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: 7530238
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for the conductive heating of melts, in particular for the rapid melting-down, refining and/or conditioning of melts, is provided. The heating apparatus includes at least one electrode, as well as a first cooling system with a cooling power, which can be set and/or controlled variably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Rainer Eichholz, Guido Raeke, Volker Ohmstede, Gunter Weidmann, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Thomas Stelle, Ernst-Walter Schaefer, Hildegard Roemer, Joerg Schollmayer, Holger Hunnius, Frank-Jurgen Druschke
  • Publication number: 20090100416
    Abstract: A native binding technique is provided for insetting calls to native functions during translation of subject code to target code, such that function calls in the subject program to subject code functions are replaced in target code with calls to native equivalents of the same functions. Parameters of native function calls are transformed from target code representations to be consistent with native code representations, native code calling conventions, and native function prototypes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TRANSITIVE LIMITED
    Inventors: Alexander B. BROWN, Geraint M. NORTH, Frank Thomas WEIGEL, Gareth Anthony KNIGHT
  • Patent number: 7516719
    Abstract: A steam generator comprising a combustion chamber having funnel-shaped side walls in the bottom area thereof and an encircling wall formed from a plurality of steam generator pipes through which a flow medium can flow, wherein there area as little temperature differences as possible in the flow medium at the output of the steam generator pies. The steam generator pipes are, more particularly, arranged in the lower section forming the funnel-shaped side walls such that they are exposed to heat in as homongenous a manner as possible. According to the invention, the diameter of a number of steam generator pipes in the region of the funnel shaped side walls is different from that in the region of the encircling wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Kral, Andre Schrief, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090094586
    Abstract: A native binding technique is provided for inserting calls to native functions during translation of subject code to target code, such that function calls in the subject program to subject code functions are replaced in target code with calls to native equivalents of the same functions. Parameters of native function calls are transformed from target code representations to be consistent with native code representations, native code calling conventions, and native function prototypes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: TRANSITIVE LIMITED
    Inventors: Alex BROWN, Geraint NORTH, Frank Thomas WEIGEL, Gareth Anthony KNIGHT
  • Publication number: 20090025428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for homogenizing a glass melt using at least one stirring means which is respectively arranged in a stirring vessel having an inlet (4) and an outlet (5), the respective stirring means having a plurality of stirrer blades (11, 20, 21) arranged spaced apart from one another along a common stirrer shaft (10). According to the invention, the stirring means and/or the device is configured in such a way that a net conveying effect of the stirring means overall from the inlet to the outlet is substantially imperceptible. The conveying effect of the stirring means overall from the inlet (4) to the outlet (5) is caused by the positioning of the stirring blades (11, 20, 21), by the geometric shape thereof and/or by the angular position of the stirring blades in the circumferential direction of the stirrer shaft (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Karin Naumann, Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Holger Hunnius, Gregor Roesel, Franz Ott, Markus Ollig, Sven Petri
  • Publication number: 20090021293
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least three separate power supply terminals, at least one for those portions of the circuit that must accommodate the widest signal-related voltage excursion, at least one for those that experience substantially smaller signal-related voltage excursions, and a common terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Gary Hebert, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080276647
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for supporting glass sheets during a thermal treatment process, such as heat treating, to maintain the physical geometry of the glass sheets. The device can comprise means for separating adjacent glass sheets to prevent them from touching. The separating means can comprise a separation comb having projections and channels configured for receiving the glass sheets, separating rods configured to be positioned between the glass sheets, or a combination of separation combs and separating rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Thomas Coppola, Monica Jo Mashewske
  • Patent number: 7434209
    Abstract: A native binding technique is provided for inserting calls to native functions during translation of subject code to target code, such that function calls in the subject program to subject code functions are replaced in target code with calls to native equivalents of the same functions. Parameters of native function calls are transformed from target code representations to be consistent with native code representations, native code calling conventions, and native function prototypes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Transitive Limited
    Inventors: Alex Brown, Geraint North, Frank Thomas Weigel, Gareth Anthony Knight
  • Patent number: 7411438
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least three separate power supply terminals, at least one for those portions of the circuit that must accommodate the widest signal-related voltage excursion, at least one for those that experience substantially smaller signal-related voltage excursions, and a common terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: THAT Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Hebert, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080148780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for homogenizing a glass melt in a melt receptacle, wherein at least one stirring device (10, 11) is disposed in the melt receptacle, which comprises a stirrer shaft (10) and a plurality of stirrer blades (11), and wherein a gap (16) is formed between a wall region of the melt receptacle (2) and the stirrer blades (11). According to the invention, the respective stirring device causes an axial feed action in an inner stirring region (12) between the stirrer shaft (10) and the stirrer blades (11) in order to feed the melt in the stirring region along the stirrer shaft (10). A melt flow brought about by the axial feed action seals the gap (16) against direct passage of the melt. According to the invention, a very high gap width can be achieved, thus preventing the abrasion of materials in the region of the marginal gap. This also reduces the complexity required for adjusting the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Hans Duerolf, Holger Hunnius
