US3771623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lubricant assembly for supplying lubricant to chain links
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-09
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1991-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A lubricant assembly comprises a main cylinder, a main piston assembly reciprocal within the main cylinder, a secondary cylinder connected to the main piston assembly, and a secondary piston assembly reciprocal within the secondary cylinder and having a conical nozzle portion engageable with a chain link lubricant fitting. The main and secondary piston assemblies define between them a lubricant chamber and the secondary piston assembly is provided with a lubricant passage for communicating the lubricant chamber with the conical nozzle portion. The main and secondary piston assemblies are mounted for movement together as an integral unit during a first stage of operation in response to pressurized fluid applied to a working face portion of the main piston assembly to effect movement of the nozzle portion of the secondary piston assembly into engagement with the chain link fitting which is to be lubricated. The main piston assembly then undergoes further movement relative to the secondary piston assembly to diminish the volume of the lubricant chamber and accordingly force the lubricant contained therein through the lubricant passage and out through the nozzle portion into the chain link lubricant fitting. Spring means are provided for effecting return movement of the main and secondary piston assemblies to their initial positions upon completion of the lubricant operation and after the pressurized fluid is relieved from behind the working face of the main piston assembly. The main cylinder is mounted upon resilient members which function to absorb any lateral impulsive forces applied to the secondary piston assembly in the event the nozzle portion of the secondary piston assembly is not truly axially aligned with the intended lubricant fitting.
Inventors
- 👤 N Sugawara
- 👤 Yamadaj
- 👤 T Yamate
- 👤 T Yoshikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/04; F16H57/05; B; B65; B65G; B65G45/00; B65G45/02; B65G45/08; C; C03; C03B; C03B9/00; C03B9/12; C03B9/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
441 words
In combination: a chain of connected together chain links each having a lubricant fitting and movable along a given path of travel; and a lubricant assembly for supplying lubricant to said chain links comprising a main cylinder, movable support means supporting said main cylinder along the path of travel of said chain for rotational movement in synchronism with the movement of said chain, a piston assembly having at one end a nozzle portion configured to releasably engage with the chain link lubricant fittings, means mounting said piston assembly for axial reciprocal movement within said main cylinder accompanied by reciprocal movement of said nozzle portion into and out of a lubricating position wherein same is capable of engaging with said chain link lubricant fittings, means defining a lubricant passage within said piston assembly opening at one end into said nozzle portion, means for effecting axial reciprocal movement of said piston assembly in synchronism with the movement of said chain to move said nozzle portion into and out of engagement with said chain link lubricant fittings comprising a piston working face on said portion assembly and means responsive to the rotational movement of said movable support means for supplying pressurized fluid to said working face including means defining a passage to said main cylinder movable with said support means, an inlet port stationary with respect to said movable support means and connectable during use to a source of pressurized fluid, an outlet port stationary with respect to said movable support means and connectable during use to an exhaust, and a valve plate stationary with respect to said movable support means and having first means periodically alignable with said passage in response to the rotational movement of said passage to provide communication between said inlet port and said passage and having second means periodically alignable with said passage in response to the rotational movement of said passage to provide communication between said outlet port and said passage, and wherein said first means includes means defining an aperture in said valve plate having an arcuate length establishing proportionally with respect thereto the desired time period during which said nozzle portion is in said lubricating position, lubricant supply means operative only when said nozzle portion is in engagement with one of said chain link lubricant fittings to supply lubricant serially through said lubricant passage and out said nozzle portion into a chain link lubricant fitting, and force absorbing means for absorbing impulsive forces laterally applied to said nozzle portion during engagement thereof with said chain link lubricant fittings due to axial misalignment therebetween thereby effectively preventing said impulsive forces from being transmitted to said support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
441 words
