Patents by Inventor Peter A. A. Ernst

Peter A. A. Ernst 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).

  • Flow restriction detector for a nozzle assembly
    Patent number: 5537856
    Abstract: A flow restriction detector for a nozzle assembly of a liquid dispensing machine is capable of detecting a blocked or partially blocked nozzle during the cleaning of the nozzle assembly. During nozzle cleaning, a return plate is attached to the nozzle plate of the nozzle assembly to receive a flow of pressurized fluid from the nozzles. Both the inlet and return fluid lines are provided with pressure sensors, and the return line has a constant back pressure applied to it so that the differential between the inlet and return line pressure sensors is in the range 5-10 psi. The pressure differential is monitored during cleaning and from one cleaning to the next for the purpose of identifying a blocked or partially blocked nozzle. A change of as little as 5% from the pressure differential value established for an unblocked system may indicate a partial blockage of a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Purity Packaging, A Division of Great Pacific Enterprises
    Inventors: William J. Kelbrick, Peter A. A. Ernst