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: 9574766
    Abstract: A once-through steam generator includes a combustion chamber, the walls of which comprise vertically arranged evaporator pipes connected to one another in gas-tight fashion by pipe webs, through which evaporator pipes flows a flow medium from bottom to top. The evaporator pipes are combined by upstream inlet collectors to form more intensely and less intensely heated pipe groups. A feed water supply is assigned to respective inlet collectors. At least one regulating valve regulates throttling of the mass flow of the flow medium into the evaporator pipes. To determine a control variable for the regulating valve, temperature measurement device measures outlet temperatures of the flow medium exiting the evaporator pipes. Each of the more intensely and less intensely heated pipe groups is assigned to one of the inlet collectors and to an outlet collector, and each of the outlet collectors has one of the temperature measurement devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Brodesser, Jan Brückner, Martin Effert, Tobias Schulze, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9568216
    Abstract: A method for operating a directly heated, solar-thermal steam generator is provided. As per the method, a nominal value {dot over (M)}s for the supply water mass flow {dot over (M)} is conducted to an apparatus for adjusting the supply water mass flow {dot over (M)} wherein, at the adjustment of the nominal value {dot over (M)}s for the supply water mass flow {dot over (M)}, account is taken of a correction value KT, by which the thermal effects of storage or withdrawal of thermal energy in an evaporator are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jürgen Birnbaum, Joachim Brodesser, Jan Brückner, Martin Effert, Joachim Franke, Gerhard Schlund, Tobias Schulze, Frank Thomas, Gerhard Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9518481
    Abstract: A method for operating a recirculating waste heat steam generator is provided, in which in a pressure stage of the recirculating waste heat steam generator, the feed water mass flow is guided on the basis of a specified desired value in order to control the water level in a drum. The method should give a recirculating waste heat steam generator a particularly high degree of efficiency and simultaneously a particularly high level of operational flexibility. For this purpose the thermal input introduced into an evaporator of the pressure stage is used as input variable in the determination of the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Bruckner, Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9506376
    Abstract: A fossil-fired steam generator for a steam power station includes a number of economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces forming a flow path through which a flow medium flows in a plurality of pressure stages. In a high-pressure stage, an overflow line is connected to the flow path on its inlet side and leads to an injection valve disposed upstream in the flow path from a superheater heating surface in a medium-pressure stage on the flow medium side. The overflow line has two supply lines of which a first supply line branches off on the flow medium side upstream from a high-pressure preheater and a second supply line branches off on the flow medium side downstream from the high-pressure preheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Effert, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9482427
    Abstract: A method for operating a once-through steam generator including an evaporator heating surface is provided. A target value for the supply water mass flow is fed to a device for setting the supply water mass flow, which is predefined using the ratio of the heat flow currently being transferred in the evaporator heating surface from the hot gas to the flow medium to a target enthalpy increase predefined with respect to the desired live steam condition of the flow medium in the evaporator heating surface. A forced-flow steam generator used for carrying out the method is also provided. The heat flow transferred from the hot gas to the flow medium is ascertained for this purpose allowing for a specific temperature value characteristic of the current temperature of the hot gas at the evaporator inlet and a specific mass flow value characteristic for the current mass flow of the hot gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Joachim Franke, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160260982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grid arrangement for a plate-shaped battery electrode of an electrochemical accumulator comprising a frame and a grid arranged thereon, wherein the frame comprises at least one upper frame element having a connecting lug of the battery electrode disposed on its side facing away from the grid, wherein the grid comprises grid bars respectively surrounding cutouts of the grid, wherein the majority of the grid bars surrounding the cutouts are respectively disposed in a hexagonal arrangement such that the cutout situated in between forms a hexagon, characterized by one, some or all of the following a), b), c), d), e) features): a) the grid arrangement is coated with a pasty active mass on which liquid-absorbing material designed to absorb liquid electrolyte of the accumulator is disposed, b) the size of the hexagonal cutouts increases toward the upper frame element, c) the grid bars of all the hexagonal cutouts have the same width or the same cross-sectional area, d) none of the grid ba
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo Koch, Bernd Ide, Frank-Thomas Johns, Armin Staffeldt, Andreas Dudenbostel, Dirk Goebbels, Christian Fischer, Juergen Bauer
  • Patent number: 9436983
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: nLightn, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikael Nilsson, To Tran, Börje Anders Hellsberg, James Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160230966
    Abstract: A strand of holiday lights includes a plurality of lights connected by at least one wire, and a plurality of ornaments. The ornaments includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a hollow interior. The ornaments are at least partially transparent and are configured to be releasably separable into two halves. When the ornaments are separated, they may receive at least one light of the plurality lights. The ornament may then close over the light and releasably hold the light within the hollow space to internally light the ornament. When the strand of lights is not in use, the ornaments are configured to be nested together in a stored condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Thomas DeFrancesco, Frank T. DeFrancesco, III
