Patents Assigned to General Electric
  • Apparatus for inspecting turbomachine components in-situ
    Patent number: 8365584
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for inspecting a component of a turbomachine in-situ. The apparatus includes an end effector having a frame defining a stable platform with a curved surface of the component, a spring loaded suspension attached to the frame, and a probe connected to a wedge member, where the probe and wedge member are connected to the spring loaded suspension. The probe is configured to inspect the component by passing signals through the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Diego Quinones, Daniel Lawrence Banowetz, Gareth William David Lewis, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer
  • Optimizing total internal reflection multilayer optics through material selection
    Patent number: 8369674
    Abstract: An optic device includes a multilayer zone forming a redirection section for redirecting and transmitting photons through total internal reflection, each multilayer zone including a high index material having a first real refractive index n1 and a first absorption coefficient ?1, a low index material having a second real refractive index n2 and a second absorption coefficient ?2, and a grading zone disposed between the high index material and the low index material and including a grading layer having a third real refractive index n3 and a third absorption coefficient ?3, wherein n1>n3>n2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Susanne Madeline Lee, Peter Michael Edic
  • Hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable
    Patent number: 8369671
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable comprising: a core fiber comprising at least one Bragg grating region, an outer surface and a length; a fiber cladding in contact with the core fiber along the entire length of the core fiber, the fiber cladding having an outer surface and a length; a carbon layer disposed upon the outer surface of the fiber cladding along the entire length of the fiber cladding, the carbon layer comprising diamond-like carbon; a hydrogen ion absorption layer in contact with the carbon layer, the hydrogen ion absorption layer being disposed on the outer surface of the carbon layer; and an outer sleeve. Also provided in another aspect of the present invention, is a component for a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Xia, Axel Busboom, Kevin Matthew Durocher, Renato Guida, George Theodore Dalakos, Glen Peter Koste, Boon Kwee Lee
  • Devices and methods for electric field sensing
    Patent number: 8368380
    Abstract: A stand-off sensor assembly is provided. The sensor assembly includes a plurality of electron state definers for generating resonant tunneling current in response to the electric field, wherein the electron state definers include at least one variable characteristic such that a change in the variable characteristic affects the tunneling current, and a monitor for monitoring a change in the tunneling current exiting an electron state definer based on a change in the variable characteristic of the tunneling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, David William Vernooy
  • System and method for monitoring a gas turbine
    Patent number: 8370046
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a gas turbine includes a memory containing information from comparable gas turbines and an input device that generates a unit data signal and a risk signal. A processor in communication with the memory and the input device incorporates the unit data signal into the database, projects information for the gas turbine, and calculates a conditional risk that the gas turbine will reach a limit. An output signal includes repair or maintenance schedules. A method for monitoring a gas turbine includes receiving information from comparable gas turbines, adding information from the gas turbine to the information from comparable gas turbines, and projecting information for the gas turbine. The method further includes calculating a conditional risk that the gas turbine will reach a limit and generating an output signal containing repair or maintenance schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaomo Jiang, Michael Edward Bernard, Sameer Vittal
  • Energy management of household appliances
    Patent number: 8367984
    Abstract: A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John K. Besore, Jeff Donald Drake, Michael F. Finch, Darin Franks, John Joseph Roetker, Steven Keith Root, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Eric K. Watson
  • Method and apparatus for optimizing a train trip using signal information
    Patent number: 8370006
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for operating a railway network comprising a first railway vehicle (400) during a trip along track segments (401/412/420).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Tom Otsubo, John Erik Hershey, Gerald James Hess
  • Method and computer software code for determining when to permit a speed control system to control a powered system
    Patent number: 8370007
    Abstract: A method for determining an operating threshold boundary within which a controller is permitted to control a powered system, the method including calculating a threshold boundary with at least one of information about at least one of a route and a load encountered by the powered system as a function of at least one of time or distance, a characteristic of the powered system, and a characteristics of the controller, and determining whether the powered system exceeds the threshold boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James D. Brooks, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Updating demand response settings
    Patent number: 8369998
    Abstract: An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Adam Hofmann, John K. Besore, Timothy M. Wetzel
  • Vacuum insulator for a refrigerator appliance
    Patent number: 8365551
    Abstract: A vacuum insulator for portions of the refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator appliance is provided. The vacuum insulator can be applied to the suction line leading to the refrigerant compressor, the capillary tube leading to the evaporator inlet, and/or the capillary tube—suction line heat exchanger. An outer insulating layer is used to create a vacuum that serves to insulate the intended portion of the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Martin Christopher Severance, Karthick Srinivasan, John Alexander Gardner
  • Medical vaporizer and method of control of a medical vaporizer
    Patent number: 8365724
    Abstract: An anesthetic vaporizer and a method of control thereof includes measuring a composition of the carrier gas with a first sensor and measuring a composition of a combined gas with a second sensor, and using these values with a controller to operate a flow valve for the regulation of the flow of an anesthetic agent into the combined gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Douglas K. Bottom
