Batch recirculating system for highly viscous and semi fluid lubricants
First Claim
1. A system for delivering and recirculating high viscosity lubricants in a mechanism requiring lubrication, said system comprising:
- a bulk lubricant container for holding a clean lubricant;
at least one orifice for applying the clean lubricant to at least one use point of said mechanism;
at least one guard for collecting and channeling the spent lubricant which escapes from said at least one use point;
a spent lubricant holding tank for receiving and containing the spent lubricant channeled from said guard;
a transfer pump for conveying the spent lubricant from said spent lubricant holding tank through a filter for removing impurities and returning the clean lubricant to said bulk lubricant container;
a first sensor for signalling when the level of said clean lubricant contained in said bulk lubricant container is less than a predetermined minimum;
a second sensor for signalling when the level of spent lubricant contained in said spent lubricant tank is greater than a predetermined maximum; and
a controller for monitoring the readings from said first and second sensors and activating said transfer pump when the level of the spent lubricant in said spent lubricant tank exceeds said predetermined maximum or the level of the clean lubricant in said bulk lubricant container is less than said predetermined minimum.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lubricating recirculation system for use with highly viscous lubricants and semi-fluid lubricants such as high viscosity base oil gels and greases. The system includes a bulk lubricant container for storing fresh lubricant that is applied to the use points of the mechanisms as controlled by a controller such as programmable logic controller. After application to the mechanism components, the lubricant falls therefrom and accumulates on guards or channels which help to funnel the lubricant into a spent lubricant holding tank. Sensors in both the bulk lubricant container and the spent lubricant holding tank, in connection with the controller, monitor the level of lubricant in both tanks and activate a transfer pump when the level of lubricant in either tank reaches a certain level. Upon activation of the transfer pump, the spent lubricant is drawn from the spent lubricant holding tank and forced through a filtering device to remove impurities and is then conveyed back to the bulk lubricant container for reapplication to the use points.
15 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for delivering and recirculating high viscosity lubricants in a mechanism requiring lubrication, said system comprising:
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a bulk lubricant container for holding a clean lubricant; at least one orifice for applying the clean lubricant to at least one use point of said mechanism; at least one guard for collecting and channeling the spent lubricant which escapes from said at least one use point; a spent lubricant holding tank for receiving and containing the spent lubricant channeled from said guard; a transfer pump for conveying the spent lubricant from said spent lubricant holding tank through a filter for removing impurities and returning the clean lubricant to said bulk lubricant container; a first sensor for signalling when the level of said clean lubricant contained in said bulk lubricant container is less than a predetermined minimum; a second sensor for signalling when the level of spent lubricant contained in said spent lubricant tank is greater than a predetermined maximum; and a controller for monitoring the readings from said first and second sensors and activating said transfer pump when the level of the spent lubricant in said spent lubricant tank exceeds said predetermined maximum or the level of the clean lubricant in said bulk lubricant container is less than said predetermined minimum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for recirculating high-viscosity lubricants in batch fashion comprising:
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a controller for monitoring and controlling the flow of lubricant through the system; at least one bulk lubricant container; a first pump associated with said controller for removing a controlled amount of said lubricant from said bulk lubricant container for lubricating at least one component of a mechanism requiring lubrication; at least one orifice for applying said lubricant to said at least one component of the mechanism; a spent lubricant holding tank for collecting spent lubricant after application to said at least one component of the mechanism; at least one level sensor located in each of said bulk lubricant container and said spent lubricant holding tank, said level sensors associated with said controller for monitoring the level of lubricant contained in both said bulk lubricant container and said spent lubricant holding tank; and a second pump associated with said controller for pumping the spent lubricant from said spent lubricant holding tank through at least one filtering device to said bulk lubricant container when said bulk lubricant container is depleted. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for delivering and recirculating high viscosity lubricants comprising the steps of:
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holding in a bulk lubricant container clean lubricant to be applied to at least one use point of a mechanism requiring lubrication; applying the clean lubricant from said bulk lubricant container to at least one use point of the mechanism; collecting the spent lubricant which escapes from the at least one use point; channeling the spent lubricant to a spent lubricant holding tank; determining when the level of said clean lubricant contained in said bulk lubricant container is less than a predetermined minimum; determining when the level of spent lubricant contained in the spent lubricant tank is greater than a predetermined maximum; conveying the spent lubricant from the spent lubricant holding tank through a filter for removing impurities; and returning said clean lubricant from said spent lubricant tank to said bulk lubricant container when the level of the spent lubricant in the spent lubricant tank exceeds said predetermined maximum or the level of clean lubricant in said bulk lubricant container is less than said predetermined minimum.
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Specification