Automatic lubrication system
First Claim
1. An automated self-powered lubrication system for automatic periodic operation through a cycle in which metered charges of lubricant are delivered to a plurality of points of lubrication, said system comprising:
- a plurality of lubricant metering devices, each operable by lubricant under pressure, for dispensing metered charges of lubricant to points of lubrication;
a reservoir for holding lubricant under pressure for supplying the metering devices with lubricant under pressure serving as both a power source for the operation of the devices and as a source of the lubricant to be dispensed;
said reservoir being chargeable with the lubricant and adapted to be conditioned for pressurizing the lubricant for a prolonged period of operation of the system;
said reservoir being interconnected with said metering devices for supplying power for operating said devices as well as supplying lubricant to be dispensed thereby;
means controlling delivery of pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices; and
closed loop control means for the system comprising a timer operable upon receiving a timing start signal to effect operation of said delivery control means to cut off delivery of the pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices and to time out a dwell period during which said delivery control means cuts off said delivery and the system dwells, and operable upon termination of said dwell period to effect operation of said delivery control means to provide for delivery of the pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to the metering devices for operating said devices, and a sensor device responsive to operation of the metering devices through a cycle to send a timing start signal to the timer to effect operation of said delivery control means to cut off delivery of the pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices and start the timing of a dwell period;
whereby at the termination of each dwell period the pressurized lubricant is delivered from the reservoir to the metering devices for operation thereof through a cycle, and delivery to the metering devices is cut off and maintained cut off after each cycle until the timer times out the next dwell period.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic lubrication system comprising a series of divider valves operable periodically through a cycle in which charges of lubricant are delivered one after another in sequence to a plurality of points of lubrication, the valves being supplied with lubricant from a reservoir holding a supply of lubricant under pressure via an on-off control valve, the latter being controlled by a timer operable on receiving a timing start signal to time out an OFF period during which the control valve is closed, and having a sensor device responsive to completion of a cycle of operation to send a timing start signal to the timer, the supply of lubricant under pressure in the reservoir serving as both a power source for the operation of the valves and as a source of lubricant for delivery to the points of lubrication.
64 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An automated self-powered lubrication system for automatic periodic operation through a cycle in which metered charges of lubricant are delivered to a plurality of points of lubrication, said system comprising:
-
a plurality of lubricant metering devices, each operable by lubricant under pressure, for dispensing metered charges of lubricant to points of lubrication; a reservoir for holding lubricant under pressure for supplying the metering devices with lubricant under pressure serving as both a power source for the operation of the devices and as a source of the lubricant to be dispensed; said reservoir being chargeable with the lubricant and adapted to be conditioned for pressurizing the lubricant for a prolonged period of operation of the system; said reservoir being interconnected with said metering devices for supplying power for operating said devices as well as supplying lubricant to be dispensed thereby; means controlling delivery of pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices; and closed loop control means for the system comprising a timer operable upon receiving a timing start signal to effect operation of said delivery control means to cut off delivery of the pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices and to time out a dwell period during which said delivery control means cuts off said delivery and the system dwells, and operable upon termination of said dwell period to effect operation of said delivery control means to provide for delivery of the pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to the metering devices for operating said devices, and a sensor device responsive to operation of the metering devices through a cycle to send a timing start signal to the timer to effect operation of said delivery control means to cut off delivery of the pressurized lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices and start the timing of a dwell period; whereby at the termination of each dwell period the pressurized lubricant is delivered from the reservoir to the metering devices for operation thereof through a cycle, and delivery to the metering devices is cut off and maintained cut off after each cycle until the timer times out the next dwell period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An automatic lubrication system for periodic operation through a cycle in which charges of lubricant are delivered one after another in sequence to a plurality of points of lubrication, said system comprising:
-
a series of lubricant dispensing valves each having an inlet passage for admission of the lubricant under pressure, transfer passages for interconnection of the valves in the series, at least one outlet passage for delivery of the lubricant to a point of lubrication, and a valve member movable between a first position and a second position for delivery of a charge of the lubricant through the outlet passage thereof; passaging for interconnecting said transfer passages of said valves; the valve members being successively movable to deliver charges of the lubricant through the outlet passages in a sequence via delivery of the lubricant under pressure through the inlet passages and interconnections between the valves established by the valve members, said transfer passages and said passaging; a reservoir for holding a supply of the lubricant under pressure; a line between the reservoir and the inlet passages of the valves in said series for delivery of the lubricant from the reservoir to said inlet passages; an on-off control valve in said line for controlling the delivery of the lubricant to said inlet passages; a timer for controlling said control valve, operable upon receiving a timing start signal to time out a period of closure during which the control valve is maintained closed and operable upon termination of said period to open the control valve and maintain it open until the next timing start signal is received, and a sensor device responsive to completion of a cycle of operation to send a timing start signal to the timer; whereby at the termination of each period of closure of the control valve it is opened for delivery of lubricant under pressure from the reservoir to the inlet passages of the lubricant dispensing valves in said series and closed at the end of each cycle and maintained closed until the timer times out the next period of closure of the control valve. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An automated self-powered lubrication system for automatically periodically delivering metered charges of lubricant to a plurality of points of lubrication, said system comprising:
-
a plurality of lubricant metering devices, each operable by the lubricant under pressure, for dispensing metered charges of the lubricant to points of lubrication; a reservoir for holding the lubricant under pressure for supplying the metering devices with the lubricant under pressure serving as both a power source for the operation of the devices and as a source of the lubricant to be dispensed; said reservoir being chargeable with the lubricant and adapted to be conditioned for pressurizing the lubricant for a prolonged period of operation of the system; said reservoir being interconnected with said metering devices for supplying power for operating said devices as well as supplying the lubricant to be dispensed thereby, a mechanism controlling delivery of pressurized the lubricant from the reservoir to said metering devices; and closed loop control means for the system comprising a timer operable upon receiving a timing start signal to close the mechanism and time out a dwell period during which the valve is maintained closed and the system dwells, and operable upon termination of said dwell period to open the mechanism for delivering the pressurized the lubricant from the reservoir to the metering devices for operating said devices, and a sensor device responsive to operation of the metering devices to send a timing start signal to the timer to close the mechanism after one full cycle and start the timing of a dwell period; whereby at the termination of each dwell period the mechanism is opened for delivery of the pressurized the lubricant from the reservoir to the metering devices and closed on operation of the metering devices and maintained closed until the timer times out the next dwell period. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
Specification