Patents by Inventor Robert F. Tammera

Robert F. Tammera 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: 5509452
    Abstract: An improved vapor recovery system for a fuel dispensing nozzle having an automatic shut-off. The improvement includes a lockout for activating the automatic shut-off, an activating collar having one end adjacent to the lock-out and able to engage the lock-out when the nozzle is dispensing fuel, and a seal enclosing the lock-out and the collar, the seal having (i) a cup-shaped portion at end that fits over and circumferentially around the fuel inlet while the nozzle is dispensing fuel, (ii) a middle portion that compresses while the nozzle is dispensing fuel, and (iii) an interior constriction that engages the end of the collar opposite of the lock-out so as to prevent back splashed fuel from entering the portion of the seal enclosing the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Robert F. Tammera
  • Patent number: 5413705
    Abstract: A retrofittable filterless drain separator has an outer housing with a spherical section and an inner holding area including an inner spherical segment which is positioned and spaced apart from the spherical section of the outer housing. The separator includes vane in an inlet portion thereof which serves to direct passing liquids against an inner spherical centripetal separator so that the flow path of all liquids together with any entrained solids in the flow path is directed along a curved path which forces separation of particulate material from the liquid. A passage in the centripetal separator section allows liquid to pass through and out of the drain while retaining the solid or particulate matter in the centripetal separator. A component allowing access disposed in the spherical section of the outer housing permits easy access to the internal surface of the centripetal separator to facilitate the removal of any entrapped solid or particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventors: Robert F. Tammera, Robert J. Dallara
  • Patent number: 5372792
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cylindrical reactor vessel having a top end with an inlet and a bottom end with an outlet end. A refractory insulating lining is applied on the interior of the wall of the vessel. A cylindrical vertically disposed first inner basket having a generally closed top first end and an open second end in communication with the outlet conduit and having fluid pervious sidewalls surrounded by a vertically disposed outer cylindrical second basket defining a space therebetween for containment of subdivided contact material. The cylindrical second basket also has a top end, which is closed, and fluid pervious sidewalls. The cylindrical second basket is spaced away from the refractory lining of the vessel at a sufficient distance, to provide an annular space for fluid, admitted through the inlet, to progress downwardly through the annular space and then radially inwardly through the contact material contained in the space between the first and second basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Rodney T. Mueller, Catherine M. Murray, Donald F. Shaw, Robert F. Tammera
  • Patent number: 5356219
    Abstract: The instrumentation probe of the present invention comprises a tubular housing for enclosing a sensing element, the tubular housing being adapted to project into a process stream. The tubular housing is surrounded by an outer casing that has its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing and which outer casing is aerodynamically shaped to be substantially non-disruptive of the flow of the process stream while protecting the tubular housing from erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Tammera, Donald F. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5275641
    Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention, in one embodiment, encompasses an apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feed comprising: a riser which is generally vertically positioned within a catalyst disengaging zone and which has a plurality of openings around the circumference of the riser at its discharge end. The openings in the riser have a vertical stub portion that extends tangentially outwardly from the riser and communicates with a first end of an upwardly sloping curvilinear tunnel that terminates at a second end. The second end of the tunnel opens into a tangential opening in the primary cyclone. The area of the opening of the first end of the tunnel is larger than the area of the opening of the second end of the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert F. Tammera, Donald F. Shaw, Kenneth J. Reinman, George Melfi
  • Patent number: 5190650
    Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention, in one embodiment, encompasses an apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feed comprising: a riser which is generally vertically positioned within a catalyst disengaging zone and which has a plurality of openings around the circumference of the riser at its discharge end. The openings in the riser have a vertical stub portion that extends tangentially outwardly from the riser and communicates with a first end of an upwardly sloping curvilinear tunnel that terminates at a second end. The second end of the tunnel opens into a tangential opening in the primary cyclone. The area of the opening of the first end of the tunnel is larger than the area of the opening of the second end of the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Tammera, Donald F. Shaw, Kenneth J. Reinman, George Melfi
  • Patent number: 5169355
    Abstract: A number of miniature passenger figures and/or other objects are disposed along the loading platform of a toy train station awaiting arrival of a train. When the train stops at the station, a control switch is operated to swing the passengers upward to a hidden area under the station roof. When the train leaves the station, the passengers are no longer in view on the platform and appear to have boarded the train. A reverse action simulates the detraining of passengers when a train arrives at an empty platform. The passenger figures are mounted along a common base plate having a vertical lift bar connected by a linkage and slide plate mechanism to a dual coil electromagnetic drive. A controller actuates the drive and linkages to swing the plate and passengers upward through an arc to a horizontal position under the roof out of view. The controller and drive also return the passengers to the platform for the reverse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventor: Robert F. Tammera
  • Patent number: 5101855
    Abstract: An improved cyclone trickle valve assembly is provided, which includes a cyclone that has a vertical dipleg having an inner cylindrical wall. An annular ring is horizontally disposed in the dipleg and is joined to the inner wall. Importantly, a pair of cooperably clamshell doors are positioned within the dipleg and are pivotably supported by the annular ring for mutual opposite swinging movement between a closed position wherein the doors adjoin along a midline, and an open position wherein the doors swing outwardly with respect to the midline, thereby substantially preventing gases from progressing upwardly through the dipleg above the annular ring when the clamshell doors are in a closed position and permitting solids to progress downwardly through the dipleg when the doors are in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Robert F. Tammera
  • Patent number: 4917649
    Abstract: A toy load carrying vehicle includes a body having a cavity and a load which is movable into and out of the cavity to simulate loading and unloading. The load includes a downwardly extending tab engageable with surface tabs at the ends of a path travelled by the vehicle. As the vehicle moves from one end to the other the engaging tabs cause the load to move into and out of the body. The vehicle may be a toy fork lift truck which moves along a toy train platform from a building at one end to a train car on tracks alongside the platform at the other end. The platform includes a slotted path and a drive mechanism below the platform connected to the truck through the slot to move the truck and load along the path. The load is moved out of the truck when it engages a tab within the building to simulate the loading and is moved into the truck when it engages a tab at the edge of the platform to simulate unloading at the train car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Inventor: Robert F. Tammera