Patents by Inventor Walter Thomas

Walter Thomas 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).

  • H frame for a double deck elevator
    Patent number: 10329122
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a first elevator cab and a second elevator cab. An H frame supports the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab. The H frame has a plurality of vertically oriented beams and at least one horizontally oriented beam extending between the vertically oriented beams. The at least one horizontally oriented beam is spaced from ends of the vertically oriented beams and the H frame does not have any horizontally oriented beam at either end of the vertically oriented beams. At least one linear actuator is coupled with the first elevator cab and the second elevator cab. The linear actuator is configured to selectively cause movement of the elevator cabs relative to the H frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Enrico Manes, Bruce P. Swaybill, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Luke A. Mishler, Xiaodong Luo, Richard J. Ericson, Loi Cheng, Shihemn Chen, Meghan Mastriano
  • Inertia reel mounts and mounting arrangements
    Patent number: 10266269
    Abstract: An inertia reel mount for a seat includes a slide, a carriage arranged to support a seatbelt inertia reel, and a damper. The carriage is movable between first and second positions relative to the slide. The damper is fixed to the slide, is arranged between the carriage and the slide to oppose movement of the carriage, and is arranged to absorb kinetic energy from the carriage from sudden acceleration of a seat occupant secured in the seat by the seatbelt as the carriage moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barton J. Hainsworth, Walter Thomas Mayo, IV
  • SHEAVE FOR BELT WITH PROFILE TRACKING FEATURES
    Publication number: 20190062120
    Abstract: A belt and sheave assembly for an elevator system includes a sheave having a plurality of tracking grooves laterally spaced across a sheave width, and a debris channel located in a tracking groove of the plurality of tracking grooves defining a radially inwardmost extent of the tracking groove. The assembly further includes a belt having a plurality of tension members arranged along a belt width and extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, a jacket at least partially enclosing the tension members, the jacket defining a side of the belt configured to interface with the sheave, and a plurality of tracking features extending from the side of the belt. The tracking features are laterally spaced across the belt width. Each tracking feature is configured to be received in a tracking groove, and each tension member is laterally offset from each of the tracking features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Wenping Zhao, Daniel A. Mosher, Walter Thomas Schmidt
  • TILT-ROTOR MULTICOPTERS WITH VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLERS
    Publication number: 20180362146
    Abstract: Aircraft are configured to facilitate propeller blade pitch adjustability. According to one example, an aircraft can include a plurality of propellers, where each propeller includes plurality of blades. At least one pitch adjust mechanism may be associated with at least on propeller, where the pitch adjust mechanism is configured to adjust a pitch of the plurality of blades for at least one propeller in response to airflow from at least one other propeller influencing an airflow at the at least one propeller. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Max Edward Klein, Walter Thomas Castleberry, Nathan Trey McFerrin
  • INERTIA REEL MOUNTS AND MOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS
    Publication number: 20180339776
    Abstract: An inertia reel mount for a seat includes a slide, a carriage arranged to support a seatbelt inertia reel, and a damper. The carriage is movable between first and second positions relative to the slide. The damper is fixed to the slide, is arranged between the carriage and the slide to oppose movement of the carriage, and is arranged to absorb kinetic energy from the carriage from sudden acceleration of a seat occupant secured in the seat by the seatbelt as the carriage moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Barton J. Hainsworth, Walter Thomas Mayo, IV
  • Variable linear motor gap
    Patent number: 10138091
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an elevator system having a hoistway, an elevator car to travel in the hoistway, a first motor portion mounted to one of the elevator car and the hoistway, the first motor portion having at least one coil, a second motor portion mounted to the other of the elevator car and the hoistway, the second motor portion having at least one permanent magnet, and a gap between the first motor portion and the second motor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Enrico Manes, Beata I. Wawrzyniak, Thomas M. Yun, Shihemn Chen, Jagadeesh Tangudu
  • SIMULTANEOUS ELEVATOR CAR AND COUNTERWEIGHT SAFETY ACTUATION
    Publication number: 20180327223
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car, a counterweight, roping coupling the elevator car and the counterweight, the roping supporting a load of the elevator car and the counterweight, and a plurality of safeties. The plurality of safeties includes a plurality of elevator car safeties supported for movement with the elevator car that are selectively actuated to engage a stationary surface to prevent movement of the elevator car. The plurality of safeties also includes a plurality of counterweight safeties supported for movement with the counterweight that are selectively actuated to engage a stationary surface to prevent movement of the counterweight. The safeties are configured for wireless communication causing essentially simultaneous actuation of the elevator car safeties and the counterweight safeties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Walter Thomas SCHMIDT, Enrico MANES
  • COMPLIANT SHEAR LAYER FOR ELEVATOR TERMINATION
    Publication number: 20180208436
    Abstract: A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a housing and a wedge assembly located in the housing. The wedge assembly includes a wedge interactive with the housing to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member and a compliant shear element secured to the wedge or the suspension member and configured to reduce shear loads on the suspension member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Joseph C. Rampone, Daniel A. Mosher
  • ELEVATOR SYSTEM SUSPENSION MEMBER TERMINATION WITH CONTAINMENT
    Publication number: 20180162697
    Abstract: A termination device for a suspension member of an elevator system includes a housing and a wedge located in the housing. The wedge extends across a width of the suspension member and at least partially across a thickness of the suspension member. The wedge is interactive with the suspension member to apply a clamping force to the suspension member in response to an axial load acting on the suspension member. The wedge includes a wedge lip configured to contain the suspension member within a lateral extent of the wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Daniel A. Mosher, Joseph C. Rampone
  • Cab isolation of an elevator car
    Patent number: 9975735
