Patents Assigned to Graco Minnesota
  • Patent number: 8757574
    Abstract: A hose reel (10) is supported by a mounting bracket (12) which can be attached on a vertical or horizontal surface and allow for 180 degrees of motion to allow the hose reel (10) to automatically swivel in the direction the hose (14) is being pulled. The bracket mechanism (16) consists of integral mounting bosses (18) on the hose reel enclosures (20), a mounting bracket (12), a tube (22) and a constraint device (24) on the tube (22). The mounting bosses (18) on the hose reel enclosures (20) are designed to orient and constrain the mounting tube (22) to allow for the tube to be installed from either end of the hose reel. The constraining device (24) on the tube (22) locks into an integral opening (26) in the mounting bosses (18) to prevent tube (22) displacement in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Bauck, Zaixing You, Lihui Gao, Xueshui Wu, Jin Tian
  • Patent number: 8756991
    Abstract: A pneumatic sensor/indicator device includes a sensor assembly having a bellows receiving chamber and sensor housing. An elastic bellows is in the bellows receiving chamber. A shaft connects to the bellows so bellows extension/retraction causes shaft axial movement. A magnet connected to the shaft generates a field moving an indicator ring. An indicator dome connects to the sensor body. The indicator ring is in the sensor housing in a non-indicating condition and displaces into the indicator dome providing a visible indicating condition. A flexible sensor tube connected to the sensor/indicator device extends into a well tube having a level sensing tube extending therefrom. A well fluid level rising above a level sensing tube inlet end increases inlet pressure port pressure inducing bellows axial displacement causing indicator device movement toward the indicating condition. The dome and indicating ring are isolated from the well preventing well contents entering and fogging the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20140166125
    Abstract: A melter for a melt system includes a tank, a vibration generating device, and a heater. The tank has a wall for containing a hot melt adhesive, and the vibration generating device vibrates the wall. The heater transfers heat to the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Sebion, Nicholas D. Long, Shaun M. Cook, Mark W. Sheahan, Mark T. Weinberger, Mark J. Brudevold, Joseph E. Tix, John S. Lihwa, Douglas B. Farrow, Robert J. Lind, Paul R. Quam, Daniel P. Ross
  • Publication number: 20140170581
    Abstract: A heating system includes an air motor with an exhaust; a pump for a hot melt dispensing system and driven by the air motor; and a shroud enclosing at least a portion of the air motor and the pump to direct heat from the pump to the exhaust of the air motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Sebion, Nicholas D. Long, Shaun M. Cook, Mark W. Sheahan, Mark T. Weinberger, Mark J. Brudevold, Joseph E. Tix, John S. Lihwa, Douglas B. Farrow, Robert J. Lind, Paul R. Quam, Daniel P. Ross
  • Publication number: 20140124050
    Abstract: A pour spout adapter comprises a housing, a collar and a threaded engagement. The housing has a sealed bore for receiving a tube. The collar has an internal bore coupled to the housing at a rotatable connection so as to permit a tube to extend from the sealed bore through the collar. The threaded engagement is disposed on the internal bore to receive a threaded pour spout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Christopher J. Pellin, Mark T. Weinberger, Andrew M. Spiess
  • Publication number: 20140117047
    Abstract: A hot melt system is described which includes a container of hot melt pellets, a melter, a feed system, a pump, and a dispensing system. A pressure relief system is built around the pump, which may redirect liquefied adhesive from the pump outlet to the pump inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ross, Joseph E. Tix, Matthew R. Theisen, Nicholas K. Studt
  • Publication number: 20140116535
    Abstract: An adhesive melting system comprises a melter, an ultrasonic sensor, and a feed system. The melter contains and melts adhesive. The ultrasonic sensor is positioned to sense a level of adhesive in the melter. The feed system supplies unmelted adhesive to the melter as a function of the sensed level of adhesive in the melter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Daniel P. Ross, Banjamin R. Godding, Bryce J. Gapinski, Nicholas K. Studt, Mark T. Weinberger
  • Publication number: 20140116514
    Abstract: A hot melt dispensing system includes a hopper, a delivery line, a shaker, and an air supply line. The hopper stores hot melt pellets and the delivery line delivers the hot melt pellets from the hopper. The shaker agitates the hot melt pellets. The air supply line supplies air that flows through the shaker to produce vibration and additionally flows through the delivery line to create a vacuum that draws the hot melt pellets through the delivery line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Daniel P. Ross, Kyle A. Bottke
  • Publication number: 20140120254
    Abstract: A hot melt dispensing system includes a melter for heating adhesive pellets into liquefied adhesive pellets and a feed cap connected to the melter. The melter includes a collection surface defining a melter collection area. The feed cap has a feed inlet for receiving a supply of adhesive pellets and air. The feed cap also has a ventilation window system positioned with respect to the feed inlet so as to induce air flow out the ventilation window system and to induce the distribution of the adhesive pellets throughout the melter collection area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ross, Joseph E. Tix
  • Publication number: 20140117048