  • Publication number: 20080066695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a continuous steam generator. The aim of the invention is to provide, with little technical complexity and for any operating state, a synchronous variation of the feed-water mass flow passing through the evaporator heating surface and of the heat input into the evaporator heating surface. To this end, a regulating device for the discharge of feed-water is allocated to a device for adjusting the feed-water mass flow. The control variable of said regulating device is the feed-water mass flow, while its set-point value in relation to the feed-water mass flow depends on the set-point value associated to the power of the steam generator. The actual value of the feed-water density at the entry of the pre-heater is fed to the regulating device for the discharge of feed-water as one of the input values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Axel Butterlin, Rudolf Kral, Frank Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080063728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water-insoluble silicate glass powder, wherein the silicate glass powder exhibits glass particles with the following composition in percentage by weight on an oxide basis: SiO2 20-80 Na2O ?5-30 K2O 0-5 P2O5 ?0-15 B2O3 ?0-10 CaO ?4-30 MgO 0-8 Al2O3 0-7 Fe2O3 0-2 as well as conventional fining agents in conventional quantities. The invention is characterized in that the glass particles contain at least one of the following components ZnO AgO CuO CeO2 GeO2 TeO2 wherein these components are concentrated in the regions of the glass particles that are near the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Jorg Hinrich Fechner, Jose Zimmer, Bernd Drapp, Frank Thoma
  • Patent number: 7324285
    Abstract: The optical elements are made from an opto-ceramic material that is characterized by high density, transparency for visible light and IR, high refractive index, high Abbe number and outstanding relative partial dispersion. Mixed oxides are sintered to obtain the opto-ceramic material. The mixed oxides contain zirconium oxide and hafnium oxide mixed with one or more oxides of yttrium, scandium, lanthanide elements, and optionally mixed with one or more of SiO2, Na2O, and TiO2. Alternatively the mixed oxides contain zirconium oxide and hafnium oxide mixed with CaO and/or MgO and optionally mixed with one or more of SiO2, Na2O, and TiO2. In addition, the mixed oxides can also include one or more oxides of Al, Ga, In, and Sc; optionally one or more oxides of yttrium, some lanthanide elements; and optionally one or more of SiO2, Na2O, MgO, CaO, and TiO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Steffen Reichel, Wolfram Beier, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Yoshio Okano, Jochen Alkemper, Jose Zimmer, Joseph S. Hayden, Carsten Weinhold, Ulrich Peuchert, Martin Letz
  • Publication number: 20070267312
    Abstract: Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Frank Thomas Coppola, Ronald Alan Davidson, Michael Brian Gildea, Gerard Kaper, Jason C. Lail, Monica Jo Mashewske
  • Publication number: 20070144456
    Abstract: A steam generator comprising a combustion chamber having funnel-shaped side walls in the bottom area thereof and an encircling wall formed from a plurality of steam generator pipes through which a flow medium can flow, wherein there area as little temperature differences as possible in the flow medium at the output of the steam generator pies. The steam generator pipes are, more particularly, arranged in the lower section forming the funnel-shaped side walls such that they are exposed to heat in as homongenous a manner as possible. According to the invention, the diameter of a number of steam generator pipes in the region of the funnel shaped side walls is different from that in the region of the encircling wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Rudolf Kral, Andre Schrief, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 7231788
    Abstract: The apparatus for reduced-pressure refining of a glass melt includes a refining bank formed so that a reduced pressure is generated by a glass flow in it. The refining bank has a component, which is made from a refractory metal or refractory alloy acting as glass-contact material. The refractory metal or alloy contains molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and/or hafnium. The device of the present invention includes a protective gas reservoir for a protective gas and an automatically operating valve connecting the reservoir with the refining bank so that an inner side of the component that would otherwise be exposed when a pressure rise or a falling glass melt column occurs is protected from oxidation by the protective gas. A process for using the device during refining of the glass melt is also part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Frank Karetta, Joerg Witte, Klaus-Dieter Duch, Dirk Gohlke, Wolfgang Muench, Allen Jakway, Rainer Eichholz, Frank-Thomas Lentes
  • Publication number: 20070127140
    Abstract: The optical elements are made from an opto-ceramic material that is characterized by high density, transparency for visible light and IR, high refractive index, high Abbe number and outstanding relative partial dispersion. Mixed oxides are sintered to obtain the opto-ceramic material. The mixed oxides contain zirconium oxide and hafnium oxide mixed with one or more oxides of yttrium, scandium, lanthanide elements, and optionally mixed with one or more of SiO2, Na2O, and TiO2. Alternatively the mixed oxides contain zirconium oxide and hafnium oxide mixed with CaO and/or MgO and optionally mixed with one or more of SiO2, Na2O, and TiO2. In addition, the mixed oxides can also include one or more oxides of Al, Ga, In, and Sc; optionally one or more oxides of yttrium, some lanthanide elements; and optionally one or more of SiO2, Na2O, MgO, CaO, and TiO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Steffen Reichel, Wolfram Beier, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Yoshio Okano, Jochen Alkemper, Jose Zimmer, Joseph Hayden, Carsten Weinhold, Ulrich Peuchert, Martin Letz
  • Publication number: 20070101765
    Abstract: In a process for the production of flat, particularly float glass that can be converted into glass ceramic, a liquid film consisting in particular of the float bath metal is formed between the wetback tile, and optionally the restrictor tiles, and the glass stream. The tiles preferably consist of a porous material through the pores of which is pressed the liquid for creating the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Bernd Loeffelbein, Andreas Langsdorf, Christian Kunert, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Ulrich Lange, Wolfgang Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: D581473
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventor: Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: D589776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Thomas Camp