Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Niemi

Thomas J. Niemi 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: 4834401
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly which includes a fuel tank mounted below spaced I-beams of a refrigerated container chassis during a land transportation mode in which an engine driven generator provides electrical power for driving a refrigeration compressor. The fuel tank is mounted within about 0.5 inch of the lower flanges of the I-beams, to provide maximum road clearance, by a mounting arrangement which projects tank hangers above the level of the lower flanges of the I-beams, and by mounting brackets which extend downwardly from the tank hangers to rest upon the lower inner flange portions of the I-beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Harrington, Dennis F. Feldhake, Bradley G. Ellingson, Virgil D. Leinum, Thomas J. Niemi
  • Patent number: 4394818
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit for mounting on the front face of a trailer 1 or the like is provided with an exterior section 2 construction and arrangement in which a relatively low center of gravity is obtained by providing a frame means 25 in the lower portion of the exterior section mounting an internal combustion engine 26 at a relatively low level with a refrigerant compressor 27 at a somewhat higher level, and an electric motor 28 below the compressor when such a motor constitutes a part of the power pack, these elements being arranged so that the driving belts and pulleys in the lower part of the section are in the center portion of the section to promote their accessibility, and a significant open area is provided above the power pack to promote access to those parts in the upper portion of the exterior section behind the condenser 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry A. Brownfield, Richard J. Sandberg, Thomas J. Niemi, Leland L. Howland