing a vent opening for venting hot air from an internal space of said rotor hub, and a flexible piping establishing fluid communication between the internal space of the rotor hub and the air inlet opening.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 5, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 29, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Bernard P. Landa, Lane Porter, Ulrich Uphues, Lawrence D. Willey, Ulrich Neumann, Negel E. Martin
Abstract: A method of calibrating a mechanical model of behavior and movement of an interventional radiology table by moving the table over at least one degree of freedom, acquiring at least one set of images corresponding to different positions of the table and C-arm, obtaining at least one set of images of a test object from different positions, using the images of the test object to determine parameters of the mechanical model of table behavior and movement, and combining these parameters with data given by table movement sensors so as to deduce the true relative positions of the table with respect to the medical imaging system.
Abstract: A method for controlling a wind energy system is provided wherein the method comprises determining the effective wind speed taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. A computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system having a calculation unit adapted for calculating the effective wind speed by taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. Further, a wind speed sensor free wind energy system having a generator for generating electric energy and a controller for shutting down and/or starting the electric energy generation in dependence of the wind speed is provided.
Abstract: An apparatus for reducing audio clicks in frequency modulated radio system includes a receiver for receiving a frequency modulated (FM) signal, and a processor for demodulating the received signal and estimating a frequency error, wherein the processor is configured to determine phase variations of the received FM signal by comparing a phase of a first signal sample to a phase of a second signal sample, wherein the first signal sample and the second signal sample are separated in time by more than one sample.
Abstract: A miniature pressure transducer is disclosed which is able to operate at high temperatures. The pressure transducer is provided on a substrate comprising an elongate silicon base portion with one or more contact areas formed at one end and a diaphragm formed at the opposite distal end. A plurality of piezoresistive elements are provided on the diaphragm, preferably in a Wheatstone Bridge arrangement, and connected to the contact areas using interconnects. The diaphragm extends across substantially the entire effective width of the elongate base portion providing a compact width while still maintaining a sensitive pressure sensing capability.
Abstract: A lock housing for a circuit breaker accessory housing includes a body having a aperture configured to receive a keyed lock, a collar circumscribing the aperture at a first end of the housing, the collar extending radially outward from the body, and at least one resilient member integral to the housing, the at least one resilient member configured to engage the circuit breaker accessory housing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 22, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Mahadeva Mittu, Samir Rajauria, Lars Pommerencke
Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method and a measuring device adapted for determining a rotational position of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine. The method includes a step of measuring a gravity induced blade moment of the at least one rotor blade. Then, an actual rotational position of the rotor blade is determined from the measured gravity induced blade moment.
Abstract: An improved process for regenerating ion exchange resin, includes a regeneration step of displacing captured ions from the resin to regenerate its ion-capture functionality, followed by one or more fluid-employing post-regeneration steps such as a fluid displacement or rinse, a fluid transport or mixing, and a rinse down to quality. To avoid problems of early leakage of weakly held ions such as boron, the post-chemical or postdisplacement steps use water that is essentially free of boron, or otherwise avoid localized contamination in the regenerated resin which is used in bottles or beds (30). A two-stage polish may be operated with modified lead/lag bottles. A detector (D) for an indicator condition (conductivity, silica breakthrough) between stages determines when to shift the lag bottle forward, and periodically both bottles are replaced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
William W. Carson, Charles Dale, William D. McClain, Robert J. Ritz, Charles Swenson
Abstract: A coupling between a motor operator and a circuit breaker includes a base plate of the motor operator having a top side and a bottom side, the base plate comprising an aperture, and a pin having a first end, the pin being captured within the aperture such that the first end of the pin protrudes through a first surface of the bottom side of the base plate, wherein the pin is further configured to engage the circuit breaker.
Abstract: Disclosed herein are optical interference multilayer coatings employing a high refractive index material comprising a NbTaZr oxide. Such coatings provide enhanced retention of favorable optical and physical properties at high temperatures. Also disclosed herein are lamps comprising a light-transmissive envelope, at least a portion of the surface of the light-transmissive envelope being provided with the optical interference multilayer coating noted above. Such coatings, when used on lamps, may advantageously offer improved energy efficiencies for such lamps.
Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method for determining the concentration of anionic polymers or oligomers in industrial water comprising combining a buffer solution and a cationic dye solution, measuring absorbance of the buffer-dye admixture at selected wavelength(s) and determining the polymer or oligomer concentration from the previously determined absorbance values. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the buffer solution may be a multifunctional buffer solution and may be comprised of multiple buffers, masking agents. and/or stabilizing agents and combinations thereof. Other embodiments provide that multiple dyes may be employed.
