Tool and workplace lubrication system having a modified air line lubricator to create and to start the delivery of a uniformly flowing pressurized air flow with oil, to deliver the oil continuously and uniformly where a metal part is being formed

• US 5,086,878 A
• Filed: 05/23/1990
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steven M. Swift
• Original Assignee: Steven M. Swift
• Inventors: Swift, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US07/527,758
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 184/55.2, 184/6.2, 184/6.23, 184/55.1, 184/6.26
• US Class Current: 184/55.2
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/1084 specially adapted for being fitted to different kinds of machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/34 Atomising devices for oil atomising devices in general B05B

Abstract

A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, where a metal part is being formed, to eliminate most of the friction, so little heat will be generated, and therefore coolants will not be required, centers on the modification of an air line lubricator, originally designed for internally lubricating compressed airflow driven pneumatic tools. The modification commences with the installation of an oil and overall pressurized airflow pick up passageway structure being arranged within the housing of the air line lubricator, having a continuous uniform diameter, to direct the oil and overall pressurized airflow from near the bottom of a pre-departure mixing basin, up to the pressurized air exit of the housing, and then through this pressurized air exit of this then modified air line lubricator. The continuation of a passageway for the oil and the pressurized airflow remains at the continuous uniform diameter beyond the pressurized air exit of the housing, through valves, tees, and into the entries of respective nozzles. This continuous uniform diameter of the passageway thereby avoids any build up of oil in puddles, which would othterwise possibly prevent the uniform continuous delivery of oil to adequately lubricate the place, where a metal piece is being formed by the moving contact of a forming tool, and also thereby avoids any large delivery of oil, or alternately no delivery of oil, if the modified air line lubricator is accidentally tipped when in operation.

Claims

1. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces to eliminate most of the friction during the forming of metal parts, so little heat is generated and coolants are not required, wherein an air line lubricator, originally designed for internally lubricating compressed airflow driven pneumatic tools, is modified to create and to start the delivery of a pressurized airflow with oil, so the oil becomes the lubricant at a location where metal parts are being formed, comprising:

a) an air line lubricator, before modification, including the entire assembly thereof comprising;

a housing;

a compressed overall airflow entry thereof;

a venturi portion thereof to receive, at low airflow rates, the majority airflow of this overall airflow along one path of the overall airflow;

a throat section thereof where a pressure drop is created upon passage of this majority airflow;

a pre-departure mixing basin thereof to receive the majority airflow;

a compressed air exit thereof to receive and to pass the majority airflow out of this housing;

an air receiving portion thereof to receive, at low airflow rates, the minority airflow of this overall airflow along another path of the overall airflow;

a restrictor disc thereof which slightly deflects to allow this minority airflow to enter the pre-departure mixing basin and to continue on through the compressed air exit;

an oil reservoir bowl thereof having an oil pickup tube and a check ball;

an oil metering block thereof having a rotatable metering screw;

inner and outer sight domes thereof having a clearance between them to view flowing oil, having an entry to receive oil from the metering block and an oil discharge exit by the throat section forming oil drops which drip into the throat section;

an oil receiving entry thereof having a removable cap, for filling the oil reservoir bowl;

a drain for the oil reservoir bowl; and

a check ball subassembly thereof to seal off the oil reservoir bowl from the pressure of the compressed airflow through the housing, when the oil receiving entry is opened;

whereby this air line lubricator, before modification, is ready to receive oil in the oil reservoir bowl and when oil is so filled and the cap is replaced, and compressed air, at a low airflow rate, is directed into the overall airflow entry, the compressed air follows the two airflow paths, with the majority airflow meeting and carrying the oil drops at the throat section and then meeting the minority airflow in the pre-departure mixing basin, and thereafter the overall airflow with the oil leaves the air line lubricator; and

b) an added modification structure installed in the housing of this air line lubricator to direct the compressed overall airflow and the oil carried within this overall airflow from the pre-departure mixing basin through the compressed air exit in a controlled delivery of the compressed airflow and oil in a continuous operation, which insures a continuity of this controlled delivery even through a tilting of the housing might occur, otherwise causing a tipping of the pre-departure basin, which otherwise would cause an over abundance of oil passing through the compressed air exit of the housing, or alternately no oil passing through this compressed air exit of the housing, and which insures a continuity of this controlled delivery even through an unwanted short delivery time of more overall compressed airflow might occur, comprising;

an oil and overall airflow pick up passageway structure arranged within the housing of the air line lubricator and having a continuous uniform diameter to direct the oil and overall airflow from near the bottom of the pre-departure mixing basin, up to the compressed air exit of the housing, and then through this compressed air exit of this then modified air line lubricator.

2. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 1, comprising, in addition, a delivery passageway structure having the same uniform diameter of the oil and overall airflow pick up passageway structure installed in the housing of the modified air line lubricator, and a means to join these passageway structures to deliver the oil and overall airflow to a location of a tool and workpiece.

3. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 2, comprising, in addition, a nozzle to direct the oil and overall airflow to a tool just above a workpiece surface, and a means to join this nozzle to the delivery passageway structure.

4. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 3, comprising, in addition, a valve to start and to stop the flow of the oil and overall airflow leaving the delivery passageway structure before reaching the nozzle, and means at each end of the valve to join this valve to the nozzle and to the delivery passageway structure.

5. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 4, wherein in claim 4, there is a nozzle, described in this claim 5 as being the first nozzle, comprising, in addition, a tee fitting secured to the valve to divide the flow of oil and the overall airflow leaving the valve, and a means to join this tee fitting to the valve, and two additional divisional passageway structures of equal diameter, to receive equal portions of the flow of oil and the overall airflow leaving the tee fitting, and means to join these two additional divisional passageway structures to the tee fitting, and a second nozzle to join with the first nozzle to direct the respective equal portions of the flow of oil and the overall airflow to a tool just above a workpiece surface, and means to join this second nozzle to one of the additional divisional passageways, the first nozzle and means thereof joining the first nozzle to the other additional divisional passageway.

6. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 5, comprising, in addition, a rifle like spiral grooving structure in the tee fitting to cause the entering flow of oil and the overall airflow to flow in a spiral flow, which more uniformly and equally divides into the divided flows of oil and the overall airflow, which flow through the respective two additional divisional passageway structures.

7. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, having a compressed air line filter assembly connected to the modified air line lubricator to filter the compressed air flow before the entry thereof into this lubrication system.

8. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, having a compressed air line regulator assembly connected to the modified air line lubricator to regulate the compressed airflow before the entry thereof into this lubrication system.

9. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, having the combined assembly of a compressed air line filter assembly and a compressed air line regulator assembly to filter the compressed air and to regulate the compressed air before the entry thereof into this lubrication system.

18. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil and overall airflow pick up passageway structure has an inside diameter in the range of one sixteenth to three sixteenth of an inch.

19. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the delivery passageway structure has an inside diameter in the range of one sixteenth to three sixteenths of an inch.

20. A lubrication system to lubricate tools and workpieces, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the delivery passageway structure has an outside diameter of one eighth of an inch.

10. An added modification structure adapted for installation in the housing of a prior art air line lubricator, wherein this prior art air line lubricator comprises:

a housing;

a compressed overall airflow entry thereof;

a venturi portion thereof to receive, at low airflow rates, the majority airflow of this overall airflow along one path of the overall airflow;

a throat section thereof where a pressure drop is created upon passage of this majority airflow;

a pre-departure mixing basin thereof to receive the majority airflow;

a compressed air exit thereof to receive and to pass the majority airflow out of this housing;

an air receiving portion thereof to receive, at low airflow rates, the minority airflow of this overall airflow along another path of the overall airflow;

a restrictor disc thereof which slightly deflects to allow this minority airflow to enter the pre-departure mixing basin and to continue on through the compressed air exit;

an oil reservoir bowl thereof having an oil pickup tube and a check ball;

an oil metering block thereof having a rotatable metering screw;

inner and outer sight domes thereof having a clearance between them to view flowing oil, having an entry to receive oil from the metering block and an oil discharge exit by the throat section forming oil drops which drip into the throat section;

