Lubricant injector

Claim 2

A lubricant injector comprising: a hollow body having an inlet for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and an outlet, said hollow body defining a rearward chamber adjacent the inlet, a foreward chamber adjacent the outlet, and a central chamber interposed said forward and rearward chambers, said central chamber having a larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first and second shoulder at the intersections of the central chamber with the forward and rearward chambers respectively, a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section disposed in said rearward chamber, and a larger diameter section disposed in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first and second shoulders, said piston having a first face at its rearward end and a second larger face at its forward end, said piston and said central chamber defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearward most position, said piston having an axial bore therethrough with a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwaRdly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face; and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said second shoulder.

Claim 3

A lubricant injector comprising: a hollow body having an inlet for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and an outlet, said hollow body defining a rearward chamber adjacent the inlet, a foreward chamber adjacent the outlet, and a central chamber interposed said forward and rearward chambers, said central chamber having a larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first and second shoulder at the intersections of the central chamber with the forward and rearward chambers respectively, a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section disposed in said rearward chamber, and a larger diameter section disposed in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first and second shoulders, said piston having a first face at its rearward end and a second larger face at its forward end, said piston and said central chamber defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearward most position, said piston having an axial bore therethrough with a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwaRdly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face; and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said second shoulder.

Claim 4

A lubricant injector comprising: a hollow body having an inlet for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and an outlet, said hollow body defining a rearward chamber adjacent the inlet, a foreward chamber adjacent the outlet, and a central chamber interposed said forward and rearward chambers, said central chamber having a larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first and second shoulder at the intersections of the central chamber with the forward and rearward chambers respectively, a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section disposed in said rearward chamber, and a larger diameter section disposed in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first and second shoulders, said piston having a first face at its rearward end and a second larger face at its forward end, said piston and said central chamber defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearward most position, said piston having an axial bore therethrough with a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwaRdly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face; and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said second shoulder.

Claim 5

The injector of claim 1 wherein lubricant pressure at said inlet sufficient to overcome said bias is operable to: a. upon initial application of pressure move said piston and valving element forward in unison injecting lubricant from said charging chamber out said outlet, b. upon continued application of pressure effect engagement of said piston with said first shoulder thereby stopping said piston and forcing said valving element forward to disengage said poppet surface from said poppet seat opening said piston bore and forcing said forward projection into said forward chamber sealing said outlet, c. upon further application of pressure equalizing pressure on both faces of said piston thereby driving said piston rearwardly to engage said second shoulder and recharge said charging chamber, and d. upon termination of pressure allowing said bias to return said valving element poppet surface to seat on said poppet seat and completing the injecting cycle.

Claim 6

The lubricant injector of claim 1 wherein said valving element rearward projection is closely fitted in said piston bore to effectively guide said valving element forward and rearward movements and effectively snub any pressure surges in said bore.

Claim 7

The lubricant injector of claim 3 wherein said valving element forward projection carries a forwardly closing poppet surface to engage on outlet poppet seat at said outlet when said valving element is in its forward most position.

Claim 8

The lubricant injector of claim 4 wherein said larger and smaller diameter piston sections carry O-rings of polyurethane rubber with molybdenum disulfide filler which slidingly and sealingly engage said central and rearward chambers respectively.

Claim 9

The lubricant injector of claim 4 wherein said forward projection carries a quad-ring of polyurethane rubber with molybdenum disulfide filler for sealingly and slidably engaging said forward chamber.

Claim 10

The lubricant injector of calim wherein the ratio of said first face effective surface area to said second face effective surface area is in the range of 1:1.1 to 1:2.

Claim 11

The lubricant injector of calim wherein the ratio of said first face effective surface area to said second face effective surface area is in the range of 1:1.1 to 1:2.

Claim 12

The lubricant injector of claim 1 wherein the ratio of said first face effective surface area to said valving element surface area exposed to inlet pressure is in the range of 2:1 to 20:1.

