Patents by Inventor Richard L. Thelen

Richard L. Thelen 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: 7666077
    Abstract: A paint booth arrangement maximizes floor space and efficiency of a painting operation. The arrangement comprises an equipment enclosing structure and certain air handling equipment specifically configured within the structure. The structure comprises forward and rearward sections, opposed wall sections, a centralized roof section, and opposed wall-to-roof sections, which sections define open space having varied elevation for receiving paintable equipment. The air handling equipment comprises an air intake and exhaust assemblies and an air replacement system. The air intake and exhaust assemblies extend coextensively intermediate the wall sections at the rearward section and function to support portions of the air replacement system. The air replacement system comprises conduit extending intermediate the forward and rearward sections as defined by the wall-to-roof sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Global Finishing Solutions, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Richard L. Thelen
  • Patent number: 7123990
    Abstract: A gap welding process (10) for manipulating a movable robotic welder (30) for making a weld between two or more substantially immovable work pieces (51) using a higher level programming language (20). The gap welding process (10) performs a data transfer routine which takes spreadsheet data (18) representing expected variables, runs a data conversion program (20) that creates weld program data including point position, user frames (34 and 36), weld schedule, seam tracking schedule, weave schedule, azimuth orientation, travel speed, wait time, weave type and number of digital output control data. The gap welding process (10) also performs a gap-sensing routine (28) for actual weld gap measuring by using the robotic welder (30) to touch specific locations on pieces forming the gap or fixturing to produce weld variance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Holland L.P.
    Inventor: Richard L. Thelen
  • Patent number: 6787726
    Abstract: A rail restraining, robotic welding and weld delivery device uses a frame for supporting a welding head with a clamp for restraining a first rail end and a second rail end and a base twist assembly for aligning said first end and second end. An interconnected weld containment apparatus pivotally connects to the clamp by use of a cam actuated linear pin. This arrangement is operable in an environment in clearance between rails and sufficiently compact that it may be operated from and carried in a truck based on a standard over the road truck or from a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Holland LP
    Inventors: Richard L. Thelen, Richard F. Kral
  • Publication number: 20040010342
    Abstract: A gap welding process (10) for manipulating a movable robotic welder (30) for making a weld between two or more substantially immovable work pieces (51) using a higher level programming language (20). The gap welding process (10) performs a data transfer routine which takes spreadsheet data (18) representing expected variables, runs a data conversion program (20) that creates weld program data including point position, user frames (34 and 36), weld schedule, seam tracking schedule, weave schedule, azimuth orientation, travel speed, wait time, weave type and number of digital output control data. The gap welding process (10) also performs a gap-sensing routine (28) for actual weld gap measuring by using the robotic welder (30) to touch specific locations on pieces forming the gap or fixturing to produce weld variance data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Richard L. Thelen
  • Publication number: 20020170884
    Abstract: A rail restraining, robotic welding and weld delivery device uses a frame for supporting a welding head with a clamp for restraining a first rail end and a second rail end and a base twist assembly for aligning said first end and second end. An interconnected weld containment apparatus pivotally connects to the clamp by use of a cam actuated linear pin. This arrangement is operable in an environment in clearance between rails and sufficiently compact that it may be operated from and carried in a truck based on a standard over the road truck or from a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Richard L. Thelen, Richard F. Kral
  • Patent number: 6396020
    Abstract: A rail restraining (1) and weld delivery device (100) uses a frame for supporting a welding head with a clamp (3) for restraining a first rail end and a second rail end and a base twist assembly (17) for aligning said first end and second end. An interconnected weld containment apparatus (290) pivotally connects to the clamp by use of a cam actuated linear pin (7). This arrangement is operable in an environment in which clearance between rails is about 7 to 11 inches and sufficiently compact that it may be operated from and carried in a truck based on a standard over the road truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Holland Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Thelen, Richard F. Kral