Patents Assigned to General Electric
  • MULTI-TUBE THERMAL FUSE FOR NOZZLE PROTECTION FROM A FLAME HOLDING OR FLASHBACK EVENT
    Publication number: 20100139280
    Abstract: A protection system for a pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine, includes: a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish a fuel delivery plenum; and a plurality of fuel mixing tubes that extend through at least a portion of the fuel delivery plenum, each of the plurality of fuel mixing tubes including at least one fuel feed opening fluidly connected to the fuel delivery plenum; at least one thermal fuse disposed on an exterior surface of at least one tube, the at least one thermal fuse including a material that will melt upon ignition of fuel within the at least one tube and cause a diversion of fuel from the fuel feed opening to at least one bypass opening. A method and a turbine engine in accordance with the protection system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York
  • DC-TO-AC POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100141041
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a photovoltaic power converter. The photovoltaic power converter includes one or more photovoltaic arrays configured convert solar energy into a DC signal and two or more N-level converters coupled to a common DC bus (N being an integer greater than 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sumit Bose, Ralph Teichmann, Kathleen Ann O'Brien
  • OPTIMIZED TURBOCHARGER BEARING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100143104
    Abstract: A turbocharger system, in certain embodiments, includes a compressor, a turbine, a shaft of common diameter coupling the compressor to the turbine, and a first fluid film bearing disposed about the shaft at a compressor end portion of the shaft. The system also includes a second fluid film fixed pad bearing disposed about the shaft at a turbine end portion of the shaft, wherein the first and second fluid film fixed pad bearings have different clearance ratios, effective lengths, or both, relative to one another. The system, in some embodiments, includes a compressor fluid film fixed pad bearing and a turbine fluid film fixed pad bearing, wherein the compressor and turbine fluid film fixed pad bearings have different clearance ratios and effective lengths, relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, Kendall Roger Swenson, Daniel Edward Loringer, Suresha Kumar Panambur
  • WETTING RESISTANT MATERIAL AND ARTICLES MADE THEREWITH
    Publication number: 20100143620
    Abstract: An article coated with a highly durable, wetting resistant coating is provided. The article comprises a coating that comprises a cermet material. The cermet material includes a nickel-bearing metal matrix and a phase disposed within the matrix. The phase includes an anion moiety, for example nitrogen, carbon, or boron; and a cation moiety, for example chromium, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, hafnium, niobium, or tantalum. The phase is present in the cermet at a level of at least about 5 volume %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Leonardo Ajdelsztajn, James Anthony Ruud, Dalong Zhong, Molly Maureen Gentleman
  • ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATORS
    Publication number: 20100140519
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve plate coupled to the movable device disposed partially within a housing. An electromagnetic actuator includes a first set of permanent magnets provided to the movable device. At least one stator core is disposed proximate to the movable device with a gap between the stator core and the movable device. At least one stator coil is wound to each stator core. A power source is coupled to the at least one stator coil and configured to supply electric current to the at least one stator coil. The opening and closing of the valve plate is controlled by changing direction of electric current flow through the at least one stator coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Mohamed Ahmed Ali
  • TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20100143148
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes at least two blade segments. Each blade segment includes first and second shells joined together, a base region, at least one joint region including a mating face. Each of the first and second shells includes an outer skin, a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and adjacent to at least a portion of the base spar cap. The joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region. The turbine blade further includes fasteners within the holes for securing the at least two blade segments together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xianglei Chen, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Wendy Wen-Ling Lin, Youdong Zhou, Shu Ching Quek, Grama Narasimhaprasad Praveen, Bowden Kirkpatrick, Robert Michael Zirin, Gang Qian
  • COMPLIANT FOIL SEAL FOR ROTARY MACHINES
    Publication number: 20100143101
    Abstract: A compliant foil seal comprises a bottom foil configured to be located circumferentially around at least a portion of a rotor, and one or more upper foils configured to cooperate with a stator to position the bottom foil to compliantly face the rotor and be located between the stator and the rotor. A compliant foil seal assembly and a rotary machine are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Biao Fang, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Edip Sevincer
  • POWER RAMP RATE CONTROL FOR RENEWABLE VARIABLE POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20100145533
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for controlling power ramp rates in renewable variable power generation systems. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for limiting power ramp rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Edward Cardinal, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Andreas Kirchner
  • RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20100141447
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking system to track and manage assets. Each asset to be tracked is tagged with an RFID tag, and tracked using RFID readers located throughout a facility. Based on the tracking information, the system allows users to manage assets and generate reports regarding the various tagged assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Daniel Neuwirth
  • LASER MACHINING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100140236
    Abstract: A laser machining system comprises a laser configured to generate a laser output for forming a molten pool on a substrate, a nozzle configured to supply a growth material to the molten pool for depositing the material on the substrate, and an optical unit configured to capture a plurality of grayscale images comprising temperature data during the laser deposition process, wherein the grayscale images correspond to respective ones of a plurality of radiation beams with different desired wavelengths. Further, the laser machining system comprises an image-processing unit configured to process the grayscale images to retrieve the temperature data according to linear relationships between temperatures in the laser deposition process and the corresponding grayscales of the respective images. A laser machining method is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Guoshang Cai, Kevin George Harding, Magdi Naim Azer, Yong Liu, Sudhir Kumar Tewari, Robert William Tait, Xiaobin Chen, Yanmin Li, Huan Qi, David Henry Abbott
  • WINDING DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100141294
    Abstract: A winding diagnostic system is provided. The system includes a core having a winding to generate a magnetic flux. A retention device for holding the winding in place is provided. The system further includes a sensor disposed in a sensing relation with the retention device to generate signals related to at least one aspect of the winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Erklin Seeley, Karim Younsi, Sameh R. Salem, John Erik Hershey
  • SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20100140730
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device comprises, a first region of a first conductivity type, a second region of a second conductivity type disposed adjacent to the first region to form a p-n junction structure, a resistance modification region of the second conductivity type, and a field response modification region of the second conductivity type disposed between the resistance modification region and the second region, wherein the field response modification region comprises a varying dopant concentration distribution along a thickness direction of the field response modification region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stanislav Ivanovich Soloviev, Ho-Young Cha, Peter Micah Sandvik, Alexey Vert, Jody Alan Fronheiser
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND FRICTION MONITORING
    Publication number: 20100143120
    Abstract: A monitoring system for at least one wind turbine includes at least one sensor disposed at the at least one wind turbine to detect wind friction at the at least one wind turbine. At least one controller is connected to the at least one wind turbine, and a monitor server is connected to the controller to change an operational status of the at least one wind turbine based on wind friction data received from the at least one sensor. A method of operation of at least one wind turbine includes continuously measuring data relative to wind friction at the at least one wind turbine via at least one sensor located thereat. The data is continuously compared to a predetermined wind friction threshold. A trend in the comparisons is evaluated, and the operational status of the wind turbine is changed via a monitor server based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vivek Kumar, Hemanth Kumar Anjanappa, Chery Jose, Sandeep Kumar Vidiyala
  • MOULDS WITH INTEGRATED HEATING AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20100140448
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a mould and the mould fabricated by such method. The mould is fabricated by providing a support structure having a predefined shape; applying a heat distribution layer on the support structure; applying a heating element network upon the heat distribution layer; applying at least one glass composition layer upon the heating element network; applying a resin composition to each of the heating element network and the at least one glass composition layer; and integrating the heat distribution layer, heating element network, the at least one glass composition layer and the resin composition to form a mould unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas Koerwien
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING METAVOLUMES
    Publication number: 20100142841
    Abstract: A method is provided for generating a metavolume for reconstructing an image. The method provides for acquiring a plurality of low-resolution images of an imaged volume, the plurality of low-resolution images obtained from one or more imaging planes and merging the plurality of low-resolution images using a statistical operation to generate a metavolume. Systems and computer programs that afford functionality of the type defined by this method may be provided by the present technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vivek Prabhakar Vaidya, Rakesh Mullick, Shekhar Dwivedi
  • ARTICLES FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE SERVICE AND METHODS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20100143655
    Abstract: Articles coated via a plasma spray process, and methods for making such articles, are presented. For example, one embodiment is an article comprising a substrate comprising a top surface and a channel disposed in the substrate. The channel is defined by an internal channel surface disposed beneath the top surface and having a terminal end at an orifice at the top surface. A coating is disposed on the top surface and on at least a portion of the internal channel surface. A coating thickness at any point on the internal channel surface is less than a nominal coating thickness on the top surface, and the coating comprises a plurality of at least partially melted and solidified particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Larry Steven Rosenzweig, James Anthony Ruud, Mohan Manoharan, Brian Harvey Pilsner
  • SEGMENTED WIND TURBINE BLADE
    Publication number: 20100143143
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a plurality of individual blade segments, with each blade segment defining an internal passage extending between the longitudinal ends of the blade segment. A rigid spar member extends longitudinally through the internal passages of the individual blade segments such that the blade segments are aligned and connected end-to-end on said spar member to define a complete rotor blade from a root to a blade tip. The spar member has a cross-sectional profile that is keyed to the cross-sectional profile of the internal passage in the blade segments. The spar member includes oppositely facing spar caps that engage against the inside surfaces of the blade segments within the internal passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: PAUL WILLIAM JUDGE
  • GASIFIER ADDITIVES FOR IMPROVED REFRACTORY LIFE
    Publication number: 20100139167
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide hydrocarbon additives and methods of making and using the same. The additives are suitable for use in conjunction with gasifiers, furnaces, or other high-temperature vessels. The additives may be part of an input stream to a reaction vessel of a hydrocarbon gasifier. The additives may include materials that at least partially reduce the infiltration of slag into the refractory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Joel Meschter, Paul Stephen Dimascio
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A LOCALIZED HEATING
    Publication number: 20100145420
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a localized heating are provided, the method comprising: transmitting a spatially localized or shaped electromagnetic field via a plurality of coils to a subject and generating magnetic resonance signals; performing magnetic resonance imaging based on the magnetic resonance signals to generate an image of a region of interest of the subject; and controlling the plurality of the same imaging coils to radiate radio frequency (rf) energy to generate the localized heating on a region of interest. The invention provide a more efficient manner for generating localized heating and means for verifying the heating pattern without the need to measure temperature rises in the patient. This is useful to check the localization prior to the application of hyperthermia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yudong Zhu, Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo
  • COMPLIANT PLATE SEAL WITH SELF-CORRECTING BEHAVIOR
    Publication number: 20100143102
    Abstract: A self-correcting seal assembly comprises a plurality of compliant plates coupled circumferentially to a stationary component, at least one slot in the compliant plates extending from the stationary component towards a rotor; and a resistance member coupled to a stationary component. The resistance member comprising at least one annular ring extending from the stationary component towards a rotor and through the slot. The seal assembly is configured to create passive feedback on hydrostatic forces in response to a tip-clearance between the rotor and tips of the compliant plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Vishvas Deo, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Barbaros Yildirim