Patents by Inventor Thale Smith

Thale Smith 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).

  • Furnace system and method of use
    Patent number: 11761706
    Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Mantle Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. Connor, Fabio Zurcher, Thale Smith
  • FURNACE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20230037565
    Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen T. Connor, Fabio Zurcher, Thale Smith
  • FURNACE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20220196327
    Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen T. Connor, Fabio Zurcher, Thale Smith
  • Furnace system and method of use
    Patent number: 11306968
    Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Mantle Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. Connor, Fabio Zurcher, Thale Smith
  • FURNACE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20210172681
    Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen T. Connor, Fabio Zurcher, Thale Smith