Patents by Inventor R. Thomas

R. 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).

  • Patent number: 8580175
    Abstract: A method of continuous curing and post-curing of a plurality of extruded strands is provided. A plurality of extruded strands is wrapped through a plurality of spindle units rotatably connected to a rigid frame structure. A plurality of dual spindles are provided in a plurality of upper and lower spindle units, wherein each dual spindle comprises a free spinning roller and a driven roller. A chamber that comprises a dual function chamber configured for heating and cooling is supported on the rigid frame structure. The plurality of extruded strands is continuously transferred between the upper spindle units and the lower spindle units such that the plurality of extruded strands runs in a vertical fashion that continuously alternates between the lower spindle units and the upper spindle units. Each of the plurality of strands is transferred independently of each other and continuously passed through the chamber for continuous curing and post-curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Michael R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130258651
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for vertically aligning predominately elongated lighting fixtures, and for providing a secure attachment to the ground through a foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Wahini Holdings
    Inventors: Drew A. Buck, Michael Ray Wamsley, Shawn R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8545602
    Abstract: The removal of one or more of the gases CO2, N2 and H2S from gas mixtures containing at least one of said gases with use of an 8-ring zeolite having a Si:Al ratio from about 1:1 to about 1000:1. The preferred gas mixture is a natural gas feedstream and the preferred 8-ring zeolite is DDR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ronald R. Chance, Sebastian C. Reyes, Harry W. Deckman, Gregory J. DeMartin, Bruce T. Kelley, Paul S. Northrop, Eugene R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8538874
    Abstract: The invention encourages users to not only pay themselves first, but to pay themselves first in the largest amounts possible, even if they are not able to fully pay outstanding debts. In general, the system obtains information related to the user's income, income sources, user's debts (e.g., bills) and user's goals. The system then provides recommendations related to the prioritization of paying certain bills and the amount to pay for each bill based upon, for example, savings goals, minimum amounts due, due dates and available income. The system and/or the user may then determine a payment hierarchy which includes transferring funds to the user's savings account prior to paying all or a portion of certain bills. The system also transfers instructions related to payment of user debts to an automatic bill payment system to facilitate payment of the user debts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Propulsion Remote Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8529664
    Abstract: The separation of a target gas selected from a high pressure gas mixture containing said target gas as well as a product gas using a swing adsorption process unit. A turboexpander is used upstream of the swing adsorber to reduce the pressure of the high pressure gas mixture. A compressor is optionally used downstream of the swing adsorber to increase the pressure of the target gas-containing stream for injecting into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Bruce T. Kelley, Eugene R. Thomas, Ronald R. Chance, Paul S. Northrop, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8529662
    Abstract: A process for the separation of one or more heavy hydrocarbon gases from a gas mixture containing heavy hydrocarbon gas components and methane. The process is conducted in swing adsorption apparatus containing adsorbent contactor having a plurality of flow channels and wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bruce T. Kelley, Paul S. Northrop, Ronald R. Chance, Harry W. Deckman, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr., Eugene R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8529663
    Abstract: The present invention relates the separation of a target gas from a mixture of gases through the use of engineered structured adsorbent contactors in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Sebastian C. Reyes, Harry W. Deckman, Ronald R. Chance, Gregory J. DeMartin, Frank Hershkowitz, Eugene R. Thomas, Paul S. Northrop, Bruce T. Kelley, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8524963
    Abstract: Solid supported organoiridium catalysts, a process for preparing such solid supported organoiridium catalysts, and the use of such solid supported organoiridium catalysts in dehydrogenation reactions of alkanes is provided. The catalysts can be easily recovered and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: R. Thomas Baker, Alfred P. Sattelberger, Hongbo Li
  • Patent number: 8516968
    Abstract: A fluidized bed is described and which includes a multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds positioned in spaced relation one relative to the others; an enclosure positioned in gravity receiving relation relative to the multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds and which has an intake and a discharge end, and wherein particulate matter received in the fluidized bed moves under the influence of gravity from the intake end to the discharge end, and a moveable gate is mounted on the second discharge end of the enclosure and which is operable to selectively occlude a discharge aperture and which further facilitates the selective removal of particulate matter and waste material entrained with same, and which moves under the influence of gravity to the discharge end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: LeRoy B. Pope, Michael L. Murphy, James M. Scranton, James R. Thomas, Peter Mohr, Ben H. Cosby, Michael E. Tracey, Mark R. Castle, Douglas W. Scrafford, Greg Dahlstrom
  • Patent number: 8516076
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8505304
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a combustion chamber defined within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a swirler assembly and a burner tube that is coupled to a support flange in a detachable manner such that an inner surface of the burner tube circumscribes an outer surface of the swirler assembly during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey, David Martin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130189617
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed generally to a polymeric film that comprises at least one laser imageable marking layer. The marking layer comprises a polyolefin, a photochromatic pigment, and an additive. It has been surprisingly discovered that a polyolefin film comprising a marking layer formulated with a photochromatic pigment and an additive offers a substantial advantage over prior art methods of laser imaging polyolefin films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Merical, Russell Darley, Patrick R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8489340
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of using a near-infrared (NIR) model to predict the amount of accessible carbohydrate material in a feedstock sample. The NIR model is generated by subjecting a set of biomass calibration feedstock samples to near infrared spectroscopy which produces NIR spectroscopic data, measuring the chemical compositions of each said calibration feedstock sample by wet chemical techniques, and measuring the total amount of monosaccharides and disaccharides solubilized by each said calibration feedstock sample after processing under a defined pretreatment condition or defined enzyme load condition. The method is then applied to NIR spectral data obtained from a test feedstock sample to predict the amount of accessible carbohydrate material in the test feedstock sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ceres, Inc.
