Patents by Inventor C. Thomas

C. 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: 10137317
    Abstract: A system for delivering oxygen enriched air to a selected location on an aircraft may include: a gas separation system configured to output a flow of the oxygen enriched air; an environmental control system configured to output a flow of conditioned air; and/or first, second, and third ducts. The first duct may be configured to direct the flow of the oxygen enriched air to the third duct. The second duct may be configured to direct the flow of the conditioned air to the third duct. The conditioned air and the oxygen enriched air may be mixed in the third duct. The third duct may be configured to direct the mixed conditioned and oxygen enriched air to at least one dispensing station at the selected location that is configured to dispense the mixed conditioned and oxygen enriched air to users of the at least one dispensing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew L. Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Colin W. Hart, Lisa C. Thomas, Kevin R. Price
  • Publication number: 20180319520
    Abstract: A device forms and applies an edge protector to a corner of a load as strap is positioned and tensioned around the load, to position the edge protector between the strap and the load. The device includes a shuttle movable between a home position away from the load and an application position near the load. The shuttle includes a breaker assembly having a fixed portion and a movable portion. The movable portion is movable between a position in which it is generally planar with the fixed portion and another position in which it is transverse to the fixed portion. The breaker assembly includes a shoe that defines a receiving region between the shoe and the fixed and movable portions. The shuttle includes a load contact portion. Movement of the shuttle from the home position moves the movable portion from the first to the second position to fold the edge protector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Termanas, David C. Thomas, Janusz Ciurkot
  • Publication number: 20180318892
    Abstract: A Knuckle Jointed Lance (KJL), comprising a segmented lance including a plurality of elongate and hollow KJL segments in a concatenated string thereof. The first segment end of one KJL segment is rotatably connected to the second segment end of a neighboring KJL segment via a pinned connection. Neighboring pairs of KJL segments together provide an interlocking toothed connection such that each interlocking toothed connection restrains relative torsional displacement between the neighboring pair of KJL segments. In other embodiments, pinned connections also provide ears, each with cooperating ear ledges and ear ledge recesses to strengthen the pinned connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: William C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10107215
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Patent number: 10099808
    Abstract: A device forms and applies an edge protector to a corner of a load as strap is positioned and tensioned around the load, to position the edge protector between the strap and the load. The device includes a shuttle movable between a home position away from the load and an application position near the load. The shuttle includes a breaker assembly having a fixed portion and a movable portion. The movable portion is movable between a position in which it is generally planar with the fixed portion and another position in which it is transverse to the fixed portion. The breaker assembly includes a shoe that defines a receiving region between the shoe and the fixed and movable portions. The shuttle includes a load contact portion. Movement of the shuttle from the home position moves the movable portion from the first to the second position to fold the edge protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SIGNODE INDUSTRIAL GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Termanas, David C. Thomas, Janusz Ciurkot
  • Patent number: 10099801
    Abstract: An improved aircraft management system for consolidating and prioritizing alerts through the use of an alert consolidator is described herein. According to an embodiment, a method for providing a list of tasks for responding to alerts provided by an aircraft sensing system includes receiving a plurality of alerts provided by an aircraft sensing system prioritizing at least two alerts, generating a prioritized sequential list of tasks for responding to the prioritized alerts, and providing, in a single format, the prioritized sequential list of tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Lisa C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10085716
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sheathing a medical device, tool, instrument or probe (generally, probe) is provided. Among other aspects, a probe support jig capable of supporting the probe is provided, which includes a mechanical coupling for accepting a sheath on a sheath shell. In use, the sheath shell is coupled at one end thereof to the support jig and the probe is fed into the sheath, which is coupled to the sheath shell at another end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventors: J. Jordan Romano, Elizabeth N. Bearrick, Lauren R. Hernley, Saul A Lopez, Laura M. Tanenbaum, Marcel A. C. Thomas, Teddy A. Toussaint
  • Patent number: 10087823
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20180258838
    Abstract: Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20180251171
    Abstract: A suspension system supports a chassis relative to a crawler mechanism that includes a continuous track. A link is rotatable about an axis extending transversely through a first portion. The first portion includes a projections extending radially inwardly, and peripheral openings defined by spaces between the projections. An axle member secured to the crawler mechanism includes peripheral shafts extending radially outward from the axis and positioned in an associated peripheral opening. Each resilient member is positioned within an associated peripheral opening and engages an associated peripheral shaft, damping movement of the peripheral shaft relative to the link. The suspension system further includes an auxiliary roller assembly including a yoke and a plurality of auxiliary rollers coupled to the yoke. The yoke is rotatable relative to the crawler frame about a yoke axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Galen C. Thomas, Steven R. Whiteman, Trent A. Luoma
  • Patent number: 10025406
