Patents by Inventor Nicholas Francis

Nicholas Francis 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: 10319483
    Abstract: A sodium-cooled nuclear reactor includes at least one electromagnetic pump assembly and a backflow reduction pipe. The backflow reduction pipe may include an inlet, an outlet, at least one tubular section having a first length and a first diameter, and at least one fluid diode section between the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Eric Paul Loewen, Seth Ryan Paul Strege, Nicholas Francis O'Neill, Colin Christopher O'Connor, Chelsea Ann Curtin, Edwin Wu
  • Publication number: 20190127267
    Abstract: Laminated articles comprised of glass core and clad layers, more specifically, to compressively stressed laminated articles comprising a glass core sandwiched between first and second clad layers, the clad layers being formed from photosensitive glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Heather Debra Boek, Nicholas Francis Borrelli
  • Publication number: 20190106356
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods for inducing color change in glass and glass-ceramic articles. According to one embodiment, color change may be x-ray induced in glass or glass-ceramic articles. The method for x-ray inducing color change may include exposing the glass or glass-ceramic article to x-rays at a temperature of up to 200° C. to induce a colored area in the glass or glass-ceramic article. The glass or glass-ceramic article may comprise: 50-85 mole % SiO2; 5-25 mole % Al2O3; 0-15 mole % P2O5; 0-15 mole % B2O3; 5-25 mole % R2O, wherein R2O=Li2O+Na2O+K2O.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: John F Baum, JR., Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Candy Elizabeth Card, Matthew John Dejneka, Eileen Marie Fanning, Karen Estelle Fitzsimmons
  • Publication number: 20190109360
    Abstract: A hollow glass waveguide and related method are provided. The microwave waveguide includes a glass body including a first end, a second end, an outer glass surface extending between the first end and the second end, an inner glass surface defining a hollow channel that extends from the first end to the second end and a glass material between the outer surface and the inner surface. The microwave waveguide includes a layer of metal embedded in the glass body. The layer of metal surrounds the hollow channel when viewed in cross-section and extends between the first end and the second end of the glass body. The layer of metal is electrically conductive and the hollow channel is dimensioned such that microwaves introduced into the hollow channel are conducted along the hollow channel between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, David John McEnroe, Joseph Francis Schroeder, III, Dean Michael Thelen, William Richard Trutna
  • Publication number: 20190094439
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to broadband, glass optical polarizers and to methods for making the glass optical polarizers. The glass optical polarizer includes a substantially bubble free fusion drawn glass having two pristine glass surfaces and a plurality of elongated zero valent metallic particle polarizing layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Nakia Leigh Heffner, Joseph Michael Matusick, Joseph Francis Schroeder, III, Thomas Philip Seward, III, Natesan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10209139
    Abstract: A temperature change detection apparatus for monitoring temperature change in various portions of a large space includes a trip logic unit configured to execute a trip operation based on receipt of a trip signal at the trip logic unit; a plurality of temperature sensors each including a sensing portion composed of optical fiber cable and each being configured to generate light information indicating an amount of Brillouin scattering that occurs within the sensing portion; a plurality of monitoring units configured such that each monitoring unit determines a temperature value corresponding to each temperature sensor connected to the monitoring unit based on an amount of Brillouin scattering indicated by the light information generated by each of the connected temperature sensors, an each monitoring unit generates a trip signal when a determined temperature value exceeds a running average by more than a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Eric P. Loewen, Brett J. Dooies, Seth Ryan Paul Strege, Nicholas Francis O'Neill
  • Patent number: 10209419
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to broadband, glass optical polarizers and to methods for making the glass optical polarizers. The glass optical polarizer includes a substantially bubble free fusion drawn glass having two pristine glass surfaces and a plurality of elongated zero valent metallic particle polarizing layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Nakia Leigh Heffner, Joseph Michael Matusick, Joseph Francis Schroeder, III, Thomas Philip Seward, III, Natesan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10202303