Abstract: An optimization system is provided for a braking schedule of a powered system traveling along a route. The braking schedule is based on at least one predetermined characteristic of the powered system and is configured to be enacted in a braking region along the route. The optimization system includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the operation of the powered system. Additionally, the system includes a processor coupled to the sensor, to receive parameter data. The processor compares the measured parameter with an expected parameter, which is based on the at least one predetermined characteristic of the powered system. The processor adjusts the at least one predetermined characteristic based on the comparison, and adjusts the braking schedule based on the adjustment to the at least one predetermined characteristic. A method is also provided for optimizing a braking schedule of a powered system traveling along a route.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 13, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, David Michael Peltz
Abstract: A system and method for correcting the registration of a 3D image and a 2D image acquired with medical imaging systems is disclosed. The system and method determines acquisition geometry of the imaging system by calculating an initial projection matrix associated with the 2D image. The system performs a projection of the 3D image using the initial projection matrix resulting in a 2D projection of the 3D image. The system registers the 2D projection of the 3D image and the 2D image. A new projection matrix is determined based on the registration of the 2D image and the 2D projection of the 3D image. The 3D image is then registered with the 2D image using the new projection matrix. An associated medical imaging system is disclosed. Method embodiments use previously acquired 3D images or images acquired using imaging modalities different than the one used to acquire the 2D image.
Abstract: An appliance including a housing have an opening, a drawer having a front side and a back side, the drawer being configured for insertion into the opening, a drawer face coupled to the front side, the drawer face having a gasket circumscribing the drawer face and at least one dimension of the drawer face is smaller than a respective dimension of the opening so as to form a gap between the drawer face and the opening on at least one side of the drawer face, and a transom pivotally mounted to the drawer, the transom being configured to substantially bridge the gap between the drawer face and the opening and sealingly engage the gasket when the drawer is in a closed position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Cory Jerome Tafoya, Bryan W. Snider, Rebecca Eakins
Abstract: An over the range oven includes a main body defining a cooking cavity therein, wherein the cooking cavity includes a front edge surrounding an opening. An RF generation module is coupled to the cooking cavity and is configured to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity. At least one radiant heat source is coupled to the cooking cavity and is configured to supply heat energy to the cooking cavity. The oven is configured to operate in a radiant heat mode of operation, a microwave mode of operation, a dual mode of operation, and a self clean mode of operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 2005
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Joshua Stephen Wiseman, Christopher E. O'Malley, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Charles Ray Smith, Karen Marie Edberg, Jay Andrew Broniak
Abstract: A griddle for a cooking appliance is disclosed. The griddle includes a main body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a recessed area formed on the second surface, the recessed area having a center, a periphery, and a thickness which diminishes from the periphery toward the center.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Jason Northcut, Michael Thomas Chezem, David Joseph Najewicz, Daniel Joseph Trice, Guy Henry Turner
Abstract: A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. A related refrigerator is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 30, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Eric K. Watson, Matthew William Davis, Omar Haidar, Ronald Scott Tarr, Joseph Waugh
Abstract: An apparatus to perform parallel arc fault current interruption (AFCI) is provided. The apparatus includes a current sensing device disposed in the electrical circuit, a detection unit configured to receive an output signal produced by the current sensing device and to output a secondary signal based on the output signal, a microcontroller coupled to the detection unit, configured to receive and to decompose the secondary signal via discrete wavelet transforms to thereby obtain discrete wavelet coefficients, to compute a sum of the discrete wavelet coefficients, and to compare the sum of the discrete wavelet coefficients to a predetermined threshold, and to generate a trip signal when the sensed load current is above a predetermined threshold and the sum of the discrete wavelet coefficients cooperatively indicate that predetermined threshold conditions are satisfied.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 29, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Sriram Changali, John Kenneth Hooker, Konstantin V. Grigoryan, Scott Jeffrey Hall
Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine erected in a body of water, comprising: measuring vibrations of the wind turbine during operation; identifying at least one periodic component of said measured vibrations, wherein said periodic component is associated with interaction of said body of water and said wind turbine; and, operating at least one controller of said wind turbine so that water-induced vibrations are reduced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2010
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Anders Wickstroem, Martin Essing