Patents by Inventor Thomas Loeper

Thomas Loeper 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: 11157043
    Abstract: This application relates to a system for disassembling a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device can include a housing that carries a display assembly including a cover glass in a front opening, a battery, and operational components. The system can include (i) a first module capable of: receiving the portable electronic device, characterizing physical attributes of the portable electronic device, separating the display assembly from the housing, and binning the housing; and (ii) a second module operably coupled to the first module and capable of: receiving the binned housing, separating the battery from the housing without damaging the battery, and isolating the separated battery in a thermal event containment compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Charissa Rujanavech, Patrick S. Wieler, Mark Lewis, Thomas Loeper, Roy Mahalas, Dan Powell, Jason Schwarz, John Sever, Darragh Staunton
  • Patent number: 11136191
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method is described that can include based on dimensions of a first housing of a first portable electronic device, adjusting a position of an adjustable supporting member capable of supporting the first housing relative to a disassembly station. The method can further include using the disassembly station, separating a first display from the first housing while the first housing is supported by the adjustable support member. The method can further include receiving a second portable electronic device, where the second portable electronic device includes a second housing having dimensions that are different than the first housing. The method can further include based on the dimensions of the second housing, adjusting the position of the adjustable supporting member. The method can further include using the disassembly station, separating a second display from the second housing while the second housing is supported by the adjustable support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Charissa Rujanavech, Patrick S. Wieler, Mark Lewis, Thomas Loeper, Roy Mahalas, Dan Powell, Jason Schwarz, John Sever, Darragh Staunton
  • Patent number: 11129318
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method operable by an electronic component recovery system for detaching an electronic component adhesively bonded to a housing by way of an adhesive bond, is described. The electronic component is carried within a cavity defined by the housing of a portable electronic device. The method can include while the housing having the electronic component attached thereto is located at an electronic component detaching module, where the electronic component detaching module includes a movable arm capable of rotating about a hinge: cooling the housing and the electronic component attached thereto to a temperature that is low enough to weaken the adhesive bond, and causing the movable arm to rotate about the hinge such that a portion of the housing strikes a detachment element with sufficient force to separate the electronic component from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Charissa Rujanavech, Patrick S. Wieler, Sean P. Shannon, Thomas Loeper, David Novak, Dan Powell, Jason Schwarz, John Sever, Darragh Staunton
  • Patent number: 11045913
    Abstract: This application relates to a method for disassembling a portable electronic device. The method can include generating data associated with disassembling the portable electronic device based on measurements of a housing of the portable electronic device, removing a display assembly from the housing using a first module of a modular system based on the measurements of the housing, and removing an energy storage component from the housing using a second module of the modular system based on the measurements of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Patrick S. Wieler, Charissa Rujanavech, Mark Lewis, Thomas Loeper, Dan Powell, Jason Schwarz, John Sever, Darragh Staunton
  • Publication number: 20200131940
    Abstract: A method and to an apparatus for providing additional control power of a power plant process. The power plant process includes a steam turbine connected into a water vapor circuit, having at least one high-pressure part and a medium-pressure and/or no-pressure part, which are connected to one another via a cold intermediate superheating line, a steam generator and a condenser. A steam reservoir is provided, which is formed as a Ruths reservoir and in which an encapsulated PCM reservoir is integrated. To charge the steam reservoir, hot steam is taken from the cold intermediate superheating line, between the high-pressure and the medium-pressure and/or low-pressure part of the steam turbine, and for charging, and thus for providing additional control power, steam is taken from the steam reservoir and fed back into the water vapor circuit between the steam generator and the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Becker, Vladimir Danov, Thomas Loeper, Christian Mielke
  • Patent number: 9322298
    Abstract: A steam turbine installation that has a steam turbine, a steam generator and a feed water pre-heating unit operated by process steam is provided. The steam turbine has an overload bypass line with which main steam can be fed to the feed water pre-heating unit between the steam turbine input and the extraction point during overload operation of the steam turbine, wherein the feed water pre-heating unit has an auxiliary extraction line that is connected to the overload bypass line in such a way that process steam can be extracted from the steam turbine during partial load operation of the steam turbine and added to the feed water pre-heating unit for the additional pre-heating of feed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Graeber, Thomas Loeper, Michael Wechsung
  • Publication number: 20140130499
    Abstract: A steam turbine installation that has a steam turbine, a steam generator and a feed water pre-heating unit operated by process steam is provided. The steam turbine has an overload bypass line with which main steam can be fed to the feed water pre-heating unit between the steam turbine input and the extraction point during overload operation of the steam turbine, wherein the feed water pre-heating unit has an auxiliary extraction line that is connected to the overload bypass line in such a way that process steam can be extracted from the steam turbine during partial load operation of the steam turbine and added to the feed water pre-heating unit for the additional pre-heating of feed water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Graeber, Thomas Loeper, Michael Wechsung