Drive shaft U-joint lubricator

• US 4,040,504 A
• Filed: 11/26/1975
• Issued: 08/09/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roy B. Smith
• Original Assignee: Roy B. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Roy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feinberg, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US05/635,439
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6, 184/26, 184/32, 184/1 E, 184/6.28, 64/17 A, 64/32 F, 64/23
• US Class Current: 184/109
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/00 Lubrication means having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/06 Lubrication details not provided for in group F16D13/74
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/06 specially adapted to allow axial displacement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/40 with intermediate member provided with two pairs of outwardly-directed trunnions on intersecting axes
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 13/18 relative movement of pump parts being produced by inertia of one of the parts or of a driving member
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/363 Centrifugal lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 9/02 with reservoir on or in a rotary member

Abstract

An annular lubrication reservoir is mounted on the periphery of a rotatable shaft, the reservoir defining a fluid tight annular enclosure having one or more apertures through its outermost surface. Conduit means are connected to the aperture for conducting lubrication from the reservoir to a bearing surface. Valve means are mounted in the aperture to limit the lubricant flow to one direction, out of the reservoir toward the bearing surface. A piston pump is mounted in association with the apertures whereby on rotation of the shaft the piston is driven radially outward to force lubricant out of the reservoir through the valve and into the conduit.

Claims

1. A method of mounting lubricating apparatus on the drive shaft of a previously assembled commercial vehicle, said drive shaft having an end with longitudinally extending splines on the periphery, said splines extending only part of the length of the shaft, a yoke mounted on the shaft and having mating internal splines, said yoke comprising part of a universal joint;

comprising in sequence,

first disconnecting said universal joint and removing the yoke from the shaft,

second sliding an annular dynamically balanced lubricant reservoir over the shaft past the splines,

third reattaching the yoke and shaft in operable position with the splines again mating,

fourth rigidly attaching said reservoir to said shaft and yoke combination, and

fifth attaching conduits to said yoke and reservoir to conduit lubricant from said reservoir to said yoke,

providing means within said reservoir prior to its assembly on the shaft to force lubricant from said reservoir into said conduits upon rotation of said shaft.