Patents by Inventor Henry A. Torbert, III

Henry A. Torbert, III 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: 11402338
    Abstract: Multiple tagged neutrons are emitted from an associated particle imaging neutron generator. The tagged neutrons penetrate a target material and interact with the target material nucleus—which emits nucleus-specific gamma rays. A gamma ray detector detects all gamma rays—including the nucleus-specific gamma rays. An alpha-gamma timing spectrum is constructed for all detected gamma rays. For a specific energy level (MeV) corresponding with the target material nucleus, a peak in the alpha gamma timing spectrum indicates the presence of the target material. Based on the peaking time of the gamma rays (due to tagged neutrons interaction with the target material nucleus) in the alpha-gamma timing spectrum for the specific energy level, the distance from the neutron generator to the target material can be calculated. The nucleus-specific gamma ray spectrum data can be effectively collimated by programming the system to detect the gamma rays in a time window corresponding to the peaking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Henry A. Torbert, III, Stephen A. Prior, Aleksandr Kavetskiy, Galina N. Yakubova
  • Patent number: 10753891
    Abstract: The presence of chlorine and nitrogen are determined and measured using a non-invasive portable neutron-generating and gamma ray detecting system(s). Portable devices of the present invention can also be used to detect chlorine and/or nitrogen-containing underground objects rapidly and on-site. Devices and systems described herein can be operated remotely and pre-programmed with search patterns, guided by an operator remotely, or programmed to home in on high-chlorine and/or nitrogen concentration areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Henry A. Torbert, III, Stephen A. Prior, Aleksandr G. Kavetskiy, Galina N. Yakubova
  • Publication number: 20200072767
    Abstract: Multiple tagged neutrons are emitted from an associated particle imaging neutron generator. The tagged neutrons penetrate a target material and interact with the target material nucleus—which emits nucleus-specific gamma rays. A gamma ray detector detects all gamma rays—including the nucleus-specific gamma rays. An alpha-gamma timing spectrum is constructed for all detected gamma rays. For a specific energy level (MeV) corresponding with the target material nucleus, a peak in the alpha gamma timing spectrum indicates the presence of the target material. Based on the peaking time of the gamma rays (due to tagged neutrons interaction with the target material nucleus) in the alpha-gamma timing spectrum for the specific energy level, the distance from the neutron generator to the target material can be calculated. The nucleus-specific gamma ray spectrum data can be effectively collimated by programming the system to detect the gamma rays in a time window corresponding to the peaking time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: HENRY A. TORBERT, III, STEPHEN A. PRIOR, ALEKSANDR KAVETSKIY, GALINA N. YAKUBOVA
  • Publication number: 20200025695
    Abstract: The presence of chlorine and nitrogen are determined and measured using a non-invasive portable neutron-generating and gamma ray detecting system(s). Portable devices of the present invention can also be used to detect chlorine and/or nitrogen-containing underground objects rapidly and on-site. Devices and systems described herein can be operated remotely and pre-programmed with search patterns, guided by an operator remotely, or programmed to home in on high-chlorine and/or nitrogen concentration areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: HENRY A. TORBERT, III, STEPHEN A. PRIOR, ALEKSANDR G. KAVETSKIY, GALINA N. YAKUBOVA
  • Patent number: 10458930
    Abstract: The presence of chlorine and nitrogen are determined and measured using a non-invasive portable neutron-generating and gamma ray detecting system(s). Portable devices of the present invention can also be used to detect chlorine and/or nitrogen-containing underground objects rapidly and on-site. Devices and systems described herein can be operated remotely and pre-programmed with search patterns, guided by an operator remotely, or programmed to home in on high-chlorine and/or nitrogen concentration areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Henry A. Torbert, III, Stephen A. Prior, Aleksandr G. Kavetskiy, Galina N. Yakubova
  • Publication number: 20170307550
    Abstract: The presence of chlorine and nitrogen are determined and measured using a non-invasive portable neutron-generating and gamma ray detecting system(s). Portable devices of the present invention can also be used to detect chlorine and/or nitrogen-containing underground objects rapidly and on-site. Devices and systems described herein can be operated remotely and pre-programmed with search patterns, guided by an operator remotely, or programmed to home in on high-chlorine and/or nitrogen concentration areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: HENRY A. TORBERT, III, STEPHEN A. PRIOR, ALEKSANDR G. KAVETSKIY, GALINA N. YAKUBOVA
  • Patent number: 8770119
    Abstract: The residue manager deflects cover crop stalks and flattens cover crop residue during a no-till or minimum-till agricultural planting process. The residue manager apparatus comprises an “A” shaped frame. A leading portion of the frame is designed to deflect cover crop stalks. Press shoes attached to an intermediate portion of the frame depress cover crop residue that is not deflected by the leading portion. The trailing portion of the residue manager frame is configured to attach to existing planting mechanisms, such as seed drills. As the residue manager is propelled across a field of cover crops, the residue manager deflects cover crop stalks and depresses cover crop residue adjacent to the planting mechanism so that the planting process is not obstructed by the cover crop biomass on the surface of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Henry A. Torbert, III, Stephen A. Prior