Patents by Inventor Ernst Wolfgang Stautner

Ernst Wolfgang Stautner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10978943
    Abstract: A wind turbine power generating system and method includes a tower, a hub, a plurality of blades connected to the hub, and a rotor connected to the hub. A superconducting generator is coupled to the rotor and includes a plurality of superconductive coils. A nacelle is mounted atop the tower, with the superconducting generator housed within the nacelle. An automatic ramp-down system is configured with the superconducting coils and includes an automatically activated energy dump circuit for current withdrawn from the superconductive coils in a ramp-down process prior to a quench. The energy dump circuit includes one or more heat dissipating loads, wherein each of the heat dissipating loads is mounted in thermal communication with one of the tower or the nacelle that act a thermal heat sink for dispersing heat from the loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anbo Wu, Michael Parizh, Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Minfeng Xu, James William Bray
  • Publication number: 20200321847
    Abstract: A wind turbine power generating system and method includes a tower, a hub, a plurality of blades connected to the hub, and a rotor connected to the hub. A superconducting generator is coupled to the rotor and includes a plurality of superconductive coils. A nacelle is mounted atop the tower, with the superconducting generator housed within the nacelle. An automatic ramp-down system is configured with the superconducting coils and includes an automatically activated energy dump circuit for current withdrawn from the superconductive coils in a ramp-down process prior to a quench. The energy dump circuit includes one or more heat dissipating loads, wherein each of the heat dissipating loads is mounted in thermal communication with one of the tower or the nacelle that act a thermal heat sink for dispersing heat from the loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Anbo Wu, Michael Parizh, Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Minfeng Xu, James William Bray
  • Patent number: 10724686
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a sealing system for a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) system. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a reservoir including an inlet opening; an outer tube; and a tapered seal shaped to seal against the inlet opening and the outer tube, the tapered seal including: a first section removably coupleable to a second section; and a through-hole formed by a first plurality of inner surfaces of both the first section and the second section, the through-hole shaped to encircle the outer tube. In this way, the tapered seal may be coupled around the fluid passage without inserting a tip of the fluid passage through the through-hole of the tapered seal, and a sterility of the system may be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Jonathan Murray
  • Patent number: 10670189
    Abstract: A system includes a storage tank storing gas. The storage tank includes a storage tank interface portion made from a first material. The system also includes a nozzle that includes a nozzle interface portion and a first portion. The first portion is made from a second material different from the first material. Additionally, the system includes a connection formed by coupling the storage tank interface portion and the nozzle interface portion to one another, and the connection is configured to maintain a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10?4 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson, Anbo Wu, Alexander Kagan, Minfeng Xu, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Justin Michael Ricci
  • Patent number: 10578251
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a sealing system for a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) system. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a reservoir including an inlet opening; an outer tube; and a tapered seal shaped to seal against the inlet opening and the outer tube, the tapered seal including: a first section removably coupleable to a second section; a through-hole formed by a first plurality of inner surfaces of both the first section and the second section, the through-hole shaped to encircle the outer tube; and a vacuum channel extending through, from an outer surface to an inner surface of the first plurality of inner surfaces, one of the first section and second section. In this way, the tapered seal may be coupled around the fluid passage without inserting a tip of the fluid passage through the through-hole of the tapered seal, thereby maintaining a sterility of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Healthcare
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Jonathan Alan Murray, Patrick Lively Padgett
  • Patent number: 10481222
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided. The cooling system is associated with a dynamic nuclear polarization system and configured to cool a sample to a temperature suitable for dynamic nuclear polarization to be carried out on the sample while the sample is in the cooling system. The cooling system includes a cryogenic chamber that includes a cryogenic fluid. The cooling system also includes a removable sample sleeve insertable within a portion of the cryogenic chamber. The removable sample sleeve is configured to define a sample path for the sample within the cryogenic chamber that is isolated from other parts of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Jan Henrik Ardenkjaer-Larsen, Patrick L. Padgett, Jonathan Alan Murray, Rui Chen, James Richard Trigger, Arnaud Comment, Albert Po-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 10451318