    Abstract: Laminated articles comprised of glass core and clad layers, more specifically, to compressively stressed laminated articles comprising a glass core sandwiched between first and second clad layers, the clad layers being formed from photosensitive glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Heather Debra Boek, Nicholas Francis Borrelli
  • Publication number: 20190023748
    Abstract: Disclosed are D-peptide compositions and methods for inhibiting HIV entry into host cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Brett D. WELCH, James Nicholas FRANCIS, Michael S. KAY
  • Publication number: 20190002335
    Abstract: A photochromic glass that includes a base glass and a photochromic agent is described. The base glass is a modified boroaluminosilicate glass and the photochromic agent is a nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase. The photochromic glass exhibits a sharp cutoff in the UV or short wavelength visible portion of the spectrum along with an absorption band at longer wavelengths in the visible. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase includes Cu2+, which provides states within the bandgap of the cuprous halide that permit the glass to absorb visible light. Absorption of visible light drives a photochromic transition without compromising the sharp cutoff. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase may optionally include Ag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Roger Jerome Araujo, Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Nadja Teresia Lönnroth, David Lathrop Morse, Thomas Philip Seward, III
  • Patent number: 10158057
    Abstract: Packaged chip-on-board (COB) LED arrays are provided where a color conversion medium is distributed within a glass containment plate, rather than silicone, to reduce the operating temperature of the color conversion medium and avoid damage while increasing light output. A lighting device is provided comprising a chip-on-board (COB) light emitting diode (LED) light source, a light source encapsulant, a distributed color conversion medium, and a glass containment plate. The COB LED light source comprises a thermal heat sink framework and at least one LED and defines a light source encapsulant cavity in which the light source encapsulant is distributed over the LED. The glass containment plate is positioned over the light source encapsulant cavity and contains the distributed color conversion medium. The light source encapsulant is distributed over the LED at a thickness that is sufficient to encapsulate the LED and define encapsulant thermal conduction paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy James Orsley, William Richard Trutna, Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Lisa Ann Lamberson, Robert Michael Morena
  • Patent number: 10155691
    Abstract: Described herein are various antimicrobial glass articles that have improved resistance to discoloration when exposed to harsh conditions. The improved antimicrobial glass articles described herein generally include a glass substrate that has a low concentration of nonbridging oxygen atoms, a compressive stress layer and an antimicrobial silver-containing region that each extend inward from a surface of the glass substrate to a specific depth, such that the glass article experiences little-to-no discoloration when exposed to harsh conditions. Methods of making and using the glass articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jaymin Amin, Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Timothy Michael Gross, Odessa Natalie Petzold, Wageesha Senaratne
  • Patent number: 10150699
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods for inducing color change in glass and glass-ceramic articles. According to one embodiment, color change may be x-ray induced in glass or glass-ceramic articles. The method for x-ray inducing color change may include exposing the glass or glass-ceramic article to x-rays at a temperature of up to 200° C. to induce a colored area in the glass or glass-ceramic article. The glass or glass-ceramic article may comprise: 50-85 mole % SiO2; 5-25 mole % Al2O3; 0-15 mole % P2O5; 0-15 mole % B2O3; 5-25 mole % R2O, wherein R2O=Li2O+Na2O+K2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John F Baum, Jr., Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Candy Elizabeth Card, Matthew John Dejneka, Eileen Marie Fanning, Karen Estelle Fitzsimmons
  • Patent number: 10150692
    Abstract: A photochromic glass that includes a base glass and a photochromic agent is described. The base glass is a modified boroaluminosilicate glass and the photochromic agent is a nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase. The photochromic glass exhibits a sharp cutoff in the UV or short wavelength visible portion of the spectrum along with an absorption band at longer wavelengths in the visible. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase includes Cu2+, which provides states within the bandgap of the cuprous halide that permit the glass to absorb visible light. Absorption of visible light drives a photochromic transition without compromising the sharp cutoff. The nanocrystalline cuprous halide phase may optionally include Ag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger Jerome Araujo, Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Nadja Teresia Lönnroth, David Lathrop Morse, Thomas Philip Seward, III
  • Patent number: 10116035
    Abstract: An electrically conductive article that includes a monolithic glass body having a first primary surface; and an electrically conducting element formed in the body. The element includes a discrete layer, or a plurality of discrete layers, of metallic silver. Each layer has a thickness T such that 0.1 ?m?T?0.5 ?m and an electrical resistivity of about 50 n?·m to about 2000 n?·m. In addition, the element is spaced apart from the first primary surface by a distance D, wherein 0.1 ?m?D?20 ?m. In some aspects, the electrically conducting element and/or the monolithic glass body are configured as an antenna assembly, an optical fiber or a flexible glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Anthony Ng'oma, Alranzo Boh Ruffin, Joseph Francis Schroeder, III, Dean Michael Thelen
  • Publication number: 20180305244
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for reducing the solarization of a glass substrate, the methods comprising depositing a nanocomposite layer on at least a portion of a surface of the glass substrate, wherein the nanocomposite layer comprises a mixture of metal oxide nanoparticles and at least one silicon-containing component, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles comprise at least one metal oxide having a band gap ranging from about 3 eV to about 4 eV. Also disclosed herein are glass substrates comprising a surface and a nanocomposite coating on at least a portion of the surface, wherein the nanocomposite coating comprises a mixture of metal oxide nanoparticles and at least one silicon-containing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis BORRELLI, Wageesha SENARATNE
  • Publication number: 20180274310
    Abstract: An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Dale Francis, Nicholas Francis, William P. Bernard, Oswald J. Bernard, Lan Hiscox, Brian Compton, Arthur Jones
  • Publication number: 20180259696
    Abstract: A window is provided comprising an outside glass pane and an inside glass pane. The outside glass pane includes a low emissivity layer. The inside glass pane comprises a photochromic glass and is spaced apart from and disposed substantially parallel to the outside glass pane. The outside glass pane transmits light in the visible portion of the optical spectrum. The low emissivity layer of the outside glass pane blocks transmission of solar radiation in the IR and near-IR bands, and transmits solar radiation in an activation band of the photochromic glass to darken the photochromic glass and reduce visible light transmittance through the photochromic glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Nadja Teresia Lonnroth, Michel Prassas, Paul Michael Then, Luis Alberto Zenteno
  • Publication number: 20180230046
    Abstract: Glass articles with infrared reflectivity and methods for making the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, glass article having infrared reflectivity includes a first surface, a second surface and a body extending between the first and second surfaces. A plurality of discrete layers of metallic silver are formed in the body creating at least one optical cavity in the body. Each discrete layer may have a thickness T such that 100 nm?T?250 nm and may be spaced apart from adjacent layers of metallic silver by a spacing S?500. The glass article reflects at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation incident on the glass article having a wavelength from 800 nm to 2500 nm and transmits at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation incident on the glass article having a wavelength from 390 nm to 750 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Borrelli, Karl William Koch, III, Joseph Francis Schroeder, III
  • Publication number: 20180202869
    Abstract: A temperature change detection apparatus for monitoring temperature change in various portions of a large space includes a trip logic unit configured to execute a trip operation based on receipt of a trip signal at the trip logic unit; a plurality of temperature sensors each including a sensing portion composed of optical fiber cable and each being configured to generate light information indicating an amount of Brillouin scattering that occurs within the sensing portion; a plurality of monitoring units configured such that each monitoring unit determines a temperature value corresponding to each temperature sensor connected to the monitoring unit based on an amount of Brillouin scattering indicated by the light information generated by each of the connected temperature sensors, an each monitoring unit generates a trip signal when a determined temperature value exceeds a running average by more than a threshold amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Eric P. LOEWEN, Brett J. DOOIES, Seth Ryan Paul STREGE, Nicholas Francis O'NEILL