Patents by Inventor John S. Zink

John S. Zink 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: 6260499
    Abstract: The device of the present invention, an enclosure for partially submerged boat keels, rudders and lower units, is a box-like structure constructed to enclose those described parts extending downwards from the hull of a boat when the boat is lifted from the water on a hoist in such a manner as to prevent direct contact with the water. The device is positioned about the submerged portion of the keel, rudder or lower unit and then emptied of water, resulting in flotation of the upper portions of the enclosure to a level above the surrounding waterline. By thus preventing continuous direct contact with water during periods of storage, the adverse effects of bottom growth and gelcoat blistering are reduced or eliminated, thus enhancing performance underway and reducing maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventors: Richard Ernest Steel, John S Zink
  • Patent number: 4527795
    Abstract: A tethered swimmer's tank for permitting a person to perform swimming exercises within a limited space being comprised of an open topped, water-filled tank and a harness device which is attached to said person for holding said person in a stationary position while perform various swimming exercises. A pulley is mounted to the tank behind the swimmer. An indicator is mounted forward of the swimmer within his/her field of view slightly above the top of the water and below the top of the tank. A cable passes around the pulleys with one end being attached to the harness and the other end attached to the indicator to measure the force exerted by the swimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Inventor: John S. Zink
  • Patent number: 4257762
    Abstract: A multi-fuel gas burner using preheated forced draft air, comprising a cylindrical inner burner tube, supported by the wall of a furnace, and inserted into an opening in said wall, and including means to inject through the upstream end combustion air preheated to a selected temperature, and compressed to a selected pressure. The downstream end of the inner burner tube closed, and a plurality of longitudinal slots, circumferentially spaced, in the wall of the tube at the closed end. Means to inject rich fuel gas up to 3,500 btu/cu feet under selected pressure into the inner burner tube along its axis. An outer burner tube axially surrounding said inner burner tube and forming an annular passage therebetween. Means to pass low pressure, lean, combustible gas of as low as 50 btu/cu feet down said annular passage and outwardly through a circumferential slot at the end of said outer burner tube inside the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert D. Reed, Horst M. Glomm, Klaus E. Sawatski
  • Patent number: 4227872
    Abstract: In a flare stack system for the flaring of waste gases, in which the flare stack is equipped with steam injection parts, such as nozzles or manifolds, adjacent the flame zone at the outlet end of the stack, means are provided for alternate injection of air from a blower, or live steam, through the steam injection parts. The alternate flow is controlled by two pneumatically controlled valves, one in the blower air line, and the other in the steam line, such that when one valve is closed, the other is open, and vice versa. The objective of the alternate supply of air and steam is for the purpose of cooling the steam injection parts when the full flow of steam is not required, because there is no waste gas flow or only a minimal gas flow. In that case, the heat of the maintenance gas flow may be sufficient to injure the steam injection parts, which must be cooled by passage of a gas through them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1980
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert D. Reed
  • Patent number: 4201191
    Abstract: Apparatus for vaporization of liquids having a boiling point lower than that of water, comprising a vessel having at least three narrow planar plena, contiguous to each other, so that there is a single metal wall between each adjacent pair of plena. Gaseous fuel and air is supplied to the first plenum to provide a downflowing flame and hot products of combustion which, at the bottom of the first plenum, pass through the wall into the second plenum, which is filled with water. The hot gases and water rise rapidly in the second plenum and the water flows over the intervening wall into the third plenum, which is also filled with water, which moves downwardly and back under the wall separating the second and third plena, and again rises in the second plenum. A vertical array of horizontal pipes is arranged in the third plenum, through which the liquid to be vaporized is flowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert D. Reed
  • Patent number: 4188183
    Abstract: Apparatus for the smokeless combustion of gases, supplied at substantial pressure, such that they will aspirate the required combustion air when discharged to atmospheric pressure. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart burner assemblies, each of which has a plurality of orifices arranged in a circular symmetrical pattern. Each burner assembly comprises a vertical tube supplying gas, with a plurality of short substantially radial arms, each of which has a plurality of orifices in its top surface. The arms themselves are tilted upwardly at a selected angle to the horizontal so that the orifices that are perpendicular to the arms will provide gas jets which will intersect each other along the axis of the assembly. In another embodiment, the top surface of the arms form a plane fingered plate of substantial thickness. The orifices are drilled at a selected angle toward the axis, in the top surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert D. Reed, Robert E. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4154572
    Abstract: An improved flare system in which steam is injected into the column of gas to be burned, from circumferential nozzles at at least two spaced levels, above the tip of the flare stack. A circular manifold surrounds the stack just below the tip and an even number of small diameter riser pipes are attached to the manifold, spaced equally circumferentially. The riser pipes have nozzles all of which are directed radially inwardly and upwardly at a selected angle. Half of the nozzles are spaced at a first selected distance above the tip of the flare stack, and the other half are positioned at a greater selected elevation above the tip of the flare stack. Alternate risers have different elevations of the nozzles. By this means, a minimum diameter of the cross-section of the gas flow is occluded by the steam flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Reed, John S. Zink, Robert E. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4105394
    Abstract: A smokeless burner apparatus for single structure flare systems which is capable of simultaneously burning emergency dumped gases from high and low pressure sources with minimal energy requirements for the low pressure gas combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Reed, John S. Zink, Robert E. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4098566
    Abstract: Apparatus for the injection of steam for the smokeless combustion of waste gases, comprising an annular chamber of substantially the same inner diameter as the top of the flare stack, the chamber mounted on top of the flare stack and extending outwardly a selected radial distance, and vertically a selected height above the top of the flare stack. Steam is supplied to this annular chamber. A plurality of circumferentially spaced pipes are provided in the top of the annular chamber and are deflected outwardly in radial planes at selected angles. There are a plurality of inwardly and upwardly directed orifices for the injection of steam into the flame of the burning gases above the top of the annular chamber as well as to the gases prior to emergence for burning. Additionally, there may be a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial pipes inserted through the inner wall of the annular chamber in a horizontal plane a selected distance down from the top of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert D. Reed
  • Patent number: 4080883
    Abstract: An improved construction for an upwardly extending flare stack for the emergency venting to the atmosphere of large quantities of combustible gases, such improvement being for the purpose of preventing the inflow, and upstream flow of air, into the flare stack, comprising an annular obstruction means attached to the inner surface of the flare stack a short distance upstream of the downstream end of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert D. Reed, Robert E. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 3973899
    Abstract: Apparatus for using exhaust low pressure steam for smoke suppression in flares by mixing the steam with the vented hydrocarbon gases prior to combustion, and prior to flow to the flare stack. The device comprises a cylindrical housing with means at a first end for the inflow of hydrocarbon vent gases, and outflow at the second end of hydrocarbon gases plus water vapor. Exhaust steam is entered through the side wall near the second end and the steam conduit is bent into an axial position, facing upstream of the steam flow. The end of the conduit is closed. There are a plurality of radial pipes of small diameter closed at their outer ends, extending into the steam conduit and between it and the cylindrical housing. A plurality of small diameter holes are drilled into the small pipes in a plane through the small pipes which is transverse to the axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: John Zink Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Reed, John S. Zink
  • Patent number: 3933420
    Abstract: A vertically fired means for the combustion of waste gases in a noise-proof manner having a vertically oriented cylindrical furnace with burner insertion into the bottom of the furnace, which is raised a selected distance above the surface grade. The inlet air opening at the bottom of the furnace is of a cross section area less than a selected fraction of the cross section area of the combustion zone. A cylindrical windshield encircling the bottom of the furnace provides limited access of air to the area below the inlet air opening at the bottom of the furnace to suitably isolate wind flow from the inlet air opening. The cross-sectional area for air flow due to limited access is at least equal to a selected fractional area of the furnace, which is the inlet air opening. Suitable isolation of air flow energies from the inlet air opening requires the limited access area to be no greater than 2.5 times the air inlet area. The inlet air opening is preferably not more than 85% of the furnace area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Inventors: John S. Zink, Robert E. Schwartz, Robert D. Reed