Patents Represented by Attorney John F. McDevitt
  • Patent number: 5181812
    Abstract: Guide means are provided enabling a gun drill to be rotatably mounted in a supported bearing structure for operation with reduced bearing failure. The modified guide assembly provides a more effective seal means by reducing entry of chips and lubricant into the rotating bearing when machining a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventor: Richard T. Labinka
  • Patent number: 5163757
    Abstract: Ceramic bearing means being operated at elevated temperatures under atmospheric conditions are lubricated with metal oxide products. The lubricants are formed in situ by continuously oxidizing a metal source located in physical proximity to the ceramic bearing surfaces during operation of such bearing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventor: Edgar E. Graham
  • Patent number: 5160512
    Abstract: An improved method for removal of a gas constituent from a gas stream is disclosed employing a composite sorbent material. The gas stream is passed through a bed of solid absorbent particles having a surface liquid deposit which absorbs part of the gas constituent to be removed while further enabling a remaining portion of the gas constituent to be adsorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventor: Orhan Talu
  • Patent number: 5139876
    Abstract: Means are disclosed to provide a ceramic article with a protective coating which resists mechanical wear at elevated temperatures up to 500.degree. C. and higher. The coating is applied by first chemically depositing activating metal ions on the uncoated ceramic surface and thereafter vapor depositing an adherent organic polymer lubrication film on the activated surface. Ceramic materials provided with such protective coating include silicon carbide, silicon nitride and vitreous silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventors: Edgar E. Graham, James F. Makki
  • Patent number: 5139263
    Abstract: A golf practice device in the form of a closed frame encircling an open area within which a golf ball may be positioned and including alignment elements which enable the golfer to modify the flight path of a golf ball. The alignment elements are provided in the practice device to serve as guidelines for executing straight, fade, slice, draw and hook shots. The alignment elements are a plurality of visible indicia lines on the frame requiring the golfer to maintain the golf clubface square to the intended target while adopting a swing plane along other visible indicia lines on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Mary Lee Feo
    Inventor: Anthony F. Feo
  • Patent number: 5061997
    Abstract: Apparatus for the control of visible conditions in various spatial environments is disclosed along with a method for operating said apparatus. The apparatus employs programmed central controller means to distribute control signals to remote devices for an adjustment of various local environment conditions. The control signals are developed in a novel manner employing optical means with the output signals therefrom being processed to provide visual information based upon segmenting the visual image into spatial regions and further processing these data signals to reflect the relative light contribution from light sources in the spatial environment being regulated. Typical controller apparatus operating by such means can adjust illumination in the building as well as further provide occupancy or fire detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Mark S. Rea, William L. Glennie, Inderpreet S. Thukral
  • Patent number: 5024791
    Abstract: A method of producing a photostimulable x-ray converter for digital radiographic applications including forming a solid mixture of europium activated barium fluorohalide phosphor and a chemical compound containing an impurity ion, heating the mixture to cause the impurity ion to diffuse into the phosphor matrix, combining the treated phosphor crystals with a thermoplastic synthetic organic polymer, subjecting the second mixture to elevated pressure and temperature conditions to obtain a void free suspension and cooling the mixture to obtain a solid storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dominic A. Cusano, Gary W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5005419
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved digital processing of the analog echo signals in a coherent imaging system is described which simplifies the channel circuitry requirements. The analog echo signals detected with a phased array of transducer elements are first compressed in a non-linear manner then expanded non-linearly with analog-to-digital converter means to provide increased instantaneous dynamic range in the overall system. Representative phased array coherent imaging systems having the improved digital processing means are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew O'Donnell, Kenneth B. Welles, II, Carl R. Crawford, Norbert J. Pelc, Steven G. Karr
  • Patent number: 4883073
    Abstract: A therapeutic wrist support is provided allowing a person with carpal tunnel syndrome to manipulate the wrist without further aggravating this ailment. The device employs a flexible substrate which includes integral splint elements physically positioned to allow limited wrist movement in both vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wearer's forearm. Positioning of the splint elements is also made dependent upon whether the left or right wrist of the wearer is involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Farooq Aziz
  • Patent number: 4873708
    Abstract: A digital radiographic imaging system which employs co-operative means for converting the x-rays to an optical image having enhanced quality and detecting said optical image. The x-ray conversion medium employed in the improved radiographic system is positioned physically contiguous to a bi-directional array of electrical charge transfer devices which convert the optical image to an electronic analog representation thereof. Digital information processing means are further included in the improved radiographic system to convert the electronic analog representation of the optical image to a recorded digital representation thereof. The x-ray conversion medium being employed in the improved radiographic system is a high efficiency scintillator body which moves co-operatively with the photo detection means being employed in a further synchronious relationship with a moving fan beam of X radiation being employed to generate the desired optical image after passage through a stationary object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dominic A. Cusano, George E. Possin
  • Patent number: 4870672
    Abstract: A fused metal oxide ceramic coating is disclosed for application in a particular region of the target employed in an x-ray tube. The disclosed ceramic coating enhances the thermal emittance of a refractory metal target and comprises the fused product of a metal oxide physical mixture comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, and TiO.sub.2 which exhibits a minimum melting point of approximately 1580.degree. C. A preferred ceramic coating comprises from about 40 weight percent up to about 70 weight percent TiO.sub.2, from about 20 weight percent up to about 40 weight percent ZrO.sub.2, and from about 10 weight percent up to about 20 weight percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. A process for the in situ preparation of said ceramic coating is also disclosed along with a particular rotating type x-ray tube and radiographic imaging system employing said improved target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard W. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 4783596
