Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Bowers

Kenneth E. Bowers 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: 5656817
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence, in aqueous media, of substances which emit alpha and/or beta radiation and determining the oxidation state of these radioactive substances, that is, whether they are in cationic or anionic form. In one embodiment, a sensor assembly has two elements, one comprised of an ion-exchange material which binds cations and the other comprised of an ion-exchange material which binds anions. Each ion-exchange element is further comprised of a scintillation plastic and a photocurrent generator. When a radioactive substance to which the sensor is exposed binds to either element and emits alpha or beta particles, photons produced in the scintillation plastic illuminate the photocurrent generator of that element. Sensing apparatus senses generator output and thereby indicates whether cationic species or anionic species or both are present and also provides an indication of species quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: The Reents of the University of California
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Bower, Donald R. Weeks
  • Patent number: 4986351
    Abstract: A portable pump removal equipment is provided which includes a collar to be secured to the upper end of a well casing, a pair of arms extending outwardly and upwardly from the collar with a wheel rotatably mounted on the outer ends of the pair of arms. A V-shaped guideway is mounted around the periphery of the wheel which releasably engages pipe pulled from the well casing. A latching mechanism on the wheel permits rotation of the wheel in a direction to withdraw the pipe and the pump from the well casing. Rollers mounted on horizontally extending axes on the upper surface of the collar permit the pipe to be withdrawn from the casing without engaging the casing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Marshall E. Wisner
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Bowers
  • Patent number: 4390338
    Abstract: A blow pin assembly for use in blow molding extruded thermoplastic parisons is disclosed. The assembly provides a blow pin tip which effects forge formation of structure on the inside surface of the neck finish of the container. The blow pin assembly utilizes a rotation collar and a cutter collar to aid in removal of any neck moil associated with the blow molding procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Ethyl Development Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Bowers, Charles E. Markley
  • Patent number: 4381183
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a waste portion from a blow molded article is disclosed. The apparatus removes the waste portion while the article is enclosed within the blow mold and features a gripping structure for gripping the waste portion and a power assembly associated with the gripping structure to move the gripping structure from the article, thereby pulling the waste portion from its point of attachment with the article. The gripping structure includes two opposed gripping means which are arcuately movable about their respective pivot points. Each pivot point is laterally displaced from the gripping structure and positioned along a line extending through the shortest distance from the pivot point to that portion of the gripping structure which is closest to the attachment of the waste portion to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Ethyl Development Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Bowers, Charles E. Markley
  • Patent number: 4328887
    Abstract: This invention relates to a multistation apparatus for unloading and unscrambling containers from a storage hopper. The apparatus has unloading means for continuously moving containers from the hopper onto a track structure. The track structure is powered so as to move the containers to the various apparatus stations. At the first station a gate is positioned over the track so that only one layer of unloaded containers is able to travel to other subsequent stations. A second station is provided with orientation plates adjacent the track so that containers which are on the track but which do not have their long axis in the direction of container travel will, upon contact with the orientation plates, be turned so that their long axis will lay in the direction of travel. A gate having an opened and closed position is provided at the third station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Ethyl Development Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Beard!, Donald J. Nelson, Kirk J. Haller, Kenneth E. Bowers
  • Patent number: 4198886
    Abstract: An apparatus for deflashing a plastic article is disclosed. In operation, an operator places the article having flash in a nest which positions the article so that the flash is in a horizontal plane. A powered shuttle assembly picks the article up from the nest and places it upon an anvil. The anvil has striking edges which follow the line of juncture between the article and the flash. A punch apparatus is lowered onto the article and strikes the flash at the line of juncture disjoining the flash from the article. The power shuttle then removes the article without the flash to a discharge point. Optionally, at the discharge point, there may be provided an orientation assembly wich orients the deflashed article so that it may be placed upon a conveyor belt which carries the article to a collection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Assignee: Ethyl Development Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Bowers, Stephen E. Merritt, William G. Kinslow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3985239
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a hollow article from a mandrel is disclosed. The apparatus features an engaging member for contacting the hollow article and an assembly for bringing the engaging member from close proximity to the article into contact with the article and for applying a force through the engaging member to the article so as to remove it from the mandrel. The assembly includes a pivoted rod and a slidable collar mounted thereon, the collar being attached to the engaging member. Motion of the collar up and down the rod is achieved by a reciprocating power cylinder which communicates with the slidable collar by means of a slotted arm. The slotted arm is movably connected to the collar by means of a pin mounted on the collar. Not only does the follower pin slide within the slot of the arm, it also is slidable within a track defined in a plate which is adjacent to the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Ethyl Development Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Bowers