Patents by Inventor Paul Weatherbee

Paul Weatherbee 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: 10401838
    Abstract: A production line is organized into one or more of zones. One or more production orders to produce products in a continuous sequence at a production line is accepted. A plurality of production factors associated with the production orders is analyzed to produce an operating schedule for the production line. The operating schedule, when followed at each zone of the production line, is effective to produce the plurality of products in the continuous sequence. Industrial machines in each of the zones are operated according to the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Peter Sage
  • Patent number: 10401803
    Abstract: A manufacturing action is performed on a first part or first component involved in a manufacturing process. The manufacturing action is directed by computer software that is stored in a memory and executed by a processor. The first part or first component is examined to determine results of the manufacturing action. Based upon the results, a structure of the computer software is selectively changed to optimize the results. Subsequently the manufacturing action is performed on a second part or second component. The manufacturing action is directed by the computer software having the changed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Michael Behnke, Nilesh Dixit
  • Patent number: 10317887
    Abstract: A machine part number of an industrial machine is scanned when the machine enters a facility for maintenance. The scanned number is associated with components that comprise the machine and with characteristics of the components or machine. Based upon the characteristics of the machine or components, a customized maintenance route is produced for the machine through the facility. The customized maintenance route specifies a sequence of maintenance actions and timing of these actions for the machine that are adjusted in real-time as the characteristics change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Emma Wu
  • Patent number: 10303161
    Abstract: The present invention optimizes the configuration of production lines in a facility, e.g., a factory or industrial facility, through, for example, analyzing scheduling, human factors and other operational information related to the production line and/or facility. In embodiments of the invention described here, facility configuration information is obtained. The configuration information includes an electronic model describing a configuration of machines in a production line. Order information is obtained for a product to be produced by the production line. Operational information related to operation of the production line is obtained. The facility configuration information, a demand information, and the operational information are analyzed to produce an optimal schedule for a usage of the production line. The schedule is applied to the production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Michelle Grady
  • Publication number: 20190121329
    Abstract: Individual parts or components are tracked as the individual parts or components move through or between a plurally of manufacturing processes or steps after the individual parts or components are separated from the single manufacturing platform (and from each other). The information in a work order associated with the parts is utilized to dynamically make real-time adjustments to any of the plurality of manufacturing processes or steps as the individual parts or components move through or between the plurally of manufacturing processes or steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Emma Wu
  • Publication number: 20180164764
    Abstract: Asset performance management (APM) information associated with an industrial machine that is producing a product is obtained. At least one of machine operation information and output characteristic information is received from the industrial machine. The APM information, the machine operation information, and the output characteristic information are stored in a database at the cloud (or some other remote computing device or network). The APM information, the machine operation information, and the output characteristic information are analyzed at the cloud to identify in real-time changes to the operation of the machine needed to improve the performance of the industrial machine. In some aspects, the changes are presented to a user and the changes are acted upon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Michael Behnke, Nilesh Dixit
  • Publication number: 20180157244
    Abstract: A production line is organized into one or more of zones. One or more production orders to produce products in a continuous sequence at a production line is accepted. A plurality of production factors associated with the production orders is analyzed to produce an operating schedule for the production line. The operating schedule, when followed at each zone of the production line, is effective to produce the plurality of products in the continuous sequence. Industrial machines in each of the zones are operated according to the schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Peter Sage
  • Publication number: 20180157240
    Abstract: A machine part number of an industrial machine is scanned when the machine enters a facility for maintenance. The scanned number is associated with components that comprise the machine and with characteristics of the components or machine. Based upon the characteristics of the machine or components, a customized maintenance route is produced for the machine through the facility. The customized maintenance route specifies a sequence of maintenance actions and timing of these actions for the machine that are adjusted in real-time as the characteristics change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Emma Wu
  • Publication number: 20180157222
