Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Karl Vick, Esq.
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Patent number: 6408502Abstract: A rotor mount assembly, located between a rotor shaft and a plurality of magnetic elements, resiliently damps vibrations induced from the plurality of magnetic elements. The rotor mount assembly includes a first resilient ring, a second resilient ring, and a laminated spacer. The laminated spacer includes laminates from a stator core center punch. Both resilient rings include an inner metal insert which, in one embodiment, comprises laminates.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Subhash M. Brahmavar, Kamron M. Wright
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Patent number: 6405548Abstract: A refrigeration control system containing a chamber in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. In one embodiment, a fan motor is positioned between an evaporator and the chamber. The fan motor speed or torque is adjusted to control the volume of cold evaporator air blown into the chamber. The rate of air flow to the chamber adjusts the temperature of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert Keith Hollenbeck
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Patent number: 6401056Abstract: A computer-implemented method for evaluating tool performance is described which includes maintaining tool history data in an electronic memory, updating the tool history data with tool servicing data, determining from the tool history and servicing data a predicted tool remaining useful life, and displaying the predicted useful life on a computer output device. Average tool data is compared to tool benchmark data to determine tool efficiency. Tool servicing, performance and efficiency data are maintained in a spreadsheet format. Data entered into one spreadsheet is used to update a plurality of spreadsheets. The spreadsheet format allows manufacturers to keep abreast of tool performance over time and in a plurality of locations and to anticipate tool rebuild and replacement requirements.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert D. Sirois
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Patent number: 6394658Abstract: A bearing system includes a housing with first and second relief cuts, and a bearing assembly that includes an inner race and an outer race. An adjust screw contacts a preload spring positioned adjacent the outer race. The preload spring exerts a force on the outer race. The outer race includes a first and second edge, and a connecting portion. The first and second edges are positioned adjacent the first and second relief cuts respectively. The connecting portion contacts a bearing bore surface while the first and second edges of the outer race do not contact the bore surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: James R. Crowell
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Patent number: 6388356Abstract: A method of adjusting speed and torque of a dynamoelectric machine is disclosed. The machine includes a main winding, and a divided winding each configured to generate a plurality of poles. The method includes the steps of energizing the main winding and controlling the amount of electromagnetic flux at each pole.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Daniel M. Saban
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Patent number: 6388351Abstract: A bearing load washer that permits assembly of electric motors with the rotor shaft in a vertical position and extending downward is described. The bearing load washer includes a plurality of portions that form a non-planar, wave shaped, substantially circular shaped, washer body. The washer includes a center opening that is sized so that an electric motor rotor shaft can extend through the washer body. The washer includes an outer circumferential surface and at least one raised area extending radially from the outer circumferential surface. The raised areas are configured to increase the outside diameter of the washer so that the outer circumferential surface engages the inner surface of an endshield bearing pocket at each raised area of the outer circumferential surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lynn Edwin Fisher, Marc D. Pape
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Patent number: 6386238Abstract: During coiled hose and spring operations, a sheath reduces entanglements within a workstation and provides unrestricted access to manufacturing and assembly line pneumatic tools and equipment. The sheath includes a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween. The first and second ends are secured to a coiled device. The body defines a cavity sized to receive a portion of the coiled device therein. The sheath installs easily, is reliable, and is resilient to entanglements induced by coiled devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2001Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: James Brown Hestetune
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Patent number: 6388435Abstract: A method is described for measuring a plurality of line voltages using a measurement circuit, the method including the steps of reducing each line voltage over a first impedance; providing a second impedance between each of the reduced voltages and a measurement circuit common reference point; coupling the common reference point to a voltage line N using a third impedance; and determining line voltage values using measurements of the reduced voltages. The above-described method provides impedance between voltage line N and measurement electronics and thus prevents transient voltages from entering the measurement circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Maurice J. Ouellette
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Patent number: 6384753Abstract: An interface module includes a high density analog interface (HAI) for electrical interconnection between a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an analog to digital converter (ADC) or a digital to analog converter (DAC). The HAI includes a single application specific integrated circuit having a data scaling function block, a diagnostics function block configured to verify functionality of said scaling function block, a self-calibration function block configured to compensate for drift in said ADC, and a shared interface function block configured to electronically connect said module with a programmable logic controller (PLC).Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Brooks, Edwin Thurnau
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Patent number: 6380645Abstract: A cast end shield includes an opening extending therethrough and an insert at least partially embedded within the end shield at the opening. The end shield also includes a plurality of slots extending to the insert. In one embodiment, the insert is a substantially circular steel insert ring concentric with the opening and oriented such that an inner diameter of the insert ring is exposed from the end shield.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: James M. Scott
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Patent number: 6380487Abstract: A circuit board protection system includes a circuit board including at least one edge, an enclosure used to encapsulate the edge, and a seal. The seal encapsulates the edge and prevents liquid from contacting the edge. Accordingly, the circuit board is protected from liquid infiltration at the edge of the board. Additionally, a method for protecting a circuit board, including at least one edge, in a board enclosure includes applying encapsulating material to at least one of the board enclosure and the edge, and positioning the circuit board in the enclosure such that the edge is encapsulated.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Keith Hollenbeck, James Kiefer
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Patent number: 6378849Abstract: A method for facilitating the reduction of transmitted motor noise using a mounting system in a frame. The mounting system includes a motor assembly having an end bell, a mounting bracket including a brace, a plurality of attachment openings, a plurality of leaf springs attached to the brace and an anchor device attached to each leaf spring. Each anchor device includes a fastener opening and a grommet. The leaf springs and grommets are configured to filter and damp noise transmitted from the motor to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David M. Erdman, Subhash M. Brahmavar, David L. Bailey, Harold B. Harms
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Patent number: 6373688Abstract: A service entrance barrier for a load center that includes a housing and a service entrance having at least one branch fed main breaker electrically connected to branch feed lines. The service entrance barrier is securable to the load center housing to prevent human contact with electrically energized parts located in the service entrance of the load center. The service entrance barrier includes a main body portion, at least one mounting leg extending from the main body portion, a protection tab extending from said main body portion, and a non-conductive sleeve encompassing the protection tab.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph G. Nagy, Stephen L. Wuest, Michael J. Fraser, David A. Reid, Javier Larranaga
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Patent number: 6369536Abstract: An electronically commutated motor assembly permits a user to select discrete operating speed options to operate an electronically commutated motor. The assembly includes a motor, an input/output unit electrically connected to the motor, a connector and board and a microprocessor. The connector and board includes an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a plurality of low voltage signal connections for programming the EEPROM, and a plurality of speed signal connections for selecting an operating speed for the electronically commutated motor. The low voltage signal connections permit the EEPROM to be programmed with speed tables containing schedules of operating speeds.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian L. Beifus, Louis Sulfstede, Kamron M. Wright, Glen C. Young
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Patent number: 6362602Abstract: The present invention is to provide an improved strategy for actively controlling battery state of charge (SOC) as a function of the vehicle's kinetic energy. A vehicle system controller (VSC) can vary a target battery SOC as a function of vehicle speed based on either vehicle kinetic energy or the square of vehicle speed. The VSC can set a maximum battery SOC limit using vehicle velocity and actively control a rate of charging the battery and determine a target battery SOC as a balance between the charge time and the charge current. The VSC can determine a target battery SOC based on a predetermined constant and a predetermined offset value. Target battery SOC is increased as vehicle speed increases until the maximum battery SOC limit is reached.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Shailesh S. Kozarekar