Patents by Inventor Steven W. Thomas

Steven W. 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: 10173266
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for machining an internal surface of a differential case. A lathe having a turret and a pair of spindles are in electrical communication with a programmable computer. Integrally connected to the turret is a cutter gripper assembly that is selectively grippingly engageable with a cutter. A differential case is mounted horizontally within a mount assembly on a tabletop of the lathe. Once the cutter gripping assembly engages the cutter, the turret moves toward the differential case until the cutter is in a start position within the hollow portion of the case aligned with openings in a first and second tubular portion of the case and the pair of spindles. The pair of spindles then drivingly engage the cutter and the cutter machines a first and second internal machining surface as the cutter moves from a first cutting position to a second cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne C. Joder, Jared Sparks, Steven W. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20170266731
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for machining an internal surface of a differential case. A lathe having a turret and a pair of spindles are in electrical communication with a programmable computer. Integrally connected to the turret is a cutter gripper assembly that is selectively grippingly engageable with a cutter. A differential case is mounted horizontally within a mount assembly on a tabletop of the lathe. Once the cutter gripping assembly engages the cutter, the turret moves toward the differential case until the cutter is in a start position within the hollow portion of the case aligned with openings in a first and second tubular portion of the case and the pair of spindles. The pair of spindles then drivingly engage the cutter and the cutter machines a first and second internal machining surface as the cutter moves from a first cutting position to a second cutting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Wayne C. Joder, Jared Sparks, Steven W. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9429403
    Abstract: A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: George B. Papadopoulos, Derek R. Devries, Steven W. Thomas, Timothy J. Van Dixhorn, Charles L. Weigel, Charles L. Dedon
  • Publication number: 20140330457
    Abstract: A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: George B. PAPADOPOULOS, Derek R. DEVRIES, Steven W. THOMAS, Timothy J. VAN DIXHORN, Charles I. WEIGEL, Charles L. DEDON
  • Patent number: 8868258
    Abstract: A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: George B. Papadopoulos, Derek R. DeVries, Steven W. Thomas, Timothy J. Van Dixhorn, Charles L Weigel, Charles L. Dedon
  • Publication number: 20140067164
    Abstract: Embodiments include a flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle, which includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: George B. Papadopoulos, Derek R. DeVries, Steven W. Thomas, Timothy J. Van Dixhorn, Charles L. Weigel, Charles L. Dedon