Patents by Inventor Donald G. Gruett

Donald G. Gruett 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: 7600984
    Abstract: The metering device for a liquid medium comprises a cylinder and a piston operatively disposed therein to define a metering chamber ahead of the piston. The outlet end of the cylinder is open and closed by an evacuation valve. The piston is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid medium in the metering chamber out of the chamber and past the evacuation valve. A check valve located in the metering chamber moves from a closed to an open position on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber and thus provide for more accurate metering. The metering device may include means to regulate the length of the working stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Michael J. Wech
  • Patent number: 7118352
    Abstract: The metering device for a liquid medium comprises a cylinder and a piston operatively disposed therein to define a metering chamber ahead of the piston. The outlet end of the cylinder is open and closed by an evacuation valve. The piston is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid medium in the metering chamber out of the chamber and past the evacuation valve. A check valve located in the metering chamber moves from a closed to an open position on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber and thus provide for more accurate metering. The metering device may include means to regulate the length of the working stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Michael J. Wech
  • Patent number: 6164924
    Abstract: A single-piece piston and drive assembly for use in a motor-actuated pump to meter a predetermined amount of lubricant or other liquid. The drive assembly includes a rotatable drive shaft, an eccentric cam insert, a cam rod, and a rocking beam. The rocking beam is coupled to the piston, the cam rod shaft, and a biasing mechanism. When the drive shaft is rotated, movement of the cam rod shaft causes the rocking beam to pivot and move the piston along a stroke to dispense the liquid. The piston operates in association with a flow adjustment stem that regulates the amount of liquid metered by the pump, and a valve assembly for evacuating the liquid from the pump chamber into and through an outlet fitting.Also provided is a flow volume indicator for use in a pump for indicating the amount of liquid being discharged. The flow volume indicator has a main body with an annular side wall, flexible base wall, and a knobbed pointer that is inserted into a bore of the pump body and coupled to the flow adjustment stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Michael Wech
  • Patent number: 6071097
    Abstract: A single-piece piston for use in a pneumatically-activated pump to meter a predetermined amount of lubricant or other liquid. The piston has a grooved end that includes a head portion and a circumferentially-disposed angled channel for containing a sealing member such as an O-ring. An adjacent stem section includes a longitudinally-disposed channel that is in fluid-flow connection with the angled channel. The piston is disposed within a chamber of the body of the pump. Lateral movement of the piston within the body causes the sealing member to shift and block and unblock the end of the longitudinal channel which allows liquid from a liquid chamber to flow into a slot and to a pump chamber adjacent to the head of the piston's grooved end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Scott Wright, Michael Wech
  • Patent number: 5984652
    Abstract: A single-piece piston for use in a pneumatically-activated pump to meter a predetermined amount of lubricant or other liquid. The piston has a grooved end that includes a head portion and a circumferentially-disposed angled channel for containing a sealing member such as an O-ring. An adjacent stem section includes a longitudinally-disposed channel that is in fluid-flow connection with the angled channel. The piston is disposed within a chamber of the body of the pump. Lateral movement of the piston within the body causes the sealing member to shift and block and unblock the end of the longitudinal channel and an aperture in the angled channel, which allows liquid from a liquid chamber to flow into a central bore in the piston and to a pump chamber adjacent to the head of the piston's grooved end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Scott Wright
  • Patent number: 5961299
    Abstract: A pneumatically-operated pump is provided that includes a body having a central bore with a liquid chamber for a slidable piston injector, a chamber for a removable reservoir, and an inlet and outlet for a gas. A priming conduit carries liquid from the reservoir mounted on the body to the injector in the liquid chamber which injects the liquid into a liquid line coupled to a fitting on the pump. The liquid line carries lubricant or other liquid from the pump (e.g., air tool lubricator) to an air tool or other article. A priming pump is mounted on the body and is capable of delivering a predetermined amount of liquid from the reservoir to the liquid chamber. The priming pump is used to fill the liquid line with liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Scott Wright
  • Patent number: 5638920
    Abstract: An air tool lubricator which includes a body having an inlet and an outlet for a gas, a top bore, and a lubricant chamber. The first end of a lubricant conduit is coupled in fluid-flowing relation to the lubricant chamber, and the second end of the lubricant conduit is disposed in the outlet of the body and is capable of being coupled to a lubricant line. The lubricant line carries lubricant from the air tool lubricator to an air tool. Located within the lubricant chamber and capable of delivering a predetermined amount of lubricant into the lubricant conduit is a lubricant metering device or injector. Mounted on the body is a reservoir which is capable of holding a liquid lubricant, and which has a priming conduit through which lubricant may be delivered to the bore of the body. A priming pump is mounted on the reservoir and is capable of delivering a predetermined amount of lubricant from the reservoir to the lubricant chamber. The priming pump is used to fill the lubricant line with lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett
  • Patent number: 5323653
    Abstract: A fluid level detection apparatus including a support member; first and second end blocks which are slidably engageable with the support member and which each have a passageway; a seal borne by each of the end blocks and disposed in each of the passageways, and a transparent tube telescopingly received in the respective passageways, and defining a fluid passageway or chamber; the present invention disposed in fluid flowing relation relative to an object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett
  • Patent number: 5253984
    Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently applying a subject liquid on an object of interest is disclosed. The apparatus includes a metering device (30), a discharge tube (280) and a nozzle (290). The metering device (30) includes a cylinder (115) and a piston (165) which is operatively disposed within the cylinder to define a metering chamber (177) ahead of the piston. The metering device (30) includes a liquid inlet (108) and a liquid outlet (109). Fluid flow to the liquid outlet (109) is controlled by a check valve (130). The piston (165) is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid in the metering chamber (177), out of the metering chamber, and past the check valve (130). The piston (165) breaks the plane of the open end of the cylinder on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber (177), and thus provide for a more accurate metering. The nozzle (290) includes a fluid passageway (301) which is disposed in fluid flowing relation relative to the metering device (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Scott D. Wright
  • Patent number: 4784578
    Abstract: The metering device for a liquid medium comprises a cylinder and a piston operatively disposed therein to define a metering chamber ahead of the piston. The outlet end of the cylinder is open and closed by check valve means. The piston is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid medium in the metering chamber out of the chamber and past the check valve means. The piston breaks the plane of the open end of the cylinder on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber and thus provide for more accurate metering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett
  • Patent number: 4784584
    Abstract: The metering device for a liquid medium comprises a cylinder and a piston operatively disposed therein to define a metering chamber ahead of the piston. The outlet end of the cylinder is open and closed by check valve means. The piston is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid medium in the metering chamber out of the chamber and past the check valve means. The piston breaks the plane of the open end of the cylinder on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber and thus provide for more accurate metering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett
  • Patent number: 4577728
    Abstract: A metering valve for the drop feeding of a liquid lubricant includes a metering assembly disposed in a valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet. The metering assembly includes a cylindrical member having a peripherally disposed spiral groove. A sleeve is press fit on the cylindrical member to render the groove a closed spiral metering channel. The metering channel communicates with an outlet in the cylindrical member that is generally aligned with the chamber outlet. An O-ring seal surrounds the aligned outlets and is disposed between the floor of the chamber and the metering assembly to preclude passage of lubricant from the chamber except by passage through the metering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Oil Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett
  • Patent number: 4529514
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a slidable tubular member which in a first position provides for flow communication from an inlet passage through a filter element to a filter chamber outlet. Upon removal of the filter housing and filter element the tubular member is biased to a second position to effect a flow shut off between the inlet passage and the tubular member. The filter assembly may further include an outlet passage in flow communication with the inlet passage, and a valve seat is axially aligned with the tubular member and disposed between the inlet passage and outlet passage. A valve member on the end of the tubular member is engageable with the valve seat to preclude flow between the inlet passage and outlet passage when the tubular member is in the first position and providing for flow communication between the inlet passage and the filter chamber outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett
  • Patent number: 4034831
    Abstract: There is disclosed an oiler assembly for lubricating at least one lubrication point capable of drawing and maintaining a vacuum. The assembly includes a source of supply of oil lubricant and feed units corresponding in number to the lubrication points and connected to the common supply. The feed units have a suction outlet and include a standpipe communicating with the supply of oil lubricant. The feed units further include a sump separated from the corresponding standpipes by a common wall. At least one wire or rod element extends over the common wall and delivers oil lubricant from the standpipe to the sump. The feed units also include passage means placing the suction outlet in communication with the sump with a portion of the passage means being disposed higher than the common wall. The oil lubricant feed rate is adjustable by the removal or addition of wire or rod elements between the standpipe and sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1973
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Gruett