Patents by Inventor Thomas Dewey Miller

Thomas Dewey Miller 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: 20170069982
    Abstract: Connectors and methods for attaching connectors to one or more cables and/or conduits are disclosed. The disclosed connectors and methods may secure an outer surface of the cable (e.g., an outer jacket of a cable) or conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Jimmy Valentin Falster, Michael Ole Matzen, Michael Meister, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Patent number: 9590287
    Abstract: A surge-protected coaxial termination includes a metallic outer body, a center conductor extending through a central bore of the outer body, and a spark gap created therebetween to discharge high-voltage power surges. A plurality of dielectric insulators surrounds the center conductor on opposite sides of the spark gap. High impedance inductive zones surround the spark gap to form a T-network low pass filter that nullifies the additional capacitance of the spark gap. An enlarged portion of a center conductor mitigates deleterious effects of arcing. An axial, carbon composition resistor is disposed inside the outer body, and inside the dielectric insulator to absorb the RF signal, and prevent its reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF LLC
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Guy Joachin Castonguay, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Patent number: 9548572
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector comprising an assembled coupler, body, and post is provided. The back end of the post and the back end of the body are adapted to receive an end of a coaxial cable. The coupler further comprises a central passage, a lip with a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface, and a bore forward of the lip, and is adapted to couple the connector to a coaxial cable terminal. The post further comprises a collar portion and an enlarged shoulder disposed forward of the lip of the coupler within the bore of the coupler. The enlarged shoulder of the post is disposed forward of the collar portion of the post. A contacting portion of the post comprises an extension of the collar portion of the post and at least a portion of the enlarged shoulder of the post comprises a proximity feature. The contacting portion of the post contacts the bore of the coupler and bends towards the front end of the connector when the post is assembled with the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Guy Joachin Castonguay, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Patent number: 9531090
    Abstract: Coaxial cables and coaxial cable connectors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a connector includes a body portion having a first end and a second end and defining a bore, a contact member having a circumferential portion and at least one protruding member, an inner sleeve, a rotatable coupling nut, and a conductor retaining member. The at least one protruding member protrudes from the circumferential portion toward the second end of the body portion and within the bore. The rotatable coupling nut is rotatably coupled to the inner sleeve and electrically coupled to the contact member. The conductor retaining member is centrally disposed within the inner sleeve, and is configured to receive an inner conductor of the co-axial cable such that the inner conductor is free to pass through the conductor retaining member in a first direction, and restricted from passing through the conductor retaining member in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF LLC
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, William Bernard Lutz, Michael Ole Matzen, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160248176
    Abstract: A surge-protected coaxial termination includes a metallic outer body, a center conductor extending through a central bore of the outer body, and a spark gap created therebetween to discharge high-voltage power surges. A plurality of dielectric insulators surrounds the center conductor on opposite sides of the spark gap. High impedance inductive zones surround the spark gap to form a T-network low pass filter that nullifies the additional capacitance of the spark gap. An enlarged portion of a center conductor mitigates deleterious effects of arcing. An axial, carbon composition resistor is disposed inside the outer body, and inside the dielectric insulator to absorb the RF signal, and prevent its reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160248179
    Abstract: Connectors and methods for attaching connectors to one or more cables and/or conduits are disclosed. The disclosed connectors and methods may secure an outer surface of the cable (e.g., an outer jacket of a cable) or conduit. A front coupler sleeve engages a sub-assembly comprising a back coupler sleeve and an actuator sleeve disposed around the cable or conduit. During engagement of an inner surface of the front coupler sleeve and an outer surface of the back coupler sleeve, an at least partially annular protrusion of the back coupler sleeve is displaced radially inwardly to secure the outer surface of the cable or conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160156135
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector comprising an assembled coupler, body, and post is provided. The back end of the post and the back end of the body are adapted to receive an end of a coaxial cable. The coupler further comprises a central passage, a lip with a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface, and a bore forward of the lip, and is adapted to couple the connector to a coaxial cable terminal. The post further comprises a collar portion and an enlarged shoulder disposed forward of the lip of the coupler within the bore of the coupler. The enlarged shoulder of the post is disposed forward of the collar portion of the post. A contacting portion of the post comprises an extension of the collar portion of the post and at least a portion of the enlarged shoulder of the post comprises a proximity feature. The contacting portion of the post contacts the bore of the coupler and bends towards the front end of the connector when the post is assembled with the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Guy Joachin Castonguay, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160118748
    Abstract: Connectors including apertures for grounding outer conductors of conduits and connectors including grounding grooves for grounding outer conductors of conduits are disclosed. In some embodiments, a connector includes a bore, a gripping portion axially surrounding the bore, a generally cylindrical aperture for receiving a grounding wire, and a securing port for securing the grounding wire in the aperture. An exterior gripping surface of the gripping portion is symmetric. The generally cylindrical aperture extends along an aperture centerline through at least a portion of the gripping portion. The securing port extends along a securing port centerline and intersects the generally cylindrical aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160118727
    Abstract: Coring augers, tools, methods, and connectors for preparing an end of a coaxial cable for introduction of a flowable medium into the end are disclosed. The disclosed methods and tools may form a frustoconical dielectric portion at an end of the coaxial cable. An annular space formed between the outer conductor and the frustoconical dielectric portion may facilitate the introduction of the flowable medium into the annular space. The disclosed methods and tools may also flare an outer conductor at the end of the coaxial cable and engage the flared outer conductor in a corresponding flared connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160036138
