Patents by Inventor Charles R. Gerlach
Charles R. Gerlach 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).
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Patent number: 4715808Abstract: A system for controlling the amount of natural supply gas delivered from a natural gas supply source to a natural gas burner adapted to continually heat a process fluid in a vessel and for enabling the gas burned to continuously automatically maintain the temperature of the process fluid within a predetermined minimum range of temperatures above and below a preset nominal temperature. The system comprises a gas operated flow regulator device associated with a supply gas line connected to the gas burner for regulating the amount of gas delivered to the gas burner in accordance with pressure of regulator control gas delivered to the flow regulator device through a control gas line, gas pressure control apparatus associated with the control gas line for varying the pressure of the control gas delivered to the flow regulator device; and a linearly movable temperature sensing device operable by process fluid temperature and connected to the gas pressure control apparatus to vary the control gas pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1986Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Charles R. Gerlach
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Patent number: 4659344Abstract: A liquid motor is driven by pressurized wet glycol, received from an absorber of a natural gas dehydrating system, and utilizes the energy of the pressurized wet glycol to provide the primary source of energy for operating a pump for pumping of dry glycol from a reboiler to the absorber. A gas driven motor regulates the stroking rate of the glycol driven motor. The liquid motor and pump each have a two stage double acting piston in cylinders with fluid intake and exhaust valving and passages to alternately fill and exhaust the motor cylinders while the opposing pump cylinders are simultaneously alternately filled and exhausted. A spool type valve rod, associated with the glycol driven motor, is operated by the gas driven motor to regulate the rate of reciprocation of the glycol driven motor and to provide a secondary source of energy therefor.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1983Date of Patent: April 21, 1987Inventors: Charles R. Gerlach, Rodney T. Heath
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Patent number: 4615673Abstract: A system for controlling the amount of natural supply gas delivered from a natural gas supply source to a natural gas burner adapted to continually heat a process fluid in a vessel and for enabling the gas burner to continuously automatically maintain the temperature of the process fluid within a predetermined minimum range of temperatures above and below a preset nominal temperature. The system comprises a gas operated flow regulator device associated with a supply gas line connected to the gas burner for regulating the amount of gas delivered to the gas burner in accordance with pressure of regulator control gas delivered to the flow regulator device through a control gas line, gas pressure control apparatus associated with the control gas line for varying the pressure of the control gas delivered to the flow regulator device; and a linearly movable temperature sensing device operable by process fluid temperature and connected to the gas pressure control apparatus to vary the control gas pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1984Date of Patent: October 7, 1986Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Charles R. Gerlach
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Patent number: 4588424Abstract: A fluid pumping system for use with a natural gas dehydrating system or the like having an absorber apparatus for removing water from wet natural gas to produce dry natural gas by use of a desiccant agent such as glycol, and a glycol treater apparatus for producing a source of dry glycol from wet glycol received from the absorber apparatus including a main body having a control bore therethrough for receiving an elongate piston shaft; an elongate main piston shaft reciprocally slideably mounted in the central bore; first and second cylinders removeably mounted on opposite sides of the main body in annular centered relationship with respect to the piston shaft; first and second main pistons mounted at opposite ends of the piston shaft and sealingly slidingly received within the first and second cylinders, each piston dividing an associated cylinder cavity into a dry glycol pumping chamber and a wet glycol driving chamber; and each dry glycol pumping chamber being operatively associated with a pumping chamber iType: GrantFiled: October 16, 1984Date of Patent: May 13, 1986Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Charles R. Gerlach
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Patent number: 4568268Abstract: A housing having an atmospheric air inlet with a baffle separating the housing into a primary air inlet chamber and a combustion chamber. A main burner and a pilot burner extend through the baffle with their metering devices positioned in the primary air chamber and their burner tips positioned in the combustion chamber. A variable air controller for controlling secondary air includes a valve positioned between ambient air and the combustion chamber and controls the amount of secondary air in response to the fuel pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1985Date of Patent: February 4, 1986Assignee: RADOR Limited PartnershipInventors: Charles R. Gerlach, Rodney T. Heath, Alvin Dean
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Patent number: 4474550Abstract: A system for controlling the amount of natural supply gas delivered from a natural gas supply source to a natural gas burner adapted to continually heat a process fluid in a vessel and for enabling the gas burner to continuously automatically maintain the temperature of the process fluid within a predetermined minimum range of temperatures above and below a preset nominal temperature. The system comprises a gas operated flow regulator device associated with a supply gas line connected to the gas burner for regulating the amount of gas delivered to the gas burner in accordance with pressure of regulator control gas delivered to the flow regulator device through a control gas line, gas pressure control apparatus associated with the control gas line for varying the pressure of the control gas delivered to the flow regulator device; and a linearly movable temperature sensing device operable by process fluid temperature and connected to the gas pressure control apparatus to vary the control gas pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1982Date of Patent: October 2, 1984Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Charles R. Gerlach
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Patent number: 4431433Abstract: A liquid motor is driven by pressurized wet glycol, received from an absorber of a natural gas dehydrating system, and utilizes the energy of the pressurized wet glycol to provide the primary source of energy for operating a pump for pumping of dry glycol from a reboiler to the absorber. A gas driven motor regulates the stroking rate of the glycol driven motor. The liquid motor and pump are provided by a single stage double acting piston in a cylinder with fluid intake and exhaust valving and passages to alternately fill and exhaust the motor side of the cylinder while the opposite pump side of the cylinder is simultaneously alternately filled and exhausted. A spool type valve rod, associated with the glycol driven motor, is operated by the gas driven motor to regulate the rate of reciprocation of the glycol driven motor and to provide a secondary source of energy therefor. Intake and exhaust of wet glycol to the motor side of the cylinder is controlled by gas applied to another spool type valve rod.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1982Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Inventors: Charles R. Gerlach, Rodney T. Heath
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Patent number: 4402652Abstract: A liquid motor is driven by pressurized wet glycol, received from an absorber of a natural gas dehydrating system, and utilizes the energy of the pressurized wet glycol to provide the primary source of energy for operating a pump for pumping of dry glycol from a reboiler to the absorber. A gas driven motor regulates the stroking rate of the glycol driven motor. The liquid motor and pump each have a two stage double acting piston in cylinders with fluid intake and exhaust valving and passages to alternately fill and exhaust the motor cylinders while the opposing pump cylinders are simultaneously alternately filled and exhausted. A spool type valve rod, associated with the glycol driven motor, is operated by the gas driven motor to regulate the rate of reciprocation of the glycol driven motor and to provide a secondary source of energy therefor.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1981Date of Patent: September 6, 1983Inventors: Charles R. Gerlach, Rodney T. Heath
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Patent number: 3976407Abstract: A fluid power converter having a rotor and stator rotatable with respect to one another about a common axis and having coacting sides in which an annular seal is positioned between the coacting sides for limiting fluid flow therethrough thereby providing increased efficiency and maintaining rotor vane fluid loading. Preferably, the center of the annular seal is eccentrically positioned relative to the common axis whereby the seal continuously and periodically changes its radial sealing contact with the side of at least one of the members for providing a long life side seal. An annular retaining ring connected to one of the members and positioned inside of said seal and including a second seal between the inner ring and the annular seal. Resilient means acting between said one member and the annular seal for resiliently urging the annular seal towards the second member.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1975Date of Patent: August 24, 1976Assignee: Rineer Hydraulics, Inc.Inventor: Charles R. Gerlach
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Patent number: 3957404Abstract: In a fluid power converter, such as a hydraulic pump or motor, having a rotor and stator with vanes in both the rotor and stator, the improvement in the vanes which are generally rectangular in cross section in which the outer edges of the vanes have a convex curvature of an extent to prevent the sides of the vanes of the rotor and stator from locking on one another upon rotation. However, the curvature is limited to avoid undesirable detenting as the rotor vanes cross the stator vanes. In addition, the maximum slope of the convex curvature is equal to or exceeds the maximum slope of the peripheral surface on the rotor or stator with which the vanes coact to prevent having sharp corners on the vanes which would engage the stator and rotor peripheries and produce rapid wearing of the vanes as well as the peripheries of the stator and rotor which they contact.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1975Date of Patent: May 18, 1976Assignee: Rineer Hydraulics, Inc.Inventor: Charles R. Gerlach
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Patent number: 3944634Abstract: An improved idling system for a carburetor in which the idling fuel is directed into the carburetor or manifold at a point spaced downstream from the throttle valve, and an air bleed modulation passageway for conducting air to a position adjacent the outlet of the idling fuel for controlling the air pressure at the idling fuel outlet for controlling the idle fuel flow rate. The air modulation passageway varying the idle fuel delivery as a function of throttle position and manifold pressure. A vortex chamber having a tangential air inlet for receiving and atomizing the idle fuel and air. Various tail pipe modifications may be connected to the outlet of the vortex for varying the fuel delivery characteristics. A convergent-divergent passageway may be provided between the idle fuel-air mixture prior to its injection into the intake manifold. Hot exhaust gases may be injected into the idle fuel-air mixture for better atomization, and exhaust gas may be used to externally heat the air-gas mixture.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1973Date of Patent: March 16, 1976Assignee: John M. AndersonInventor: Charles R. Gerlach