Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Gabardi

Thomas L. Gabardi 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: 5224659
    Abstract: Apparatus for feeding balls to a grinding mill. The apparatus includes a downwardly inclined chute (12) adapted to receive balls from a bin or hopper, the chute for delivering the balls to the grinding mill and means (20) for sequentially feeding the balls, one-at-a-time, to the grinding mill. The feeding means includes a first actuator (22) and a second actuator (26). Each of the actuators preferably includes an extension arm (24 and 28 respectively) mounted for rotation along the longitudinal axis of the chute. The first actuator is for restraining balls from traveling down the chute and works in conjunction with the second actuator for isolating the lowermost ball in the chute to be fed next to the grinding mill. The second actuator is for releasing the isolated ball. The feeding means may include a computer controller (90) for operating each of the actuators at a predetermined time interval corresponding to the ball attrition rate of the grinding mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Control International
    Inventor: Thomas L. Gabardi