Patents Assigned to Hirt Combustion Engineers
  • Patent number: 6948536
    Abstract: A vapor collection testing device is held in one hand and a fuel dispensing nozzle for a fuel dispensing system to be tested is held in the other hand of an operator. The device is slipped over the spout of the nozzle and pushed against the boot of the nozzle (if so equipped), or otherwise pushed sufficiently over the holes on a bootless nozzle so that the nozzle's flow interlock device is opened. Opening the interlock activates the nozzle's lever, to permit fuel dispensing. Without turning the gasoline dispenser on, the nozzle lever is depressed to open the integral vapor valve. At this point, no gasoline is dispensed, but air is ingested by the nozzle and sent into the gasoline storage tank. The air ingestion can be observed by the device's flow meter, in order to determine if there is a liquid flow blockage in the vapor recovery line of the fuel dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert Castro
  • Patent number: 5071068
    Abstract: An atomizer for use in the combustion of liquids, particularly liquids containing particulate materials, comprises a body having a duct therein for the liquid to be atomized and a plurality of flow passages therein for a supply of atomizing gas such as air or natural gas, the flow passages intersecting with the duct at such positions and at such angles that the atomizing gas has a significant proportion thereof directed along paths tangential to the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers Ltd.
    Inventor: Stanislaw E. Suniewski
  • Patent number: 4960166
    Abstract: A rotary heat wheel structure for a rotary heat exchanger in which a rotating wheel is provided with heat exchange material and rotates within a wheel housing to continuously cross an inlet path of low pressure cooler gas and an outlet path of high pressure hotter gasses for pre-heating the gas in the inlet path for utilizing the heat in the burned gasses before discharge to atmosphere. The wheel housing encloses the periphery of the wheel and is also provided with housing pillars defining an inlet path opening and an outlet path opening through which the rotary wheel rotates. Interior surfaces of the housing pillars are provided with radially extending grooves which co-act with opposite side faces of the rotary wheel to provide turbulence between the wheel side faces and the pillar surfaces so that leakage of gasses from the outlet path to the inlet path in the wheel housing is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers
    Inventor: John H. Hirt
  • Patent number: 4680004
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for abatement of gasoline vapor emissions from a vent pipe at a gasoline service station in which a vapor piping system interconnects the vent pipe with gasoline storage tanks and gasoline dispensing nozzles in the service station, the apparatus including a pilot burner with a pilot ignitor, a main burner with a main burner ignitor, first and second vapor pressure switches in the vent pipe for sensing and controlling pressure of vapor in the vapor piping system to maintain the pressure of vapor slightly below atmospheric pressure, a regenerative small turbine located downstream from the first and second pressure switches for moving vapor in the vapor piping system; a sensor for the pressure of vapor downstream from said turbine for causing at a selected downstream pressure of vapor admission of vapor to the pilot burner, and a sensor for the pilot flame at the pilot burner for causing admission of vapor to the main burner for ignition by the pilot flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers
    Inventor: John H. Hirt
  • Patent number: 4292020
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing, controlling and operating a vapor control system for abating gasoline vapor emissions which occur at a gasoline service station during transfer of liquid gasoline from a gasoline supply tank truck to underground storage containers at the station and also during transfer of liquid gasoline from the underground storage containers to the gasoline tank of a vehicle through a service station gasoline pump. Each gasoline pump includes a dispensing nozzle having vapor return means communicating with the underground storage containers and also the vehicle tank. The underground storage containers have a vent means in communication with vapor collected in said storage container, with the vapor return means and with a vapor conducting line and vent line leading to a disposal means. The disposal means comprises a single burner and pilot means therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers
    Inventor: John H. Hirt
  • Patent number: 4118170
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling and abating gasoline vapor emissions which occur at a gasoline service station during transfer of liquid gasoline from a gasoline supply tank truck to underground storage tanks at the station and also during transfer of liquid gasoline from the underground storage tanks to the gasoline tank of an automobile through a service station gasoline pump. Vent outlet pipes of the underground storage tanks are manifolded to a common vent pipe where vapor pressure is sensed by a plurality of preset pressure sensing means to direct vapors from the vent pipe to a burner means under predetermined below atmospheric pressure or vacuum conditions. A compressed air source provides pressure air for directing the gasoline vapors to the burner means as by suction pumping and to also actuate valve means in the gas vapor line to permit flow of vapors to the burner means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers
    Inventor: John H. Hirt
  • Patent number: 4009985
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for abatement of excess gasoline vapor emissions which occur during transfer of service station liquid gasoline from one storage tank to another storage tank, such as the transfer of gasoline at a gasoline service station from a gasoline storage tank truck to underground gasoline storage tanks and also from underground gasoline storage tanks to an automobile or vehicle storage tank through a gasoline pump station. Vent outlet pipes of the underground storage tanks are manifolded to a common vent pipe, where the vapor pressure is sensed and upon reaching a predetermined vapor pressure, (normally slightly below atmospheric) vapors are directed along a path from the vent pipe to a burner means. Gasoline vapors are directed to the burner by means of suction produced by an ejector using compressed air and an air-fume mixer so that substantially complete combustion of the resulting vapor air mixture will occur in the burner means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers
    Inventor: John H. Hirt