Patents by Inventor Frank Thoma

Frank 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: 9278878
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming vents (13) in glass sheets (10). The method includes repetitively performing the steps of: (I) bringing a score head (21) and a platen (31) into contact with, respectively, the front (11) and rear (12) major surfaces of the glass sheet (10), (II) moving the score head (21) across the front major surface (11) along a predetermined path to form a vent (13), and (III) withdrawing the score head (21) and the platen (31) from the front (11) and rear (12) major surfaces, wherein: (i) the thickness (?) of the glass sheet is less than or equal to 500 microns, and (ii) for each repetition of steps (I) through (III), the platen (31) is cleaned after step (III) and before step (I) to remove glass chips which if left on the platen (31) could cause the score head (21) to penetrate through the thickness ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Brackley, Frank Thomas Coppola, Monica Jo Mashewske, David Alan Tammaro
  • Publication number: 20160040549
    Abstract: A method for flexible operation of a power plant having a recovery steam generator having heat exchanger stages for generating live steam and/or reheater steam for a steam turbine from an exhaust flow of a gas turbine, wherein auxiliary firing is arranged in a flue gas channel of the recovery steam generator in the region of the heat exchanger stages. In order to regulate the live steam and/or the reheater steam, at least one injection cooling device is brought online directly upon using the auxiliary firing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160016119
    Abstract: A free-pass-through fluid-purification system is disclosed, wherein the system includes a pore-matrix membrane subtended between a pair of chambers of a manifold. The membrane includes a large open-fraction porous matrix that allows liquid to pass freely through; however, suspended matter having a physical cross-section larger than the size of the pores are blocked. In some embodiments, the cross-sections of the pores are made to be a small fraction of the cross-section of the suspended materials. In some embodiments, electrodes are included on the top and bottom surfaces of the membrane to enable deionization of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Thomas Hartley, Axel Scherer
  • Patent number: 9222373
    Abstract: A method of operating a combined gas and steam turbine system is provided. The system includes a gas turbine, a waste heat steam generator with an evaporator heating area, and a steam turbine. Fluid is fed to the waste heat steam generator as feed water. A primary control loop controls a feed water flow rate. Taking into account heat stored in the evaporator heating area, a primary desired value for the feed water flow rate is determined based upon a desired overheating value characteristic of a temperature by which the fluid exceeds a boiling point as the fluid exits the evaporator heating area and based upon a heat flow parameter characteristic of a heat flow transfer from fuel gas to the fluid via the evaporator heating area. The desired overheating value is lowered from a first value to a second value in order to activate an instantaneous power reserve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Antje Burgemeister, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150372270
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laminar textile material for covering a pasty active mass on a battery electrode. The invention further relates to a battery electrode having such a material, to a battery, and to a method for producing battery electrodes. Potential improvements of lead batteries are disclosed that are more practical than previously known solutions, and that stabilize the pasty active mass on the battery electrodes. A laminar textile material is disclosed to this end, comprising glass fibers and fibers made of a thermoplastic, e.g. polyester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: Frank-Thomas Johns
  • Patent number: 9216480
    Abstract: In a process for producing a piston for an internal combustion engine, a groove is worked into a cast piston blank proceeding from a combustion chamber cavity (20) in a largely radial direction and then closed to form a cooling duct. A cast piston for an internal combustion engine has a closure which is fitted after the casting and the machining between the cooling duct and a combustion chamber cavity (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Arnd Baberg, Frank Thomas Hugo Dörnenburg, Klaus Lades
  • Publication number: 20150360990
    Abstract: Methods for producing glass articles from glass melts are provided that include continuously introducing the glass melt into a stirrer vessel, stirring the glass melt in the stirrer vessel by at least one blade stirrer, continuously discharging the glass melt from the stirrer vessel, and shaping the glass melt to obtain the glass article. In some embodiments, the stirring is sufficient to draw the glass melt located at a surface of the stirrer vessel into the stirrer vessel so that a formation of a surface layer of the glass melt with a different composition from the composition of the glass melt introduced is prevented or at least minimized. In other embodiments, the stirring is sufficient so that the glass melt which is located at a surface in the stirrer vessel is not drawn into the stirrer vessel or is drawn in only insubstantially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Monika Buerkner-Brigaldino, Norbert Greulich-Hickmann, Jan Philipp Steigleder
