Lubrication – Lubricators – Force feed
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-06-12
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Lubricators
Force feed
C184S105100, C184S032000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244387
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a lubricant supply device with a storage reservoir for the lubricant, a lubricant distributor (e.g., a progressive divider valve assembly) for distributing lubricant to various points of lubrication, a feed pump for delivering lubricant to the distributor, and at least one motor for driving the feed pump.
In conventional devices of the type described above, the lubricant distributor is connected to the lubricant pump using separate high-pressure hoses. The use of such hoses requires a large amount of installation space. Moreover, the hoses are expensive and subject to failure. Another disadvantage of such conventional devices is that any distributor outlets not in use are typically connected to one or more outlets which are in use, which can result in the delivery of excessive lubricant to one or more points of lubrication.
Among the several objectives of this invention may be noted the provision of an improved lubricant supply device which is simpler, more compact and more operationally reliable; the provision of such a device which eliminates the need for high-pressure hoses to the distributor, the provision of such a device in which unused outlets of the distributor are connected to the housing for return of lubricant to the reservoir; the provision of such a device having different distributor mounting options to accommodate different types and/or configuration of lubricant delivery lines; and the provision of such a device which is economical to manufacture.
In general, a lubricant supply device of this invention comprises a housing defining a reservoir for holding a supply of lubricant, and a pump in the housing. The pump has an inlet for receiving lubricant from the reservoir and an outlet. The device also includes a lubricant distributor having a sealing connection with the housing. The distributor has one or more inlets for entry of lubricant into the distributor and one or more outlets for exit of lubricant from the distributor for delivery to one or more points of lubrication. The sealing connection comprises mating surfaces on the distributor and the housing having a sealing fit with one another. Supply passaging in the housing extends from the outlet of the pump and terminates at one or more outlet openings in the mating surface of the housing. Each of the one or more distributor inlets comprises an inlet opening in the mating surface of the distributor located generally opposite a corresponding outlet opening in the mating surface of the housing whereby lubricant from the pump is adapted to flow from said supply passaging of the housing directly into the one or more distributor inlets.
In another aspect of this invention, a lubricant supply device comprises a housing, a pump in the housing, the pump having an inlet and an outlet, and a lubricant reservoir in the housing for storing a supply of lubricant. The reservoir has an outlet in fluid communication with the pump inlet for the delivery of lubricant thereto from the reservoir. A distributor is connected directly to the housing and has one or more inlets for entry of lubricant into the distributor and one or more outlets for exit of lubricant from the distributor for delivery to one or more points of lubrication. Supply passaging in the housing extends from the outlet of the pump and terminates at said one or more inlets of the distributor whereby the pump is operable to pump lubricant through the supply passaging directly to the distributor without the need for additional (intervening) flow lines.
In an especially simple design of the lubricant supply device of this invention, the motor actuates a piston of the feed pump via an eccentric rotatably supported on a shaft. For the sake of simplicity, the shaft may also rotatably support an agitator which pushes the lubricant from the storage reservoir downwardly in a direction toward the feed pump. Further, a simple and reliable construction is ensured if the eccentric and the agitator are preferably driven jointly by the motor of the feed pump via a pinion/gearwheel drive.
The housing may comprise a first housing part defining a pump chamber. The first housing part has a bottom wall, a rim extending up from the bottom wall and an intermediate wall on the rim spaced above bottom wall. The agitator preferably rotates directly underneath the intermediate wall through which the shaft extends and in which an opening for the lubricant is provided. In this way, the lubricant is conveyed effectively in the direction toward the feed pump.
The first housing part can support a removable second housing part which forms the reservoir and in which a follower plate is guided for pressurizing lubricant in the reservoir. This second housing part can be transparent such that the level of fill can be observed visually.
The second housing part may be in the form of a removable enclosure having a side wall and a top wall which can be fastened on the shaft. The lower circumferential edge of the side wall is supported in the region of a step on the first housing part such that it forms a seal.
The follower plate, which may be urged downwardly by a spring reacting against the top wall of the enclosure, is axially slidable on the shaft with its outer circumferential edge in sealing engagement with the side wall of the enclosure. The arrangement is such that negative pressure generated by the feed pump pulls the follower plate downwardly.
The motor and an electric programmable controller are preferably accommodated in a chamber disposed on the underside of the first housing part to maintain the compactness of structure.
The operating time of the feed pump is preferably controlled by a sensor which scans the movement of an indicator pin of the lubricant distributor.
The operating time and/or the rest time of the feed pump can be adjustable by the controller, for example.
Means is provided, such as a magnet and sensor pin, for example, to sense when the follower plate is in its lowest position, thereby indicating that the lubricant in the reservoir is in a low-level condition and in need of replenishment.
Furthermore, a safety valve and/or a refill fitting can be integrated in the housing part.
In a special embodiment of the invention, a membrane keyboard and/or an operating state display are provided on the outside of the housing such that the largely automatic lubricant supply operation can readily be switched on and off either manually or automatically and can easily be monitored with respect to its program flow.
Further objectives, features and advantages of this invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
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VOGEL® Centralized Lubrication Systems for Grease up to NLGI Grade 2, 9430 GB, Nov., 1994.
Lincoln Industrial Division—USA “Models 600362208, 600362207 Quicklub Electric Pump Series ‘B’”, Mar., 1995.
Lincoln Quicklub® On-Board Automated Chassis Lubricating System for Heavy-Duty Trucks and Busses, 1995.
Grach Avzik
Holland Christopher D.
Kannegiesser Herbert
Paluncic Ing Zdravko
Bucci David A.
Kim Chong H.
Lincoln GmbH
Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
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