  • Method for removing calcium from crude oil
    Patent number: 8366915
    Abstract: Methods for reducing calcium deposition along surfaces in contact with the water phase of a resolved water/oil emulsion are disclosed. High calcium crude oil and the like are contacted with a sequestrant to form a sequestered calcium containing complex that partitions to the water phase in the resolved emulsion. A specifically formulated polymeric deposit control agent is added to the water phase to inhibit calcium deposit formation therein and along surfaces in contact with the water phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan E. Goliaszewski, David B. Engel, Roger C. May
  • Internal lubrication for a gearbox, a power-generating wind turbine system, and a power-generating system
    Patent number: 8365866
    Abstract: A gearbox including a gear-train including an input and an output and a rotating conduit internally traversing the gear-train is provided. The rotating conduit is configured to receive lubrication fluid from one or more components downstream of the rotating conduit and deliver lubrication fluid to one or more components upstream of the rotating conduit. The components downstream of the rotating conduit rotate at a different speed than components upstream of the rotating conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert John Ciszak, Keith Marsden, Timothy Kuzma
  • Lubrication system and wind turbine incorporating same
    Patent number: 8366390
    Abstract: A lubrication system and wind turbine are provided having one or more input ports in a component and one or more output ports in the component. An expandable lubrication receptacle is connected to the one or more output ports, and the expandable lubrication receptacle is configured for receiving a lubrication medium from the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aquiles Tiscareño, Elias Marquez, Francisco Corona
  • MAGNETIC RESONANCE RADIO-FREQUENCY COIL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20130027040
    Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance (MR) Radio-Frequency (RF) coil and method of manufacturing are provided for a multi-modality imaging system. The multi-modality imaging system includes a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner portion configured to acquired MR data of a patient using one or more MR Radio-Frequency (RF) coils. The one or more MR RF coils are formed from carbon nanotube conductors. The multi-modality imaging system also includes a radiation potion configured to transmit radiation through or detect radiation from the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vijayanand Alagappan, Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TABLE DEFINITION LANGUAGE GENERATION
    Publication number: 20130031115
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium is provided that includes instructions to interpret a table definition language fragment, that includes modifications of attributes and functionalities defined in a first table definition language. The non-transitory computer readable medium also includes instructions to generate a second table definition language with the subsequent modifications based at least upon applying the modifications in the table definition language fragment to the first table definition language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hyoung Jhang
  • INSPECTION SYSTEM DEPLOYING PORTABLE HANDSET WITH ACTIVE COOLING FEATURE
    Publication number: 20130027527
    Abstract: Embodiments of an inspection system deploy active cooling to dissipate heat in a portable handset. In one embodiment, the inspection system comprise a visual inspection apparatus with a handle portion and a head portion coupled to the handle portion. The head portion can have a display and a circuit board coupled to the display and a heat sink in thermal connection with the circuit board. To facilitate active cooling, the apparatus may include an air moving device in flow connection with the heat sink, where the air moving device comprises a motor and an impeller and where the motor and the circuit board are sealed from the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Lynn Scott, Clark Alexander Bendall, Theodore Alexander Chilek
  • Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Sealing a Bucket Dovetail in a Turbine
    Publication number: 20130028743
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems methods, and apparatus for sealing a bucket dovetail in a turbine. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor wheel slot. The method can include modifying a bucket tab associated with the bucket dovetail to accept a seal tab, wherein the seal tab is configured to expand as a function of temperature; maintaining the seal tab in contact with the modified bucket tab; sealing a gap between the bucket dovetail and the rotor wheel slot with the seal tab; and modifying at least a portion of the seal tab as a function of temperature for further sealing gap between the bucket dovetail and the rotor wheel slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ramesh Kempanna Babu, John D. Ward
  • Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Automatically Configuring a Utility Meter
    Publication number: 20130027217
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically configuring a utility meter. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for automatically configuring a utility meter. The method can include transmitting formatted data from a utility meter to a remote server. The formatted data includes one or more of: a ready signal, a meter identifier, a location identifier, installed options identifier, firmware version identifier, or configuration table information. The method also includes receiving configuration data from the remote server in response to the transmitted formatted data; and automatically configuring the utility meter with at least a portion of the received configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Prerna Jindia
  • Energy storage system for electric or hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: RE43956
    Abstract: A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the system including a first battery, a second battery, and a load coupled to the batteries. The system includes a passive storage device, a unidirectional conducting apparatus coupled in series electrical circuit with the passive storage device and poled to conduct current from the passive storage device to the load, the series electrical circuit coupled in parallel with the battery such that the passive storage device provides current to the load when the battery terminal voltage is less than voltage on the passive storage device, and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Timothy Gerard Richter, Lembit Salasoo