Lubrication supply system for a machine
First Claim
1. A lubrication supply system for a self-lubricating manufacturing machine, the system comprising:
- a machine reservoir in fluid communication with the machine and adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant as required by the machine;
a supply reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine reservoir as required by the machine reservoir, the supply reservoir in fluid communication with the machine reservoir;
a transfer mechanism in communication with the supply reservoir and the machine reservoir; and
a control system in communication with the transfer mechanism, the control system controlling operation of the transfer mechanism based on a desired lubricant level within the machine reservoir.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a lubrication supply system for a self-lubricating machine that provides filling of a lubricant reservoir of the machine directly from a supply reservoir. The system includes a supply reservoir in fluid communication with the machine reservoir, a transfer mechanism in communication with the supply reservoir and the machine reservoir, and a control system in communication with the transfer mechanism, wherein the control system controls operation of the pump to maintain a predetermined lubricant level within the reservoir. The system of the present invention allows for lubricant to be supplied directly from an original supply container of lubricant from the lubricant manufacturer or supplier, as well as any other type of container.
23 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A lubrication supply system for a self-lubricating manufacturing machine, the system comprising:
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a machine reservoir in fluid communication with the machine and adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant as required by the machine;
a supply reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine reservoir as required by the machine reservoir, the supply reservoir in fluid communication with the machine reservoir;
a transfer mechanism in communication with the supply reservoir and the machine reservoir; and
a control system in communication with the transfer mechanism, the control system controlling operation of the transfer mechanism based on a desired lubricant level within the machine reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A lubrication supply system for a self-lubricating manufacturing machine, the system comprising:
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a machine reservoir in fluid communication with the machine and adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine as required by the machine;
a supply reservoir in fluid communication with the machine reservoir via a fluid conduit, the supply reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine reservoir as required by the machine reservoir;
a pump in fluid communication with the supply reservoir and the fluid conduit; and
a control system that starts operation of the pump when the lubricant within the machine reservoir falls below a desired level and stops operation of the pump when the lubricant within the machine reservoir reaches the desired level. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A lubrication supply system for a manufacturing machine having a machine reservoir associated with a lubrication system integral with the machine, the machine reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine as required by the machine, the machine reservoir also including a fluid opening for refilling the machine reservoir, the system comprising:
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a connector engageable with the fluid opening of the reservoir, the connector including an aperture to accommodate a fluid conduit;
a supply container of lubricant in fluid communication with the machine reservoir via the fluid conduit;
a pump in fluid communication with the supply container and connected to the fluid conduit; and
a control system in communication with the pump, the control system including a float switch attached to the connector that allows for operation of the pump when the float switch is activated and terminates operation of the pump when the float switch is de-activated. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A lubrication supply system for a manufacturing machine having a machine reservoir associated with a lubrication system integral with the machine, the machine reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine as required by the machine, the machine reservoir also including a fluid opening for refilling the machine reservoir, the system comprising:
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a connector engageable with the fluid opening of the reservoir, the connector including an aperture to accommodate a fluid conduit;
a supply container of lubricant in fluid communication with the machine reservoir via the fluid conduit;
a piston pump in fluid communication with the supply container and connected to the fluid conduit wherein the pump includes a moveable piston connected to a plunger and disposed within a first portion of the cylinder to define a first chamber and a second chamber within the first portion of the cylinder, a first valve in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second valve in fluid communication with the second chamber; and
,a control system in communication with the pump, the control system including a float switch attached to the connector that allows for operation of the pump when the float switch is activated and terminates operation of the pump when the float switch is de-activated. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A vacuum-operated lubrication supply system for a machine having a lubricant reservoir associated with the machine, the system comprising:
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a supply container of lubricant in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir of the machine;
a piston cylinder pump in fluid communication with the supply container and the lubricant reservoir of the machine, the pump including a moveable piston connected to a plunger and disposed within a portion of the cylinder to define a first chamber and a second chamber within the first portion of the cylinder; and
a control system including;
a valve having a first valve outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber of the pump and a second valve outlet in fluid communication with the second chamber of the pump;
the valve in fluid communication with a pressure source;
a pump switch in communication with the valve to provide alternate opening and closing of the first and second valve outlets with respect to each other, thereby facilitating reciprocating movement of the piston and the attached plunger within the pump; and
a float switch disposed within the reservoir and in communication with the pump switch, the float switch allowing the pump switch to operate when the float switch is activated. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A lubrication supply system for a manufacturing machine having a lubricant reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine as required by the machine, the system comprising:
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a supply container of fresh lubricant in fluid communication with the reservoir;
means for transferring lubricant from the supply container to the reservoir; and
a control system in communication with the reservoir and the means for transferring lubricant, the control system controlling the transfer of lubricant in response to a desired lubricant level within the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A control system for a lubrication supply system of a machine having a lubricant reservoir associated with the machine, the lubrication supply system including a supply container of lubricant in fluid communication with the reservoir and a pump in communication with the supply container and the reservoir, the control system comprising:
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a pump switch in communication with the pump;
a timer relay in communication with the pump switch; and
a lubricant level indicator;
wherein the pump switch starts the pump when the lubricant level indicator indicates that the lubricant level within the reservoir is below a desired lubricant level, the timer relay allows the pump switch to operate the pump for a predetermined period of time, and the pump switch stops the pump when the lubricant level indicator indicates that the lubricant level reaches the desired lubricant level within the reservoir.
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41. A method of supplying lubricant to a lubricant reservoir of a machine from a supply container of lubricant, the method comprising the steps of:
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automatically transferring lubricant from the supply container to the reservoir when the lubricant falls below a desired level within the reservoir;
stopping the transfer of lubricant when the lubricant reaches the desired level within the reservoir or when a predetermined amount of time expires; and
resetting the predetermined amount of time when the lubricant reaches the desired level before the predetermined amount of time expires. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A lubrication supply system for a self-lubricating manufacturing machine having a machine reservoir adapted to contain and dispense fresh lubricant to the machine as required by the machine, the system comprising:
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a supply reservoir in fluid communication with the machine reservoir and adapted to contain fresh lubricant; and
a transfer mechanism to transfer lubricant from the supply reservoir to the machine reservoir as required by the machine reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A lubrication supply system for a self-lubricating manufacturing machine having a machine reservoir affixed to the machine, the system comprising:
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a supply reservoir in fluid communication with the machine reservoir via a fluid conduit;
a vacuum-operated piston pump in fluid communication with the supply reservoir and the fluid conduit; and
a control system that starts operation of the pump when the lubricant within the machine reservoir falls below a desired level and stops operation of the pump when the lubricant within the machine reservoir reaches the desired level, the control system including an interval relay that alternately opens and closes a pneumatic solenoid valve in communication with a pressure source to facilitate reciprocating movement of the piston within the pump via the pressure source.
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Specification