In combination: a chain of connected together chain links each having a lubricant fitting and movable along a given path of travel; and a lubricant assembly for supplying lubricant to said chain links comprising a main cylinder, movable support means supporting said main cylinder along the path of travel of said chain for rotational movement in synchronism with the movement of said chain, a piston assembly having at one end a nozzle portion configured to releasably engage with the chain link lubricant fittings, means mounting said piston assembly for axial reciprocal movement within said main cylinder accompanied by reciprocal movement of said nozzle portion into and out of a lubricating position wherein same is capable of engaging with said chain link lubricant fittings, means defining a lubricant passage within said piston assembly opening at one end into said nozzle portion, means for effecting axial reciprocal movement of said piston assembly in synchronism with the movement of said chain to move said nozzle portion into and out of engagement with said chain link lubricant fittings comprising a piston working face on said portion assembly and means responsive to the rotational movement of said movable support means for supplying pressurized fluid to said working face including means defining a passage to said main cylinder movable with said support means, an inlet port stationary with respect to said movable support means and connectable during use to a source of pressurized fluid, an outlet port stationary with respect to said movable support means and connectable during use to an exhaust, and a valve plate stationary with respect to said movable support means and having first means periodically alignable with said passage in response to the rotational movement of said passage to provide communication between said inlet port and said passage and having second means periodically alignable with said passage in response to the rotational movement of said passage to provide communication between said outlet port and said passage, and wherein said first means includes means defining an aperture in said valve plate having an arcuate length establishing proportionally with respect thereto the desired time period during which said nozzle portion is in said lubricating position, lubricant supply means operative only when said nozzle portion is in engagement with one of said chain link lubricant fittings to supply lubricant serially through said lubricant passage and out said nozzle portion into a chain link lubricant fitting, and force absorbing means for absorbing impulsive forces laterally applied to said nozzle portion during engagement thereof with said chain link lubricant fittings due to axial misalignment therebetween thereby effectively preventing said impulsive forces from being transmitted to said support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination according to claim 1; including sealing means mounted on said nozzle portion for sealing the engagement of said nozzle portion with respective ones of said chain link lubricant fittings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination according to claim 1; wherein said force absorbing means comprises at least one resilient member interposed between said main cylinder and said support means having sufficient resiliency to absorb said impulsive forces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
A combination according to claim 1; wherein said support means comprises a rotatable carrier wheel rotatable in synchronizm with the movement of said chain links, and a hollow cylindrical cap member rigidly connected to said carriEr wheel and having disposed therein an end portion of said main cylinder, and wherein said force absorbing means comprises at least one annular resilient member interposed between said hollow cylindrical cap member and said main cylinder and having sufficient resiliency to effectively absorb said impulsive forces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A combination according to claim 1; wherein said lubricant supply means includes a nozzle valve disposed in said lubricant passage movable between an open position allowing lubricant flow and a closed position preventing lubricant flow, spring means biasing said nozzle valve into said closed position, and wherein said nozzle valve is positioned relative to said nozzle portion to enable engagement of said nozzle portion with a chain link lubricant fitting to effect opening of said nozzle valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
A combination according to claim 1; wherein said means mounting said piston assembly comprises a main piston assembly mounted to undergo axial reciprocal movement within said main cylinder and having two opposed end portions, a secondary cylinder connected to and reciprocally movable with one end portion of said main piston assembly, and wherein said first-mentioned piston assembly is mounted to undergo axial reciprocal movement within said secondary cylinder, and wherein said means for effecting axial reciprocal movement of said piston assembly comprises biasing means normally biasing said first-mentioned piston assembly and said main piston assembly in axially spaced-apart relationship, spring means urging said main piston assembly in a direction away from said lubricating position, and means for effecting axial movement of said first-mentioned piston assembly and said main piston assembly together as a unit in a direction towards said lubricating position to effect engagement of said nozzle portion with a chain link lubricating fitting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A combination according to claim 6; wherein said lubricant supply means includes means defining a variable volume lubricant chamber between said first-mentioned and main piston assemblies in communication with said lubricant passage and receptive of a lubricant, and means for effecting further axial movement of said main piston assembly relative to said first-mentioned piston assembly after said nozzle portion is in engagement with a chain link lubricant fitting by overcoming said biasing means to diminish the volume of said variable volume lubricant chamber accompanied by forcing the lubricant contained therein through said lubricant passage into the chain link lubricant fitting engaged with said nozzle portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
