Patents by Inventor Ronald E. Burdette

Ronald E. Burdette 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: 5806531
    Abstract: A continuous pneumatic tobacco conveyance system is described which automatically controls the rate at which tobacco is fed into the conveyance system and automatically controls the velocity of the tobacco which is pneumatically conveyed. The system utilizes a plurality of programmable logic controllers for analyzing the velocity of the tobacco in the system and the amount of tobacco required and currently existent in cigarette making machine. The system compensates for correct airflow and velocity of the tobacco in the pneumatic piping by controlling the rate at which tobacco is fed into the conveyance system and controlling the airflow required to move the tobacco at a continuous velocity by adjusting a flow control valve attached to a vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Diehl, Ronald E. Burdette