Patents by Inventor THOMAS L. LUCE

THOMAS L. LUCE 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).

  • Thermal protection system and method
    Patent number: 9643712
    Abstract: A system and method for restricting thermal transfer between an ambient space and a substructure include providing an inner mold line side (IML) surface to the substructure. A plurality of clevises extends upward from the IML surface. An outer mold line side (OML) surface is interposed between the ambient space and the IML surface. The OML surface includes at least one horizontally oriented wing and a plurality of horizontally oriented shoulders. The wing selectively engages at least two of the shoulders. A plurality of lugs extends downward from the OML surface. At least one aperture extends longitudinally through the OML surface to selectively permit fluid communication between the ambient space and the IML surface. A plug selectively substantially fills the aperture and is selectively secured to the IML surface. A fastener, configured to selectively secure the OML surface to the IML surface, extends horizontally through the clevises and the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Luce
  • THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20170121009
    Abstract: A system and method for restricting thermal transfer between an ambient space and a substructure include providing an inner mold line side (IML) surface to the substructure. A plurality of clevises extends upward from the IML surface. An outer mold line side (OML) surface is interposed between the ambient space and the IML surface. The OML surface includes at least one horizontally oriented wing and a plurality of horizontally oriented shoulders. The wing selectively engages at least two of the shoulders. A plurality of lugs extends downward from the OML surface. At least one aperture extends longitudinally through the OML surface to selectively permit fluid communication between the ambient space and the IML surface. A plug selectively substantially fills the aperture and is selectively secured to the IML surface. A fastener, configured to selectively secure the OML surface to the IML surface, extends horizontally through the clevises and the lugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: THOMAS L. LUCE