Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Esslinger

Thomas H. Esslinger 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: 6284995
    Abstract: This invention relates to the art of machine repair. The present invention relates to an expandable, automated, welding device and methods used to build up material on the inner surface of a bore so that the bore can be restored to original working order. More particularly, the invention relates to the welding and repair of bearing or bore surfaces. The present invention is designed to allow easy setup and use through means of easy adjustment of the apparatus through manual adjustment of the significant positioning parameters, simple linear controls to adjust process parameters of the buildup process, and, relatively small in size. Moreover, the device allows for easy expansion of the welding torch allowing for a very broad range of engagement sizes. The present invention has a compressed air cooling means to prevent operation failure under high temperature conditions. Furthermore, a non-conductive coating has been applied to the welding torch making it less prone to damage, and safer to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Bore Repair Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Nathan Esslinger, Thomas H. Esslinger
  • Patent number: 6131696
    Abstract: A compressed gas muffler that accommodates multiple sources and removes back-pressure to the source has a housing with a top, a bottom, and four sides. An inlet has a lip and an open center. The lip extends from the top of the housing. The open center extends from the lip through the top of the housing. A plurality of sound-absorbent baffles are disposed inside the housing. Baffles lay parallel to each other and project from opposite sides of the housing. An open space of uniform size is maintained between the baffles. An outlet extends along the width of one side of the housing. The outlet is located on one side and near the bottom of the housing. A tube fits around the lip of the inlet. The tube is used to vent compressed gas from its source to the muffler. Compressed gas flows out of the tube, through the inlet, and into the housing. Compressed gas continues to flow through the open space between the baffles. As the air flows through the open space, noise is absorbed by the baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas H. Esslinger
  • Patent number: 5298710
    Abstract: An apparatus for weld build-up on a surface of revolution within a bore has a head assembly, an elongated line shaft, a step assembly and a traveling assembly. The head assembly has a housing that may be fixedly mounted in a region spaced from the surface of revolution, the housing defining a chamber with an axis in alignment with an axis of revolution. It also has a spindle mounted for rotation within the chamber, coaxial with the axis of revolution. The line shaft is coupled to the spindle and extends for coaxial rotation within the bore in a region of the surface of revolution. The step assembly is fixedly mounted upon the line shaft. The traveling assembly is mounted also upon the line shaft and disposed for rotation within the bore. The traveling assembly consists of a wire reel, a wire feeder, and an electrical welding torch assembly that terminates in a torch nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Bortech Corporation
    Inventors: Rees Acheson, Thomas H. Esslinger