    Abstract: Heating of hot melt adhesive in a hot melt dispensing system is provided by heaters distributed in a plurality of zones of the system. A controller receives input electric power and distributes that electric power to the heaters on a time sharing basis. The controller delivers power to the heaters as a function of the total current target, a temperature set point, the current draw of each of the heaters, and stored priority criteria such as heating priorities of the zones, a history of on and off periods for each heater, and distance from the temperature set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Brudevold
  • Publication number: 20140119715
    Abstract: A method includes delivering current in parallel to a first resistive heating element, a second resistive heating element and a third resistive heating element during a first operating mode of a hot melt dispensing system, and delivering current in parallel to the first resistive heating element, the second resistive heating element and third and fourth resistive heating elements during a second operating mode of a hot melt dispensing system where the third and fourth resistive heating elements are arranged in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Daniel P. Ross, Benjamin R. Godding, Mark J. Brudevold
  • Patent number: 8708201
    Abstract: A modular platen assembly comprises an annular hub, a wiper ring assembly and a coupling ring. The annular hub is for connecting to a ram of an inductor pump. The wiper ring assembly includes an annular wiper for sealing with a container. The coupling ring is independently joined to the hub and the wiper ring assembly at first and second connections, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Derek R. Shaw, Paul R. Quam
  • Patent number: 8683868
    Abstract: A transducer, generally 10, has a robust, yet very flexible, steel-braid reinforced protective cover 12 which is permanently assembled to a custom machined fitting 14. A typical pressure transducer 16 is threaded through a SST nut 18 and then through the cover 12. Bonding the transducer body to the cover's fitting 14 captures the nut 18 between a flange 16A on the transducer 16 and a shoulder 18A in the nut 18, allowing the nut 18 to be freespinning yet a permanent part of the assembly 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Glen W. Davidson, Thomas E. Pauly
  • Publication number: 20140084025
    Abstract: A pumping system comprises an internal combustion engine, a generator, a pumping unit and a heat recovery system. The generator is driven by the internal combustion engine. The pumping unit is powered by the generator. The heat recovery system thermally couples the internal combustion engine with the pumping unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Mark T. Weinberger, Richard D. Anderson, Jeffrey N. Velgersdyk, Nicholas K. Studt, Gregory A. Regenscheid, Matthew R. Theisen, Kenneth C. Floer, Mark J. Brudevold, Arthur T. Graf
  • Patent number: 8678353
    Abstract: A fluid inlet and distribution system for a volatile organic removal device includes a cabinet having an upper wall and multiple downcomer assemblies positioned within the cabinet accessible through a cabinet access. The multiple downcomer assemblies are divisible into first and second cabinet compartments isolated from each other by a dividing wall. A flow distribution duct assembly connected to the upper wall of the cabinet includes upper, bottom, outward facing and inward facing substantially flat containment walls defining a generally rectangular shaped flow passage. A contaminated fluid inlet is connected to one of the upper, inward facing, or outward facing containment walls. A discharge duct connected to the bottom containment wall is positioned above a receiving chamber operating to equally divide a flow of a contaminated fluid containing a volatile organic compound discharged through the discharge duct equally to the first and second cabinet compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan D. Spicer
  • Publication number: 20140044567
    Abstract: A reciprocating pump comprises a cylinder, an inlet check valve, a piston, an outlet check valve and a purge circuit. The cylinder has a first end and a second end. The inlet check valve is disposed proximate a first end of the cylinder. The piston is disposed within the cylinder between the inlet check valve and the second end. The outlet check valve is disposed within the piston. The purge circuit extends across the inlet check valve and the outlet check valve to fluidly couple the first end and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Bauck, Zaixing You, Xueshui Wu, Clinton Craig Grandahl, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140034754
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing device comprises a housing body, a fluid container, a reciprocating piston fluid pump, a primary drive element and a spray tip. The housing body is configured to be carried and supported by an operator of the hand held airless fluid dispensing device during operation. The fluid container is supported by the housing body. The reciprocating piston fluid pump is coupled to the housing body and comprises at least two pumping chambers configured to be actuated out of phase by at least one piston. The primary drive element is coupled to the housing body and connected to the reciprocating piston fluid pump to actuate the at least one piston. The spray tip is connected to an outlet of at least one of the pumping chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Jerry D. Horning, William M. Blenkush, Eric J. Finstad, Bradley H. Hines, Marius J. Luczak, Diane Olson, Philip K. Snider, Harold D. Johnson, Jimmy Wing Sum Tam
  • Patent number: D703709
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Mark T. Weinberger, Richard D. Anderson, Nicholas K. Studt
  • Patent number: D703710
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Mark T. Weinberger, Richard D. Anderson, Nicholas K. Studt
  • Patent number: D704236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Mark T. Weinberger, Richard D. Anderson, Nicholas K. Studt