Low pressure pneumatic motor lubricating system

Claim 2

A lubricating system for a pneumatically operated motor of the type which includes a source of high pressure air, a cylinder, at least one piston or movable member located in the cylinder and a bidirectional valve connected to the source of high pressure air and movable to alternate positions for first supplying air to a first end of the cylinder to extend the piston and receive the exhaust air from the second end of the cylinder and for second supplying air to the second end of the cylinder to retract the piston and receive the exhaust air from the first end of the cylinder, said system comprising: a reservoir of lubricant maintained at a low positive presSure; and fitting means connected in a line intermediate said bidirectional valve and said pressure cylinder having an inlet for receiving the low pressure lubricant from the reservoir and an outlet and including pressure responsive valve means for discharging said lubricant into said line during the exhaust portion of the cycle when the pressure of the air in said line is less than the pressure of lubricant in said reservoir.

Claim 3

A lubricating system as defined in claim 1 in which said fitting means comprises a body having internal dam means for temporarily retaining at least a portion of said lubricant during the exhaust portion of said cycle so that the high pressure air on the pressure cycle may carry the lubricant retained thereby into the cylinder.

Claim 4

A lubricating system as defined in bidirectional 2 wherein said pressure responsive valve means is a check valve of the duck-bill type positioned in said inlet.

Claim 5

A lubricating system as defined in bidirectional 2 wherein said pressure responsive valve means is a check valve of the duck-bill type positioned in said inlet.

Claim 6

A lubricating system as defined in claim 2 wherein said dam means comprises an internal radial shoulder adjacent said lubricant outlet.

Claim 7

A lubricating system as defined in claim 1 including a flow regulator valve between the reservoir and the discharging means for controlling the rate of flow of lubricant from the reservoir to said fitting.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 in which said flow regulator valve comprises a body having a inlet neck portion and a sleeve portion defining a cylindrical cavity and a flat abutment surface formed at the junction of said neck portion, means in said neck portion defining a lubricant passageway displaced from the center thereof and connected to receive lubricant from said reservoir and opening into said sleeve cavity, a valve member received in said cavity and having a diameter less than said cavity defining a passageway therebetween in said body having means defining an outlet opening into said passageway, means on said valve member defining a face mating with said abutment surface, and means in said face defining a shallow groove formed chordwise thereon which is movable by rotation of said valve member selectively into communication with said neck passage for adjusting the rate of flow into said valve body passageway, and means urging said valve member face against said abutment surface while providing for rotation of said valve member.

Claim 9

A lubricating system for a pneumatically operated motor of the type which includes a source of high pressure air, a pressure cylinder, at least one piston or movable member located in the pressure chamber, and an air-control valve connected to the source of high pressure air and movable for alternately applying air under pressure to the ends of said cylinder and for providing an exhaust for the opposite end thereof to extend and retract the piston therein, comprising: an oil reservoir having at least one outlet port and including means for maintaining said oil at a pressure below the pressure of the pressurized air, a feed valve having a through passage for connection in a line between said air-control valve and one end of the pressure cylinder, said feed valve also including an oil inlet port communicating with said passage, and means defining an internal dam in said passage for trapping and retaining therein at least a portion of the oil delivered thereto through said inlet port, conduit means connected to receive oil from said outlet port and deliver the same to said feed valve inlet port including a check valve, said check valve being operative during the exhaust through said air control valve to open and admit lubricant into said feed valve inlet when the air pressure in the passage reaches a point below the pressure of the oil at said check valve with said dam retaining at least a portion of the oil admitted to said feed valve, and said passage and dam operating to expose the retained lubricant to said high pressure air for entrainment into said pressure cylinder to lubricate said piston.

