Patents by Inventor Walter Graf

Walter Graf 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: 7954601
    Abstract: A lubricant dispenser includes a lubricant container that has an outlet opening for lubricant, a piston disposed in the lubricant container, and a cap connected with the lubricant container, having a device for generating a gas that impacts the piston. The device for gas generation has a gas cell with an electrolyte fluid and electrodes for electrochemical gas generation, a power source, as well as an electrical connection between the power source and the electrodes with a switch. The cap is a plastic injection-molded part produced in one piece, formed from several parts, using the multi-component injection-molding method, which part is made of an outer ring made of insulation material and an insert that forms the gas cell, having two electrically conductive wall regions as electrodes, as well as having an intermediate piece that separates the conductive regions. The insert contains a sponge saturated with electrolyte fluid, and is closed off with a plastic lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: perma-tec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 7563355
    Abstract: A cell for gas generation is provided, particularly for the operation of a lubricant dispenser. The cell has two electrodes to be connected to a circuit containing a power source, and an aqueous electrolyte fluid located between the two electrodes, containing an azide having the formula XN3, for electrochemical generation of a gas containing nitrogen (N2). The electrolyte fluid contains a magnesium salt as an additive, for chemical binding of hydroxide ions that are formed during the electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: perma-tec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Michael Weigand, Robert Glier, Renate Glier
  • Publication number: 20080226953
    Abstract: A cell for gas generation is provided, particularly for the operation of a lubricant dispenser. The cell has two electrodes to be connected to a circuit containing a power source, and an aqueous electrolyte fluid located between the two electrodes, containing an azide having the formula XN3, for electrochemical generation of a gas containing nitrogen (N2). The electrolyte fluid contains a magnesium salt as an additive, for chemical binding of hydroxide ions that are formed during the electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Michael Weigand, Robert Glier, Renate Glier
  • Publication number: 20060180395
    Abstract: A lubricant dispenser includes a lubricant container that has an outlet opening for lubricant, a piston disposed in the lubricant container, and a cap connected with the lubricant container, having a device for generating a gas that impacts the piston. The device for gas generation has a gas cell with an electrolyte fluid and electrodes for electrochemical gas generation, a power source, as well as an electrical connection between the power source and the electrodes with a switch. The cap is a plastic injection-molded part produced in one piece, formed from several parts, using the multi-component injection-molding method, which part is made of an outer ring made of insulation material and an insert that forms the gas cell, having two electrically conductive wall regions as electrodes, as well as having an intermediate piece that separates the conductive regions. The insert contains a sponge saturated with electrolyte fluid, and is closed off with a plastic lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Publication number: 20050205418
    Abstract: A cell for gas generation is provided, particularly for the operation of a lubricant dispenser. The cell has two electrodes to be connected to a circuit containing a power source, and an aqueous electrolyte fluid located between the two electrodes, containing an azide having the formula XN3, for electrochemical generation of a gas containing nitrogen (N2). The electrolyte fluid contains a magnesium salt as an additive, for chemical binding of hydroxide ions that are formed during the electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Michael Weigand, Robert Glier, Renate Glier
  • Publication number: 20040182183
    Abstract: A measurement device is provided for early detection of damage to a machine part that is supplied with lubricant from a decentralized electromechanical lubricant dispenser. The device has a measurement sensor and a measurement instrument that has a circuit board having integrated circuits, interfaces for the measurement sensor and for a connection to an electronic control of the lubricant dispenser, as well as a battery, which is soldered onto the circuit board, in order to prevent voltage drops. The measurement sensor has a device for recording analog measurement signals, provided with power by the measurement instrument. Furthermore, the arrangement is made so that the integrated circuits release the power supply of the measurement sensor at predetermined intervals, only for a short period of time, and interrupt the power supply again after the current measurement values have been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Armin Brand, Michael Zahner, Michael Weigand, Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 6561316
    Abstract: A device for lubricating a rolling bearing. The inventive device comprises a lubricant dispenser (1) connected to the lubricating point of the rolling bearing (7) and a measuring unit (8) allocated to the rolling bearing (7) for detecting the condition of the bearing. The lubricant dispenser (1) comprises a lubricant container with a supply of lubricant (2), a discharge device with an electromotor drive (3) and a control device (4) lined with the measuring device (8). The control device (4) of the lubricant dispenser (1) emits control signals to the electromotor drive (3) at certain intervals prompting it to discharge small amounts of lubricant and changes the discharge times and/or the duration of the discharge intervals if the measuring signal emitted by the measuring unit (8) exceeds a defined value. In this case, a signal for displaying an incipient bearing defect is also emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Perma-Tec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Anton May, Ralf Albert, Peter Fenn, Armin Brand
  • Patent number: 6125969
    Abstract: A plurality of lubricant dispensers with respective microprocessor controllers are connected to a central microcomputer and can count up the number of revolutions of the respective spindle so that local lubrication at different sites of a machine will satisfy the site requirement even if the machine operation and lubrication have been interrupted. The controller of the dispenser includes a data store responsive to the dispensing time which is reset when a new reservoir is hooked up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Perma-Tec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Anton May
  • Patent number: 5669839
    Abstract: A flowable lubricant is metered in pulses to a chain drive under the control of the computer programmed to respond to measurement of the chain drive speed so that, when the speed of the chain drive is below a threshold level above which centrifugal force can cause loss of lubricant, the lubricant can flow in pulses to the chain drive. When, however, the speed of the chain drive rises to the threshold value, the pulse dispenser is blocked and the supply of lubricant pulses is terminated. The lubricant pulses which are not supplied during the interval are stored. When pulse supply of lubrication is restored, the stored lubricant pulses are supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Ulrich Immisch, Anton May
  • Patent number: 5634531
    Abstract: An automatic lubricant dispenser has a vessel adapted to hold a supply of a fluent lubricant and having one side formed with an outlet adapted to be connected to a machine to be lubricated and an opposite side, a piston in the vessel movable forward toward the one side to force the lubricant from the outlet, and an electric drive connected to the piston and electrically energizable to advance the piston forward. An electric power source is connected via an electrical circuit to the drive for periodically energizing the drive and thereby advancing the piston an increment and pumping a dose of the lubricant from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Ulrich Immisch
  • Patent number: 5598901
    Abstract: An automatic pressurizable lubricant dispenser has a vessel adapted to hold a supply of a fluent lubricant and having one side formed with an outlet adapted to be connected to a machine to be lubricated, a cover, and a cap fittable like a piston in the vessel and forming with the cover a substantially closed compartment holding a supply of a reactive liquid. The cover is formed with a seat opening into the compartment and extending along an axis and a removable partition closes the seat and segregates it from the liquid-holding compartment. A cartridge body fittable in the seat is movable therein between a partially inserted position and a fully inserted position and is formed unitarily of plastic with a cylindrical collar formed with a pair of diametrally opposite cutouts and having an outer end. The outer end moves from nonengagement with the partition in the partially inserted position to engagement through the partition in the fully inserted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 5547043
    Abstract: A lubricant dispenser has a housing, a piston subdividing the housing into a pair of compartments one of which is generally closed and the other of which is adapted to be connected to a machine to be lubricated, a body of a reactive liquid in the one closed compartment, and a body of a fluent lubricant in the other compartment. The piston is movable against the lubricant body to force same from the housing to the machine. A reactive element in the one compartment can react with the liquid and form a gas when immersed in the reactive liquid to push the piston with the gas against the lubricant body and expel the lubricant from the housing. The reactive element is constituted as a coherent block by a multiplicity of particles of an active substance capable of reacting with the liquid and forming a gas on reaction therewith and a multiplicity of particles intermixed and in electrically conductive engagement with the active particles of a substance that is substantially less reactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Graf, Ulrich Immisch
  • Patent number: 5460242
