Patents by Inventor William D. Vork

William D. Vork 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: 4942899
    Abstract: A fluid pressure regulator is designed with a removable cartridge in which all of the wetted parts of the regulator which are subject to wear by the fluid may be removed from the housing of the regulator without detaching the housing from the plumbing to which it is attached. The valve and valve actuator are designed so as to encourage relatively high velocity fluid flow there through so as to prevent clogging and settling of material therein. The valve actuator is also designed to produce divergent flow outwardly to the diaphragm perimeter preventing clogging and setting of material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Vork, James H. Larson
  • Patent number: 4843841
    Abstract: Gas powered refrigeration units typically utilize a pressure reducing valve after the primary generator to reduce the pressure prior to the secondary generator in the case of a double effect system or prior to the absorber in a single system. In this invention, a fluid powered pump takes the place of the pressure reducing valve and pressurizes the refrigeration fluid from the output of the absorber from the input to the primary generator. The utilization of this motor enables a much reduced use of the main motor in the system and allows substantial reduction in the amount of energy required for operation in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Vork, Richard D. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4789131
    Abstract: A pilot valve assembly is provided which substantially eliminates stalling in air motors. The pilot valve assembly is located on one end over an air piston such that when the air piston hits the trip rod, the trip rod compresses a trip spring which is in turn compressed until the load of the force stored in this spring is sufficient to overcome the inlet air pressurizing the opposite side of the pilot valve and the main spring which also pre-loads the pilot valve. At this point, air is allowed to pass through the open pilot valve, allowing a spool valve to switch over and reverse the direction of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Vork
  • Patent number: 4591096
    Abstract: A centrifugal sprayer of the type having an electric motor driving a disc element, and coupled to a feed mechanism, wherein the feed mechanism is suspended in immersion in the liquid to be sprayed, including interchangeable hollow cone feed members having at least several surface slope angles relative to the vertex of the cone, and an outer housing around the feed mechanism, the housing having a bushing surface in supporting contact with the feed mechanism to maintain constant axial position during rotation of the cone feed mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Polaris Home Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Irving F. Snyder, William D. Vork, Michael Itzin
  • Patent number: 4263003
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for mixing liquids in closed containers wherein the container is partially filled with a liquid such as paint and is moved over a closed path in a vertical plane such that the vertical velocity component of fluid movement causes a force component in the fluid within the container to displace the air therein away from the top of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Graco, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Vork
  • Patent number: 4173418
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing liquids such as paints in closed containers, including a motor drive unit coupled to a drive pulley to produce a constant rotational speed. The drive pulley is connected via an eccentric crank to a shaker plate which has mounted therein a container housing, the shaker plate being also supported from at least two other points by similar crank couplings so as to produce a circular oscillating motion when the drive motor is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Vork
  • Patent number: 4147478
    Abstract: Apparatus for connecting to a pump inlet where a first inlet feedpipe is attached including a second inlet feedpipe tap having a one-way check valve, and a resilient orifice member in the first inlet feedpipe upstream of the tap, whereby the orifice size is less than the inlet feedpipe size so as to provide a flow restriction for periodically creating negative pressure in the region of the tap, to draw liquid from the second inlet feedpipe into the first inlet feedpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Vork
  • Patent number: 4019395
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for translating rotary motion into reciprocating motion, of the type utilized in piston operated pumps. The apparatus includes a crank shaft having one or more axially offset diameter segments, each segment having a block bearing partially encircling it, and the block bearing having a raised shoulder for mating with a piston surface groove. The piston is spring biased so as to hold the assembly comprising the piston, block bearing, and offset diameter segment together in a unitary assembly, so that rotation of the shaft causes the piston to reciprocate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Vork, William Clements
  • Patent number: 3955763
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for attachment to a spraying device, comprising a rotatable ball member having a spray orifice and passage, and a handle formed as an integral part, a housing for enclosing the ball member while allowing the handle portion to project external of the housing, a sealing member for fitting into the housing in sealing contact with the ball member, and a threadable attachment for securing the housing and ball and sealing members to a spraying device so that the ball member may be rotatably moved to place the spray orifice and passage in forward and in reverse contact with the spraying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1976
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Arlon R. Pyle, William D. Vork