    Abstract: The present invention optimizes the configuration of production lines in a facility, e.g., a factory or industrial facility, through, for example, analyzing scheduling, human factors and other operational information related to the production line and/or facility. In embodiments of the invention described here, facility configuration information is obtained. The configuration information includes an electronic model describing a configuration of machines in a production line. Order information is obtained for a product to be produced by the production line. Operational information related to operation of the production line is obtained. The facility configuration information, a demand information, and the operational information are analyzed to produce an optimal schedule for a usage of the production line. The schedule is applied to the production line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Michelle Grady
  • Publication number: 20180088540
    Abstract: A manufacturing action is performed on a first part or first component involved in a manufacturing process. The manufacturing action is directed by computer software that is stored in a memory and executed by a processor. The first part or first component is examined to determine results of the manufacturing action. Based upon the results, a structure of the computer software is selectively changed to optimize the results. Subsequently the manufacturing action is performed on a second part or second component. The manufacturing action is directed by the computer software having the changed structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Michael Behnke, Nilesh Dixit
  • Patent number: 7758492
    Abstract: A blood pumping system to support living organisms based on a spherical multi vane and multi chamber pump with an oscillating motion that delivers pulsatile flow. The blood pumping system includes a number of design elements that address the particular needs and compatibility issues (both biological and hemological) of a blood pumping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Patent number: 7670121
    Abstract: A rotary fluid machine, such as a pump or motor has a housing with a spherical interior in which primary and secondary vanes rotate with the secondary vane reciprocating between open and closed positions with respect to the primary vane. Improvements to this type of fluid machine are defined to improve the rigidity of the internals while removing heat generated by compression as well as providing facile conversion of the machine from a liquid pump to a gas compressor, to provide for multiple flow streams at multiple flow rates in a single machine, multiple flow streams at multiple compression ratios in a single machine, and dual simultaneous function as a motor and a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Publication number: 20080031757
    Abstract: A rotary fluid machine, such as a pump or motor has a housing with a spherical interior in which primary and secondary vanes rotate with the secondary vane reciprocating between open and closed positions with respect to the primary vane. Improvements to this type of fluid machine are defined to improve the rigidity of the internals while removing heat generated by compression as well as providing facile conversion of the machine from a liquid pump to a gas compressor, to provide for multiple flow streams at multiple flow rates in a single machine, multiple flow streams at multiple compression ratios in a single machine, and dual simultaneous function as a motor and a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Publication number: 20060129024
    Abstract: A blood pumping system to support living organisms based on a spherical multi vane and multi chamber pump with an oscillating motion that delivers pulsatile flow. The blood pumping system includes a number of design elements that address the particular needs and compatibility issues (both biological and hemological) of a blood pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Publication number: 20060129023
    Abstract: A blood pumping system to support living organisms based on a spherical multi vane and multi chamber pump with an oscillating motion that delivers pulsatile flow. The blood pumping system includes a number of design elements that address the particular needs and compatibility issues (both biological and hemological) of a blood pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Patent number: 7014605
    Abstract: A blood pumping system to support living organisms based on a spherical multi vane and multi chamber pump with an oscillating motion that delivers pulsatile flow. The blood pumping system includes a number of design elements that address the particular needs and compatibility issues (both biological and hemological) of a blood pumping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Publication number: 20050234287
    Abstract: A blood pumping system to support living organisms based on a spherical multi vane and multi chamber pump with an oscillating motion that delivers pulsatile flow. The blood pumping system includes a number of design elements that address the particular needs and compatibility issues (both biological and hemological) of a blood pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee
  • Publication number: 20050186100
    Abstract: A rotary fluid machine, such as a pump or motor has a housing with a spherical interior in which primary and secondary vanes rotate with the secondary vane reciprocating between open and closed positions with respect to the primary vane. Improvements to this type of fluid machine are defined to improve the rigidity of the internals while removing heat generated by compression as well as providing facile conversion of the machine from a liquid pump to a gas compressor, to provide for multiple flow streams at multiple flow rates in a single machine, multiple flow streams at multiple compression ratios in a single machine, and dual simultaneous function as a motor and a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventor: Paul Weatherbee