    Abstract: A cartridge containing a current-generating cell and a gas-generating cell electrically connected therewith is received in a cylindrical seat of a bottom part of a unit fitting into an end of a lubricant receptacle housing and closing this end thereof. The lubricant receptacle housing can be connected by a fitting at the opposite end of a machine to be lubricated. The unit has a cover cap on its bottom part which can be forced off the latter when gas is generated in the unit to displace the lubricant out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 5409084
    Abstract: An automatic pressurizable lubricant dispenser has a vessel adapted to hold a supply of a fluent lubricant and having one side formed with an outlet adapted to be connected via a conduit to a machine to be lubricated and another open side and a cover engaged over the other side and fitted with a cap fittable snugly like a piston in the vessel and forming with the cover a substantially closed compartment holding a supply of a reactive liquid. The cover is formed with a seat opening into the compartment. A gas-generating cartridge fits into the seat and has an element capable of reacting with the liquid and forming a gas. A removable partition closes the seat and segregates it from the liquid-holding compartment. The cartridge is constructed so as to remove the partition and contact the element with the liquid for generating gas in the compartment and forcing the cap like a piston away from the cover into the vessel to pressurize the fluent lubricant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 5402913
    Abstract: A dispenser of a flowable medium, especially a lubricant, with a flexible wall tube forming the pumping chamber which is connected to a container for the flowable medium by a check-valve and feeds a dispensing nozzle. The pumping chamber is deformed by a plunger actuated by a lever in turn displaced by a solenoid whose linearly displaceable rod bears upon the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 5386883
    Abstract: An automatic pressurizable lubricant dispenser has a vessel adapted to hold a supply of a fluent lubricant and having one side formed with an outlet adapted to be connected via a conduit to a machine to be lubricated and another open side and a cover engaged over the other side and fitted with a cap fittable snugly like a piston in the vessel and forming with the cover a substantially closed compartment holding a supply of a reactive liquid. The cover is formed with a seat opening into the compartment. A gas-generating cartridge fits into the seat and has an element capable of reacting with the liquid and forming a gas. A removable partition closes the seat and segregates it from the liquid-holding compartment. The cartridge is constructed so as to remove the partition and contact the element with the liquid for generating gas in the compartment and forcing the cap like a piston away from the cover into the vessel to pressurize the fluent lubricant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 5360084
    Abstract: A lubricating and cleaning unit for chains and rails has a pair of parallel shanks of a shoe and a crosspiece receiving a U-shaped brush in a groove which distributes lubricant through bores in the shanks and crosspiece of the brush to respective bristle bundles. One or more automatic feeders can be connected to threaded openings of the lubricant-distribution bores opening along the sides of the body. The unused openings are closed by plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Satzinger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Graf
  • Patent number: 4493792
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for minimizing diversion of radioactive samples from a nuclear fuel sampling system. The apparatus includes a sampler for drawing a radioactive sample from a remote vessel containing nuclear fuel. The sampler is located within a shielding enclosure that has solid walls for preventing direct physical access to the sampler. A tray is located in the wall of the enclosure and is used for translating a sample vessel in and out of the enclosure. The apparatus further includes a time lock escapement that periodically immobilizes the tray for a period of time sufficient to minimize diversion of the radioactive samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter A. Graf, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4388273
    Abstract: Apparatus for preventing the diversion of plutonium in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants. The apparatus includes various piping arrangements which prevent plutonium in a liquid state from being drawn out of a nuclear fuel reprocessing cell through conduits which are normally accessible to the operators of the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Walter A. Graf, Jr., Robert C. Breisch
  • Patent number: 4334507
    Abstract: The invention provides a piston formed by casting a metal piston body under pressure around an insert, the body being made of aluminium or aluminium alloy and the insert being made of a porous layer having a thickness 20 to 50 times the pore diameter and completely filled with the piston body metal which projects from the body into the pores of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventors: Hans J. Kohnert, Walter Graf, Ladislaus Jakl-Banka, Manfred Rohrle