    Abstract: A touch screen bezel design that is optimized for use by a pilot during in-flight operations, which include vibrations, turbulence, and other factors affecting direct interaction with a touch screen. The bezel is further designed to include bezel indices which support touch interaction by a finger when a pilot's arm is near full extension as well as in other suboptimal postures. The bezel is also designed to elicit understanding that the screen it surrounds is touch-enabled, providing a common interface look and feel for all touch-enabled screens on the flight deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lisa C. Thomas, Michael E. Foster, Mark I. Nikolic
  • Patent number: 10016793
    Abstract: A Knuckle Jointed Lance (KJL), comprising a segmented lance including a plurality of connected KJL segments in a concatenated string thereof. The first end of one KJL segment is rotatably connected to the second end of a neighboring KJL segment via a pinned connection. Responsive to user assignment of a predetermined length to each KJL segment in the concatenated string according to the KJL segment's corresponding pre-ordained position in the concatenated string, the lance is disposed to spool onto a reel in “nested” fashion, such that as the lance makes spooling revolutions onto the reel, (a) KJL segments stack in circumferential registered layers around the reel and (b) pinned connections trace substantially radial vectors from a center of the reel. Other embodiments provide additional features to facilitate nesting and to generally strengthen the KJL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Thomas Engineering Solutions & Consulting, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10013160
    Abstract: Detecting user input based on multiple gestures is provided. One or more interactions are received from a user via a user interface. An inferred interaction is determined based, at least in part, on a geometric operation, wherein the geometric operation is based on the one or more interactions. The inferred interaction is presented via the user interface. Whether a confirmation has been received for the inferred interaction is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rachel K. E. Bellamy, Bonnie E. John, Peter K. Malkin, John T. Richards, Calvin B. Swart, John C. Thomas, Jr., Sharon M. Trewin
  • Publication number: 20180176859
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for a mobile unit to select a wireless access point. The method provides a mobile unit with a wireless transponder and a location determination device, such as a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver. A local features database is stored in the memory, cross-referencing a plurality of wireless access points (APs) to corresponding geographic locations. In response to receiving location information, a wireless AP selection application determines the geographic position of the mobile unit, accesses the local features database, and selects the wireless AP associated with the geographic position of the mobile unit. Finally, the wireless AP selection application directs the transponder to communicate with the selected wireless AP. In one aspect, the local features database divides a geographic region into sub-regions, with a corresponding wireless AP assigned to each sub-region. For example, each sub-region may assigned to the closest wireless AP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Darin Haines, William Vojak, Gary Lin Gaebel, John C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180136949
    Abstract: Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for a path-sensitive contextual help system. In some embodiments, user actions are obtained from a user session of a user. A concrete user action trace is captured using the obtained user actions, wherein the concrete user action trace is a subset of user actions from the user session. An abstract user action trace is generated using the concrete user action trace. A help action corresponding to the abstract user action trace is identified and, in some embodiments, is presented to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Evelyn Duesterwald, John C. Thomas, Patrick A. Wagstrom
  • Patent number: 9955636
    Abstract: An irrigation mitigation runoff system that includes an irrigation system having at least one water outlet and a sensor that detects flow of water through a boundary. A controller is operatively coupled to the irrigation system and the sensor. Responsive to the sensor detecting flow of water through the boundary above a pre-defined threshold, the controller signals the irrigation system to pause irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Wherley, Jorge Luis Alvarado, Richard H. White, James C. Thomas, Junfeng Men, Dean Evan Tate, Fouad H. Jaber, William C. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9939389
    Abstract: A data acquisition system for determining the state of a tubular while the tubular rotates about its cylindrical axis. The tubular remains otherwise substantially stationary. Sensors travel up and down the length of the rotating tubular, interrogating the inside and outside of the tubular for data regarding the tubular's state. Sensors may take samples which may be associated with rotational reference information tying the sample to its absolute position on the internal or external surface of the tubular. A data processor processes the samples and other sensor data to produce a wide array of output, including data signatures of the tubular, maps of contour data regarding the internal or external surface of the tubular, and dimensional data regarding the tubular. Data acquisition is advantageously done in real time, and may further be done concurrently with internal or external cleaning operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Thomas Engineering Solutions & Consulting, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Thomas, William J. Thomas, III, Perry J. DeCuir, Jr., Jeffrey R. Wheeler, Stuart J. Ford
  • Publication number: 20180058307
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20180058352
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
  • Publication number: 20180058308
    Abstract: Synergistic induction and turbocharging includes the use of one or more throttles in close proximity to each cylinder intake valve to control air flow in each intake port delivering air to combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine system. A turbocharger may also be affixed in close proximity to each cylinder exhaust valve to enable a synergistic combination of hyper-filling cylinders with combustion air and immediate harvesting of exhaust gas by adjacent turbochargers. In some implementations the turbochargers may be low-inertia turbochargers. The combination of individual throttles per intake port and a turbocharger in close proximity to each cylinder enables faster ramp-up of an engine in the early stages of acceleration. Various implementations thus provide improved fuel economy and improved engine performance in tandem, instead of one at the expense of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Bright Acceleration Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke