Patents by Inventor Gary R. Kern
Gary R. 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).
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Patent number: 10072875Abstract: A heat concentrator device for a solar power system includes an evacuated hollow body with a bottom, side walls, a top and an airtight cap. Portions of the side walls have inwardly reflective surfaces for concentrating solar radiation into the chamber toward a heat sink, which is positioned in the bottom of the chamber. The heat sink also is hollow and has an inlet port formed in one of its opposite side walls and an outlet port formed in the other for heat transfer fluid to flow into and out of the heat sink. Circuitous passageways form a maze that connects the inlet and outlet ports thus maximizing heat transfer to/from system fluid(s) within the heat sink. The sidewalls of the chamber of the device extend below the heat sink to form a partial vacuum chamber between its bottom and the heat sink. The device is mounted to a reflective dish of a solar power system in a unique way adding additional solar energy collection efficiencies.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: SOL-ELECTRICA, LLCInventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M Lee
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Publication number: 20160123628Abstract: A heat concentrator device for a solar power system includes an evacuated hollow body with a bottom, side walls, a top find an airtight cap. Portions of the side walls have inwardly reflective surfaces for concentrating solar radiation into the chamber toward a heat sink, which is positioned in the bottom of the chamber. The heat sink also is hollow and has an inlet port formed in one of its opposite side walls and an outlet port formed in the other for heat transfer fluid to flow into and out of the heat sink. Circuitous passageways form a maze that connects the inlet and outlet ports thus maximizing heat transfer to/from system fluid(s) within the heat sink. The sidewalls of the chamber of the device extend below the heat sink to form a partial vacuum chamber between its bottom and the heat sink. The device is mounted to a reflective dish of a solar power system in a unique way adding additional solar energy collection efficiencies.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2016Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M. Lee
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Patent number: 9279417Abstract: A solar power system includes a preheating device for heating first heat transfer fluid and second heat transfer fluid in separate tubes. The preheated second heat transfer fluid is routed to a boiler. The preheated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a plurality of heat sinks each associated with a solar radiation collector concentrator. Vacuum chambers receive the solar radiation from specially designed dishes with hyperparabolic feed antennas and direct energy to the heat sinks transferring the heat energy to first heat transfer fluid routed through the heat sink. The lower half of each chamber extends below each dish and has an interior reflective coating on the interior of the chamber side wall. The heated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a coil within the boiler to heat the second heat transfer fluid within the boiler. The boiler outlet steam is routed through a turbine, in turn, connected to a gearing system and an alternator.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2014Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: SOL-ELECTRICA, LLCInventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M Lee
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Patent number: 9279416Abstract: A solar power system includes a preheating device for heating first heat transfer fluid and second heat transfer fluid in separate tubes. The preheated second heat transfer fluid is routed to a boiler. The preheated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a plurality of heat sinks each associated with a solar radiation collector and concentrator. Vacuum chambers receive the solar radiation from dishes and direct energy to the heat sinks transferring the heat energy to first heat transfer fluid routed through the heat sink. The lower half of each chamber extends below each dish and has an interior reflective coating on the interior of the chamber side wall. The heated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a coil within the boiler to heat the second heat transfer fluid within the boiler. The boiler outlet steam is routed through a turbine, in turn, connected to a gearing system and an alternator.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: SOL-ELECTRICA, LLCInventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M Lee
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Publication number: 20140321976Abstract: A novel molecular adhesion turbine includes improved disc array, flywheel, housing and nozzle structural designs each adapted to exhibit molecularly repulsive and/or molecularly adhesive properties depending upon the particular working fluid used with the turbine. Backflow turbulence and drag forces are reduced, and turbine operating efficiencies are improved as a result. The invention includes an insulating enclosure, which provides added noise cancellation and heat capture benefits. The new molecular adhesion turbine is modular and thus capable of sealable applications, including connecting the turbine to a bladed steam turbine of the type typically used in power plants for heretofore unrealized downstream energy efficiencies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M. Lee
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Publication number: 20140318127Abstract: A solar power system includes a preheating device for heating first heat transfer fluid and second heat transfer fluid in separate tubes. The preheated second heat transfer fluid is routed to a boiler. The preheated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a plurality of heat sinks each associated with a solar radiation collector and concentrator. Vacuum chambers receive the solar radiation from dishes and direct energy to the heat sinks transferring the heat energy to first heat transfer fluid routed through the heat sink. The lower half of each chamber extends below each dish and has an interior reflective coating on the interior of the chamber side wall. The heated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a coil within the boiler to heat the second heat transfer fluid within the boiler. The boiler outlet steam is routed through a turbine, in turn, connected to a gearing system and an alternator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M. Lee
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Publication number: 20140318128Abstract: A solar power system includes a preheating device for heating first heat transfer fluid and second heat transfer fluid in separate tubes. The preheated second heat transfer fluid is routed to a boiler. The preheated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a plurality of heat sinks each associated with a solar radiation collector and concentrator. Vacuum chambers receive the solar radiation from dishes and direct energy to the heat sinks transferring the heat energy to first heat transfer fluid routed through the heat sink. The lower half of each chamber extends below each dish and has an interior reflective coating on the interior of the chamber side wall. The heated first heat transfer fluid is routed through a coil within the boiler to heat the second heat transfer fluid within the boiler. The boiler outlet steam is routed through a turbine, in turn, connected to a gearing system and an alternator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M. Lee
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Patent number: 8082238Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple platform architecture data reporting system for managing attribute data. The system comprises: a system manager for collecting attribute data from multiple platforms and a user interface connected to the system manager for displaying the collected attribute data to a user. Also disclosed is a method for managing attribute data in a multiple platform architecture comprising the steps of polling at least two platforms for attribute data, collecting the attribute data from the at least two platforms in response to the step of polling, and then displaying the collected attribute data on a user display.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1999Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: David L. Salgado, Russell R. Roberts, Dennis Ulrich, Gary R. Kern
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Patent number: 6806972Abstract: A method of determining the configuration of a plurality of resources in an image processing apparatus by running turn around tests to determine the interconnection of the resources and comparing the interconnection to a reference interconnection indicator stored in memory. The difference of interconnections between the reference indicator and the determined interconnections is then displayed to an operator for confirmation. An indication of the new configuration, if confirmed, is then loaded into memory and the machine is set up based upon the new configuration.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Elizabeth B. Daddis, C. Michael Ray, Robert G. Hamer, Susan B. Layer, Rex B. Murphy, Gary R. Kern, Everett W. Jenkins, Anne E. Dewitte, Robert W. Rassler, David S. Matthews