Patents by Inventor Thomas David Smith

Thomas David 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).

  • Publication number: 20100212444
    Abstract: This invention provides improvements to worm drives for mechanical power transmission and roller wheels and the worm screws for use in such drives. The principal innovation is utilizing conjugate mesh between the worm screw and the roller wheel by shaping both the surfaces of the threads of the worm screw and the driven surfaces of the roller tips so that they become conjugate surfaces that accomplish the most efficient energy transfer. Previous worm drive approaches have emphasized conforming shapes for the roller tips and the worm screw as well as certain other techniques in an attempt to compensate certain inherent limitations to energy transfer between driving and driven surfaces. This has caused greater energy losses in the gearing mechanism with corresponding decreased power transfer efficiency. The use of conjugate shapes for the roller tips and the driving worm gear surface represents a significant improvement to the concept.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas David Smith
  • Patent number: 7412757
    Abstract: The Dove-Tail Sizing Stock with Solder Pockets includes the technique of increasing or reducing the size of a circular object, such as a finger ring. The sizing stock includes dovetail shaped ends with pockets of solder on each end. The solder that is inserted into the holes drilled into the dove-tail crevices on each end of the sizing stock is of the same color, karat and hardness as the sizing stock. The sizing stock will be of the same material, color, karat and hardness as the circular object or finger ring to be sized. It will be understood that the foregoing description is for illustration purposes only. Other adaptations and uses of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventors: Charles Edward Corkran, Leamon Cotton, Jr., Thomas David Smith