    Abstract: An elevator car is constructed and arranged to move along a hoistway. The car includes a cab support from below by a platform. A vertical member is connected to the platform via a flex joint and extends upward from platform for further elevator cab support. The flex joint facilitates cab isolation from vibration and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Richard N. Fargo, Walter Thomas Schmidt, YiSug Kwon
  • THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF LINEAR MOTOR
    Publication number: 20170355568
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a propulsion system for an elevator having a first motor portion mounted to one of an object to be moved and a stationary structure and a second motor portion mounted to the other of the object to be moved and the stationary structure, the first motor portion having at least one coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Enrico Manes, Beata I. Wawrzyniak, Thomas M. Yun, Shihemn Chen, Jagadeesh Tangudu, Zbigniew Piech
  • VARIABLE LINEAR MOTOR GAP
    Publication number: 20170355567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an elevator system having a hoistway, an elevator car to travel in the hoistway, a first motor portion mounted to one of the elevator car and the hoistway, the first motor portion having at least one coil, a second motor portion mounted to the other of the elevator car and the hoistway, the second motor portion having at least one permanent magnet, and a gap between the first motor portion and the second motor portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Enrico Manes, Beata I. Wawrzyniak, Thomas M. Yun, Shihemn Chen, Jagadeesh Tangudu
  • Multi-drive thrust manager for elevator control
    Patent number: 9840395
    Abstract: According to an aspect, an elevator system includes a propulsion system having a plurality of motor segments forming a primary portion and a plurality of drives to impart force on a secondary portion coupled to an elevator car. The elevator system also includes a controller operable to identify a local neighborhood of the drives and determine a health status of each of the drives within the local neighborhood. The controller is further operable to adjust a thrust command per active drive of the local neighborhood based on at least one of the health status and a position of each active drive of the local neighborhood with respect to the secondary portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, David Ginsberg, Konda Reddy Chevva, Walter Thomas Schmidt
  • FOOTWEAR HAVING MEMORY FOAM
    Publication number: 20170303630
    Abstract: Footwear includes memory foam in at least a non-load bearing portion of the footwear to provide three-dimensional contouring to a foot. The footwear includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a pair of sides connecting the top portion with the bottom portion, and an opening formed between the top portion and the pair of sides to receive a foot. At least one of the top portion and the pair of sides includes memory foam providing three-dimensional contouring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Cherie Handorf, Walter Thomas Bray
  • SENSOR FAILURE DETECTION AND FUSION SYSTEM FOR A MULTI-CAR ROPELESS ELEVATOR SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170158462
    Abstract: A multi-car ropeless elevator system includes at least one lane. An elevator car is arranged in the at least one lane. A linear motor system includes a plurality of stationary motor primary sections extending along the at least one lane and at least one moveable motor secondary section mounted to the elevator car. A plurality of sensors is operatively connected to the linear motor system. Each of the plurality of sensors is operatively associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of stationary motor primary sections. A sensor failure detection and fusion system is operatively connected to each of the plurality of sensors. The sensor failure detection and fusion system operates to identify failures in one or more of the plurality of sensors and fuse data received from remaining ones of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, David Ginsberg, Walter Thomas Schmidt, Konda Reddy Chevva
  • THRUST AND MOMENT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170158461
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a lane and at least one rail extending along the lane. An elevator car is arranged in the lane and is operatively coupled to the at least one rail. The elevator car has a predetermined alignment relative to the at least one rail. A propulsion system is operatively connected between the elevator car and the at least one rail. A thrust and moment control system is operatively connected to the propulsion system. The thrust and moment control system selectively controls the propulsion system to substantially maintain the predetermined alignment of the elevator car relative to the at least one rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, David Ginsberg, Konda Reddy Chevva, Walter Thomas Schmidt
  • Injection mold with fail safe pressure mechanism
    Patent number: 9604398
    Abstract: A low pressure injection mold includes a failsafe pressure mechanism that prevents the low pressure injection mold from being subjected to excessive injection pressures or excessive clamping tonnage that could damage the low pressure injection mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Ralph Edwin Neufarth, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Dennis James Pratel, Walter Thomas Davis, III, Danny David Lumpkin
  • FOOTWEAR HAVING MEMORY FOAM
    Publication number: 20170079369
    Abstract: Footwear includes memory foam in at least a non-load bearing portion of the footwear to provide three-dimensional contouring to a foot. The footwear includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a pair of sides connecting the top portion with the bottom portion, and an opening formed between the top portion and the pair of sides to receive a foot. At least one of the top portion and the pair of sides includes memory foam providing three-dimensional contouring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Cherie Handorf, Walter Thomas Bray, JR.
  • CAB ISOLATION OF AN ELEVATOR CAR
    Publication number: 20170057790
    Abstract: An elevator car is constructed and arranged to move along a hoistway. The car includes a cab support from below by a platform. A vertical member is connected to the platform via a flex joint and extends upward from platform for further elevator cab support. The flex joint facilitates cab isolation from vibration and noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Richard N. Fargo, Walter Thomas Schmidt, YiSug Kwon
  • MULTI-DRIVE THRUST MANAGER FOR ELEVATOR CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170036887
    Abstract: According to an aspect, an elevator system includes a propulsion system having a plurality of motor segments forming a primary portion and a plurality of drives to impart force on a secondary portion coupled to an elevator car. The elevator system also includes a controller operable to identify a local neighborhood of the drives and determine a health status of each of the drives within the local neighborhood. The controller is further operable to adjust a thrust command per active drive of the local neighborhood based on at least one of the health status and a position of each active drive of the local neighborhood with respect to the secondary portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, David Ginsberg, Konda Reddy Chevva, Walter Thomas Schmidt