Abstract: An annuloplasty system for repairing incompetent heart valves is provided. This system includes a substantially circular valve reinforcing device adapted to be surgically implanted into around a heart valve annulus; anchoring means for attaching the substantially circular valve reinforcing device to the heart valve, wherein attaching the substantially circular valve reinforcing device to the heart valve annulus reduces the circumference of the heart valve annulus by plicating annular tissue underneath the valve reinforcing device; and constricting means for, if necessary, reducing the circumference of the substantially circular valve reinforcing device, wherein reducing the circumference of the substantially circular valve reinforcing device further reduces the circumference of the heart valve annulus.
Abstract: A capacity control algorithm for a multiple compressor liquid chiller system is provided wherein the speed and number of compressors in operation are controlled in order to obtain a leaving liquid temperature setpoint. In response to an increase in the load in the chiller system, the algorithm determines if a compressor should be started and adjusts the operating speed of all operating compressors when an additional compressor is started. In response to a decrease in the load in the chiller system with multiple compressors operating, the algorithm determines if a compressor should be de-energized and adjusts the operating speed of all remaining operating compressors when a compressor is de-energized.
Abstract: A ventilation device for use with vehicle windows is provided. This device includes an adjustable frame mountable within a vehicle window; an insert mountable within the frame; and an adapter, wherein adapter is attachable to the frame and further includes a plurality of score lines formed therein for facilitating changing the dimensions of the adapter, if necessary, based on the dimensions of the window opening in which the device is being used.
Abstract: A system for transferring mechanical torque variably between a plurality of rotating machines in a turbofan engine. Two devices are used, where the first device relies upon magnetic properties of a planetary magnetic gearbox to couple the magnetic machines. The second device is used to variably control the torque transfer between the magnetic machines. The system couples rotating shafts rotating at differing speeds within a turbofan engine for controllably transferring power. To transfer power in the system, a fixed gear ratio is obtained by coupling the relatively high- and low-speed engine shafts to an epicyclic magnetic gearbox.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 6, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
John Michael Kern, Michael V. Drexel, Jeremy Daniel VanDam
Abstract: A spackling compound is provided that is easy to apply smoothly, can be applied in thicker layers than known spackling without cracking upon drying, and can be modified after drying without pitting, flaking, or crumbling, particularly at the edges of the applied spackling patch. The composition includes polyaramid fibers that act as structural strengtheners to provide the dried composition with exceptional strength and resistance to cracking. In a second embodiment, the composition further includes low aspect ratio (about equal to 1) ceramic microparticles that fill voids in the mixture to produce a smoother, more dense composition. Upon drying, the ceramic microparticles produce a very smooth surface that can be sanded without flaking or crumbling. Additionally, the invention provides methods of preparing and using the compositions to produce smooth repair patches with no cracks, are easy to sand without pitting or flaking, and to provide improved structural integrity to the repaired area.
Abstract: A system for transferring torque between a pair of independently, concurrently rotating shafts of a turbofan engine includes a magnetic gearbox. The magnetic gearbox has a first ring structure, a second ring structure and an intermediate ring structure. Each ring structure has an annular aperture therethrough and a plurality of permanent magnets embedded therein. The intermediate ring structure is disposed between the first and the second ring structures. Each ring structure is coaxially concentric with, and independently rotatable with respect to the remaining ring structures. The first and second ring structures are each coupled to separate ones of the rotating engine shafts, and the intermediate ring is operable to transfer torque between the pair of shafts. Preferably, the intermediate ring structure is coupled to a rotating machine. The rotating machine has a controller, and is operable for adjusting a ratio of torque transferred between the pair of shafts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
John M. Kern, Juan M. De Bedout, Kiyoung Chung, Michal-Wolfgang Waszak, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Peter D. Toot, Ronghai Qu, Wei Wu
Abstract: A level control algorithm for an HVAC refrigeration system is provided. The control algorithm utilizes a fuzzy logic methodology to automatically adjust a flow of refrigerant in the system to maintain a desired liquid level in the condenser. The fuzzy logic methodology incorporates a plurality of fuzzy logic control algorithms each having different membership functions and other control parameters that can provide different degrees of level control in the condenser. A particular fuzzy logic control algorithm is selected based on the amount a measured liquid level in the condenser deviates from the desired liquid level in the condenser.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 12, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 31, 2010
Assignee:
York International Corporation
Inventors:
Daniel Keir McCormick, William Fred McQuade
Abstract: A heat exchanger system includes a duct having a duct wall with a duct wall outer surface and a duct wall inner surface; and a heat exchanger partial shell hermetically joined to the duct wall inner surface. The heat exchanger partial shell and a shell portion of the duct wall inner surface constitute a heat exchanger. A heat exchanger inlet manifold is defined by a nonplanar inlet sheet of material hermetically joined to the duct wall outer surface. A heat exchanger outlet manifold is defined by a nonplanar outlet sheet of material hermetically joined to the duct wall outer surface. A heat exchanger inlet opening extends through the duct wall between the inlet manifold and the heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger outlet opening extends through the duct wall between the outlet manifold and the heat exchanger.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 2006
Date of Patent:
August 31, 2010
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Nathan Wesley Ottow, Scott Richard Zearbaugh, Phillip Michael Lariviere
Abstract: A hydroelectric system comprising a support member, a rotational torque converter, a drive member being disposed at one end of a support arm, a water driven mechanism in rotational communication with the drive member, wherein the support arm can be pivotally adjusted by a retraction mechanism are disclosed. A spillway deflector comprising a spillway deflector wedge, a deflector anchor, and a flat portion extending between the deflector anchor and the deflector wedge are disclosed.
Abstract: A system for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor is provided. This system includes a ring component, wherein the ring component further includes at least one metal matrix composite and a continuous radially outwardly facing blade conical surface; an airfoil component, wherein the at least one airfoil component has been created from a single, unitary piece of material and further includes a plurality of individual airfoil blades and a continuous radially inwardly facing blade conical surface; and inertia welding means for frictionally engaging under an axially applied weld load the ring component and the airfoil component to effect an inertia weld therebetween along the conical surfaces.
Abstract: An antiferroelectric ceramic material that can be formed into a multilayer capacitor is disclosed. The antiferroelectric ceramic material is selected from the Pb(Sn, Zr, Ti)O3 (PSnZT) composition family.
Abstract: This invention relates, in part, to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives thereof; processes for making the polynucleotides and the polypeptides, and their variants and derivatives; and uses of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives. The invention also relates to compositions of orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and pairs of orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal tRNAs that incorporate fluorinated amino acids into proteins in response to selector codons. The present invention also includes translation biochemistry methods for site-specific incorporation of fluorinated amino acids, for example, 18F- or 19F-labelled amino acids, into proteins or peptides. Such amino acids may be used as an NMR probe for characterizing protein structure, dynamics, and reactivity or for radionuclide imaging (e.g., PET). Fluorinated amino acids may also be used to stabilize proteins or peptides.
Abstract: A system for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor is provided. This system includes a ring component, wherein the ring component further includes at least one metal matrix composite and a continuous radially outwardly facing conical surface; an airfoil component, wherein the airfoil component further includes a plurality of individual airfoil blades, wherein at least a portion of each individual airfoil blade has been reinforced with at least one metal matrix composite, and wherein each of the plurality of airfoil blades further includes a radially inwardly facing blade conical surface; and inertia welding means for frictionally engaging under an axially applied weld load the ring component and the airfoil component to effect an inertia weld therebetween along the conical surfaces.