Multiple speed lubrication system for a work vehicle

• US 6,202,790 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH America Llc (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Oligmueller, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parekh, Ankur
• Application Number:
  US09/416,316
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6, 184/6.14, 184/105.1, 56/123, 604/93, 604/94, 417/326
• US Class Current: 184/6
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 46/088 with harvesters characterised by the lubricant distribution systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a lubrication system and method for a work vehicle having a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant using attachment that comprises a single bi-directional pump/motor set, a single three-position/four way control valve that directs hydraulic fluid, through one of two flow limiting devices, to the hydraulic motor to power the pump. In one mode the pump, at a slow rate of approximately one gallon per minute, moves lubricant from the reservoir to the attachment. In the other mode the pump, at a fast rate of approximately six gallons per minute, moves lubricant from a lubricant source to fill the lubricant reservoir. The flow limiting devices can be either a fixed flow rate device or a multiple flow rate device as selected by an operator of the work vehicle. The various positions of the control valve can be actuated by a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder or a cable, all of which can be operated from the cab of the work vehicle.

Claims

1. A lubrication system for a work vehicle having a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant-using attachment, the multiple speed lubrication system comprising:

a bi-directional pump operatively connected to a bi-directional hydraulic motor, with the bi-directional pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, the attachment and a lubricant fill connector;

a pair of flow-limiting devices in fluid communication with the bi-directional hydraulic motor to selectively regulate the speed of the motor; and

a control valve in fluid communication with each flow limiting device and a source of hydraulic fluid, with the control valve having an off position, a first position which facilitates fluid communication with the bi-directional hydraulic motor through one flow limiting device for operation of the bi-directional pump in a lubricant-using attachment mode and a second position which facilitates fluid communication with the bi-directional hydraulic motor through the other flow limiting device for operation of the bi-directional pump in a lubricant reservoir-fill mode.

2. The lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the flow limiting device for operating the pump in the fill mode allows faster fluid flow than the flow limiting device for operating the pump in the use mode.

3. The lubrication system of claim 2, wherein the flow-limiting device is one of a fixed flow rate device and a variable flow rate device.

4. The lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the control valve is operatively connected to an actuator for selective movement between the off position, the first position and the second position.

5. The lubrication system of claim 4, wherein the actuator is selected from a group consisting of:

a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder and a cable.

6. The lubrication system of claim 3, wherein one flow limiting device has a fixed flow rate of between 0.5 gallons and 1.5 gallons per minute and the other flow limiting device has a fixed flow rate of between 5.5 gallons and 6.5 gallons per minute.

7. The lubrication system of claim 3, wherein each flow limiting device has a variable flow rate of between zero gallon per minute to seven gallons per minute.

8. A work vehicle comprising:

a vehicle support structure;

a plurality of wheels rotatably supported by the vehicle support structure;

a lubricant-using attachment coupled to the vehicle support structure;

a lubricant reservoir supported by the vehicle support structure; and

,

a lubrication system comprising;

a bi-directional pump operatively connected to a bi-directional hydraulic motor, with the bi-directional pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, the attachment and a lubricant fill connector;

a pair of flow-limiting devices in fluid communication with the bi-directional hydraulic motor to selectively regulate the speed of the motor; and

a control valve in fluid communication with each flow limiting device and a source of hydraulic fluid, with the control valve having an off position, a first position which facilitates fluid communication with the bi-directional hydraulic motor through one flow limiting device for operation of the bi-directional pump in a lubricant-using attachment mode and a second position which facilitates fluid communication with the bi-directional hydraulic motor through the other flow limiting device for operation of the bi-directional pump in a lubricant reservoir-fill mode.

9. The work vehicle of claim 8, wherein the flow limiting device for operating the pump in the fill mode allows faster fluid flow than the flow limiting device for operating the pump in the use mode.

10. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the flow-limiting device is one of a fixed flow rate device and a variable flow rate device.

11. The work vehicle of claim 8, wherein the control valve is operatively connected to an actuator for selective movement between the off position, the first position and the second position.

12. The work vehicle of claim 11, wherein the actuator is selected from a group consisting of:

a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder and a cable.

13. The work vehicle of claim 10, wherein one flow limiting device has a fixed flow rate between 0.5 gallons and 1.5 gallons per minute and the other flow limiting device has a fixed flow rate of between 5.5 gallons and 6.5 gallons per minute.

14. The work vehicle of claim 10, wherein each flow limiting device has a variable flow rate of between zero gallon per minute to seven gallons per minute.

15. A method for pumping lubrication, at different speeds, in one of a use mode and a fill mode for a work vehicle having a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant using attachment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a bi-directional pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, the attachment and a lubricant fill connector;

providing a bi-directional hydraulic motor operatively connected to the pump;

providing a pair of flow limiting devices in fluid communication with the bi-directional motor;

providing a control valve in fluid communication with each flow limiting device and a source of hydraulic fluid;

moving the control valve to a first position which facilitates fluid communication with the motor through one flow limiting device for operation of the pump in the use mode to provide lubricant from the reservoir to the attachment;

moving the control valve to a second position which facilitates fluid communication with the motor through the other flow limiting device for operation of the pump in the fill mode to provide lubricant from a lubricant supply through the lubricant fill connector to the lubricant reservoir; and

,

moving the control valve to an off position when the pump is not needed to pump lubricant.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the flow limiting device for operating the pump in the fill mode allows faster fluid flow than the flow limiting device for operating the pump in the use mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the flow limiting device is of a fixed rate device and a variable flow rate device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein one flow limiting device has a fixed flow rate of between 0.5 gallons and 1.5 gallons per minute and the other flow limiting device has a fixed flow rate of between 5.5 and 6.5 gallons per minute.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein each flow limiting device has a variable flow rate of between zero gallon per minute to seven gallons per minute, including the step of an operator of the work vehicle selecting the rate of flow.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the control valve is operatively connected to an actuator for selectively moving the valve between the off position, the first position and the second position.