Patents by Inventor Peter N. Dufault

Peter N. Dufault 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: 11951498
    Abstract: A spray gun system includes a spray gun, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The spray gun is configured to distribute a mixture of air and fluid onto a working surface. The pressure sensor is fluidly connected to the spray gun and is configured to measure fluid pressure within the spray gun system. The controller is electrically connected to the pressure sensor and is configured to calculate pressure error based on the measured pressure and a pressure set-point. The controller is further configured to increment a counter if the pressure error exceeds an error threshold, perform a flow control to adjust the pressure set-point to achieve a target flow rate in response to determining that the increment counter exceeds a count threshold, and perform a pressure control loop to adjust the fluid pressure within the spray gun system to achieve the pressure set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventor: Peter N Dufault
  • Patent number: 11492786
    Abstract: A method for controlling a system pressure within a closed system includes sending a signal to a pressure control valve corresponding to a pressure set point and actuating the pressure control valve to vary a pilot pressure of a control fluid contained within a pressure control line that is fluidly connected to a pressure regulator. A diaphragm of the pressure regulator is disposed between the pressure control line and a system line and acts on a fluid with the system line to modify the system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20210101165
    Abstract: A spray gun system includes a spray gun, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The spray gun is configured to distribute a mixture of air and fluid onto a working surface. The pressure sensor is fluidly connected to the spray gun and is configured to measure fluid pressure within the spray gun system. The controller is electrically connected to the pressure sensor and is configured to calculate pressure error based on the measured pressure and a pressure set-point. The controller is further configured to increment a counter if the pressure error exceeds an error threshold, perform a flow control to adjust the pressure set-point to achieve a target flow rate in response to determining that the increment counter exceeds a count threshold, and perform a pressure control loop to adjust the fluid pressure within the spray gun system to achieve the pressure set-point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Peter N. Dufault
  • Publication number: 20200123742
    Abstract: A method for controlling a system pressure within a closed system includes sending a signal to a pressure control valve corresponding to a pressure set point and actuating the pressure control valve to vary a pilot pressure of a control fluid contained within a pressure control line that is fluidly connected to a pressure regulator. A diaphragm of the pressure regulator is disposed between the pressure control line and a system line and acts on a fluid with the system line to modify the system pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10550552
    Abstract: A method for controlling a system pressure within a closed system includes sending a signal to a pressure control valve corresponding to a pressure set point and actuating the pressure control valve to vary a pilot pressure of a control fluid contained within a pressure control line that is fluidly connected to a pressure regulator. A diaphragm of the pressure regulator is disposed between the pressure control line and a system line and acts on a fluid with the system line to modify the system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10513839
    Abstract: A method for controlling a system pressure within a closed system includes sending a signal to a pressure control valve corresponding to a pressure set point and actuating the pressure control valve to vary a pilot pressure of a control fluid contained within a pressure control line that is fluidly connected to a pressure regulator. A diaphragm of the pressure regulator is disposed between the pressure control line and a system line and acts on a fluid with the system line to modify the system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10245608
    Abstract: A method of controlling a flow rate includes selecting an operating condition defined by an operating flow rate and an operating pressure, comparing the operating flow rate to a threshold flow rate, and executing an adaptive calibration routing if the operating flow rate is greater than or equal to the threshold flow rate. The adaptive calibration routine includes measuring the operating pressure, measuring a first flow rate through a first meter, and modifying a pressure-flow table based on the operating pressure and the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170043366
    Abstract: A method of controlling a flow rate includes selecting an operating condition defined by an operating flow rate and an operating pressure, comparing the operating flow rate to a threshold flow rate, and executing an adaptive calibration routing if the operating flow rate is greater than or equal to the threshold flow rate. The adaptive calibration routine includes measuring the operating pressure, measuring a first flow rate through a first meter, and modifying a pressure-flow table based on the operating pressure and the first flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170043359
    Abstract: A method for controlling a system pressure within a closed system includes sending a signal to a pressure control valve corresponding to a pressure set point and actuating the pressure control valve to vary a pilot pressure of a control fluid contained within a pressure control line that is fluidly connected to a pressure regulator. A diaphragm of the pressure regulator is disposed between the pressure control line and a system line and acts on a fluid with the system line to modify the system pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Peter N. Dufault, Todd A. Anderson