Patents by Inventor Patrick A Whalen
Patrick A Whalen 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).
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Patent number: 10130968Abstract: A system and method for reducing or increasing the mechanical structure resonance of a synthetic jet device is disclosed. A synthetic jet device includes a first plate, a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, a spacing component coupled to and positioned between the first and second plates to form a chamber and including an orifice therein, and an actuator element coupled to at least one of the first and second plates to selectively cause deflection thereof, thereby changing a volume within the chamber so that a series of fluid vortices is generated and projected out from the orifice of the spacing component. At least one of the first and second plates includes a modified section that alters a mechanical resonance of the synthetic jet device, so as to control a level of acoustic noise generated by the synthetic jet device.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Bryan Patrick Whalen, Stanton Earl Weaver, Charles Erklin Seeley
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Patent number: 10085363Abstract: A thermal management system that provides cooling to an electronic device is disclosed. The thermal management system includes a surface having a plurality of extended elements thermally coupled to the surface, a plurality of vibrator assemblies configured to generate a cooling flow across the surface, and a mounting structure disposed atop the plurality of extended elements of the surface to position the plurality of vibrator assemblies relative to the surface. The mounting structure is configured to orient each of the plurality of vibrator assemblies to the surface at an angel, such that the cooling flow generated by the plurality of vibrator assemblies impinges on the extended elements at an angle.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Matthew A. Ferguson, Bryan Patrick Whalen, Christian M. Giovanniello
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Patent number: 9861029Abstract: A paddle sealer used for planting having closing wheels that are drawn by a motive power source such as a tractor and used to close seed trenches to prevent the seed trench from reopening and provide the proper soil conditioning to promote uniform germination and emergence. The paddle sealer with closing wheels includes an adjustable frame structure including a tensioned arm assembly and an attachment mechanism for attaching the paddle sealer to seeding equipment, and a paddle closing wheel assembly carried by the arm assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Patrick Whalen, James Lascelles, Carl Woodside
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Patent number: 9854704Abstract: A heat sink with shape-optimized fins provides for improved heat transfer. Synthetic jets create vortices which enhance heat transfer and cooling of downstream fins, while the shape of the fins limits pressure drop in the flow over the cooling fins.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Pradeep Chandra Babu Salapakkam, Ri Li, Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Patent number: 9615482Abstract: A heat sink with shape-optimized fins provides for improved heat transfer. Synthetic jets create vortices which enhance heat transfer and cooling of downstream fins, while the shape of the fins limits pressure drop in the flow over the cooling fins.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Pradeep Chandra Babu Salapakkam, Ri Li, Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Patent number: 9592523Abstract: A system and method for lowering the structural natural frequency of a synthetic jet actuator is disclosed. A synthetic jet actuator is provided that includes a first plate, a second plate spaced apart from the first plate and arranged parallelly thereto, and a spacer element configured to space the first plate apart from the second plate and define a chamber along with the first and second plates. The spacer element includes at least one orifice formed therein such that the chamber is in fluid communication with an environment external to the chamber, and the spacer element is constructed to deform in a bending motion in response to a deflection of at least one of the first and second plates.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Todd Garrett Wetzel, Thomas Elliot Stecher, Charles Erklin Seeley, Charles Franklin Wolfe, Jr., Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Patent number: 9572280Abstract: A chassis with distributed jet cooling is provided. The chassis includes one or more sidewalls defining a volume configured to substantially surround one or more heat generating components positioned within the volume. The chassis further includes at least one array of fins thermally coupled to a respective one of the one or more sidewalls and at least one synthetic jet assembly comprising a multi-orifice synthetic jet or a number of single orifice synthetic jets disposed on a side of a respective one of the array(s) of fins. The chassis further includes at least one attachment means for attaching a respective one of the at least one synthetic jet assemblies to a respective one of the one or more sidewalls.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Ri Li, Earl Ross Nicewarner, Christina Clyde Schroeder, Benjamin Jon Vander Ploeg, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Publication number: 20170040242Abstract: A thermal management system is provided. The thermal management system includes at least one heat sink including one or more respective fins, wherein the one or more fins include one or more respective cavities. The thermal management system also includes a synthetic jet stack including at least one synthetic jet mounted within each of the respective cavities employing at least one engaging structure to provide a rigid positioning of the synthetic jet stack within the fins, wherein the synthetic jet includes at least one orifice through which a fluid is ejected.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Ri Li, Pradeep Chandra Babu Salapakkam, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Patent number: 9478479Abstract: A thermal management system is provided. The thermal management system includes at least one heat sink including one or more respective fins, wherein the one or more fins include one or more respective cavities. The thermal management system also includes a synthetic jet stack including at least one synthetic jet mounted within each of the respective cavities employing at least one engaging structure to provide a rigid positioning of the synthetic jet stack within the fins, wherein the synthetic jet includes at least one orifice through which a fluid is ejected.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Ri Li, Pradeep Chandra Babu Salapakkam, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Patent number: 9471116Abstract: An enclosure is presented. The enclosure includes an outer casing having one or more walls. Further, the enclosure includes a synthetic jet assembly configured to dissipate heat from the one or more walls, where the synthetic jet assembly includes a bracket operatively coupled to the one or more walls of the outer casing and two or more synthetic jets operatively coupled to the bracket, where the two or more synthetic jets are arranged in a multi-dimensional array.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Earl Gross, Jr., Bryan Patrick Whalen, Robert Paul Meier
