(19)

(11)

EP 1 478 534 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.11.2004 Bulletin 2004/48 (21) Application number: 02719011.5 (22) Date of filing: 19.02.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B60J 7/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/004785 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/078187 (25.09.2003 Gazette 2003/39)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (71) Applicant: General Electric Company Schenectady, NY 11901 (US)	(72) Inventors: WOODMAN, Daniel Fowlerville, MI 48836 (US) BLACK, Marc West Bloomfield, MI 48332 (US) (74) Representative: Pedder, James Cuthbert  London Patent Operation,General Electric International, Inc.,15 John Adam Street London WC2N 6LU London WC2N 6LU (GB)