Patents by Inventor Ken O. Thornton

Ken O. Thornton 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: 4687372
    Abstract: A method and system of storing and containing existing toxic waste dump sites, to prevent leakage and seepage from the waste site. It involves ascertaining the soil characteristics to determine the moisture impervious layer depth for the soil surrounding the pit site, digging a perimeter trench around the dump site to a depth at least equal to the moisture impervious layer, filling the perimeter trench with a substantially moisture impervious material, placing a well casing within the area defined by the perimeter trench, adjacent to the pit, and placing a drain line below the bottom of the toxic waste site dump pit in fluid communication with the well casing. As a result of this alteration of the water drainage profile within the surrounding soil, the risk of seepage, leakage and drainage of toxic waste into the aquifers is lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Inventor: Ken O. Thornton
  • Patent number: 4538377
    Abstract: A field crop treatment system, characterized by a first treatment pipe submerged under the root system of growing field crops, and a second drain pipe submerged under the treatment pipe. The system is connected in such a manner that it can operate in several modes. Among the modes are a drainage mode wherein both pipes drain the water from a wet field; and an irrigation mode wherein the top pipe is used to irrigate at the underground level. In addition, the system may be used in various modes between complete drainage and complete irrigation to allow underground application of chemicals, herbicides and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventor: Ken O. Thornton