Press lubrication system modification

• US 6,260,664 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LSC Communications LLC (LSC Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RR Donnelley & Sons Company
• Inventors: Fieffer, James O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US09/435,535
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 184/7.4, 184/45.1, 184/74, 184/79, 184/81, 184/6.12, 137/271, 137/625.69, 137/625.33, 137/625.34
• US Class Current: 184/7.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/24 with cylindrical valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0668 Sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5283 Units interchangeable between alternate locations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8671 With annular passage [e.g., spool]

Abstract

A new and improved grease shunt valve and lubrication system for a printing press or the like is achieved by the adding of vent drains and/or seals to prevent the accumulation of a waxy-like residue from the grease that interfered with operation of a return spring for closing of the valve. An existing solenoid, operated, grease shunt valve may be retrofitted with an additional body portion having a grease drain vent therein and a seal that seals grease from flowing along a solenoid, actuating rod and into the solenoid core. Preferably, an end plug that seals one end of the return spring is drilled to provide the drain vent for grease flowing into the spring chamber. Vent holes may also be drilled into the solenoid housing to drain and vent grease flowing into the solenoid core.

Claims

1. An inlet shunt valve for supplying grease, comprising:

a valve body;

an inlet passageway in the valve body for connection to a source of grease;

an outlet passageway in the valve body for the outflow of grease from the valve body;

a bore in the valve body connected to the inlet port and outlet ports and through which grease may flow;

a spool mounted in the bore and movable between an open position, allowing grease to flow through the bore, and a closed position stopping the flow of grease through the bore;

a spring actuating the spool to one of the open and closed positions;

a solenoid for actuating the spool to the other one of the open and closed positions and operating in opposition to the spring

a vent in the valve body adjacent the spring for venting grease to prevent sticking of the valve spool by a buildup of grease residue about the spring; and

a vent in the valve body adjacent the solenoid to vent grease from building up within the solenoid.

2. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plunger is operated by the solenoid to shift the spool;

and

a seal is mounted in sealing engagement with the plunger to limit flow of grease into the solenoid.

3. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 2 wherein the valve body comprises:

a main body portion having the bore with the spool therein;

a seal and venting body portion having the seal and a vent therein for the solenoid; and

a solenoid body portion having the solenoid coil therein.

4. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein the valve body comprises:

a spring carrying portion in the main body portion having the spring therein; and

a plug at the end of the spring carrying portion having the vent therein to vent grease thereby preventing a residue buildup about the spring.

5. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein the seal and venting body portion was added to and is affixed between the solenoid and the valve body portion having the spool.

6. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 5 wherein sealing and venting body portion comprises:

a bore for the solenoid plunger to reciprocate; and

a vent in the sealing and venting portion being located between the spool and the seal.

7. An inlet shunt valve for use in a printing press lubrication system, comprising:

a main valve body having a spool in a bore in the main valve body;

a spring mounted in the main valve body and urging the spool to a closed position to stop flow of grease;

an inlet bore and an outlet bore in the main body for grease to flow through the spool bore when the spool is in an open position;

an additional valve body portion having first and second ends and have a straight bore extending therethrough from the first end to the second end;

the additional valve body portion having its second end secured to the main valve;

a solenoid secured to the second end of the additional valve body portion;

a solenoid plunger projecting from the solenoid and through the straight bore of an aligned bore in the main valve body for receiving therein an end of the solenoid plunger which extends from the solenoid body through the straight bore in the additional valve body and into the aligned bore to shift the spool in opposition to the spring; and

the additional valve body portion having a seal and vent therein.

8. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

a plug is attached to the main valve body adjacent one end of the spring; and

a vent is provided in the plug to vent grease from about the spring.

9. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 8 wherein the additional valve body portion comprises:

vent holes therein to provide the vent adjacent the spool; and

a seal receiving chamber mounting the seal in engagement with the solenoid plunger.

10. An inlet shunt valve in accordance with claim 9 wherein:

the solenoid plunger comprises an elongated rod extending from the spool to the solenoid; and

a solenoid piston in the solenoid pushes one end of the elongated rod against the spool and against the return force of the spring.

11. An inlet shunt valve for use in a printing press lubrication system, comprising:

a main valve body having a spool in a bore in the main valve body;

a spring mounted in the main valve body and urging the spool to a closed position to stop flow of grease;

an inlet bore and an outlet bore in the main body for grease to flow through the spool bore when the spool is in an open position;

a solenoid attached to one end of the main valve body and having a plunger to shift the spool in opposition to the spring to the open position;

an additional valve body portion attached to the main valve body and having a seal and vent therein;

an end portion of the main valve body having a threaded orifice through which the plunger extends to shift the spool;

an end portion on the additional valve body portion having a threaded orifice through which the plunger extends;

a threaded end on the additional valve body portion having threaded engagement with the threaded orifice on the main valve body;

a threaded end on the solenoid having threaded engagement with the threaded orifice on the opposite end of the additional valve body portion; and

the respective threaded ends on the solenoid and the additional valve body portion being substantially identical and the respective threaded orifices on the main valve body and the additional valve body portion being substantially identical.