Paul S Thomas

US Patent:

20130038132, Feb 14, 2013

Filed:

Aug 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/206258

Inventors:

Herbert T. Hayden - Phoenix AZ, US
Paul Linden Thomas - Tempe AZ, US

Assignee:

SOUTHWEST SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

H01L 31/052
H02J 1/12

US Classification:

307 82, 136246

Abstract:

A concentrated photovoltaic system () uses a semi-dense array of photovoltaic cells () in combination with a point-focus, reflecting primary concentrator () and a number of linear, refracting secondary concentrators (). The secondary concentrators () are configured as totally internally reflecting lenses, wherein each lens covers an entire planar receiver tile () holding a multiplicity of photovoltaic cells (). A large number of receiver tiles () may be used in the converter (). The cells () are arranged in dense, nearly abutting, sub-arrays () that are spaced apart from other sub-arrays (). Photovoltaic cells () from a few nearby sub-arrays are coupled in parallel to drive a DC/DC MPPT boost converter (). DC outputs from several boost converters () are series coupled to form a high DC voltage string which drives a DC/AC inverter (). AC outputs from several DC/AC inverters () are combined in a multi-winding transformer () to generate a sine wave with low harmonic distortion.

US Patent:

43380565, Jul 6, 1982

Filed:

May 1, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/145701

Inventors:

Daniel P. Abrahamson - Phoenix AZ
Paul M. Thomas - Paradise Valley AZ

Assignee:

Builders Equipment Company - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

F26B 318

US Classification:

414152

Abstract:

A system is provided for loading concrete blocks, carried on pallets, into a kiln. The kiln includes a front end wall and a rear end wall and a plurality of guideways extending from the front end wall to the rear end wall. The guideways are arranged in a grid pattern of horizontally aligned layers and vertically aligned tiers. The pallets are inserted into a selected guideway. A laterally movable main frame carries a vertically movable subframe which includes an arcuate conveyor. An elevator delivers pallets to the subframe which inserts the pallets into the selected guideway. The main frame and subframe are indexed for exact alignment with the selected guideway.

US Patent:

40169863, Apr 12, 1977

Filed:

Apr 14, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/567531

Inventors:

Paul M. Thomas - Paradise Valley AZ

Assignee:

Builders Equipment Co. - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

F26B 318
B65G 106

US Classification:

214 164A

Abstract:

An end closure system for selectively opening and closing at least one preselected guideway in a treatment chamber. The end closure system includes a plurality of vertically aligned panels, each having opposite ends slidably engaged in vertically disposed guide means. Connecting means are provided on each panel for raising or lowering a preselected panel and any panel above a preselected panel to provide access to the preselected guideway or guideways or to seal the guideway or guideways. In one embodiment of the invention lifting means are provided for engaging the connecting means on the preselected panel to raise and lower the preselected panel and any panels above the preselected panel.

US Patent:

39335704, Jan 20, 1976

Filed:

Oct 3, 1973

Appl. No.:

5/403056

Inventors:

Lawrence W. Wright - Scottsdale AZ
Leon H. Tolleson - Phoenix AZ
Daniel P. Abrahamson - Phoenix AZ
Paul M. Thomas - Paradise Valley AZ
Eugene E. Crile - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

The Thomas 1970 Trust - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

E04G 2114

US Classification:

156558

Abstract:

A panel manufacturing machine adapted to produce panels of building blocks; the machine involving the formation of a horizontal course of blocks in end-to-end relation to each other with mortared head joints between ends of the blocks and with bed mortar on top of the blocks, which course is transferred as a unit to be assembled with other courses of blocks to produce a panel. Further, the machine can progressively sense a modular measurement longitudinally of said course to control the overall length of each course when assembled and mortared together.

US Patent:

44925034, Jan 8, 1985

Filed:

May 23, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/496331

Inventors:

Paul M. Thomas - Paradise Valley AZ
Daniel P. Abrahamson - Phoenix AZ

Assignee:

Builders Equipment Company - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

B66C 1708

US Classification:

414152

Abstract:

An apparatus for transferring palletized uncured concrete blocks to a curing kiln from a block making station and rapidly loading the palletized uncured blocks into the kiln. Typical kilns include a plurality of rows of tiered passageways extending from an open front end to an open rear end of the kiln. The transferring and loading apparatus includes a conveyor device for moving palletized blocks from the block making station to a location below the open front end of any selected one of the passageways a distance greater than the height of the palletized blocks, a lifting device for lifting the pallet of blocks from the conveyor device to the open front end of the selected passageway, and a palletized block moving device for moving the pallet of blocks from the lifting device into the selected passageway as another pallet of uncured blocks moves into position on the conveyor device below the selected passageway.

US Patent:

42057426, Jun 3, 1980

Filed:

Aug 23, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/935995

Inventors:

Paul M. Thomas - Paradise Valley AZ
Daniel P. Abrahamson - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

B65G 5200
B65G 4724

US Classification:

198374

Abstract:

In a system for cubing rectangular units such as block or brick, there is provided a system for reorienting selected ones of the units to formulate layers in the cube to provide maximum stabilization of the units in the cube. The apparatus includes an orientation station comprising a plurality of planar tables, selected ones of which are movable laterally in a horizontal plane, rotated to reorient units thereon, and return to their original position for offloading of the reoriented blocks.

US Patent:

44039000, Sep 13, 1983

Filed:

Jan 16, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/225713

Inventors:

Paul M. Thomas - Paradise Valley AZ

Assignee:

Builders Equipment Company - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

B65G 6000

US Classification:

414137

Abstract:

An apparatus for storing a plurality of pallets and for distributing pallets one at a time to a work station includes a vertically oriented magazine with an open top end for storing a plurality of pallets one above the other and a pallet unloading device horizontally movable to and from the open top end of the pallet magazine. The pallet unloading device removes pallets one at a time from the open top end of the magazines and delivers them to a work station. The magazine has a pallet lifting device to lift pallets in the magazine to the open top end of the magazine and in position to be removed therefrom by the pallet unloading device. A pallet loading device is located over the top open end of the magazine to selectively load the magazine with pallets as the number of pallets stored in the magazine diminishes.