    Inventors: Bonnie Hames, Tanya Kruse, Steven R. Thomas, Amr Saad Ragab
  • Publication number: 20130175465
    Abstract: A ball valve having an anti-rotational pressure plate that allows for a balanced pressure load on a valve member is provided. Additionally, the pressure plate can also fix the rotation of an adjacent flow disk, allowing for angular-orientation specific flow characterizing features to be used with the flow disk. By fixing the rotation of the flow disk, the ball valve can characterize flows using a greater variety of flow disk geometries, including angular-orientation dependent and angular-orientation independent flow disks. Further, the pressure plate could also be directly in the form of a flow disk that has anti-rotation features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Buildings, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8473380
    Abstract: The invention encourages users to not only pay themselves first, but to pay themselves first in the largest amounts possible, even if they are not able to fully pay outstanding debts. In general, the invention obtains information related to the user's income, income sources, user's debts (e.g., bills) and user's goals, then provides recommendations related to the prioritization of paying certain bills and the amount to pay for each bill based upon, for example, savings goals, minimum amounts due, due dates and available income. The invention also determines a payment hierarchy which includes transferring funds to the user's savings account prior to paying all or a portion of certain bills. The invention also monitors a consumer's purchasing activity based upon an established budget.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Propulsion Remote Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Tracey R. Thomas, Raymond R. Ferrell
  • Publication number: 20130143309
    Abstract: A diagnostic instrument having a cellular analysis system capable of running standardized immune monitoring panels. The system could include an automated and integrated specimen sampling method through a continuous flow process. The instrument could include a probe washer station, scheduler, cassette autoloader, bar coding system, and/or containment area common interface. An improved optimization test is proposed for instrument and flow cytometer quality assurance. The proposed method analyzes population separation for measuring instrument performance and/or sample quality. Such a method may also use population separation for measuring sample and/or run quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: BECKMAN COULTER BIOMEDICAL, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Thomas, Michael W. Brochu, JR., Michael L. Brochu, SR., Ernest R. Thomas, Michael A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8458086
    Abstract: A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Lead Core Fund, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Fred A. Bishop, Bansi L. Sharma, Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8444750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the separation of one or more of CO2, N2, and H2S gas components from a gas mixture containing at least a second gas using a swing adsorption process unit. The adsorbent contactors of the swing adsorption process unit are engineered structured adsorbent contactors having a plurality of flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Ronald R. Chance, Sebastian C. Reyes, Gregory J. DeMartin, Eugene R. Thomas, Paul S. Northrop, Bruce T. Kelley, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130118995
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a solar-activated photochemical fluid treatment system, some of which comprise a fluid vessel, a porous enclosure positioned inside of the fluid vessel, a porous enclosure positioned inside of the fluid vessel, a fiber substrate contained within the enclosure, and a semiconductor photocatalyst coupled to the fiber substrate. The fluid vessel can be configured to contain a fluid in contact with the photocatalyst such that the fluid treatment system, responsive to solar radiation applied to the photocatalyst and to the fluid in the vessel, induces photochemical modification of contaminants and living organisms in the fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: UVCleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Thomas Hawkins, II, Mark D. Owen
  • Patent number: 8421802
    Abstract: A peak visualization enhancement system for use with a non-destructive inspection (NDI) instrument using a digital display which replicates the haloing effect of analog cathode ray tube (CRT) displays. A peak detection algorithm is provided which intelligently selects the peak values from within the uncompressed digitized waveform while taking measures to prevent noise spikes and the like from being identified as valid waveform peaks. The digital display then highlights the identified peaks, or a subset of the identified peaks, on the compressed waveform display. In this way the effect of bright spots (halos) about the zero slope points on a waveform displayed on an analog CRT is replicated in a digitally compressed waveform display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventors: Andrew R. Thomas, Steven Besser, Daniel Kass, Erich Henjes, Ehab Ghabour, Marc Dulac, Paul J. DeAngelo