Claim 13

The lubricant injector of claim 1 wherein said hollow body comprises a forward body piece threadably received in a rearward body piece, the volume of said charging chamber adjustable by varying the extent to which said forward piece is threaded into said rearward piece.

Claim 14

The lubricant injector of claim 9 wherein an exterior annular groove is formed at the intersection of said forward and rearward body pieces, said groove for receiving annular spacers of varying axial length for selectively varying the extent to which said forward piece is threaded into said rearward piece thereby selectively varying the volume of said charging chamber.

Claim 15

The lubricant injector of claim 10 wherein said annular spacers are of different colors corresponding to different axial lengths giving visual indication of the volume to which the charging chamber is set.

Claim 16

The lubricant injector of claim 1 wherein the inlet to said piston bore carries a perforated plug which serves as a filter element and a pressure surge snubbing element.

Claim 17

The lubricant injector of claim 1 wherein the inlet to said hollow body includes a portion adapted to receive a tube end thereby enabling the inlet to act as a tube fitting.

Claim 18

A lubricant injector comprising: a hollow body having an inlet for connection to a source of intermittent pressurized lubricant, an outlet, a first chamber adjacent the inlet, a second chamber adjacent the outlet and a third chamber interposed between said first and second chambers, said third chamber having a larger interior diameter than said first and second chamber thereby defining a first and second shoulder at the intersection of the third chamber with the first and second chambers respectively, a piston slidably and sealing disposed in said hollow body, said piston having a smaller diameter section disposed in said first chamber and a larger diameter section disposed in said third chamber, said piston having first and second faces at its rearward and forward end respectively; said piston and said third chamber defining a charge chamber when said piston is in its rearward most position, an axial bore through said piston and forming a valve seat at the forward end, a valve means cooperating with said valve seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valve means having a rearwardly extending projection slidably disposed in said axial bore, having a forwardly extending projection which is sealing and slidably disposed in said second chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed between said projection for engagement with said seat, the effective area of the poppet surface exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being smaller than said first piston face, and means for biasing said valve means rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said valve seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said second shoulder.

Claim 19

A lubricant injector comprising: a hollow body having an inlet for connection to a source of intermittent pressurized lubricant, an outlet, a first chamber adjacent the inlet, a second chamber adjacent the outlet and a third chamber interposed between said first and second chambers, said third chamber having a larger interior diameter than said first and second chamber thereby defining a first and second shoulder at the intersection of the third chamber with the first and second chambers respectively, a piston slidably and sealing disposed in said hollow body, said piston having a smaller diameter section disposed in said first chamber and a larger diameter section disposed in said third chamber, said piston having first and second faces at its rearward and forward end respectively; said piston and said third chamber defining a charge chamber when said piston is in its rearward most position, an axial bore through said piston and forming a valve seat at the forward end, a valve means cooperating with said valve seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valve means having a rearwardly extending projection slidably disposed in said axial bore, having a forwardly extending projection which is sealing and slidably disposed in said second chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed between said projection for engagement with said seat, the effective area of the poppet surface exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being smaller than said first piston face, and means for biasing said valve means rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said valve seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said second shoulder.

Claim 20

A lubricant injector comprising: an inlet manifold having an inlet bore for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and a body receiving bore therethrough, said body receiving bore intersecting said inlet bore; a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, said hollow body comprising a forward body piece threadably received in one end of said body receiving bore and a rearward body piece threadably received in the other end of said body receiving bore, said hollow body defining a forward chamber adjacent the inlet, a rearward chamber adjacent the outlet and a central chamber of larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first shoulder at the intersection of the central with the forward chamber, said inlet comprising the intersection of said rearward chamber and said inlet bore, said rearward body piece having an axial bore therethrough and a threaded end plug sealing said rearward body piece axial bore, a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section received in said rearward chamber and a larger diameter section received in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first shoulder and said smaller diameter section contacting said end plug respectively, said piston having a first face at the rear end of its larger diameter section and a second larger face at the forward end of its larger diameter section, said piston defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearwardly most position, said piston having an axial bore from its second face to point within its smaller diameter section and a radial bore from the exterior of said smaller diameter section to said point, said radial bore in fluid communication with said inlet for all positions of said piston, said axial bore having a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwardly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet sUrface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face, and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said end plug.