    Abstract: A polycrystalline ceramic scintillator is disclosed for radiographic applications which has received a controlled oxidation anneal to reduce radiation damage otherwise occuring when said scintillator is exposed to X radiation during conversion of said X radiation to the display image. The particular ceramic material treated in said manner comprises a densely sintered rare earth doped gadolinia containing metal oxide having a cubic crystal structure which has been annealed after sintering in a controlled oxygen containing atmosphere. A preferred ceramic composition comprises from about 5 mole percent up to about 50 mole percent Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, between about 0.5 mole percent and 12 mole percent of a rare earth activator oxide selected from the group consisting of Eu.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, and between about 0.0001 and 0.5 mole percent of at least one afterglow reducer selected from the group consisting of Pr.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3, and the remainder of said composition being Y.sub.2 O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Riedner, Erdogan O. Gurmen, Charles D. Greskovich, Dominic A. Cusano
  • Patent number: 4574217
    Abstract: An electrically insulative base for an incandescent lamp is disclosed having a three-part construction with all of the individual base parts being joined together in butt-seal engagement along a pair of horizontal planes parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal lamp axis. Said base construction is especially useful in the tungsten halogen cycle lamps of the high wattage type requiring that a ceramic material be used and whereby the ceramic base parts are joined together before lamp assembly with a ceramic sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Edward A. Pendergrass
  • Patent number: 4503488
    Abstract: A multiple headlamp system for vehicles, comprising at least two individual lamps having their filaments connected in electrical series. This permits the use of shorter filaments and hence smaller diameter reflector lamps, without loss of optical control or reflector efficiency, for use in modern cars having low-profile front ends for providing improved aerodynamic streamlining. In a preferred embodiment, a vehicle is provided with two sets of headlamps, each set comprising a pair of individual headlamps each containing a filament at the focal point of the reflector for achieving maximum optical control, and means for connecting the filaments of each pair in electrical series across the vehicle's battery, one lamp of the pair being designed to provide a narrow-beam "punch" light for distant viewing, and the other lamp of the pair being designed to provide a wide-angle beam "spread" light for general viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Soules, Milan R. Vukcevich
  • Patent number: 4500811
    Abstract: An electric lamp construction is described having at least one pair of conductive inlead wires of dispersion strengthened copper alloy to serve as the sole means of the physical support for a resistive incandescent filament physically connected thereto, and wherein one of said inlead wires is further electrically connected to a fuse lead of a copper solution alloy with nickel and tin. Said fuse metal produces less metal arc damage when melted during the lamp operation as compared with other fuse metals now in commercial use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John E. McMillan
  • Patent number: 4498890
    Abstract: Guide means are provided for a fixed track chain drive system to avoid velocity fluctuation caused when the chain enters and exits a drive sprocket during continued travel between straight tracks. Said guide means comprises a curved track section located between the drive sprocket and straight track having a varying curvature depending upon a mathematical computation derived between the chain lengths when traveling in the straight track and on the drive sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: George H. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 4499159
    Abstract: Oxyhalides of lanthanum and gadolinium and coactivated with thulium ion and further containing an impurity ion and a second coactivator selected from praseodymium and neodymium, including mixtures thereof, exhibit reduced quantum noise when employed in X-ray image converter devices. In the preferred embodiments, small but effective amounts of ytterbium ion can also be incorporated into the phosphor material to reduce afterglow and a multilayer X-ray screen construction is disclosed employing the improved phosphors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marjorie J. Brines, Jacob G. Rabatin
  • Patent number: 4499526
    Abstract: A molded glass reflector member for a lamp unit employing a tungsten halogen lamp as the light source is disclosed having a recessed opening at its base end and which further provides an engagement surface for mounting said lamp unit. Specifically, said improved lamp unit includes a molded glass reflector member terminating at its base end in an elongated hollow cavity protruding from the rear side of said reflector member, said cavity having a recessed opening of smaller size at the rearmost end which also provides a recessed engagement surface for mounting said lamp, and a tungsten halogen lamp secured in said hollow cavity so that its light source is positioned at the focal point of said reflector member and the lamp inleads project through said recessed opening. In a preferred embodiment, said recessed opening is formed by spaced apart shoulders extending from the inner walls of the protruding hollow cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Denes Tarnay
  • Patent number: 4499403
    Abstract: A skin tanning lamp construction of a fluorescent type is described utilizing a combination of two different phosphor materials in order to provide a more effective sun tanning source. The particular phosphor combination can be utilized as a blended mixture having a preselected level of one phosphor component to limit the amount of erythemal radiation produced by said mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Elton T. Leppelmeier, Frank I. Ewing
  • Patent number: RE32088
    Abstract: This invention relates to sealed beam headlamp units and more particularly to a unitary coupling assembly for securing these headlamp units to vehicles. The assembly includes a headlamp having a plurality of couplers secured to the exterior surface thereof. The couplers have curved mating surfaces, centered about point for pivotal movement, which engage the surfaces of complementary couplers secured to a vehicle. The couplers are lockingly secured to each other and form a coupling for attaching the lamp to a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment the assembly employs adjustable couplers for the adjustable and/or preaimed attachment of a headlamp to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jiri G. Sip