Patents by Inventor Brian J. Thoma

Brian J. Thoma 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: 9518815
    Abstract: A rotary position encoder is described that includes a hub configured to mount on an end of a rotatable shaft of a machine tool and rotate concurrently with the rotatable shaft. The hub includes a cup formed in a first end to receive the rotatable shaft, the cup having equally spaced axial grooves formed on an inner surface. A collar clamps the hub to the rotatable shaft by collapsing the cup around the rotatable shaft. The rotary position encoder further includes a sensor configured to detect a rotational position of the hub and a housing, wherein the sensor is mounted to the housing in a position opposite a second end of the hub. The hub is rotatably coupled to the housing via a bearing and a bracket is attached to the housing for mounting the rotary position encoder to the machine tool and preloading the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: HAAS AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Velasquez, David E. Wolf, Cody J. Carothers, Brian J. Thoma
  • Publication number: 20100033170
    Abstract: A rotary position encoder is described that includes a hub configured to mount on an end of a rotatable shaft of a machine tool and rotate concurrently with the rotatable shaft. The hub includes a cup formed in a first end to receive the rotatable shaft, the cup having equally spaced axial grooves formed on an inner surface. A collar clamps the hub to the rotatable shaft by collapsing the cup around the rotatable shaft. The rotary position encoder further includes a sensor configured to detect a rotational position of the hub and a housing, wherein the sensor is mounted to the housing in a position opposite a second end of the hub. The hub is rotatably coupled to the housing via a bearing and a bracket is attached to the housing for mounting the rotary position encoder to the machine tool and preloading the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: HAAS AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Velasquez, David E. Wolf, Cody J. Carothers, Brian J. Thoma
  • Patent number: 6277517
    Abstract: A battery of the type having electrolyte therein, comprising a case defining at least one electrolyte containing cell, and a primary cover bonded to the case. The primary cover has a barrel extending into the electrolyte cell. A secondary cover is bonded to the primary cover top, and includes an aperture concentric with the primary cover barrel. A baffling plug is disposed in the secondary cover aperture and extends into the barrel. The baffling plug has a lid with a bottom, an inner tubular splash guard extending away from said lid bottom, an outer splash guard concentrically spaced from said inner tubular splash guard. A retaining member formed part of the plug base retains the plug in the aperture, and seals the aperture to prevent the escape of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, William J. Ross
  • Patent number: 5702841
    Abstract: A battery cover for a battery casing has a plurality of electrolyte containing cells, a primary cover and a secondary cover. The primary cover has a plurality of barrels arranged along a longitudinal axis and the secondary cover has a plurality of tubular elements extending downwardly and insertable in the barrels of the primary cover. Each of the tubular elements has an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member. The outer tubular member has an axially extending cutout portion which runs from its tip to the surface of the secondary cover. The battery cover also has a plurality of baffles defining a circuitous passageway for gases which are evolved in the cells of the battery to be released to an external port located on the secondary cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, Gerald D. Slayton, Jerome R. Heiman, Rick Barnett
  • Patent number: 5437703
    Abstract: A method is provided in which a glass sheet is bent on a mould having a movable end, comprising the steps of: heating the glass sheet to its bending temperature; subjecting the glass sheet to an initial gravity bending step; providing support to a portion of the glass sheet located on the movable end of the mould; while providing said support, lowering said movable end away from the glass sheet; subjecting the glass sheet to a press bending step; cooling the bent glass sheet. Support may be provided by a reduced pressure within an upper mould, a mechanical arm, or gas directed in a generally upwards direction. The invention may be used for bending glass for architectural or automotive purposes, e.g. for bending a pair of glass sheets, one on top of the other, for use in the manufacture of a laminated windscreen, to achieve deep and/or complex bent shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Pilkington Glass Limited
    Inventors: Neil W. Jacques, Brian J. Thomas, David Sykes, James Boardman
  • Patent number: 5184044
    Abstract: A low watt metal halide discharge lamp for use in photo-curing photo-curable compositions. The lamp comprises an envelope made of light transmissive material having walls that define an arc chamber volume. Contained within the arc chamber volume is a fill of mercury, inert gas and a metal halide additive that includes indium iodide or indium triiodide. The mercury and metal halide are adapted to substantially vaporize during operation of the lamp and produce radiant energy substantially within the wavelength range between about 400 and 500 nm. Extending into the arc chamber volume is a pair of electrodes having electrode tips spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. The lamp also includes a pair of inlead assemblies electrically coupled to a pair of electrodes respectively. The inlead assemblies pass from the electrodes through a sealed section to the exterior of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5144190
