Patents by Inventor Thomas Allen Costner

Thomas Allen Costner 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).

  • Refining apparatus
    Patent number: 8944074
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for refining materials such as a tobacco material. The apparatus includes a disc assembly rotatably coupled to a drive arrangement. The disc assembly includes a disc body having first and second lateral surfaces each having a refining arrangement disposed thereon. First and second stationary refining arrangements are positioned in opposing relationship to the first and second lateral surfaces so as to form first and second refining zones. The disc assembly further includes first and second gear members. The first gear member is engaged with the drive arrangement, and the second gear member is engaged with the disc body. The first and second gear members are arranged to engage each other such that interaction therebetween rotatingly drives the disc body. The first and second gear members are configured to resist wear associated with interaction therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Terry L. Bullins, Mark A. Vernon, Thomas Allen Costner, Timothy F. Tilley
  • REFINING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20110271969
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for refining materials such as a tobacco material. The apparatus includes a disc assembly rotatably coupled to a drive arrangement. The disc assembly includes a disc body having first and second lateral surfaces each having a refining arrangement disposed thereon. First and second stationary refining arrangements are positioned in opposing relationship to the first and second lateral surfaces so as to form first and second refining zones. The disc assembly further includes first and second gear members. The first gear member is engaged with the drive arrangement, and the second gear member is engaged with the disc body. The first and second gear members are arranged to engage each other such that interaction therebetween rotatingly drives the disc body. The first and second gear members are configured to resist wear associated with interaction therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Terry L. Bullins, Mark A. Vernon, Thomas Allen Costner, Timothy F. Tilley