Patents by Inventor Kenneth Alan Powers

Kenneth Alan Powers 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).

  • Methods and systems for processing optical fiber
    Patent number: 11952305
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for processing an optical fiber includes: drawing an optical fiber through a draw furnace, conveying the optical fiber through a flame reheating device downstream from the draw furnace, wherein the flame reheating device comprises one or more burners each comprising: a body having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, an opening within the body extending from the top surface through the body to the bottom surface, wherein the optical fiber passes through the opening, and one or more gas outlets within the body; and igniting a flammable gas provided by the one or more gas outlets to form a flame encircling the optical fiber passing through the opening, wherein the flame heats the optical fiber by at least 100 degrees Celsius at a heating rate exceeding 10,000 degrees Celsius/second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ravindra Kumar Akarapu, Joel Patrick Carberry, David Alan Deneka, Steven Akin Dunwoody, Kenneth Edward Hrdina, John Michael Jewell, Yuanjie Jiang, Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias, Ming-Jun Li, Barada Kanta Nayak, Dale Robert Powers, Chunfeng Zhou, Vincent Matteo Tagliamonti, Christopher Scott Thomas
  • Systems and methods for protecting a series capacitor bank
    Patent number: 8228645
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting a series capacitor bank are provided. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a capacitor protection circuit. The capacitor protection circuit may include a capacitor bank, a pilot circuit and a main commutation gap. The pilot circuit and the main commutation gap may be provided in parallel electrical communication with the capacitor bank. Additionally, one or more plasma injectors may be provided in series electrical communication with the pilot circuit. The plasma injectors may be operable to provide partially or completely ionized plasma across the main commutation gap to make conductive the main commutation gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Edward English, Christopher William Hart, Paul Joseph Datka, David Scott Birrell, David Martins, Robert Frank Willard, Jr., Kenneth Alan Powers, Richard Robert Young
  • Systems and Methods for Protecting a Series Capacitor Bank
    Publication number: 20100226049
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting a series capacitor bank are provided. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a capacitor protection circuit. The capacitor protection circuit may include a capacitor bank, a pilot circuit and a main commutation gap. The pilot circuit and the main commutation gap may be provided in parallel electrical communication with the capacitor bank. Additionally, one or more plasma injectors may be provided in series electrical communication with the pilot circuit. The plasma injectors may be operable to provide partially or completely ionized plasma across the main commutation gap to make conductive the main commutation gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce Edward English, Christopher William Hart, Paul Joseph Datka, David Scott Birrell, David Martins, Robert Frank Willard, JR., Kenneth Alan Powers, Richard Robert Young