Patents by Inventor Thomas Robert Collins

Thomas Robert Collins 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).

  • Screw extruder and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 6790023
    Abstract: An extruder includes a barrel having a die attached to one end and at least one material inlet with a feeder for providing material to the material inlet. At least one screw is rotatively mounted in the barrel, and a motor is provided for driving the screw. A plurality of sensors is mounted in the barrel for sensing passage of screw thread edges as the screw rotates. A controller for controlling operation of the extruder receives signals from the sensors and determines local torsional deformations of the screw based on the signals. The controller slows down the extruder if any one of the local torsional deformations falls outside of an optimal range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Collins, Nelson R. Corby
  • SCREW EXTRUDER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20020146475
    Abstract: An extruder includes a barrel having a die attached to one end and at least one material inlet with a feeder for providing material to the material inlet. At least one screw is rotatively mounted in the barrel, and a motor is provided for driving the screw. A plurality of sensors is mounted in the barrel for sensing passage of screw thread edges as the screw rotates. A controller for controlling operation of the extruder receives signals from the sensors and determines local torsional deformations of the screw based on the signals. The controller slows down the extruder if any one of the local torsional deformations falls outside of an optimal range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Collins, Nelson R. Corby