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for combining radiant energy of substantially distinct spectral bands to produce a light source having predetermined color temperature or chromaticity characteristics. The apparatus includes a generating source that generates emissions of radiant energy from at least two spatial emission regions. Each of the spatial emission regions emits radiant energy in a substantially distinct spectral band. The apparatus further includes an optical directing system that directs a substantial portion of the radiant energy emitted from the emission regions. The optical directing system includes a positioning region that contains a near focus and a combining region that contains a far focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, Timothy W. Graham, Daniel C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5138228
    Abstract: A low-wattage metal-halide discharge lamp has a tube of the double ended type that forms a bulb or envelope, a pair of electrodes, e.g., an anode and a cathode, which penetrate into an arc chamber inside the envelope, and a suitable amount of mercury plus one or more metal halide salts. The electrodes are each formed of a refractory metal, i.e., tungsten wire, extending through the respective necks into the arc chamber. Heat transfer along the tube wall and through the necks is controlled by designing the bulb wall so that the cross sectional areas at the necks and at quarter-chamber planes halfway between the necks and a midplane have a respective quarter chamber loading factor and a neck loading factor each within a desired range. Lamps of this design achieve high efficacy at relatively low power, i.e., below 40 watts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, Daniel C. Briggs, Michael Avdenko
  • Patent number: 5117154
    Abstract: A low-wattage metal-halide discharge lamp has a quartz tube of the double-ended type that forms a bulb or envelope, a pair of electrodes, e.g., an anode and a cathode, which penetrate into an arc chamber inside the envelope, and a suitable amount of mercury plus one or more metal halide salts. The electrodes are each formed of a refractory metal, i.e., tungsten wire, extending through the respective necks into the arc chamber. Heat dissipation through the neck is controlled by constructing the quartz shanks to that they have shank segments of a desired surface area that extend from the necks a distance equal to the length of the arc chamber. A shank segment loading factor defined as the rated power divided by the shank segment surface areas, and should be in a target range of 12 to 36 w cm.sup.-2. Lamps of this design achieve high efficacy at relatively low power, i.e., below 30 watts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, Daniel C. Briggs, Michael Avdenko
  • Patent number: 5059146
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for combining radiant energy of substantially distinct spectral bands to produce a light source having predetermined color temperature or chromaticity characteristics. The apparatus comprises a generating source that generates emissions of radiant energy from at least two spatial emission regions. Each of the spatial emission regions emits radiant energy in a substantially distinct spectral band. The apparatus further comprises an optical directing system that directs a substantial portion of the radiant energy emitted from the emission regions. The optical directing system includes a positioning region that contains a near focus and a combining region that contains a far focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, Timothy W. Graham, Daniel C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5009617
    Abstract: A combination socket assembly and D.C. lamp apparatus. The lamp apparatus has first and second electric pin conductors protruding therefrom. The first pin conductor has a transverse configuration distinct from a transverse configuration of the second pin conductor. The socket assembly comprises a frame, a socket member, and a pair of metal contact clips. The socket element is mounted to the frame and receives the first and the second pin conductors of the lamp apparatus. The socket element contains first and second receptacles. The first receptacle is configured and dimensioned to mate with the first pin conductor and to prevent mating with the second pin conductor. The second receptacle is configured and dimensioned to mate with the second conductor. The metal contact clips are contained within the first and the second receptacles of the socket element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4429442
    Abstract: In a method of producing a lead-acid battery plate, a lead oxide-containing paste is supplied to a carrier and the exposed surface of the paste on the carrier is contacted with a layer of fibrous material. Vibrational energy is then supplied to the fibrous layer so as to cause the paste to impregnate the fibrous layer and thereby secure the fibrous layer to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Brian J. Thomas