Claim 21

A lubricant injector comprising: an inlet manifold having an inlet bore for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and a body receiving bore therethrough, said body receiving bore intersecting said inlet bore; a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, said hollow body comprising a forward body piece threadably received in one end of said body receiving bore and a rearward body piece threadably received in the other end of said body receiving bore, said hollow body defining a forward chamber adjacent the inlet, a rearward chamber adjacent the outlet and a central chamber of larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first shoulder at the intersection of the central with the forward chamber, said inlet comprising the intersection of said rearward chamber and said inlet bore, said rearward body piece having an axial bore therethrough and a threaded end plug sealing said rearward body piece axial bore, a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section received in said rearward chamber and a larger diameter section received in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first shoulder and said smaller diameter section contacting said end plug respectively, said piston having a first face at the rear end of its larger diameter section and a second larger face at the forward end of its larger diameter section, said piston defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearwardly most position, said piston having an axial bore from its second face to point within its smaller diameter section and a radial bore from the exterior of said smaller diameter section to said point, said radial bore in fluid communication with said inlet for all positions of said piston, said axial bore having a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwardly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet sUrface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face, and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said end plug.

Claim 22

The injector of claim 15 wherein lubricant pressure at said inlet sufficient to overcome said bias is operable to: a. upon initial application of pressure move said piston and valving element forward in unison injecting lubricant from said charging chamber out said outlet, b. upon continued application of pressure effect engagement of said piston with said first shoulder thereby stopping said piston and forcing said valving element forward to disengage said poppet surface from said poppet seat opening said piston bore and forcing said forward project into said forward chamber sealing and outlet, c. upon further application of pressure equalizing pressure on both faces of said piston thereby driving said piston rearwardly to engage said end plug and recharge said charging chamber, d. upon termination of pressure allowing said bias to return said valving element poppet surface to seat on said poppet seat and completing the injecting cycle.

Claim 23

The lubricant injector of claim 15 wherein said end plug is variably threadable into said rearward body piece to variably extend into said rearward cavity to adjust said charging chamber volume.

Claim 24

The lubricant injector of claim 17 wherein said end plug carries visible indica of said charging chamber volume.

Claim 25

The lubricant injector of claim 17 wherein said end plug has an axial bore therethrough and said piston has a rearwardly extending indicating rod which extends through and sealingly and slidingly engages said end plug bore to give visual indication of said injector operation.

Claim 26

The injector of claim 17 wherein a perforated member is interposed said inlet bore and said inlet.

Claim 27

The lubricant injector of claim 17 wherein said larger and smaller diameter piston sections carry O-rings of polyurethane rubber with molybdenum disulfide filler with slidingly and sealingly engage said central and rearward chambers respectively.

Claim 28

The lubricant injector of claim 21 wherein said valving element forwardly extending projection carries a quad-ring of polyurethane rubber with molybdenum disulfide filler for sealingly and slidably engaging said forward chamber.

