Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Smith
Thomas B. 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).
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Patent number: 12415946Abstract: A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2024Date of Patent: September 16, 2025Assignee: FIREHOLE GEOTHERMAL SOLUTIONS, LLCInventor: Thomas B. Smith
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Publication number: 20240352305Abstract: A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2024Publication date: October 24, 2024Applicant: FIREHOLE GEOTHERMAL SOLUTIONS, LLCInventor: Thomas B. Smith
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Patent number: 12054666Abstract: A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: FIREHOLE GEOTHERMAL SOLUTIONS, LLCInventor: Thomas B. Smith
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Patent number: 11732178Abstract: A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Inventor: Thomas B. Smith
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Publication number: 20230220266Abstract: A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventor: Thomas B. Smith
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Publication number: 20230041084Abstract: A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventor: Thomas B. SMITH
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Patent number: 7641039Abstract: A positive displacement article sorter and method of monitoring a positive displacement article sorter, wherein the article sorter includes a frame, an endless web traveling in a longitudinal direction about the frame and an electric motor driving the endless web. The endless web is defined by a pair of continuous chains and a plurality of cross members connected at opposite ends with the chain. The positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of pusher shoes, each laterally traveling along at least one of the cross members. A sensing assembly is provided that has first and second portions. The first portion of said sensing assembly is positioned at the web. The second portion of said sensing assembly is positioned at a stationary location. The first portion of said sensing assembly is sensed with the second portion of the sensing assembly as the first portion of said sensing assembly travels about the frame. A parameter of the web is determined from an output of the sensing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Dematic Corp.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Robert W. Gallatin, Bradley D. Baldwin
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Publication number: 20080264765Abstract: A positive displacement article sorter and method of monitoring a positive displacement article sorter, wherein the article sorter includes a frame, an endless web traveling in a longitudinal direction about the frame and an electric motor driving the endless web. The endless web is defined by a pair of continuous chains and a plurality of cross members connected at opposite ends with the chain. The positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of pusher shoes, each laterally traveling along at least one of the cross members. A sensing assembly is provided that has first and second portions. The first portion of said sensing assembly is positioned at the web. The second portion of said sensing assembly is positioned at a stationary location. The first portion of said sensing assembly is sensed with the second portion of the sensing assembly as the first portion of said sensing assembly travels about the frame. A parameter of the web is determined from an output of the sensing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: DEMATIC CORP.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Robert W. Gallatin, Bradley D. Baldwin
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Patent number: 7370751Abstract: A skew detection and correction system, and method of correcting skew, in a conveyor system having an endless web that is propelled in a longitudinal direction, includes providing a skew detector and determining if at least some of the cross members of the web are non-perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and providing a differential lubricant application. The lubricant applicator is responsive to the skew detector and applies a relatively greater amount of lubricant to one lateral side of the web than to the other side of the web. This causes the side of the web receiving less lubricant to stretch more than the other side to reduce the difference in the amount of stretch.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Dematic Corp.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Robert W. Gallatin, Bradley D. Baldwin
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Publication number: 20070272520Abstract: A skew detection and correction system, and method of correcting skew, in a conveyor system having an endless web that is propelled in a longitudinal direction, includes providing a skew detector and determining if at least some of the cross members of the web are non-perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and providing a differential lubricant application. The lubricant applicator is responsive to the skew detector and applies a relatively greater amount of lubricant to one lateral side of the web than to the other side of the web. This causes the side of the web receiving less lubricant to stretch more than the other side to reduce the difference in the amount of stretch.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2006Publication date: November 29, 2007Applicant: DEMATIC CORP.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Robert W. Gallatin, Bradley D. Baldwin
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Patent number: 7207385Abstract: A method for producing a gas and a liquid in a subterranean well includes the step directing a gas flow in a well annulus through one or more baffle plates to separate at least some of the liquid from the gas. The method can also include the steps of directing the separated liquid down the annulus towards a producing formation of the well, dehydrating the gas flow proximate to a surface of the well, and then directing the dehydrated gas flow to the surface. A system for performing the method includes a set of baffle plates located proximate to the producing formation configured to provide a tortuous path for the gas flow through the annulus, and a single baffle plate located proximate to the surface configured to dehydrate the gas flow. In addition to separating the liquid from the gas flow, the set of baffle plates maintains a single phase wet gas above the baffle plates, and a liquid phase below the baffle plates.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Marathon Oil CompanyInventors: Thomas B. Smith, Yale M. Preston
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Patent number: 7160024Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a vortex chamber tool in a conduit includes: an outer barrel; an inner barrel that is concentric with the outer barrel; and a corkscrew deflector coupled to an inside wall of the outer barrel and an outside wall of the inner barrel to organize the flow of a fluid in the vortex chamber tool. The vortex chamber tool operates to convert a turbulent flow from an input portion of the conduit into a non-turbulent laminar flow at a downstream portion of the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2003Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Ecotechnology, Ltd.Inventors: Gregory A. Dougherty, Sr., Bradley J. Fehn, Thomas B. Smith
