Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Congdon

Thomas W. Congdon 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).

  • Publication number: 20210229938
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of tilt hoists and lumber unstacking systems with a rotation table, a tier alignment system, or both. The rotation table may include a base and a tilt frame supported on the base. The tier alignment system may include an alignment beam and an actuator operable to raise and lower one end of the alignment beam relative to the opposite end to thereby adjust the lateral slope of the spill edge. Optionally, a control system may include distance sensors to detect tiers of lumber as they approach the spill edge and a computer system configured to determine a difference between the lateral slope of the tier and the lateral slope of the spill edge. The computer system may also be configured to automatically adjust the slope of the spill edge to match the slope of the tier before the tier is spilled over the spill edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Darren Hove, Larry Petryshen, Kenneth Neil Stokes, Thomas W. Congdon
  • Publication number: 20200130960
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of tilt hoists and lumber unstacking systems with a rotation table, a tier alignment system, or both. The rotation table may include a base and a tilt frame supported on the base. The tier alignment system may include an alignment beam and an actuator operable to raise and lower one end of the alignment beam relative to the opposite end to thereby adjust the lateral slope of the spill edge. Optionally, a control system may include distance sensors to detect tiers of lumber as they approach the spill edge and a computer system configured to determine a difference between the lateral slope of the tier and the lateral slope of the spill edge. The computer system may also be configured to automatically adjust the slope of the spill edge to match the slope of the tier before the tier is spilled over the spill edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Darren Hove, Larry Petryshen, Kenneth Neil Stokes, Thomas W. Congdon
  • Publication number: 20190291295
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Geoffrey D.H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Patent number: 10357894
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Publication number: 20170157792
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Geoffrey D.H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Patent number: 9573770
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: USNR, LLC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Publication number: 20140209433
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D.H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Patent number: 8714341
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Publication number: 20130277173
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Geoffrey D.H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Patent number: 8490777
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
  • Patent number: 6187146
    Abstract: A mounting system for removably mounting a sensor array adjacent the wire of a papermaking machine. The mounting system comprises an elongate base member formed with a tongue or groove with a corresponding interlocking groove or tongue formed on the sensor array adapted to be slidably received and retained by the elongate base member. The tongue and groove are dimensioned to permit relative movement of the sensor array with respect to the base member. An inflatable bladder is housed between the elongate base member and the sensor array and the bladder is adapted to be inflated to move the tongue and groove into a locked position to fix the position of the sensor array with respect to the elongate base member. This arrangement allows for easy and efficient removal of the sensor array when the bladder is unpressurized while providing reliable clamping when the bladder is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell Measurex Devron Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Congdon, Mark A. Taylor