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (CCS) includes a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end. Also, the CCS includes a displacer disposed within the cylindrical housing and reciprocatingly driven between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical housing to compress or expand a refrigerant gas in a gas chamber. Further, the CCS includes a tubing unit coupled to the second end of the cylindrical housing and disposed adjacent to the at least one superconducting unit, wherein the tubing unit is configured to circulate the refrigerant gas received from the cylindrical housing through the tubing unit to absorb the at least one heat load imposed on the at least one superconducting unit to generate heated refrigerant gas, and convey the heated refrigerant gas to the gas chamber of the cylindrical housing to reduce or maintain a temperature of the at least one superconducting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Publication number: 20190277784
    Abstract: A cooling system, an apparatus for producing hyperpolarized samples, where the apparatus includes the cooling system, and a method for assembling and using the cooling system are disclosed. The cooling system includes a cryogenic chamber, a cooling plate, a sample sleeve, a thermal switch, and an interposer. Also, the cryogenic chamber includes a cryogenic fluid and the cooling plate is disposed in the cryogenic chamber, in contact with the cryogenic fluid. Further, the sample sleeve is configured to receive a sample. The sample sleeve is at least partially inserted in the cryogenic chamber. The thermal switch is disposed between the cooling plate and the sample sleeve. Moreover, the interposer is disposed between at least one of (i) the thermal switch and the cooling plate and (ii) the thermal switch and the sample sleeve. The interposer includes a gallium indium tin alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Eric George Budesheim
  • Patent number: 10224799
    Abstract: A cryocooler assembly for cooling a field winding of an electrical machine having an axis of rotation is provided. The assembly includes a cryocooler and a reservoir coupled in flow communication to the cryocooler and configured to contain a cooling agent. A flow assembly is coupled in flow communication to the reservoir. The flow assembly includes a first flow loop coupled in flow communication to the reservoir; a second flow loop coupled in flow communication to the reservoir; and a plurality of flow members coupled in flow communication to the first flow loop and the second flow loop and coupled to the field winding. Each flow member is configured to thermosiphon the cooling agent in a first state from the reservoir and in a second state to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, Ruben Jeevanasan Fair, Randy Scott Longtin, Suyu Hou, Fulton Jose Lopez
  • Publication number: 20190024846
    Abstract: A system includes a storage tank storing gas. The storage tank includes a storage tank interface portion made from a first material. The system also includes a nozzle that includes a nozzle interface portion and a first portion. The first portion is made from a second material different from the first material. Additionally, the system includes a connection formed by coupling the storage tank interface portion and the nozzle interface portion to one another, and the connection is configured to maintain a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10?4 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson, Anbo Wu, Alexander Kagan, Minfeng Xu, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Justin Michael Ricci
  • Patent number: 10184711
    Abstract: A cryogen cooling system to cool a superconducting magnet is disclosed herein utilizing embedded vertical tubing with a large heat exchanging surface area. The tubing encompasses the magnet which is further surrounded by a 4 Kelvin thermal shield for extended ride-through. In one embodiment, the system is a hyperpolarizer having an internal high-pressure gas storage for quench gas and to initiate cool-down. Aspects of the invention utilize a minimal volume of pressurized gas, for example, four (4) liters of pressurized gaseous helium in a 150 mL liquid helium system. As such, the prior vent stack has been removed, along with the helium vessel and quench paths/ducts. The method of using the system is further simplified during ramping while the cool-down process utilizing liquids supplied from external dewars has been eliminated. Significant advantages include reducing the helium volume (and cost associated therewith) and allowing for a hermetically sealed vacuum system that is leak-proof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Andrew Michael Leach
  • Patent number: 10185003
    Abstract: A device includes a component operable at a temperature in a range of 3.5 to 6 Kelvin. The device further includes a thermal reflective sheet comprising a plurality of layers, wound around at least a portion of the component. The device also includes a coupling device for coupling the thermal reflective sheet to at least the portion of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Publication number: 20190003652
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a sealing system for a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) system. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a reservoir including an inlet opening; an outer tube; and a tapered seal shaped to seal against the inlet opening and the outer tube, the tapered seal including: a first section removably coupleable to a second section; and a through-hole formed by a first plurality of inner surfaces of both the first section and the second section, the through-hole shaped to encircle the outer tube. In this way, the tapered seal may be coupled around the fluid passage without inserting a tip of the fluid passage through the through-hole of the tapered seal, and a sterility of the system may be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Jonathan Murray
  • Publication number: 20190003653