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Patent number: 6882227Abstract: A transistor bias circuit is provided that is capable of biasing an amplifier transistor having a control terminal, a current-sink terminal, and a current-source terminal in order to control inter-modulation and linearize the output corresponding to radio frequency and microwave frequency ranges. Additionally, an embodiment of the present circuit is capable of dynamic power control. The transistor bias circuit according to the present invention utilizes a leakage current to alter the electrical characteristics of the amplifier transistor. The bias circuit comprises a bias transistor having a control terminal, a current-sink terminal, and a current-source terminal. Additionally, at least one DC input port, at least one resonator element, a diode element, and a resistive element is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2003Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: AnadigicsInventors: Daryl W. Barry, Carl S. Chun, Sangwoo Han, Thomas B. Smith, Michael W. Trippe
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Publication number: 20040130374Abstract: A transistor bias circuit is provided that is capable of biasing an amplifier transistor having a control terminal, a current-sink terminal, and a current-source terminal in order to control inter-modulation and linearize the output corresponding to radio frequency and microwave frequency ranges. Additionally, an embodiment of the present circuit is capable of dynamic power control. The transistor bias circuit according to the present invention utilizes a leakage current to alter the electrical characteristics of the amplifier transistor. The bias circuit comprises a bias transistor having a control terminal, a current-sink terminal, and a current-source terminal. Additionally, at least one DC input port, at least one resonator element, a diode element, and a resistive element is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Daryl W. Barry, Carl S. Chun, Sangwoo Han, Thomas B. Smith, Michael W. Trippe
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Publication number: 20030138312Abstract: A depalletizer includes an input assembly for supporting a loaded pallet loaded with at least one product, a lift assembly, and a product take-away assembly. The input assembly presents the loaded pallet to the lift assembly, which moves the loaded pallet to a product unloading elevation. The product take-away assembly is positioned for receiving a product from the pallet at the unloading elevation. The depalletizer assembly also includes a pallet take-away assembly. After the product is unloaded from the pallet, the lift assembly moves the unloaded pallet to a pallet discharge elevation, where the pallet take-away assembly is positioned to receive an unloaded pallet from the lift assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Michael B. Watson, Troy E. Coolbaugh, Thomas B. Smith
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Patent number: 5675253Abstract: An on-line nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, and related methods, are useful for predicting one or more properties of interest of a polymer. In one embodiment, a neural network is used to develop a model which correlates process variables in addition to manipulated NMR output to predict a polymer property of interest. In another embodiment, a partial least square regression technique is used to develop a model of enhanced accuracy. Either the neural network technique or the partial least square regression technique may be used in conjunction with a described multi-model or best-model-selection scheme according to the invention. The polymer can be a plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene, or a rubber such as ethylene propylene rubber.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1996Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, David R. Day, Ajoy K. Roy, Christian I. Tanzer
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Patent number: 5650722Abstract: A real-time, on-line nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, and related method, can predict various properties of interest of a sample of polymer material. A regression or neural network technique is used to develop a model based upon manipulated NMR output and a resin age factor which compensates for time dependent aging phenomena and enhance predictive accuracy of the model. In a preferred embodiment, the resin age factor is a function of elapsed cycle time prior to sample measurement, sample temperature at time of measurement, and/or sample form. The polymer can be a plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene, or a rubber such as ethylene propylene rubber.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Ajoy K. Roy, Christian I. Tanzer
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Patent number: 5596275Abstract: Pulsed NMR system for industrial measurements comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay (FID) curves (C), from which fast Gaussian, slower modified Gaussian or preferably slower Gaussian, and exponential components are determined using a Marquardt-Levenberg iteration technique, and using regression techniques to correlate the FID curve components to the physical quantities of the target nuclei.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1996Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.Inventors: Ronald L. Dechene, Thomas B. Smith, Scott A. Marino, Ronald J. Tache, Ajoy K. Roy
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Patent number: 5530350Abstract: Pulsed NMR system for industrial measurements comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C), from which Abragam, Gaussian, and exponential components are determined using a Marquardt-Levenberg iteration technique, and using regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.Inventors: Ronald L. Dechene, Thomas B. Smith, Scott A. Marino, Ajoy K. Roy
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Patent number: 5519319Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, and related method, develops two or more regression equations or models for a particular polymer property of interest (e.g., melt index or MI) during a calibration procedure using known samples of a material. The polymer material can be, for example, a plastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene) or a rubber (e.g., ethylene propylene rubber). Regression models for one or more discrete (i.e., two-valued) variables also are developed during calibration, and these models allow a prediction to be made about which of the two or more property (e.g., MI) models should be used for any particular sample of unknown material. The prediction obtained from the discrete variable model indicates which of the two or more models will produce the most accurate estimation of the property of interest for the unknown sample. The best model is thus selected, and then it is used to estimate the property of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1995Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B. Smith, Scott A. Marino, Ronald J. Tache, David R. Day, Christian I. Tanzer, Tadd B. Hughes, Ajoy K. Roy