Patents by Inventor Erwin E. Hurner

Erwin E. Hurner 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: 5837132
    Abstract: By providing a fuel treating system with a strategically positioned sight-glass, it is possible to replace an fuel filter without either spilling large amounts of fuel all over or allowing for air bubbles, which can degrade the lubricating system's operation and cause siphoning. The sight-glass is positioned above the fuel inlet and outlet passages but below the filter. Thus, as soon as no fuel is seen in the sight-glass, a mechanic knows that the fuel filter has been substantially emptied of fuel yet the fuel inlet and outlet are still full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5776332
    Abstract: By providing a fuel treating system with a strategically positioned sight-glass, it is possible to replace an fuel filter without either spilling large amounts of fuel all over or allowing for air bubbles, which can degrade the lubricating system's operation and cause siphoning. The sight-glass is positioned above the fuel inlet and outlet passages but below the filter. Thus, as soon as no fuel is seen in the sight-glass, a mechanic knows that the fuel filter has been substantially emptied of fuel yet the fuel inlet and outlet are still full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5682661
    Abstract: By providing a lubricating system with a strategically positioned sight-glass, it is possible to replace an fuel filter without either spilling large amounts of fuel all over or allowing for air bubbles, which can degrade the lubricating system's operation and cause siphoning. The sight-glass is positioned below the fuel inlet and outlet passages but below the filter. Thus, as soon as no fuel is seen in the sight-glass, a mechanic knows that the fuel filter has been substantially emptied of fuel yet the fuel inlet and outlet are still full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5471964
    Abstract: A fuel treatment apparatus and process is provided utilizing a blending head thereon defining a plurality of passages therein including a first passage and a second passage connected by a blending passage which includes a thermostat for blocking off the blending passage. The blending head functions to direct fuel into a fuel treatment apparatus having a settling chamber with a fuel introducing conduit passing through the top of the chamber and extending to a lower portion of the chamber to define a fuel inlet in the lower portion of the chamber. A buoyant valve is located within the conduit to permit fuel introduction during normal operation but to close off the conduit during periods of non-operation thus closing off fluid communication between the fuel treatment apparatus and the fuel tank. A fuel outlet is provided to remove the fuel after the treatment. A recess in the bottom of the chamber has a drain in the bottom thereof for the removal of moisture from the bottom of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5431138
    Abstract: An oil cleaning and recycling system (1) is provided for automatically metering a predetermined amount of engine lubricating oil into a diesel fuel supply of a diesel engine (88) as the engine (88) operates. A pump (10), communicating with a lubrication system of engine (88) and with a fuel tank (86), is intermittently operable in response to a regular, periodic signal generated by a control module (40). A control solenoid (36) admits air into pump (10) upon each such signal, thereby causing a piston (18) in the pump (10) to travel upwardly to discharge a preloaded amount of oil into a fuel return line (90) to produce a mixture subsequently consumed in the engine (88) as fuel. The pump (10) is provided with an air-actuated valve assembly (22) to direct flow of oil into and out of a cylinder (12) and with an indicator rod (20) enabling a user to visually determine that the system (1) is in working condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5425432
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention causes the level of lubricating fluid in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine to be maintained at a predetermined level at all times without reliance on power to operate the valve used to control the flow of lubricating fluid coming from an auxiliary reservoir to the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5419389
    Abstract: A fuel heater formed form an elongated structure which defines a fuel channel passing through the length thereof and which defines in the bottom thereof a fuel intake. The unitary structure also defines a heating fluid inlet and outlet on one side of the fuel channel which communicate with one another on that one side of the fuel channel and fuel measurement means. The fuel measurement means is fit to a conduit formed in the elongated structure. The fuel measurement means can be a capacitive-type level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5184797
    Abstract: A fishing rod holder for a fishing rod with an open face reel is provided which comprises a tubular rod holder defining a first slot along the longitudinal axis of the tubular rod holder and a second slot communicating transversely from a bottom portion of the first slot in a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular rod holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5158131
