US 12,492,781 B2
Grease inhibitor
Thomas F. Janecek, Flagstaff, AZ (US)
Assigned to Graco Minnesota Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Appl. No. 18/718,782
Filed by Electric Torque Machines, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 14, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/052835
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 11, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/114290, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 22, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/290,793, filed on Dec. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0052367 A1, Feb. 13, 2025
Int. Cl. F16N 11/08 (2006.01); F16C 33/66 (2006.01); F16J 15/34 (2006.01)
CPC F16N 11/08 (2013.01) [F16C 33/6603 (2013.01); F16J 15/34 (2013.01); F16C 2380/26 (2013.01); F16N 2210/18 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A grease inhibitor comprising:
a vertically orientated shaft configured to rotate on an axis;
an inner member configured to rotate with the shaft, the inner member having a cylindrical outer surface and at least one groove formed on the cylindrical outer surface; and
an outer ring within which the at least one groove rotates to one or both of pump grease up in a first axial direction along an annular interface between the outer ring and the cylindrical outer surface and prevent the grease from leaking downward in a second axial direction along the annular interface, wherein the outer ring is spaced radially from the cylindrical outer surface;
wherein the at least one groove comprises:
a first groove extending in a first circumferential direction about the axis; and
a second groove extending in a second circumferential direction about the axis opposite the first circumferential direction, the second groove intersecting the first groove.