Claim 10

A lubricating system for a pneumatically operated motor of the type which includes a source of high pressure air, a pressure cylinder, at least one piston or movable member located in the pressure chamber, and an air-control valve connected to the source of high pressure air and movable for alternately applying air under pressure to the ends of said cylinder and for providing an exhaust for the opposite end thereof to extend and retract the piston therein, comprising: an oil reservoir having at least one outlet port and including means for maintaining said oil at a pressure below the pressure of the pressurized air, a feed valve having a through passage for connection in a line between said air-control valve and one end of the pressure cylinder, said feed valve also including an oil inlet port communicating with said passage, and means defining an internal dam in said passage for trapping and retaining therein at least a portion of the oil delivered thereto through said inlet port, conduit means connected to receive oil from said outlet port and deliver the same to said feed valve inlet port including a check valve, said check valve being operative during the exhaust through said air control valve to open and admit lubricant into said feed valve inlet when the air pressure in the passage reaches a point below the pressure of the oil at said check valve with said dam retaining at least a portion of the oil admitted to said feed valve, and said passage and dam operating to expose the retained lubricant to said high pressure air for entrainment into said pressure cylinder to lubricate said piston.

Claim 11

In a pneumatic motor system of the type which inCludes a pressure cylinder and air lines connecting opposite ends of the cylinder, a fitting adapted to discharge lubricant from a source into one of said air lines comprising a housing having at least two concentric bores therein which define a single passage therethrough, wherein one bore opens toward the cylinder and is larger than the other bore and defines an internal dam in said housing, an inlet port in a side of said housing adjacent said dam, a body having an outlet portion connected to said inlet port and having means defining an opening therethrough, and a duck-bill elastomeric check valve in said opening for receiving lubricant from said source and for discharging lubricant into said housing when the pressure in said passage is less than the pressure of said lubricant.

Claim 12

In a pneumatic motor system of the type which inCludes a pressure cylinder and air lines connecting opposite ends of the cylinder, a fitting adapted to discharge lubricant from a source into one of said air lines comprising a housing having at least two concentric bores therein which define a single passage therethrough, wherein one bore opens toward the cylinder and is larger than the other bore and defines an internal dam in said housing, an inlet port in a side of said housing adjacent said dam, a body having an outlet portion connected to said inlet port and having means defining an opening therethrough, and a duck-bill elastomeric check valve in said opening for receiving lubricant from said source and for discharging lubricant into said housing when the pressure in said passage is less than the pressure of said lubricant.

Claim 13

In a pneumatic motor system of the type which includes a pressure cylinder and air lines connecting opposite ends of the cylinder, an automatic oiler for supplying a small measure quantity of oil during each cycle of operation of said cylinder comprising means defining a source of oil under pressure which pressure is low compared to the maximum air pressure of said system, a fitting in one of the air lines to said cylinder, said fitting including means forming an oil inlet connected to said source and opening into the interior thereof, a check valve at said inlet to permit flow of oil into said fitting interior only when the air pressure therein is less than the pressure of said source, means in said fitting interior defining a hydraulic dam for resisting back flow of oil during the purging cycle of said cylinder and providing a small reservoir of such oil for capture and entrainment by air during the pressurizing cycle of the cylinder.

Claim 14

In a pneumatic motor system of the type which includes a pressure cylinder and air lines connecting opposite ends of the cylinder, an automatic oiler for supplying a small measure quantity of oil during each cycle of operation of said cylinder comprising means defining a source of oil under pressure which pressure is low compared to the maximum air pressure of said system, a fitting in one of the air lines to said cylinder, said fitting including means forming an oil inlet connected to said source and opening into the interior thereof, a check valve at said inlet to permit flow of oil into said fitting interior only when the air pressure therein is less than the pressure of said source, means in said fitting interior defining a hydraulic dam for resisting back flow of oil during the purging cycle of said cylinder and providing a small reservoir of such oil for capture and entrainment by air during the pressurizing cycle of the cylinder.

Claim 15

The oiler of claim 9 in which said dam is formed as a generally radially extending shoulder positioned at said oil inlet.

Claim 16

The oiler of claim 9 in which said source comprises a container for receiving a quantity of oil, an air pressure regulator within said container having an inlet adapted to receive air under pressure and having an outlet for admitting air into said container at said relatively low pressure, and further including a metering valve between said container and said fitting for regulating the rate of flow into said fitting inlet during the times that the air pressure in said fitting is less than the oil pressure.