    Abstract: A fuel heater formed from an elongated unitary structure which defines a fuel channel passing through the length thereof and which defines in the bottom thereof a fuel intake. The unitary structure also defines a heating fluid inlet and outlet on one side of the fuel channel which communicate with one another on that one side of the fuel channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5135044
    Abstract: A method for heating fuel by a fuel heater formed from an elongated unitary structure which defines a fuel channel passing through the length thereof and which defines in the bottom thereof a fuel intake. The unitary structure also defines a heating fluid inlet and outlet on one side of the fuel channel which communicate with one another on that one side of the fuel channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5098560
    Abstract: A fuel treatment apparatus having a settling chamber with a fuel introducing conduit passing through the top of the chamber and extending to a lower portion of the chamber to define a fuel inlet in the lower portion of the chamber. A buoyant valve means is located within the first conduit means to permit fuel introduction during normal operation but to close off the conduit during periods of non-operation and thus closing off fluid communication between the fuel treatment apparatus and the fuel tank. A fuel outlet is provided to remove the fuel after the treatment. A recess in the bottom of the chamber has drain means in the bottom thereof for the removal of moisture from the bottom of the chamber. Novel means are provided to permit introduction of fuel when the normal fuel inlet is clogged, for example, by the freezing of collected moisture therein. This is provided by means of a secondary small fuel inlet in an upper portion of the first conduit means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 5029634
    Abstract: A fuel heater formed from an elongated unitary structure which defines a fuel channel passing through the length thereof and which defines in the bottom thereof a fuel intake. The unitary structure also defines a heating fluid inlet and outlet on one side of the fuel channel which communicate with one another on that one side of the fuel channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4995992
    Abstract: A fuel treatment apparatus having a settling chamber with a fuel introducing conduit passing through the top of the chamber and extending to a lower portion of the chamber to define a fuel inlet in the lower portion of the chamber. A bouyant valve means is located within the first conduit means to permit fuel introduction during normal operation but to close off the conduit during periods of non-operation and thus closing off fluid communication between the fuel treatment apparatus and the fuel tank. A fuel outlet is provided to remove the fuel after the treatment. A recess in the bottom of the chamber has drain means in the bottom thereof for the removal of moisture from the bottom of the chamber. Novel means are provided to permit introduction of fuel when the normal fuel inlet is clogged, for example, by the freezing of collected moisture therein. This is provided by means of a secondary small fuel inlet in an upper portion of the first conduit means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4686950
    Abstract: An apparatus which reduces accumulation of combustion products in internal combustion engines by periodically increasing the revolutions during periods of idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4666597
    Abstract: This invention provides a novel apparatus for removing contaminants from diesel fuel while simultaneously heating such fuel, and provides a collection zone for accumulating separated water and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4632080
    Abstract: A novel oil addition device which is operable on vehicles frequently maintained in operational condition on unlevel surfaces for extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4624779
    Abstract: This invention provides a novel apparatus for removing contaminants from diesel fuel while simultaneously heating such fuel, and provides a collection zone for accumulating separated water and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4573610
    Abstract: A container and dispenser for golf tees which is formed of a tube having a cylindrical opening through the center thereof for housing a plurality of golf tees one atop the other. The tube has attached at one end thereof an elastomeric nipple having an orifice therethrough for dispensing the tees. The tube is additionally provided with an opening for loading tees into the cylindrical opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4542718
    Abstract: A detection device having pushbutton operation which after a short predetermined period of time indicates by means of lights whether both oil and lubricant levels are adequate or if not which is not satisfactory. If lubricant is indicated as being low, then means are provided to indicate the required amount of lubricant. The device is coupled with circuitry so as to quickly activate a thermistor within the lubricant reservoir for accurate detection at that point and may be coupled with engine deactivation means to preclude engine operation in the event that the device is not activated or in the event that either of the coolant or lubricant levels are inadequate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner
  • Patent number: 4522167
    Abstract: An apparatus which has the means to facilitate maintenance of appropriate lubricating oil levels within the engine of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Inventor: Erwin E. Hurner