an oil receiving entry thereof having a removable cap, for filling the oil reservoir bowl;

a drain for the oil reservoir bowl; and

a check ball subassembly thereof to seal off the oil reservoir bowl from the pressure of the compressed airflow through the housing, when the oil receiving entry is opened;

whereby this air line lubricator, before modification, is ready to receive oil in the oil reservoir bowl and when oil is so filled and the cap is replaced, and compressed air, at a low airflow rate, is directed into the overall airflow entry, the compressed air follows the two airflow paths, with the majority airflow meeting and carrying the oil drops at the throat section and then meeting the minority airflow in the pre-departure mixing basin, and thereafter the overall airflow with the oil leaves the air line lubricator; and

wherein this added modification structure adapted for installation in the housing of this prior art air line lubricator, to direct compressed overall airflow and oil, which is carried within this overall airflow of this prior art air line lubricator from the pre-departure basin of this prior art air line lubricator, through a compressed air exit of the housing of this prior art air line lubricator, to thereby control the delivery of this compressed airflow and oil in a continuous operation, which insures a continuity of this controlled delivery of compressed airflow and oil, even though a tilting of the housing of this prior art air line lubricator might occur, otherwise causing a tipping of this prior art pre-departure basin, which otherwise would cause an over abundance of oil passing through the compressed air exit of the housing of this prior art air line lubricator, or alternately no oil passing through this compressed air exit of the housing of this prior art air line lubricator, and which also insures a continuity of this controlled delivery of compressed airflow and oil, even though an unwanted short delivery time of more overall compressed airflow might occur, comprises;

an oil and overall airflow pick up passageway structure adapted to be arranged within the pre-departure mixing basin of a housing of this prior art air line lubricator which has a continuous uniform diameter, and which will direct the oil and overall airflow, from near a bottom of the pre-departure mixing basin of the housing up to a compressed air exit of the housing of the prior art air line lubricator and then through this compressed air exit of the housing of what will then be a modified air line lubricator.

11. An added modification structure, as claimed in claim 10, comprising, in addition, a delivery passageway structure, having the same uniform diameter of the oil and overall airflow pick up passageway structure that is installed in the housing of this prior art air line lubricator, and a means to join these passageway structures to deliver oil and overall airflow to a location of a tool and a workpiece.

12. An added modification structure, as claimed in claim 11, comprising, in addition, a nozzle to direct oil and overall airflow to a tool just above a workpiece surface, and a means to join this nozzle to the delivery passageway structure.

13. An added modification structure, as claimed in claim 12, comprising, in addition, a valve to start and to stop flow of oil and overall airflow leaving the delivery passageway structure before reaching the nozzle, and means at each end of the valve to join this valve to the nozzle and to the delivery passageway structure.

14. An added modification structure, as claimed in claim 13, wherein in claim 13, there is a nozzle, described in this claim 14 as being the first nozzle, comprising, in addition, a tee fitting secured to the valve to divide the flow of oil and overall airflow leaving the valve, and a means to join this tee fitting to the valve, and two additional divisional passageway structures of equal diameter, to receive equal portions of the flow of oil and overall airflow leaving the tee fitting, and means to join these two additional divisional passageway structures to the tee fitting, and a second nozzle to join with the first nozzle to direct the respective equal portions of the flow of oil and the overall airflow to a tool just above a workpiece surface, and means to join this second nozzle to one of the additional divisional passageways, the first nozzle and means thereof joining the first nozzle to the other additional divisional passageway.

15. An added modification structure, as claimed in claim 14, comprising, in addition, a rifle like spiral grooving structure in the tee fitting to cause the entering flow of oil and the overall airflow to flow in a spiral flow, which more uniformly divides into the divided flows of oil and the overall airflow which flow through the respective two additional divisional passageway structures.

16. An added modification structure, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the oil and overall airflow pick up passageway structure has an inside diameter in the range of one sixteenth to three sixteenths of an inch.

17. An added modification structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the delivery passageway structure has an inside diameter in the range of one sixteenth to three sixteenths of an inch.