Patents by Inventor Helen Rhiannon Thomas

Helen Rhiannon 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).

  • Methods and apparatus for selectively combining particulate material
    Patent number: 11718022
    Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Loughborough University
    Inventors: Neil Hopkinson, Helen Rhiannon Thomas
  • Methods and Apparatus for Selectively Combining Particulate Material
    Publication number: 20210162658
    Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Neil Hopkinson, Helen Rhiannon Thomas
  • Methods and apparatus for selectively combining particulate material
    Patent number: 10933581
    Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Loughborough University
    Inventors: Neil Hopkinson, Helen Rhiannon Thomas
  • Methods and Apparatus for Selectively Combining Particulate Material
    Publication number: 20140314613
    Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Loughborough University
    Inventors: Neil Hopkinson, Helen Rhiannon Thomas