Claim 29

A single line lubricating device comprising: a block manifold having an inlet bore for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and a plurality of body receiving bores therethrough, each of said body receiving bores intersection said inlet bore; a plurality of hollow bodies having an inlet and an outlet, said hollow bodies comprising a forward body piece threadably received in one end which said body receiving bore and a rearward body piece threadably received in the other end of said body receiving bore, said hollow body defining a forward chamber adjacent the inlet, a rearward chamber adjacent the outlet and a central chamber interposed said forward and rearward chambers, said central chamber of larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first shoulder at the intersection of the central with the forward chambers, said inlet comprising the intersection of said rearward chamber and said inlet bore, said rearward body piece having an axial bore therethrough and a threaded end plug sealing said rearward body piece axial bore; a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section received in said rearward chamber and a larger diameter section received in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first shoulders and said smaller diameter section contacting said end pLug respectively, said piston having a first face at the rear end of its larger diameter section and a second larger face at the forward end of its larger diameter section, said piston defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearwardly most position, said piston having an axial bore from its second face to point within its smaller diameter section and a radial bore from the exterior of said smaller diameter section to said point, said radial bore in fluid communication with said inlet for all positions of said piston, said axial bore having a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwardly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face; and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said end plug.

Claim 30

A single line lubricating device comprising: a block manifold having an inlet bore for connection to a source of intermittently pressurized lubricant and a plurality of body receiving bores therethrough, each of said body receiving bores intersection said inlet bore; a plurality of hollow bodies having an inlet and an outlet, said hollow bodies comprising a forward body piece threadably received in one end which said body receiving bore and a rearward body piece threadably received in the other end of said body receiving bore, said hollow body defining a forward chamber adjacent the inlet, a rearward chamber adjacent the outlet and a central chamber interposed said forward and rearward chambers, said central chamber of larger interior diameter than said forward and rearward chambers thereby defining a first shoulder at the intersection of the central with the forward chambers, said inlet comprising the intersection of said rearward chamber and said inlet bore, said rearward body piece having an axial bore therethrough and a threaded end plug sealing said rearward body piece axial bore; a piston slidably and sealingly disposed within said body, said piston having a smaller diameter section received in said rearward chamber and a larger diameter section received in said central chamber, said piston limited in its forward and rearward axial movement by said larger diameter section contacting said first shoulders and said smaller diameter section contacting said end pLug respectively, said piston having a first face at the rear end of its larger diameter section and a second larger face at the forward end of its larger diameter section, said piston defining a charging chamber ahead of its second face when said piston is in its rearwardly most position, said piston having an axial bore from its second face to point within its smaller diameter section and a radial bore from the exterior of said smaller diameter section to said point, said radial bore in fluid communication with said inlet for all positions of said piston, said axial bore having a poppet seat at its forward end; a valving element cooperating with said poppet seat for controlling the flow of lubricant through said bore, said valving element having a rearwardly extending projection slidably received in said piston bore, a forwardly extending projection for sealing and sliding engagement in said forward chamber and a forwardly opening poppet surface interposed said projections for engagement with said poppet seat; the effective area of said poppet exposed to fluid pressure in said bore being substantially smaller than said first piston face; and means biasing said valve member rearwardly to seat said poppet surface on said poppet seat and biasing said piston rearwardly to engage said end plug.

Claim 31

The injector of claim 23 wherein lubricant pressure at said inlet sufficient to overcome said bias is operable to: a. upon initial application of pressure move said piston and valving element forward in unison injecting lubricant from said charging chamber out said outlet, b. upon continued application of pressure effect engagement of said piston with said first shoulder thereby stopping said piston and forcing said valving element forward to disengage said poppet surface from said poppet seat opening said piston bore and forcing said forward project into said forward chamber sealing and outlet, c. upon further application of pressure equalizing pressure on both faces of said piston thereby driving said piston rearwardly to engage said end plug and recharge said charging chamber, d. upon termination of pressure allowing said bias to return said valving element poppet surface to seat on said poppet seat and completing the injecting cycle.

Claim 32

The lubricating device of claim 24 wherein said block manifold has a pressure tap bore leading from said inlet bore to the exterior of said block manifold.

Claim 33

The lubricating device of claim 25 wherein said pressure tap is utilized to supply pressurized lubricant to a pressure operated device.

Claim 34

The lubricating device of claim 26 wherein said pressure operated device is a lubricant injector.