  • Publication number: 20160230606
    Abstract: A combined cycle gas turbine plant and a corresponding method for operating such a combined cycle gas turbine plant, in which, during load operation of the combined cycle gas turbine plant, a water mass flow which is supplied according to the forced-flow principle to a waste heat steam generator is adjusted such that the evaporator heating surface of the medium pressure stage is oversupplied and thus a defined amount of excess water, which is heated in the evaporator heating surface but not vaporized, is discharged via the water-steam separator to a heat exchanger circuit for preheating fuel for the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160208656
    Abstract: An operating method for an externally heated once-through steam generator, in particular a once-through steam generator is heated using solar thermal energy and has a steam turbine connected downstream of the once-through steam generator. A pressure regulation device, having at least one turbine valve for regulating the pressure, is arranged in the feed water-steam circuit between the once-through steam generator and the steam turbine, the pressure regulation device being controlled by a control unit in such a way that, in the event of sudden load reductions, the drop in pressure associated therewith occurs, in a time delayed manner, by throttling of the at least one turbine valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160208657
    Abstract: An operating method for starting a once-through steam generator heated using solar thermal energy, wherein a flow medium flowing through the once-through steam generator is evaporated and superheated, using a heat carrier medium heated in a solar array, for a steam turbine connected downstream of the once-through steam generator on the flow medium side. In an operating phase under load, a first desired steady pressure value is predetermined, and in a starting phase preceding the operating phase under load, a second desired steady pressure value is predetermined, in which starting phase evaporated flow medium is diverted around the steam turbine via a steam bypass, and controlled by the predetermined second desired steady pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160199042
    Abstract: A sample holder that enables mid-infrared spectroscopy of a test sample using mid-infrared light is disclosed. The sample holder includes an inlet port and a sample chamber that comprises a sample region and a capillary channel that fluidically couples the inlet port and the sample region. The capillary channel is characterized by a higher capillary force than the sample region. As a result, when the inlet port is put in contact with a liquid containing the test sample, the liquid is drawn into the sample region without the formation of bubbles that could obscure the optical analysis. In some embodiments, the inlet port is the free end of a draw tube having an outer diameter that is smaller than the minimum spacing between pain receptors at a draw site on a patient, which mitigates pain felt by the patient due to insertion of the draw tube at the draw site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Thomas Hartley
  • Publication number: 20160191682
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adaptor for an electronic communication device. The adaptor enables the electronic communication device to perform additional functions based on the needs of users. The adaptor has a frame for coupling to the electronic communication device and various packages with different functions. The packages are exchangeable/replaceable with other packages of different functions. Useful data can be captured by the packages and the data can be used for subsequent analysis or distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Thomas FILSER, Hubertus Friedrich WASMER, Lech Alexander MURAWSKI
  • Publication number: 20160178190
    Abstract: A once-through steam generator includes a combustion chamber, the walls of which comprise vertically arranged evaporator pipes connected to one another in gas-tight fashion by pipe webs, through which evaporator pipes flows a flow medium from bottom to top. The evaporator pipes are combined by upstream inlet collectors to form more intensely and less intensely heated pipe groups. A feed water supply is assigned to respective inlet collectors. At least one regulating valve regulates throttling of the mass flow of the flow medium into the evaporator pipes. To determine a control variable for the regulating valve, temperature measurement device measures outlet temperatures of the flow medium exiting the evaporator pipes. Each of the more intensely and less intensely heated pipe groups is assigned to one of the inlet collectors and to an outlet collector, and each of the outlet collectors has one of the temperature measurement devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Brodesser, Jan Brückner, Martin Effert, Tobias Schulze, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 9334635
    Abstract: A faucet having a pull-out sprayer that is attached to a spray hose. The faucet also has a housing with an end region to receive the sprayer and a feedthrough for passage of the sprayer hose through the housing, and at least one first guide for spacing the sprayer hose from an inner wall surface of the feedthrough, the guide being provided at least in an end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Dieter Keiter, Frank-Thomas Luig, Matthias Schlueter
  • Patent number: 9291345
    Abstract: A method for operating a continuous flow steam generator with an evaporator heating surface is provided. A target value for a supply water mass flow is fed to a device for adjusting the supply water mass flow. In order to improve the quality of a predictive supply water or mass flow control and to maintain the enthalpy of the flow medium at the evaporator outlet particularly stable especially when load changes occur, a correction factor is taken into consideration during production of the target value for the supply water mass flow. The correction factor is a characteristic of the temporal derivative of enthalpy or the density of the flow medium at the input of one or more heating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Brückner, Joachim Franke, Frank Thomas
  • 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