US3785456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic lubrication system
Assignee: ELK CRAFT Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-21
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1992-03-21
Abstract
Abstract An automatic lubrication system for conveyors and the like, said system comprising means for initiating a lubrication cycle whereby a lubricant agitator and pump are sequentially actuated to deliver lubricant to a dispensing passageway, a timer and relay arrangement effective to open a lubrication solenoid valve to permit a quantity of lubricant to flow into the dispensing passageway and subsequently open a gas solenoid valve to blow gas through the passageway and expel substantially all of the lubricant therefrom onto the member being lubricated, in such a manner that dripping of the excess lubricant or clogging of the passageway is eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 N Mcintire
- 👤 Z Porter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:58
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16N; F16N7/00; F16N7/30; F16N2230/00; F16N2230/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
In combination: an automatic lubrication system and a conveyor having moving members requiring lubrication, said system comprising: a lubricant dispensing tube with a lubricant receiving end and an opened end adapted to permit the exhaust of lubricant therethrough to a moving member to be lubricated, electrical means including meaNs for sensing the passage of the moving members past a predetermined point along the conveyor''s path of travel, a source of lubricant under pressure, lubricant valve means opened in response to signals from said sensing means for communicating said source of lubricant with the lubricant receiving end of said dispensing tube for a preselected time interval to at least partially fill said dispensing tube with lubricant, a source of gas pressure, and gas valve means opened in response to signals from said electrical means subsequent to filling of said dispensing tube with lubricant for communicating said gas pressure source with said dispensing tube at a point remote from said open end to blow the lubricant therefrom through said opened end, said electrical means including lubricant timer means responsive to said sensing means to open said lubricant means for a preselected time interval corresponding to a predetermined volume of lubricant permitted to flow into said dispensing tube, gas timer means for initiating a gas time interval in response to the completion of said lubricant time interval to open said gas valve means to blow the lubricant from said dispensing tube, relay means responsive to the completion of said gas time interval to condition said lubricating system to reset said timer means for repeat of the lubricating and gas blast operations, and delay timer means responsive to said sensing means upon actuation thereof by the passage of a moving member to be lubricated to initiate a preselected time delay interval and subsequently effect actuation of said lubricant timer means to initiate said lubricant time interval, said time delay interval being effective to synchronize the position of each moving member with said gas time interval such that the moving member being lubricated is properly positioned relative to the opened end of said dispensing tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
In combination: an automatic lubrication system and a conveyor having moving members requiring lubrication, said system comprising: a lubricant dispensing tube with a lubricant receiving end and an opened end adapted to permit the exhaust of lubricant therethrough to a moving member to be lubricated, electrical means including meaNs for sensing the passage of the moving members past a predetermined point along the conveyor''s path of travel, a source of lubricant under pressure, lubricant valve means opened in response to signals from said sensing means for communicating said source of lubricant with the lubricant receiving end of said dispensing tube for a preselected time interval to at least partially fill said dispensing tube with lubricant, a source of gas pressure, and gas valve means opened in response to signals from said electrical means subsequent to filling of said dispensing tube with lubricant for communicating said gas pressure source with said dispensing tube at a point remote from said open end to blow the lubricant therefrom through said opened end, said electrical means including lubricant timer means responsive to said sensing means to open said lubricant means for a preselected time interval corresponding to a predetermined volume of lubricant permitted to flow into said dispensing tube, gas timer means for initiating a gas time interval in response to the completion of said lubricant time interval to open said gas valve means to blow the lubricant from said dispensing tube, relay means responsive to the completion of said gas time interval to condition said lubricating system to reset said timer means for repeat of the lubricating and gas blast operations, and delay timer means responsive to said sensing means upon actuation thereof by the passage of a moving member to be lubricated to initiate a preselected time delay interval and subsequently effect actuation of said lubricant timer means to initiate said lubricant time interval, said time delay interval being effective to synchronize the position of each moving member with said gas time interval such that the moving member being lubricated is properly positioned relative to the opened end of said dispensing tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
A lubricant system for handling a solid lubricant in a fluid medium, said lubricant system comprising: an open ended lubricant dispensing member, a reservoir of solid lubricant in a fluid medium, passageway means defining a delivery path from said reservoir and a return path to said reservoir, said return path being in direct communication with said delivery path, pump means associated with said passageway means for continuously circulating said lubricant and associated fluid medium through said passageway means, and selectively operable valve means connected to said passageway means at the junction of said delivery path and said return path and operable in an open position to permit a quantity of said lubricant and fluid medium to flow from said delivery path to said dispensing member, continuous circulation of said lubricant and fluid medium by said pump means preventing clogging of said passageway means while said valve means is closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A lubricant system for handling a solid lubricant in a fluid medium, said lubricant system comprising: an open ended lubricant dispensing member, a reservoir of solid lubricant in a fluid medium, passageway means defining a delivery path from said reservoir and a return path to said reservoir, said return path being in direct communication with said delivery path, pump means associated with said passageway means for continuously circulating said lubricant and associated fluid medium through said passageway means, and selectively operable valve means connected to said passageway means at the junction of said delivery path and said return path and operable in an open position to permit a quantity of said lubricant and fluid medium to flow from said delivery path to said dispensing member, continuous circulation of said lubricant and fluid medium by said pump means preventing clogging of said passageway means while said valve means is closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system set forth in claim 2 including gas blast means connected to said dispensing member at a point remote from the open end thereof to selectively blow the lubricant and associated fluid medium therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
In combination with equipment lubricated with a lubricant having a fluency property that deteriorates under static conditions, a lubricating system comprising a reservoir containing said lubricant, conduit means connected to the reservoir for conducting the lubricant in a closed circuit, circulating pump means connected to the conduit means for inducing flow of the lubricant through said circuit to maintain the lubricant in a state of motion and thereby sustain said fluency property, dispensing means for discharging said lubricant into said equipment, and valve means connecting the conduit means to the dispensing means for intermittently supplying the lubricant to the dispensing means only while in said state of motion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
In combination with equipment lubricated with a lubricant having a fluency property that deteriorates under static conditions, a lubricating system comprising a reservoir containing said lubricant, conduit means connected to the reservoir for conducting the lubricant in a closed circuit, circulating pump means connected to the conduit means for inducing flow of the lubricant through said circuit to maintain the lubricant in a state of motion and thereby sustain said fluency property, dispensing means for discharging said lubricant into said equipment, and valve means connecting the conduit means to the dispensing means for intermittently supplying the lubricant to the dispensing means only while in said state of motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 4 including control means for programming operation of the pump means and the valve means to open the valve means only while the lubricant is under a dynamic pressure head induced by the pump means prior to opening of the vaLve means.
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) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |