Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Grau

Thomas C. Grau 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).

  • Vapor blast system with fixed pot pressure
    Patent number: 10875151
    Abstract: A vapor abrasive blast system includes a pump for pumping a water stream to a pressure vessel for pressurizing the pressure vessel to a pot pressure. A water regulator is disposed to regulate the water stream to a fixed water pressure, such that the water stream entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure. The pressure vessel contains a blasting mixture, comprising an abrasive media and water, for introduction to a compressed air stream and application to a substrate. The water entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure to control the pot pressure. The water regulator is configured to output the water stream such that the fixed water pressure is greater than a compressed air pressure in the compressed air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Grau, Nicholas K. Studt, Brandon K. Falkenberg, Bryce J. Gapinski, John W. Turner
  • VAPOR BLAST SYSTEM WITH FIXED POT PRESSURE
    Publication number: 20190270181
    Abstract: A vapor abrasive blast system includes a pump for pumping a water stream to a pressure vessel for pressurizing the pressure vessel to a pot pressure. A water regulator is disposed to regulate the water stream to a fixed water pressure, such that the water stream entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure. The pressure vessel contains a blasting mixture, comprising an abrasive media and water, for introduction to a compressed air stream and application to a substrate. The water entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure to control the pot pressure. The water regulator is configured to output the water stream such that the fixed water pressure is greater than a compressed air pressure in the compressed air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas C. Grau, Nicholas K. Studt, Brandon K. Falkenberg, Bryce J. Gapinski, John W. Turner
  • VAPOR BLAST SYSTEM WITH FIXED POT PRESSURE
    Publication number: 20180207769
    Abstract: A vapor abrasive blast system includes a pump for pumping a water stream to a pressure vessel for pressurizing the pressure vessel to a pot pressure. A water regulator is disposed to regulate the water stream to a fixed water pressure, such that the water stream entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure. The pressure vessel contains a blasting mixture, comprising an abrasive media and water, for introduction to a compressed air stream and application to a substrate. The water entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure to control the pot pressure. The water regulator is configured to output the water stream such that the fixed water pressure is greater than a compressed air pressure in the compressed air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas C. Grau, Nicholas K. Studt, Brandon K. Falkenberg, Bryce J. Gapinski, John W. Turner