  • Patent number: 9150047
    Abstract: A deep-lip wheel cover apparatus that attaches with a steel wheel includes a wheel cover, a center cap, and a hub ring. The hub ring is centrally connected with the steel wheel so that the wheel cover and the center cap can be attached to the hub ring. The wheel cover also attaches with the steel wheel through a plurality of fastening systems, where the plurality of fastening system provide additional connection points in between the wheel cover and the steel wheel. When the wheel cover and the center cap are installed within the steel wheel, the wheel cover and the center cap completely cover the steel wheel creating a deep-lip appearance within the steel wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Frank Thomas Noriega
  • Publication number: 20150280312
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a rear housing formed entirely of a modified plastic material configured for laser direct structuring, and an antenna formed on a surface of the rear housing using laser direct structuring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Frank Thomas Poggio
  • Publication number: 20150275704
    Abstract: A method for flexibly operating a nuclear power plant with a waste heat steam generator that operates according to the forced-flow principle and that has heating surfaces of different stages of the waste heat steam generator, the heating surfaces being arranged in the flue gas channel, is provided. In order to increase the output, a mass flow of the feedwater flowing through the heating surfaces is increased while almost simultaneously activating a supplementary firing arranged in the flue gas channel of the waste heat steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Gerhard Schlund, Frank Thomas, Bernd Weissenberger
  • Patent number: 9105908
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery cell is provided that includes at least one inorganic, multi-functional constituent that has a low thermal conductivity and is suitable for reducing or restricting thermal anomalies at least locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Peuchert, Andreas Roters, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Meike Schneider, Ulf Dahlmann, Wolfram Beier, Wolfgang Schmidbauer, Gabriele Roemer-Scheuermann
  • Patent number: 9086180
    Abstract: A quick connect system for the assembly of underground mining dust and fire suppression systems can eliminate the need for threading pipe with couplings during the installation, reducing installation times approximately 75%. The quick connect system results in the quick and easy coupling and positioning of sprays along the water line. The quick connect system typically uses galvanized, brass and stainless steel components to reduce the need for replacement and to provide for quick adjustment of fittings with sprays using pliers. The system is simple to maintain and reduces high installation and maintenance labor costs. The system uses male and female ported fittings and horseshoe pins. Pendant style or deluge style sprays can be used in the system and can be pre-installed prior to delivery and installation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Frank Thomas Porta
  • Patent number: 9080465
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a short-term increase in power in a steam turbine including a fossil-fired steam generator having a flow path through which a flow medium flows. The method involves tapping off the flow medium from the flow path in a pressure stage and injecting it into the flow path on the flow-medium side upstream of a super heater heating surface of the respective pressure stage. A first characteristic value is used as a controlled variable for the amount of injected flow medium. The first characteristic value is characteristic of the deviation between the outlet temperature of a final super heater heating surface of the respective pressure stage on the flow medium side and a predetermined nominal temperature value. The nominal temperature value is reduced and, for the duration of the reduction in the nominal temperature value, the characteristic value is temporarily increased over-proportionately to the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9080467
    Abstract: A method is provided for regulating a brief increase in power of a steam turbine that has an upstream fossil-fired once-through steam generator having a plurality of economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces which form a flow path and through which a flow medium flows. The flow of the flow medium through the fossil-fired once-through steam generator is increased in order to achieve the brief increase in power of the steam turbine. The method involves using desired enthalpy value at the outlet of an evaporator heating surface as a control variable for determining a desired value for the flow of the flow medium through the fossil-fired once-through steam generator. The desired enthalpy value is reduced in order to achieve the brief increase in power of the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150083111
    Abstract: A solar thermal power plant, wherein, in an intermediate superheater in the water-steam circuit, steam is heated to a settable setpoint temperature value at the outlet by a heat carrier medium which has been heated solar-thermally, wherein, for the heating of the steam to a set setpoint temperature value, a mass flow of the heat carrier medium entering the intermediate superheater is controlled as a function of a determined enthalpy difference of the heat carrier medium between the entry and exit thereof into and out of the intermediate superheater and as a function of a determined enthalpy difference of the steam between the exit and entry thereof out of and into the intermediate superheater is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 8959915
    Abstract: A waste heat steam generator for a gas and steam turbine power plant is provided. The generator has economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces which form a flow path and through which a flow medium flows. An overflow line branches off from the flow path and leads to injection valves arranged downstream at a flow side of a superheater heating surface in the flow path. The overflow line permits a brief power increase of a downstream steam turbine without resulting in an excessive loss in efficiency of the steam process. The brief power increase is permitted independently of the type of waste heat steam generator. The branch location of the overflow line is arranged upstream of an evaporator heating surface at the flow medium side and downstream of an economizer heating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150051844
    Abstract: A method for determining a condition indicator of an apparatus includes providing an apparatus configured to measure at least two different technical parameters. A respective parameter value is determined for each of the at least two different technical parameters of the apparatus using at least one sensor configured to determine a respective parameter value for each of the at least two different technical parameters. A respective deviation value of each of the parameter values is determined with respect to an associated respective parameter reference value for each of the technical parameters. A respective deviation relevance value is determined from each of the deviation values using a respective parameter-specific deviation relevance function for each of the parameter values, the parameter-specific deviation relevance functions being different from each other. Using an indicator function, a condition indicator is calculated from the determined deviation relevance values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: HACH LANGE GMBH
    Inventors: TOON STREPPEL, TORSTEN SEEHAUS, ULRICH SCHMITZ, MANFRED BATTEFELD, FRANK THOMAS, MICHAEL KUSSMANN, MICHAEL HAECK
  • Publication number: 20140369598
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for image processing for enhancing, e.g., photos, videos, and graphics representations. Particularly, some embodiments perform a histogram-based SMQT decomposition of various attributes in an original image. The SMQT decomposition of these attributes may then be used to create a look-up-table indicating how to modify pixel attributes in the same or a subsequent image so as to enhance the same or subsequent image. The results of the SMQT decomposition for each attribute may be interpolated based, e.g., on user preferences, to achieve a more optimal enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Mikael Nilsson, To Tran, Borje Anders Hellsberg, James Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140356609
    Abstract: A method for producing bubble-free glasses is provided, in which a glass mixture that is arsenic-free, antimony-free and tin-free with the exception of any unavoidable raw material impurities and at least one sulfate compound as a refining agent are used. The glass mixture and refining agent are melted and primarily refined in a first region of a melting tank, an average melting temperature (T1) is set at T1>1580° C. and an average melt residence time (t1) is set at t1>2 hours. A secondary refinement is carried out in a second region, an average melting temperature (T2) is set at T2>1660° C. and an average melt residence time (t2) is set at t2>1 hour, and the proportion of the SO3 resulting from decomposition of the sulfate is reduced to less than 0.002 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Frank-Thomas LENTES, Karin NAUMANN, Ulrich SCHIFFNER, Friedrich SIEBERS, Christian MUELLER, Klaus SCHOENBERGER, Evelin WEISS
  • Publication number: 20140356608
    Abstract: A method for producing bubble-free glasses is provided, in which a glass mixture that is arsenic-free and antimony-free with the exception of any unavoidable raw material impurities and a sulfate compound and SnO2 as refining agents are used. The glass mixture is melted and primarily refined in a first region of a melting tank, an average melting temperature (T1) is set at T1>1560° C. and an average melt residence time (t1) is set at t1>2 hours. The proportion of SO3 resulting from the decomposition of the sulfate compound is reduced to less than 0.002 wt. % as the primary refinement is carried out. A secondary refinement is carried out in a second region of the melting tank, an average melting temperature (T2) is set at T2>1640° C. and an average melt residence time (t2) is set at t2>1 hour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Frank-Thomas LENTES, Karin NAUMANN, Ulrich SCHIFFNER, Friedrich SIEBERS, Christian MUELLER, Klaus SCHOENBERGER, Evelin WEISS