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).

  • 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
  • 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