Patents by Inventor Charles W. Thomas
Charles W. 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).
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Patent number: 10717900Abstract: A sealant tape including a base portion, first sealing portion and second sealing portion is provided. The first sealing portion includes a first ridge and the second sealing portion includes a second ridge. The sealant tape is applies to a perimeter portion of a tool such that the base portion of the sealant tape couples to the perimeter of the tool, and a vacuum bag is placed over the tool, contacting the sealant tape, and ultimately is sealed onto the tool via the sealant tape.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Charles W. Thomas, Jonathan A Santiago
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Patent number: 10695990Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, Jr., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M Nelson, Cameron Bunch
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Publication number: 20190291361Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, JR., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M. Nelson, Cameron Bunch
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Patent number: 10357922Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, Jr., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M Nelson, Cameron Bunch
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Publication number: 20170313453Abstract: A sealant tape including a base portion, first sealing portion and second sealing portion is provided. The first sealing portion includes a first ridge and the second sealing portion includes a second ridge. The sealant tape is applies to a perimeter portion of a tool such that the base portion of the sealant tape couples to the perimeter of the tool, and a vacuum bag is placed over the tool, contacting the sealant tape, and ultimately is sealed onto the tool via the sealant tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2016Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Charles W. Thomas, Jonathan A. Santiago
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Publication number: 20170197370Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, JR., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M. Nelson, Cameron Bunch
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Patent number: 9586344Abstract: A method and system of preparing a releasable underlying support for use in preparing a composite laminate is presented where a base tool is a covered with a conformable thin sheet on the tooling surface of a base tool, where the thin sheet is configured with one high tack surface side and an opposite side having a non-tack surface in contact with the tooling surface. The non-tack surface side will allow release of laid up pre-cure composite lamina that can then be cured on a separate curing tool. The thin sheet is positioned over the base tool and a vacuum source and sealed around the perimeter edge of the base tool. Drawing a vacuum causes the non-tack surface side of the film to be drawn downward into contact with the tooling surface. Plies of pre-cure lamina can then be added to the base tool covering and adhering to the high tack surface side.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Charles W. Thomas, Derek J. Flolid, John D. Morris
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Publication number: 20160059443Abstract: A method and system of preparing a releasable underlying support for use in preparing a composite laminate is presented where a base tool is a covered with a conformable thin sheet on the tooling surface of a base tool, where the thin sheet is configured with one high tack surface side and an opposite side having a non-tack surface in contact with the tooling surface. The non-tack surface side will allow release of laid up pre-cure composite lamina that can then be cured on a separate curing tool. The thin sheet is positioned over the base tool and a vacuum source and sealed around the perimeter edge of the base tool. Drawing a vacuum causes the non-tack surface side of the film to be drawn downward into contact with the tooling surface. Plies of pre-cure lamina can then be added to the base tool covering and adhering to the high tack surface side.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Charles W. Thomas, Derek J. Flolid, John D. Morris
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Publication number: 20080257315Abstract: A fuel vaporizer includes an inner tube including a liquid fuel inlet for receiving liquid fuel and plural openings, a fuel vaporizing chamber formed on the inner tube, and comprising a fuel vapor outlet, an outer housing formed on the fuel vaporizing chamber, such that a reservoir is formed between the fuel vaporizing chamber and the outer housing, and a heating fluid inlet and heating fluid outlet which are connected to the outer housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventor: Charles W. Thomas
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Patent number: 6843910Abstract: A decorative aquatic pond as found in residential gardens or the like having: an impervious liner defining a pond and confining a quantity of water within the pond, a filtration system comprising: a secondary pool separated from the pond by a pervious wall, a skimmer basin located within the secondary pool adjacent the pervious wall and adapted to receive surface water into the basin from the pond, a catch net disposed within the skimmer basin, a cover affixed over a major portion of the catch basin, a bottom drain disposed along the bottom of the pool distal the pond, a quantity of filter rock filling the pond externally of the basin and overlying the cover and the perforated conduit, and a submersible pump housed within the basin and pumping water from the basin and the perforated conduit to a return path to the pond. Aquatic plants are rooted in the filter rock to aid in processing the water drawn through the rocks into the pump.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Inventor: Charles W. Thomas
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Patent number: 5613282Abstract: A sealing apparatus (20) for engaging or sealing flexible material (22) comprises an elongated locking or roller member (30) and a channel-forming member or frame (40). The frame (40) has opposing cantilevered panels (42, 44) between which a channel (50) is formed, the cantilevered panels (42, 44) being resilient panels which accommodate insertion of the roller (30) into the channel (50) and withdrawal of at least a portion of the roller from the channel, whereby the flexible material (22) is engaged between the roller (30) and the frame (40) when the roller is inserted into the frame. The roller (30) is pivotally connected to the frame (40), and has a handle end (32) which protrudes past the frame (40) to facilitate withdrawal therefrom. An external surface of frame (40) has a recess which accommodates a magnet (80) fitted therein to facilitate attachment of the sealing apparatus to metallic surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Inventors: John A. Deddens, Sr., Charles W. Thomas
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Patent number: 4211198Abstract: An impeller is secured to one end of a hollow shaft and is positioned within a chamber to which air is supplied. An output line from the chamber is joined with the intake manifold of an engine. The opposite end of the hollow shaft is immersed in fuel. When a vacuum is drawn by the manifold, air flow through the chamber rotates the impeller while fuel is simultaneously drawn through the shaft and discharged into the chamber. The turbulence and agitation of the impeller atomizes the fuel so that an air/fuel mixture is supplied to the manifold through the output line. Pressurized air is applied to the fuel as it rises in the hollow shaft to provide initial fuel atomization.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1978Date of Patent: July 8, 1980Assignee: Leonard FurmanInventor: Charles W. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 3955548Abstract: In the device provided, air/fuel mixture for an internal combustion engine passes through a conventional carburetor where vaporized fuel and aspirated liquid fuel droplets are mixed witth the air. The device comprises a conduit for conveying the carbureted mixture from the carburetor to an intake manifold. The conduit has an upper opening and a lower opening. A rotatable turbulence producing means, such as a freely rotatable impeller, is disposed in the conduit near the lower opening. The rotatable means rotates about a vertical axis by passage of the carbureted air/fuel mixture therethrough and turbulence of the mixture is produced. Liquid fuel droplets are engaged by a collector and vaporizing means which is disposed in the conduit near the upper opening and above the rotatable means. The collector and vaporizing means has a substantially enclosed central portion disposed axially above the vertical axis of the rotatable and outer portions slopingly connected to and disposed above the central portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1974Date of Patent: May 11, 1976Assignees: Burgess F. Stewart, William F. WilburnInventor: Charles W. Thomas, Jr.