Patents by Inventor John Michael Kern

John Michael Kern 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: 7394982
    Abstract: A current sensing system comprises a current transformer; a burden resistor connected across a secondary of the current transformer; a piezo-optic sensor coupled to the burden resistor, comprising a piezoelectric transducer, an optical fiber and a first optical filter with a first bandwidth; and an optical interrogator, configured for sending an originating signal to the first bandwidth optical filter and receiving a resulting data signal and a second optical filter with a second bandwidth for filtering the resulting data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Michael Kern, Glen Peter Koste, Charles Erklin Seeley, Todd Ryan Tolliver
  • Publication number: 20080138195
    Abstract: A system for transferring mechanical torque variably between a plurality of rotating machines in a turbofan engine. Two devices are used, where the first device relies upon magnetic properties of a planetary magnetic gearbox to couple the magnetic machines. The second device is used to variably control the torque transfer between the magnetic machines. The system couples rotating shafts rotating at differing speeds within a turbofan engine for controllably transferring power. To transfer power in the system, a fixed gear ratio is obtained by coupling the relatively high- and low-speed engine shafts to an epicyclic magnetic gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: John Michael Kern, Michael V. Drexel, Jeremy Daniel VanDam
  • Patent number: 6774614
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting currents in a three-phase power transmission system includes a first detection circuit electrically coupled to a first phase of the three-phase transmission system, a second detection circuit electrically coupled to a second phase of the three-phase transmission system different than the first phase, and an event output switch electrically coupled to the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit and configured to actuate when a subsynchronous current at least one of the first phase and the second phase exceeds a pre-selected subsynchronous current setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Herbert Sahm, III, Stanley A. Miske, Jr., Daniel Herbert Baker, Bruce Edward English, John Michael Kern
  • Publication number: 20030160600
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting currents in a three-phase power transmission system includes a first detection circuit electrically coupled to a first the three-phase transmission system, a second detection circuit electrically coupled to a second phase of the three-phase transmission system different than the first phase, and an event output switch electrically coupled to the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit and configured to actuate when a subsynchronous current at least one of the first phase and the second phase exceeds a pre-selected subsynchronous current setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: William Herbert Sahm, Stanley A. Miske, Daniel Herbert Baker, Bruce Edward English, John Michael Kern, Carol Conde Miske
  • Patent number: 6157552
    Abstract: A distribution series capacitor control system is provided with a sub-harmonic detection module connected to an input signal and operable to detect the presence of at least two distinct types of sub-harmonic content in the input signal. A logical signal processor is electrically connected to the sub-harmonic detection module, and operates to independently determine the existence of self-excitation during induction motor starting and ferroresonant phenomena based upon the at least two distinct types of sub-harmonic content, respectively. A system controller is electrically connected to the logical signal processor and operates to eliminate effects of self-excitation during induction motor starting and ferroresonant phenomena on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Michael Kern, Stanley A. Miske, Jr., William Herbert Sahm, III