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Patent number: 9474184Abstract: A chassis with distributed jet cooling is provided. The chassis includes one or more sidewalls defining a volume configured to substantially surround one or more heat generating components positioned within the volume. The chassis further includes at least one array of fins thermally coupled to a respective one of the one or more sidewalls and at least one synthetic jet assembly comprising a multi-orifice synthetic jet or a number of single orifice synthetic jets disposed on a side of a respective one of the array(s) of fins. The chassis further includes at least one attachment means for attaching a respective one of the at least one synthetic jet assemblies to a respective one of the one or more sidewalls.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Ri Li, Earl Ross Nicewarner, Christina Clyde Schroeder, Benjamin Jon Vander Ploeg, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Patent number: 9474183Abstract: A chassis with distributed jet cooling is provided. The chassis includes one or more sidewalls defining a volume configured to substantially surround one or more heat generating components positioned within the volume. The chassis further includes at least one array of fins thermally coupled to a respective one of the one or more sidewalls and at least one synthetic jet assembly comprising a multi-orifice synthetic jet or a number of single orifice synthetic jets disposed on a side of a respective one of the array(s) of fins. The chassis further includes at least one attachment means for attaching a respective one of the at least one synthetic jet assemblies to a respective one of the one or more sidewalls.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mehmet Arik, William Dwight Gerstler, Ri Li, Earl Ross Nicewarner, Christina Clyde Schroeder, Benjamin Jon Vander Ploeg, Bryan Patrick Whalen
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Publication number: 20160249524Abstract: A paddle sealer used for planting having closing wheels that are drawn by a motive power source such as a tractor and used to close seed trenches to prevent the seed trench from reopening and provide the proper soil conditioning to promote uniform germination and emergence. The paddle sealer with closing wheels includes an adjustable frame structure including a tensioned arm assembly and an attachment mechanism for attaching the paddle sealer to seeding equipment, and a paddle closing wheel assembly carried by the arm assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Patrick Whalen, James Lascelles, Carl Woodside
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Patent number: 9415413Abstract: A system and method for providing vibration dampening between a synthetic jet and stationary mounting bracket is disclosed. A synthetic jet assembly includes a synthetic jet having a first plate, a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, a spacer element positioned between the first and second plates to maintain the first and second plates in a spaced apart relationship, the spacer element including an orifice formed therein, and an actuator element coupled to at least one of the first and second plates to selectively cause deflection thereof such that a fluid flow is generated and projected out from the orifice. The synthetic jet assembly also includes a mounting bracket positioned about the synthetic jet to support the synthetic jet and a plurality of suspension tabs coupling the synthetic jet to the mounting bracket in a suspended arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bryan Patrick Whalen, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
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Patent number: 9351438Abstract: A paddle sealer used for planting having closing wheels that are drawn by a motive power source such as a tractor and used to close seed trenches to prevent the seed trench from reopening and provide the proper soil conditioning to promote uniform germination and emergence. The paddle sealer with closing wheels includes an adjustable frame structure including a tensioned arm assembly and an attachment mechanism for attaching the paddle sealer to seeding equipment, and a paddle closing wheel assembly carried by the arm assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Patrick Whalen, James Lascelles, Carl Woodside
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Publication number: 20160066497Abstract: An apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row or closes a furrow while causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of discs each having a plurality of back swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field or close a furrow. The discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed or for closing a furrow.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventor: Patrick Whalen
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Publication number: 20150342088Abstract: A thermal management system that provides cooling to an electronic device is disclosed. The thermal management system includes a surface having a plurality of extended elements thermally coupled to the surface, a plurality of vibrator assemblies configured to generate a cooling flow across the surface, and a mounting structure disposed atop the plurality of extended elements of the surface to position the plurality of vibrator assemblies relative to the surface. The mounting structure is configured to orient each of the plurality of vibrator assemblies to the surface at an angel, such that the cooling flow generated by the plurality of vibrator assemblies impinges on the extended elements at an angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Matthew A. Ferguson, Bryan Patrick Whalen, Christian M. Giovanniello
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Publication number: 20150077934Abstract: An enclosure is presented. The enclosure includes an outer casing having one or more walls. Further, the enclosure includes a synthetic jet assembly configured to dissipate heat from the one or more walls, where the synthetic jet assembly includes a bracket operatively coupled to the one or more walls of the outer casing and two or more synthetic jets operatively coupled to the bracket, where the two or more synthetic jets are arranged in a multi-dimensional array.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Earl Gross, JR., Bryan Patrick Whalen, Robert Paul Meier
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Patent number: 8976525Abstract: An enclosure is presented. The enclosure includes an outer casing having one or more walls. Further, the enclosure includes a synthetic jet assembly configured to dissipate heat from the one or more walls, where the synthetic jet assembly includes a bracket operatively coupled to the one or more walls of the outer casing and two or more synthetic jets operatively coupled to the bracket, where the two or more synthetic jets are arranged in a multi-dimensional array.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Earl Gross, Jr., Bryan Patrick Whalen, Robert Paul Meier
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Publication number: 20150001311Abstract: A system and method for lowering the structural natural frequency of a synthetic jet actuator is disclosed. A synthetic jet actuator is provided that includes a first plate, a second plate spaced apart from the first plate and arranged parallelly thereto, and a spacer element configured to space the first plate apart from the second plate and define a chamber along with the first and second plates. The spacer element includes at least one orifice formed therein such that the chamber is in fluid communication with an environment external to the chamber, and the spacer element is constructed to deform in a bending motion in response to a deflection of at least one of the first and second plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Todd Garrett Wetzel, Thomas Elliot Stecher, Charles Erklin Seeley, Charles Franklin Wolfe, JR., Yogen Vishwas Utturkar, Bryan Patrick Whalen