Patents by Inventor Alan McCracken

Alan McCracken 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: 4987850
    Abstract: Apparatus whereby seeds, in particular unginned cottonseeds having lint, may be wetted with liquid active ingredients. To achieve this, the cottonseeds are separated in a feeder and metering device having conveyor screws and a baffle, and fitted uniformly into a spray chamber. In the spray chamber an atomizer produces a fine spray mist and wets the dropping seed grains. The grains drop into a mixing and transport chamber wherein they are mixed by mixer and agitator shafts. A conveyor screw transports the seed during the mixing slowly toward an inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Alan McCracken
  • Patent number: 4697739
    Abstract: Liquid agrichemicals such as pesticides are applied to soil or crops in a continuous stream at low flow rate from microtubes without need for a mixing tank and without clogging of the microtubes during downtime, by a system mountable on a farm vehicle, the system comprising a liquid agrichemical supply tank, a water supply tank, a first conduit connecting the agrichemical supply tank to a manifold feeding the microtubes, a first pump in the conduit, water entrainment means (such as a venturi) and a second, suction pump in the conduit, a second conduit between the water supply tank and the venturi, and other conduits, valves and pressure regulators as appropriate to control the directions and rates of flow, and for recirculation or flushing. By such control, water may be entrained by the venturi for inline admixing with the agrichemical, or the venturi optionally may be bypassed for application of undiluted agrichemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Alan McCracken, Frank J. Dominiani, Jr., Edward A. DeJarnette, Jr.