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a sealing system for a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) system. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a reservoir including an inlet opening; an outer tube; and a tapered seal shaped to seal against the inlet opening and the outer tube, the tapered seal including: a first section removably coupleable to a second section; a through-hole formed by a first plurality of inner surfaces of both the first section and the second section, the through-hole shaped to encircle the outer tube; and a vacuum channel extending through, from an outer surface to an inner surface of the first plurality of inner surfaces, one of the first section and second section. In this way, the tapered seal may be coupled around the fluid passage without inserting a tip of the fluid passage through the through-hole of the tapered seal, thereby maintaining a sterility of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Jonathan Alan Murray, Patrick Lively Padgett
  • Publication number: 20180172319
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (CCS) includes a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end. Also, the CCS includes a displacer disposed within the cylindrical housing and reciprocatingly driven between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical housing to compress or expand a refrigerant gas in a gas chamber. Further, the CCS includes a tubing unit coupled to the second end of the cylindrical housing and disposed adjacent to the at least one superconducting unit, wherein the tubing unit is configured to circulate the refrigerant gas received from the cylindrical housing through the tubing unit to absorb the at least one heat load imposed on the at least one superconducting unit to generate heated refrigerant gas, and convey the heated refrigerant gas to the gas chamber of the cylindrical housing to reduce or maintain a temperature of the at least one superconducting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Patent number: 9958519
    Abstract: A thermosiphon cooling system is presented. One embodiment of the thermosiphon cooling system includes a reservoir having a first portion configured to store a liquid coolant. The thermosiphon cooling system also includes a tubing unit coupled to the reservoir and disposed adjacent to at least one superconducting unit to be cooled and configured to receive the liquid coolant from the first portion of the reservoir, and circulate the received liquid coolant within the tubing unit to dissipate heat generated by the at least one superconducting unit. The received liquid coolant is circulated within the tubing unit by varying a density of the received liquid coolant at different portions of the tubing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Publication number: 20170156923
    Abstract: Methods systems and apparatus are set forth herein. There is provided in one embodiment determining one or more body physiological parameter of a patient based on one or more input; and controlling a heating system for warming the patient based on a result of the determining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Yogen Vishwas UTTURKAR, Ernst Wolfgang STAUTNER, Pradeep SALAPAKKAM, Bryan WHALEN
  • Patent number: 9570220
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cryocooler assembly for cooling a heat load is provided. The cryocooler assembly includes a vacuum vessel surrounding the heat load and a cryocooler at least partially inserted into the vacuum vessel, the cryocooler including a coldhead. The assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the cryocooler. The actuator is configured to translate the cryocooler coldhead into thermal engagement with the heat load and to maintain constant pressure of the coldhead against the heat load to facilitate maintaining thermal engagement with the heat load as the heat load shrinks during a cool down process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam Haran, Ruben Jeevanasan Fair
  • Patent number: 9557009
    Abstract: A reservoir for storing and supplying a portion of a reservoir gas into a gas-filled tube is presented. The reservoir includes a first vessel having a thermally conductive surface, a meshed vessel having a lid, and placed inside the first vessel to form a cavity between the meshed vessel and the first vessel, at least one tray placed inside the meshed vessel to divide an inner space of the meshed vessel into a plurality of compartments, a sorbent material placed inside the plurality of compartments in the meshed vessel, a temperature control device positioned such that a first portion of the temperature control device is in physical contact with at least a portion of the thermally conductive surface, and a change in the temperature of the temperature control device changes the temperature of the sorbent material, wherein the reservoir gas is retained by the sorbent material at the storage temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner, Joseph Darryl Michael
  • Publication number: 20160189841
    Abstract: A cooling system for a low-cryogen superconducting magnet includes a primary cooling loop having a liquid reservoir containing a supply of liquid cryogen and a plurality of cooling tubes fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir and in thermal communication with the superconducting magnet. The liquid cryogen is configured for circulation through the cooling tubes for providing primary cooling for the magnet for cooling the magnet to a target temperature. The cooling system also includes a thermal battery coupled to a component that is cooled to the target temperature by the primary cooling loop and is configured to be cooled by the primary cooling and to absorb heat from the at least one component during an interruption in the primary cooling to maintain the magnet at approximately the target temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: JUN LI, EVANGELOS TRIFON LASKARIS, LONGZHI JIANG, MINFENG XU, ERNST WOLFGANG STAUTNER, ANBO WU