Patents by Inventor Thomas Prager

Thomas Prager 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: 7963017
    Abstract: The method is used for automated tightening of a screwed joint (16), which is fitted to a component (10) in advance and contains a screw (12) and a nut (14), using a programmable industrial robot system (18). In this case, the invention provides that the industrial robot system (18) has a first robot (20) with a screw driving head (22) and a second robot (24) with a mating holding head (26). In order to tighten the screwed joint (16) on the component (10), the screw driving head (22) is positioned in a defined screw driving position, and the mating holding head (26) is positioned in a defined mating holding position in order to produce an interlocking connection, which is suitable for tightening of the screwed joint (16), between the mating holding head (26) and the nut (14), as well as between the screw driving head (22) and the screw (12). The screwed joint (16) on the component (10) is tightened with a predeterminable fixing torque. The interlocking connections are then disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Ehleiter, Willi Klumpp, Uwe Pfister, Thomas Prager, Michael Schunko
  • Publication number: 20070239030
    Abstract: An immersion bag system for use with an ultrasound probe to overcome near field artifact includes a flexible thin wall thickness immersion bag with an attached flexible collar having an integral internal seal. The immersion bag contains a gel or other ultrasound transmission medium and is sealingly and removably attached to the tip end of an ultrasound probe by use of the flexible collar having the integral internal seal. The immersion bag is able to conform to a cornea as well as to other surfaces whether flat or irregular, thereby enabling an ultrasound probe to be used easily on such surfaces. An ultrasound probe in use with the immersion bag system is maintained at a distance above the contact surface of the immersion bag and is positionable about the vertical axis while the immersion bag maintains stationary conformal contact with the structure against which it is in contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Prager, Thomas Burba, David Hardten
  • Publication number: 20070214919
    Abstract: The method is used for automated tightening of a screwed joint (16), which is fitted to a component (10) in advance and contains a screw (12) and a nut (14), using a programmable industrial robot system (18). In this case, the invention provides that the industrial robot system (18) has a first robot (20) with a screw driving head (22) and a second robot (24) with a mating holding head (26). In order to tighten the screwed joint (16) on the component (10), the screw driving head (22) is positioned in a defined screw driving position, and the mating holding head (26) is positioned in a defined mating holding position in order to produce an interlocking connection, which is suitable for tightening of the screwed joint (16), between the mating holding head (26) and the nut (14), as well as between the screw driving head (22) and the screw (12). The screwed joint (16) on the component (10) is tightened with a predeterminable fixing torque. The interlocking connections are then disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Jürgen Ehleiter, Willi Klumpp, Uwe Pfister, Thomas Prager, Michael Schunko
  • Publication number: 20050101869
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic appliance being an ultrasound prob positioning immersion shell for use in ultrasonic measurement of axial length of the eye ophthalmology and other procedures. Support members in an upper chamber and a lower chamber each provides accommodating support along and about a central axis of the ultrasound probe positioning immersion shell and about vertically spaced regions of ultrasound probes to provide for perpendicular alignment of ultrasound probes to the corneal plane. Vents in the chamber structure allow for introduction of fluid medium and for the expelling of air from the chambers to inhibit bubble formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Burba, David Hardten, Thomas Prager