Method and apparatus for checking the integrity of an autolubrication system
First Claim
1. An autolubrication system for attachment to a road vehicle for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication-receiving points along the road vehicle, the system comprising:
- pump means including a pump for supplying a lubricant at an elevated pressure;
pump control means for selectively actuating the pump means;
conduit means disposed in communication with the pump means for carrying the lubricant from the pump means to the lubrication-receiving points; and
a remote activation means for operating said pump control means from a position substantially remote from the pump and outside of the vehicle;
wherein the autolubrication system further comprises pressure sensing means for monitoring pressure increases in the autolubrication system and for generating signals indicative of pressure changes within the system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for checking the integrity of an autolubrication system for large trucks, busses and the like includes an autolubrication system which includes a pump in communication with a plurality of conduits for forcing lubricants through the conduits under pressure. Preferably the conduits are subdivided into main conduits which are formed of steel, manifolds which receive the lubricants from the main conduits, and a plurality of at least partially flexible runner lines extending from the manifolds to lubrication receiving points. In accordance with one aspect of the method and apparatus, the pump can be activated from a remote location so as to enable the user to feel the runner lines with his or her hands immediately following actuation of the pump to ensure that a discharge pulse can be felt, thereby indicating that lubricant is properly passing through the other line. In accordance with another aspect of the method and apparatus, sensors may be placed along the conduits to monitor pressure changes and thereby ensure that the conduits are properly carrying lubricant to the lubrication-receiving points.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An autolubrication system for attachment to a road vehicle for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication-receiving points along the road vehicle, the system comprising:
-
pump means including a pump for supplying a lubricant at an elevated pressure; pump control means for selectively actuating the pump means; conduit means disposed in communication with the pump means for carrying the lubricant from the pump means to the lubrication-receiving points; and a remote activation means for operating said pump control means from a position substantially remote from the pump and outside of the vehicle; wherein the autolubrication system further comprises pressure sensing means for monitoring pressure increases in the autolubrication system and for generating signals indicative of pressure changes within the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An autolubrication system for attachment to a road vehicle for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication-receiving points, the system comprising:
-
pump means, including a pump for supplying a lubricant at an elevated pressure; pump control means for selectively actuating the pump; conduit means disposed in communication with the pump means for carrying lubricant from the pump means to the lubrication-receiving points; pressure sensing means disposed along the conduit means for monitoring pressure changes within the conduit means following actuation of the pump and for generating signals when the pressure changes are below a predetermined threshold; and alarm means disposed in communication with the pressure sensing means for generating a human perceptible signal responsive to the signals generated by the pressure sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for checking the integrity of a road vehicle'"'"'s autolubrication system, the method comprising:
-
a) selecting an autolubrication system having a pump for pumping lubricant under pressure and a plurality of conduits for carrying lubricant from the pump to a plurality of lubrication-receiving points on the road vehicle; b) actuating the pump to move the lubricant through the plurality of conduits and to the lubrication-receiving points; and c) monitoring the conduits to determine pressure changes following actuating of the pump, wherein said monitoring step selected either one from the group consisting of manually monitoring the conduits with hand and mechanically monitoring the conduits with pressure sensors. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification