Lubrication – Systems – With measuring or metering value system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-07-17
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Systems
With measuring or metering value system
C184S045100, C184S081000, C137S271000, C137S625690
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260664
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a lubrication shunt valve and to a printing press having a lubrication system employing lubrication valves therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Printing machines or presses have a large number of rotating cylinders, rollers and other rotating mechanical components operating at high speed with mechanical bearings, bushings or the like that need lubrication. One common lubrication system employs an electrical control system for operating electro-magnetically operated valves to control the flow of grease to the points needing lubrication in a timed and controlled manner. These valves are called “inlet shunt valves”, and they are solenoid operated valves which have solenoids electrically energized to shift the valves to an open or closed position. One particular lubrication system is a TRABON lubrication system that uses a solenoid shunt valve having an internal spool that is shifted to an open position by energization of the solenoid coil to allow grease to flow through the valve to the printing press lubrication points. An internal spring in the valve works in opposition to the solenoid and returns the valve to the closed position when the solenoid coil is de-energized. One such type of valve is called a “Lubriquip” shunt valve.
It has been found in use that these solenoid shunt valves were failing and causing the presses to be stopped with a consequent loss of press time. Also, the lubrication points were not being lubricated properly. The detection of a fault in the lubrication system also can and did cause “speed inhibits” faults that notified the operator to hold the presses down until the fault was cleared. Thus, there is a need for a new and improved grease shunt valve and system that has fewer problems. There may be as many as sixteen or more shunt valves on a single printing press. This represents sixteen opportunities during a press run for a detection of a fault in the lubrication system due to a faulty shunt valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a new and improved lubrication shunt valve and lubrication system employing such a shunt valve. This is achieved by venting the shunt valve body to allow grease to vent from about the return spring, and preferably, also to vent before the grease reaches the solenoid. The venting of the grease prevents the accumulation to waxy-like, grease residue in the shunt valve that interferes with the closing of the valve and thereby a lowering of grease pressure, which, upon detection, caused a fault condition for the printing press.
The illustrated and preferred lubrication shunt valve was provided with an additional valve body portion between the solenoid coil and the spool with grease vent openings in this additional portion. Preferably, a wiping seal is provided in the additional portion to wipe the solenoid plunger rod in order to limit the flow of grease along the plunger rod and into the solenoid coil. Because the additional body portion adds additional length between the spool and solenoid, a new and longer plunger rod was added to extend between the spool and the coil of the solenoid. Preferably, a vent was also provided in the solenoid valve body to allow grease to flow from the solenoid's body to limit accumulation of grease residue in the solenoid body.
In order to prevent accumulation of grease about the return spring and the eventual accumulation of a wax-like residue about the return spring (which prevented the return spring from fully closing the valve), vents were formed in an end cap or plug in the valve body against which abutted an end of the return spring. Thus, grease flowing past the spool and into the chamber or bore containing the spring was free to pass outwardly from the spring to the external side of the plug and valve body. The vents can be inexpensively made in the plug by drilling holes therein.
Existing lubrication shunt valves of this kind can be inexpensively and quickly retrofitted by drilling holes in the plug, and by adding the additional venting and seal body portion between the main valve body and the solenoid. A longer plunger rod is needed to actuate the spool, and the preferred actuating rod is circular in cross-section to be sealed by an annular wiping seal. Thus, an existing lubrication shunt valve may be quickly and inexpensively retrofitted in this manner.
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patent: 6065487 (2000-05-01), Watson
Bucci David A.
Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery
Kim Chong H.
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
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