Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Way

Thomas R. Way 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).

  • Applicator system and method for the agricultural distribution of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials
    Patent number: 7721662
    Abstract: The applicator system is designed to distribute agriculturally beneficial matter across a field. The system includes a supply reservoir and an agitator assembly that grates and abrades matter in the supply reservoir until the abraded matter precipitates out of the supply reservoir and onto a supply conveyor. The supply conveyor conveys the matter to a distribution device. The distribution device meters the matter onto at least two lateral distribution conveyors. At the end of each of the distribution conveyors the matter is funneled downwardly into an open trench created by a trenching device associated with each distribution conveyor. After the matter is deposited into the trench, a trench closing assembly directs soil back into the trench and compresses the soil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Thomas R. Way, Marlin R. Siegford, Dennis E. Rowe
  • Applicator system and method for the agricultural distribution of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials
    Publication number: 20090317192
    Abstract: The applicator system is designed to distribute agriculturally beneficial matter across a field. The system includes a supply reservoir and an agitator assembly that grates and abrades matter in the supply reservoir until the abraded matter precipitates out of the supply reservoir and onto a supply conveyor. The supply conveyor conveys the matter to a distribution device. The distribution device meters the matter onto at least two lateral distribution conveyors. At the end of each of the distribution conveyors the matter is funneled downwardly into an open trench created by a trenching device associated with each distribution conveyor. After the matter is deposited into the trench, a trench closing assembly directs soil back into the trench and compresses the soil surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas R. Way, Marlin R. Siegford, Dennis E. Rowe