Patents by Inventor Benjamin C. Thorner

Benjamin C. Thorner 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: 4373853
    Abstract: A log handling attachment for a bulldozer or similar vehicle consisting of a bracket assembly arranged to be detachably mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle and carrying a horizontally rotatable articulated boom provided with hydraulic cylinders for moving the pivoted parts of the boom, and provided with a hydraulically-driven gear and sprocket chain system for swinging the boom around a vertical axis through a wide angular range. A hydraulic winch is mounted on the boom, having a long cable running through sheaves on the boom and provided with a log-engaging tool at the end of the cable. Operating power is derived from the power take-off shaft of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Cleveland J. Biller, Benjamin C. Thorner
  • Patent number: 4284987
    Abstract: A tip-over warning system for vehicles of the articulated type utilizes a swinging pendulum pivoted in a frame which is mounted on and simulates the stability triangle of the vehicle. The pivotal connection of the pendulum is at a scale distance relative to the frame corresponding to the location of the vehicle center of gravity. The side arms of the frame are variable in length and pivoted, allowing the apex of the frame to move. The apex is moved by a servo motor in accordance with the steering angle of the vehicle. The pendulum and frame are connected in an electrical circuit including a current source and an alarm device. When the pendulum touches a side arm of the frame the circuit is completed, thus energizing the alarm device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Harry G. Gibson, Benjamin C. Thorner, Jack W. Thomas
  • Patent number: 3983746
    Abstract: This invention detects, indicates and records road surface deviations in the normally-traveled vehicle tracks. Surface deviations detectable range from less than one inch in height to the largest height negotiable by the vehicle carrying the instrument. Final measurements are indicated from a mean surface, and with proper calibration numerical values may be established to give a meaningful quantitative description of the roughness of a given section of road.Description of the surface roughness is expressed by two linear dimensions: one is the height of the encountered deviation; the other is the distance between major deviations. For analysis of the data obtained, the first dimension, the height of the deviation, is used as recorded, and the second dimension is inverted to give frequency of deviation.Measurements are made by maintaining a predetermined reference plane with a gyroscope and sensing the carrying vehicle's roll and pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Ross A. Phillips, Benjamin C. Thorner