    Abstract: Coaxial cables and coaxial cable connectors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a connector includes a body portion having a first end and a second end and defining a bore, a contact member having a circumferential portion and at least one protruding member, an inner sleeve, a rotatable coupling nut, and a conductor retaining member. The at least one protruding member protrudes from the circumferential portion toward the second end of the body portion and within the bore. The rotatable coupling nut is rotatably coupled to the inner sleeve and electrically coupled to the contact member. The conductor retaining member is centrally disposed within the inner sleeve, and is configured to receive an inner conductor of the co-axial cable such that the inner conductor is free to pass through the conductor retaining member in a first direction, and restricted from passing through the conductor retaining member in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, William Bernard Lutz, Michael Ole Matzen, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160036207
    Abstract: Tools and methods for stripping coaxial cables are provided. In one embodiment, a stripping tool includes and body portion and a clamping arm. The stripping tool further includes a stripping blade having a blade edge. The stripping blade extends from the body portion, and the blade edge is offset from the clamping arm at a distance d such that the blade edge enters the insulator layer of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion. The stripping tool further includes a retention element disposed at the body portion at a position after the stripping blade along a cable insertion direction. The retention element is positioned to contact the outer layer of an end portion of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion and the stripping tool is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Guy Joachin Castonguay, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20160020566
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal is disclosed. The connector has a post assembled with a coupler. The post is adapted to receive an end of the coaxial cable and comprises a front end, an enlarged shoulder at the front end, and a plurality of contacting portions. The contacting portions are of monolithic construction with the post, collectively circumscribe the enlarged shoulder at the front end of the post, and extend in a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connector. The coupler is rotatably attached to the post and comprises an internally projecting lip, having a forward facing surface, adapted to couple the connector to the terminal. The contacting portions are configured to contact the forward facing surface of the lip of the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20140342605
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal is disclosed. The connector has a coupler, a body assembled with the coupler, and a post assembled with the coupler and the body. The coupler is adapted to couple the connector and, thereby, the coaxial cable to the terminal. The post is adapted to receive an end of a coaxial cable and has a contacting portion of monolithic construction with the post. The contacting portion extends in a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connector, and is configured to maintain the generally perpendicular orientation and facilitate and electrical continuity between the post and the coupler to provide RF shielding such that the integrity of an electrical signal transmitted through coaxial cable connector is maintained regardless of the tightness of the coupling of the connector to the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS RF LLC
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20140106614
    Abstract: A coaxial connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal is disclosed. The coaxial cable connector includes a body, a retainer, a coupler, a ferrule, and a shell. The retainer engages the body and rotatably engages the coupler. The ferrule slidingly engages at least a portion of the retainer and at least one portion of the body. The ferrule engages at least a portion of the cable outer conductor. The shell slidingly engages at least a portion of the rear end of the body. A sealing ring engages the rear end of the body. Upon compression of the coaxial cable connector the sealing ring engages the jacket of the coaxial cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Jan Michael Clausen, Kenneth Albert Feese, Brian Lyle Kisling, Michael Matzen, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Patent number: 8366482
    Abstract: A hardline coaxial cable connector includes a body subassembly, a back nut subassembly and a deformable ferrule disposed within the back nut subassembly. The back nut subassembly is rotatable with respect to the body subassembly and a coaxial cable inserted therein. Axial advancement of the back nut subassembly toward the body subassembly causes the ferrule to deform radially inwardly and be in electrical communication with the body subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Gilbert Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Jan Michael Clausen, Jimmy Ciesla Henningsen, Michael Ole Matzen, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Publication number: 20120171895
    Abstract: A hardline coaxial cable connector includes a body subassembly, a back nut subassembly and a deformable ferrule disposed within the back nut subassembly. The back nut subassembly is rotatable with respect to the body subassembly and a coaxial cable inserted therein. Axial advancement of the back nut subassembly toward the body subassembly causes the ferrule to deform radially inwardly and be in electrical communication with the body subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Jan Michael Clausen, Jimmy Ciesla Henningsen, Michael Ole Matzen, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Patent number: 7758356
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector includes a bonding block lug for receiving a grounding wire. The connector includes a body portion for receiving the end of a cable, a nut for securing the connector to a mating coaxial port, a post extending within the body portion for extending into the cable, a lug secured to the body portion and having a first hole for receiving the grounding wire, and a clamp element for clamping the grounding wire within the lug. The lug may include a second hole that intersects the first hole. The clamp element may be a set screw, press-fit pin, or the like extending within the second hole for selectively engaging the grounding wire. The set screw may incorporate security features to prevent removal of the grounding wire. The bonding block lug can be incorporated within a variety of connectors, including axially-compressed connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Gilbert Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Brian Lyle Kisling, William Bernard Lutz, Thomas Dewey Miller
  • Patent number: 7189114
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector assembly is provided wherein a center contact clamping mechanism of the connector assembly is configured to cooperate with a cable adapter and a center contact of the connector assembly such that movement of the clamping mechanism in the direction of the cable adapter results in compression of the center contact about an end portion of the center conductor of the coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Gilbert Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Andrew Burris, Jimmy Ciesla Henningsen, William Bernard Lutz, Thomas Dewey Miller