Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Lehrke

Kenneth E. Lehrke 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: 6168308
    Abstract: A mechanical proportioner is provided with two pump lowers which are connected together by a yolk underneath an air-operated reciprocating piston pump. The pumps are staggered axially so as to enable overlapping of certain portions thereof thereby enabling the center-to-center distance to be minimized. The mix manifold is constructed in a concentric fashion such that mixed material does not come into contact with the mix manifold until it enters the static mixer at the exit of the manifold which is an easily disposable and replaceable part. The purge solvent valves on the mix manifold are each provided with an extension of their respective handles. If either purge valve is in its open position, a separate interlock handle operating the A and B side valves at the manifold inlet is prevented from opening. Similarly, if the interlock handle operating the A and B side valves is open, the purge valves cannot be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Pittman, Kenneth E. Lehrke, John F. Isais, Vicky J. Peterson, Adam R. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 5961300
    Abstract: A relatively inexpensive and easy to operate plural component dispensing apparatus is made up of one or more double sided pumps, such as an air-operated double diaphragm pump. The manifolding on the pumps is divided so that each side of the pump pumps one of the components of the plural component material with an integrator (18) attached to the outputs of the two sides to bring the out-of-phase output of the pump into phase. Diaphragm type isolation valves (116) are optionally provided on the output of each side of the pump in order to prevent back flow of mixed material. In the event that ratios other than 1:1 are required, more than one such pump may be used together in order to result in a variety of ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Jan E. Pitzer, Kenneth E. Lehrke
  • Patent number: 5362148
    Abstract: A rotary agitator with a concentric suction tube suspended from a housing which has a seal connection for attachment to a drum or other large container. The suction tube is fixedly mounted within the housing and includes a flow path extending from a bottom end below the rotary agitator and to a top end above the rotary agitator. A drive motor is affixed to the housing and is coupled to the rotary agitator by a belt drive and pulley attachment to the exterior walls of the agitator tube; the lower portion of the agitator tube having a helical screw for immersion into the liquid contained in the drum or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Lehrke, Gerard L. Lehman, Scott C. Losey
  • Patent number: 5277494
    Abstract: A liquid integrator apparatus for insertion into a liquid flow line, for blending together leading and lagging incremental liquid flow volumes, the apparatus including a housing attachable to the liquid flow line, a cylindrical insert in the housing, the insert having a helical groove about its outer surface. The helical groove is substantially deeper than it is wide, and has a hydraulic radius of less than about 0.04, and the helical groove is sufficiently long so as to contain a liquid volume approximately twice the volume of incremental liquid for which blending is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Graco
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Lehrke, Martin P. McCormick
  • Patent number: 5145339
    Abstract: A multiple piston cylinder reciprocating pump is provided with a cam drive such that the sum of the velocities during the pumping strokes of all of the cylinders is generally constant. The leak free design is provided by utilizing a diaphragm attached to the piston between the main seal assembly and the cam. A flow through intake design is provided which flows incoming material around the piston between the diaphragm and the main seal to prevent the build-up and hardening of material on the piston and in the seal area. The intake and exhaust passages are arranged such that air pockets cannot be formed and any air bubbles which find their way into the pump will rise upwardly out of the pump without restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Lehrke, Bruce A. McFadden
  • Patent number: 4921408
    Abstract: A silencing system is provided for an air-operated pump which also eliminates icing of the pump at higher cycle rates and humidities. The exhaust from the air motor powers an air flow inducer to induce a flow of relatively warm ambient air. The induced flow of ambient air is drawn across cold components of the air motor, and the mixed (ambient and exhaust air) exit stream routed away from the air motor. The relatively warm mixed air exhaust flow also allows noise reduction by conventional acoustical techniques without suffering performance degradation due to icing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kvinge, Frederick A. Powers, Kenneth E. Lehrke
  • Patent number: 4725713
    Abstract: A system for electrically heating a hose of the type used to transport one or more fluid components from a remote location to a point of application includes at least one fluid conduit and an electric heating element enclosed within a thermal insulation blanket to form a hose construction having predetermined heat transfer characteristics. A remotely positioned module enclosed in a thermal insulation blanket and containing an electric heater and temperature sensor provides a hose simulator having heat transfer characteristics substantially identical to that of the hose. An electrical power drive circuit connected in parallel to the hose heating element and the module heater is controlled by a temperature control circuit responsive to the temperature sensed within the module by the temperature sensor. The temperature control circuit is further responsive to an ambient temperature sensor physically separated from the hose and module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Lehrke
  • Patent number: 4501952
    Abstract: A fluid heater, particularly for heating paints, lacquers, varnishes and other spray coating material, includes an elongated hollow tube adapted to be inserted into a fluid flow line for fluid flow through the tube. An electric resistance heater is disposed within the tube and is surrounded by a helical coil member to create a helical fluid flow path through the tube. A temperature control system for regulating the operation of the heater is provided and includes a temperature sensing probe comprising a temperature responsive resistance element enclosed in a conical housing extending into the helical fluid flow path and having its apex contacting the heater and its conical surface area increasing in a direction away from the heater and extending across the cross section of the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Lehrke
  • Patent number: 3982569
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for filling a pneumatic tire with fluid which solidifies on curing, including a fluid pumping connection to the tire air valve, a tire penetrating connection having an air relief passage to permit trapped air to escape from the tire, and a sensing and safety circuit for stopping the filling operation whenever the tire becomes filled with fluid or whenever the air escape mechanism ceases operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Gleason, Kenneth E. Lehrke