Patents by Inventor Brian G. Thomas

Brian G. Thomas 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: 11982229
    Abstract: A compact inlet design including a single bulkhead and/or an acoustic panel extending into nacelle lip region for noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Holly J. Thomas, Brian L. Riedel, Alexandre D. Curaudeau, David W. Foutch, Steve G. Mackin
  • Patent number: 11360039
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided herein that track an integrated deviation of a physical property of a material that corresponds to a variation or defect in the material. In one embodiment, molten steel begins to solidify and move past an instrumented region of a mold. Sensors in the mold can detect a deviation in temperature of the instrumented region of the mold that signifies a variation or defect in the surface of the slab material as it solidifies. The systems, methods, and apparatuses track the integrated temperature deviation to more clearly visualize defects that may otherwise not be detectable by simply observing the temperatures of the mold and slab material in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: Matthew L. S. Zappulla, Brian G. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200240938
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided herein that track an integrated deviation of a physical property of a material that corresponds to a variation or defect in the material. In one embodiment, molten steel begins to solidify and move past an instrumented region of a mold. Sensors in the mold can detect a deviation in temperature of the instrumented region of the mold that signifies a variation or defect in the surface of the slab material as it solidifies. The systems, methods, and apparatuses track the integrated temperature deviation to more clearly visualize defects that may otherwise not be detectable by simply observing the temperatures of the mold and slab material in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew L.S. Zappulla, Brian G. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140116639
    Abstract: Maintaining the shell surface temperature profile under transient conditions by spray water cooling in continuous casting of steel is often desired to reduce occurrence of surface cracks. For this purpose, a real-time spray-cooling control system is provided that includes one or more of: a virtual sensor for accurate estimation/prediction of shell surface temperature, control algorithm and data checking subroutines for robust temperature control, server and client programs for communicating between these software components and the caster, and a real-time monitor to display the predicted shell surface temperature profiles, water flow rates, and operating data, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Brian G. Thomas, Joseph Bentsman, Kai Zheng
  • Patent number: 8651168
    Abstract: Maintaining the shell surface temperature profile under transient conditions by spray water cooling in continuous casting of steel is often desired to reduce occurrence of surface cracks. For this purpose, a real-time spray-cooling control system is provided that includes one or more of: a virtual sensor for accurate estimation/prediction of shell surface temperature, control algorithm and data checking subroutines for robust temperature control, server and client programs for communicating between these software components and the caster, and a real-time monitor to display the predicted shell surface temperature profiles, water flow rates, and operating data, among other things.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Brian G. Thomas, Joseph Bentsman, Kai Zheng
  • Publication number: 20130068416
    Abstract: Maintaining the shell surface temperature profile under transient conditions by spray water cooling in continuous casting of steel is often desired to reduce occurrence of surface cracks. For this purpose, a real-time spray-cooling control system is provided that includes one or more of: a virtual sensor for accurate estimation/prediction of shell surface temperature, control algorithm and data checking subroutines for robust temperature control, server and client programs for communicating between these software components and the caster, and a real-time monitor to display the predicted shell surface temperature profiles, water flow rates, and operating data, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Brian G. Thomas, Joseph Bentsman, Kai Zheng
  • Patent number: 7618582
    Abstract: A process for continuous refining of steel via multiple distinct reaction vessels for melting, oxidation, reduction, and refining for delivery of steel continuously to, for example, a tundish of a continuous caster system, and associated apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: The Curators of the University of Missouri, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Kent D. Peaslee, Jörg J. Peter, David G. C. Robertson, Brian G. Thomas, Lifeng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090084517
    Abstract: Maintaining the shell surface temperature profile under transient conditions by spray water cooling in continuous casting of steel is often desired to reduce occurrence of surface cracks. For this purpose, a real-time spray-cooling control system is provided that includes one or more of: a virtual sensor for accurate estimation/prediction of shell surface temperature, control algorithm and data checking subroutines for robust temperature control, server and client programs for communicating between these software components and the caster, and a real-time monitor to display the predicted shell surface temperature profiles, water flow rates, and operating data, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Brian G. Thomas, Joseph Bentsman, Kai Zheng