Patents by Inventor Kent R. Smith

Kent R. Smith 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).

  • ROTARY RAIL CAR DUMPER LOAD WEIGHING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120048627
    Abstract: A weighing system for a rotary rail car dumper. The rotary rail car dumper includes a frame assembly that receives a rail car including contents to be weighed. A series of trunnions are positioned to rotatably support the frame assembly and allow the frame assembly to be rotated to dump the contents of the rail car. A weight gauge is positioned on each of the trunnions. The weight gauge generates a signal based upon the force applied to the respective trunnion by the weight of the frame assembly and rail car. In one embodiment, the weight gauges are a series of strain gauges that generate an electrical signal based upon the force applied to the strain gauge. A control unit receives the electrical signals from the strain gauges and determines the weight of the rail car before and after the contents of the rail car have been dumped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: METSO MINERALS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel P. Insana, Kent R. Smith, Peter J. Prince-Wright