Patents by Inventor Thomas Childs

Thomas Childs 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: 12259009
    Abstract: A tolerance ring (200) including a tolerance ring sidewall (404) including a plurality of waves (or bridges) (452) extending at least one of radially inward or outward and having first (416) and second end portions (420) terminating at first (417) and second ends (421), respectively, where the tolerance ring has a first radius of curvature Ri, measured at a point bisecting a circumferential length, LC, of the tolerance ring sidewall, and a second radius of curvature, R2, measured along one of the first and second end portions of the tolerance ring sidewall, and wherein at least one of: 1) Ri is greater than R2, or 2) wherein Ri is negative and R2 is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Publication number: 20230213051
    Abstract: Systems and methods include providing a tolerance ring with a friction enhancement feature on at least one surface of the tolerance ring to increase at least one friction-related property of the tolerance ring. The friction enhancement feature provides the tolerance ring with an increased retention force while providing an optimum radial force that allows a component secured by the tolerance ring to move freely while reducing or altogether preventing axial movement of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Alejandro PENA, Juergen HARTMANN, Llewelyn PICKERING, Thomas CHILDS, Thomas FRANCIS
  • Publication number: 20230055134
    Abstract: Systems and methods include providing a tolerance ring in an electric drive motor assembly having a housing and a stator disposed within the housing. The tolerance ring is disposed within the housing and retains or secures the stator within the housing and control movement of the stator within the housing. The tolerance ring includes an annular ring-shaped substrate formed from a metallic material and a plurality of projections protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the substrate or radially outward from an outer surface of the substrate. The tolerance ring optionally includes one or more cooling features formed in the substrate and configured to promote cooling between a fluid disposed in the housing and the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas CHILDS, Andrew BROADWELL, Thomas FRANCIS, Martin SCHWIEGEL
  • Publication number: 20220106986
    Abstract: A tolerance ring (200) including a tolerance ring sidewall (404) including a plurality of waves (or bridges) (452) extending at least one of radially inward or outward and having first (416) and second end portions (420) terminating at first (417) and second ends (421), respectively, where the tolerance ring has a first radius of curvature Ri, measured at a point bisecting a circumferential length, LC, of the tolerance ring sidewall, and a second radius of curvature, R2, measured along one of the first and second end portions of the tolerance ring sidewall, and wherein at least one of: 1) Ri is greater than R2, or 2) wherein Ri is negative and R2 is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas CHILDS
  • Patent number: 11005334
    Abstract: An electric motor or generator assembly includes a stator, a housing, and an annular member fit between the stator and the housing, where the annular member is radially compressed so as to exert a radial force outward onto the housing and inward onto the stator to maintain a positional relationship therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Publication number: 20190190345
    Abstract: An electric motor or generator assembly includes a stator, a housing, and an annular member fit between the stator and the housing, where the annular member is radially compressed so as to exert a radial force outward onto the housing and inward onto the stator to maintain a positional relationship therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas CHILDS
  • Patent number: 8267353
    Abstract: A wing cover panel for an aircraft wing is formed as a plurality of sections each carrying stringer sections which are then fixed together to form a wing cover panel with an integral hollow stringer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Patent number: 8091830
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of forming such a stringer in which the stringer is formed from a single piece of material and then machined to optimise the dimensions and weight of the stringer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Patent number: 8087614
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of forming such a stringer in which the stringer is formed form a single piece of material and has differential strength along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Publication number: 20100230542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of forming such a stringer in which the stringer is formed form a single piece of material and has differential strength along its length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Patent number: 7677496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of reinforcing such a stringer in which the stringer is formed with a substantially lambda shaped section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Publication number: 20090194636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of forming such a stringer in which the stringer is formed from a single piece of material and then machined to optimise the dimensions and weight of the stringer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Childs
  • Publication number: 20080105786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of reinforcing such a stringer in which the stringer is formed with a substantially lambda shaped section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas CHILDS
  • Publication number: 20080042011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wing cover panel for an aircraft wing and a method of forming such a wing cover panel, which is formed as a plurality of sections each carrying stringer sections which are then fixed together to form a wing cover panel with an integral stringer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas CHILDS
  • Patent number: 7175201
    Abstract: A vehicle ballast system for improving the balance of a vehicle. The system is particularly well suited for use in the bed of a pickup truck but is not limited to that deployment. The system includes one or more ballast units. Each ballast unit includes a frame set and a ballast element. The frame set retains the ballast element therein. The ballast element may be one or more concrete blocks. The frame set includes an upper frame and a lower frame. The respective frames are connected together in a manner to contain the ballast element using a front retaining rod and a rear retaining rod is preferably affixable to a bracket secured to the rear of the vehicle. A tether may be removably connected between the upper frame and a securing point of the vehicle. A shock-absorbing lanyard may be employed at the rear of the system as a restraint upon sudden deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Childs, George Froehlich, William C. Childs
  • Publication number: 20060220366
    Abstract: A vehicle ballast system for improving the balance of a vehicle. The system is particularly well suited for use in the bed of a pickup truck but is not limited to that deployment. The system includes one or more ballast units. Each ballast unit includes a frame set and a ballast element. The frame set retains the ballast element therein. The ballast element may be one or more concrete blocks. The frame set includes an upper frame and a lower frame. The respective frames are connected together in a manner to contain the ballast element using a front retaining rod and a rear retaining rod is preferably affixable to a bracket secured to the rear of the vehicle. A tether may be removably connected between the upper frame and a securing point of the vehicle. A shock-absorbing lanyard may be employed at the rear of the system as a restraint upon sudden deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Childs, George Froehlich, William Childs