Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Clayton

Thomas G. Clayton 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: 6705117
    Abstract: In an industrial glass furnace, which optionally contains recuperators, regenerators, electric boost or other devices for providing heat to glass batch material, at least one staged combustion oxy-fuel burner is mounted in the roof of the furnace to provide heat to melt the glass batch material by providing a flow of fuel to the oxy-fuel burner; providing a flow of gaseous oxidant in association with said the oxy-fuel burner; injecting the fuel and the oxidant into the furnace; and, combusting the fuel such that at least a portion of combustion is effected in the vicinity of said glass forming material to enhance convective and radiative transfer of heat to said glass forming material without substantially disturbing the glass forming material. In one embodiment, the oxy-fuel burner is adapted for injecting liquid fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil George Simpson, Greg Floyd Prusia, Thomas G. Clayton, Andrew Peter Richardson, John R. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 6705118
    Abstract: In an industrial glass furnace which contains recuperators, regenerators, electric boost or other devices for providing heat to glass batch material an oxy-fuel burner mounted in the roof of the furnace provides additional heat to melt the batch material. A method of mounting and using such a roof-mounted oxy-fuel burner including the operating parameters to maximize heat transfer while minimizing the disturbance of the batch material is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil George Simpson, Greg Floyd Prusia, Stephen McDonald Carney, Thomas G. Clayton, Andrew Peter Richardson, John R. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 6540508
    Abstract: A process for installing a refractory burner block in a glass furnace crown, wherein the glass furnace crown comprises a second refractory material different than the burner block refractory, includes installing a refractory crown block in the furnace crown, wherein the crown block refractory is compatible with the burner block refractory and the second refractory material, wherein the crown block is provided with a hole for accepting the burner block; and disposing the burner block into the crown block hole in sealing engagement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil George Simpson, John R. LeBlanc, Thomas G. Clayton, Greg Floyd Prusia
  • Publication number: 20020144518
    Abstract: In an industrial glass furnace which contains recuperators, regenerators, electric boost or other devices for providing heat to glass batch material an oxy-fuel burner mounted in the roof of the furnace provides additional heat to melt the batch material. A method of mounting and using such a roof-mounted oxy-fuel burner including the operating parameters to maximize heat transfer while minimizing the disturbance of the batch material is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil George Simpson, Greg Floyd Prusia, Stephen McDonald Carney, Thomas G. Clayton, Andrew Peter Richardson, John R. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 6422041
    Abstract: In an industrial glass furnace which contains recuperators, regenerators, electric boost or other devices for providing heat to glass batch material an oxy-fuel burner mounted in the roof of the furnace provides additional heat to melt the batch material. A method of mounting and using such a roof-mounted oxy-fuel burner including the operating parameters to maximize heat transfer while minimizing the disturbance of the batch material is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil George Simpson, Greg Floyd Prusia, Stephen McDonald Carney, Thomas G. Clayton, Andrew Peter Richardson, John R. LeBlanc
  • Publication number: 20010039813
    Abstract: In an industrial glass furnace, which optionally contains recuperators, regenerators, electric boost or other devices for providing heat to glass batch material, at least one staged combustion oxy-fuel burner is mounted in the roof of the furnace to provide heat to melt the glass batch material by providing a flow of fuel to the oxy-fuel burner; providing a flow of gaseous oxidant in association with said the oxy-fuel burner; injecting the fuel and the oxidant into the furnace; and, combusting the fuel such that at least a portion of combustion is effected in the vicinity of said glass forming material to enhance convective and radiative transfer of heat to said glass forming material without substantially disturbing the glass forming material. In one embodiment, the oxy-fuel burner is adapted for injecting liquid fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Neil George Simpson, Greg Floyd Prusia, Thomas G. Clayton, Andrew Peter Richardson, John R. LeBlanc