300 words
In combination: a chain link having a lubricant fitting; and a lubricant assembly for supplying lubricant to the chain link lubricant fitting comprising a main cylinder, a main piston assembly mounted to undergo axial reciprocal movement within said main cylinder and having two opposed end portions, a secondary cylinder connected to and reciprocally movable with one end portion of said main piston assembly, a secondary piston assembly mounted to undergo axial reciprocal movement within said secondary cylinder and having a nozzle portion configured to engage with said chain link lubricant fitting, means defining a variable volume lubricant chamber between said main and secondary piston assemblies receptive of a lubricant during use of the lubricant assembly, means defining a lubricant passage within said secondary piston assembly providing communication between said nozzle portion and said lubricant chamber, biasing means normally biasing said main and secondary piston assemblies in axially spaced-apart relationship whereby said lubricant chamber has its maximum volume, spring means urging said main piston assembly in a nonlubricating axial direction away from said chain link lubricant fitting, means for effecting axial movement of said main and secondary piston assemblies together as a unit in a lubricating direction to engage said nozzle portion with said chain link lubricant fitting and for thereafter effEcting further axial movement of said main piston assembly relative to said secondary piston assembly by overcoming said biasing means to diminish the volume of said variable volume lubricant chamber accompanied by forcing the lubricant contained therein through said lubricant passage into said chain link lubricant fitting engaged with said nozzle portion: and means disposed around said main cylinder for absorbing lateral impulsive forces applied by said chain link lubricant fitting to said secondary piston assembly whenever same engages with said chain link lubricant fitting in an axially misaligned condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
300 words
In combination: a chain link having a lubricant fitting; and a lubricant assembly for supplying lubricant to the chain link lubricant fitting comprising a main cylinder, a main piston assembly mounted to undergo axial reciprocal movement within said main cylinder and having two opposed end portions, a secondary cylinder connected to and reciprocally movable with one end portion of said main piston assembly, a secondary piston assembly mounted to undergo axial reciprocal movement within said secondary cylinder and having a nozzle portion configured to engage with said chain link lubricant fitting, means defining a variable volume lubricant chamber between said main and secondary piston assemblies receptive of a lubricant during use of the lubricant assembly, means defining a lubricant passage within said secondary piston assembly providing communication between said nozzle portion and said lubricant chamber, biasing means normally biasing said main and secondary piston assemblies in axially spaced-apart relationship whereby said lubricant chamber has its maximum volume, spring means urging said main piston assembly in a nonlubricating axial direction away from said chain link lubricant fitting, means for effecting axial movement of said main and secondary piston assemblies together as a unit in a lubricating direction to engage said nozzle portion with said chain link lubricant fitting and for thereafter effEcting further axial movement of said main piston assembly relative to said secondary piston assembly by overcoming said biasing means to diminish the volume of said variable volume lubricant chamber accompanied by forcing the lubricant contained therein through said lubricant passage into said chain link lubricant fitting engaged with said nozzle portion: and means disposed around said main cylinder for absorbing lateral impulsive forces applied by said chain link lubricant fitting to said secondary piston assembly whenever same engages with said chain link lubricant fitting in an axially misaligned condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lubricant assembly according to claim 8; including sealing means mounted on said nozzle portion for sealing the engagement of said nozzle portion with said chain link lubricant fitting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A lubricant assembly according to claim 8; wherein said means for effecting axial movement of said main and secondary piston assemblies in said lubricating direction comprises a piston working face on said main piston assembly, and means for supplying pressurized fluid to said piston working face to effect axial movement of main and secondary piston assemblies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |