Injection lubricator

Claim 2

A lubricator adapted to be positioned in a conduit for dispensing metered amounts of lubricant to a pneumaticallyoperated tool in response to changes in the air flow rate through the conduit to the tool, which includes means defining a lubricant system and means operatively associated therewith defining a pneumatic sensing and actuating system for sensing changes in the air flow rate and actuating said lubricant system to deliver lubricant, wherein the improvement in said lubricator comprises providing in association with said lubircant system, transparent means which define a portion of a lubricant flow path through said lubricant system and indicator piston means positioned in said transparent means, which piston means is movable between a first seated closed position and a second unseated flow position in response to lubricant flow, said movement being visually detectable from without said lubricator through said transparent means, wherein said transparent means include an elongated, transparent, sleeve-like member having a shaped bore and an elongated, cup-shaped transparent cover member having at least one elongated groove therein, said cover member adapted to receive said sleeve-like member in telescoping relation so as to permit lubricant flow in said groove, with said piston-like means being disposed in said bore for movement from said first seated position to said second unseated position.

Claim 3

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, a lubricant delivery passageway means, and a first piston-type means arranged to be operated by the energizing medium to pressurize a selected amount of lubricant from the supply and to move said selected amount of lubricant through the lubricant delivery passageway means, the improvement of a flow indicator for determining the functioning of the lubricator, said indicator comprising, in combination: the lubricant delivery passageway means including therein an elongated, transparent, sleeve-like member downstream of the piston-type means and defininG longitudinally therethrough a passageway for movement of lubricant therethrough, an indicator piston separate from the first piston-type means positioned in said passageway defined by the sleeve-like member, spring means normally biasing the indicator piston to one position within the sleeve-like member, and the flow of lubricant through the sleeve-like member operating against the bias of the spring means to move the indicator to a second position within the sleeve-like member.

Claim 4

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, a lubricant delivery passageway means, and a first piston-type means arranged to be operated by the energizing medium to pressurize a selected amount of lubricant from the supply and to move said selected amount of lubricant through the lubricant delivery passageway means, the improvement of a flow indicator for determining the functioning of the lubricator, said indicator comprising, in combination: the lubricant delivery passageway means including therein an elongated, transparent, sleeve-like member downstream of the piston-type means and defininG longitudinally therethrough a passageway for movement of lubricant therethrough, an indicator piston separate from the first piston-type means positioned in said passageway defined by the sleeve-like member, spring means normally biasing the indicator piston to one position within the sleeve-like member, and the flow of lubricant through the sleeve-like member operating against the bias of the spring means to move the indicator to a second position within the sleeve-like member.

Claim 5

A lubricator as in claim 2 including a cup-shaped transparent cover member surrounding said sleeve-like member and having at least one longitudinal groove in the inner wall thereof serving as part of the lubricant deliver passageway means downstream of the longitudinal passageway through the sleeve-like member.

Claim 6

A lubricator as in claim 3 wherein said cover member includes an end wall having biasing retaining means thereon projecting inwardly into the member for cooperation with said spring means.

Claim 7

A lubricator as in claim 2 wherein there is further provided check valve means disposed in said passageway means between said first piston-type means and said indicator piston.

Claim 8

A lubricator as in claim 2 including manual adjustment means for selectively varying the stroke of the piston-type means.

Claim 9

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, and a pair of alternate passageway means through which lubricant is to be delivered, the improvement comprising, in combination: a pair of spaced casing members each defining therein an entry portion to one of the alternate passageway means, the entry portions extending oppositely to each other, a lubricant pumping module shaped and arranged to be located between and to cooperate with the pair of spaced casing members to receive lubricant and air separately from at least one of the casing members and to discharge pressurized lubricant therefrom to the entry portion of a selected one of the pair of alternate passageway means, one of said casing members being shaped and arranged to receive and direct a portion of the gas flow in a direction toward the space in which the lubricant pumping module is located, and the module having a pair of oppositely disposed gas inlet means and a pair of oppositely disposed lubricant inlet passageway means but only one lubricant discharge passageway means adapted to feed a selected one of the entry portions in the spaced casing members, so that displacement of the module 180* is operative to direct lubricant selectively to one or the other of the two alternate passageway means.

Claim 10

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, and a pair of alternate passageway means through which lubricant is to be delivered, the improvement comprising, in combination: a pair of spaced casing members each defining therein an entry portion to one of the alternate passageway means, the entry portions extending oppositely to each other, a lubricant pumping module shaped and arranged to be located between and to cooperate with the pair of spaced casing members to receive lubricant and air separately from at least one of the casing members and to discharge pressurized lubricant therefrom to the entry portion of a selected one of the pair of alternate passageway means, one of said casing members being shaped and arranged to receive and direct a portion of the gas flow in a direction toward the space in which the lubricant pumping module is located, and the module having a pair of oppositely disposed gas inlet means and a pair of oppositely disposed lubricant inlet passageway means but only one lubricant discharge passageway means adapted to feed a selected one of the entry portions in the spaced casing members, so that displacement of the module 180* is operative to direct lubricant selectively to one or the other of the two alternate passageway means.

Claim 11

A lubricator as in claim 7 wherein the module includes therein piston-type means arranged to be energized by gas flow for pressurizing a selected amount of lubricant and check valve means between the piston-type means and the lubricant discharge passageway means.

Claim 12

A lubricator as in claim 8 including manual adjustment means for selectively varying the stroke of the piston-type means.

Claim 13

A lubricator as in claim 8 including an indicator means in the lubricant discharge passageway means for indicating the operation of the module.

Claim 14

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, a lubricant delivery passage-way means, and piston-type means arranged to be operated by the energizing medium to pressurize a selected amount of lubricant from the supply and to move said selected amount of lubricant through the lubricant delivery passageway means, the improvement of a substantially leak-free, low-air consumption sensing and valving system which includes: casing means which define: (1) spaced gas inlet means and gas outlet means; (2) a sleeve-type annular opening between said gas inlet and gas outlet; (3) an elongated valve-receiving bore opposite and in alignment with said sleeve, one end of which is adapted to communicate with said gas inlet means and the other end of which opeNs to atmosphere; and (4) a branch flow path for providing communication between said valve-receiving bore and said first piston-type means; biased sensing means movable within said sleeve from a first position toward a second position in response to increases in the gas flow rate between said inlet and said outlet, and; valve means cooperatively associated with said sensing means and said valve-receiving bore (1) for permitting flow through said one end and into said branch when said sensor moves toward said second position while preventing flow between said inlet and said other end of said bore, and (2) for preventing flow into said one end when said sensing means is in said first position but permitting communication between said branch and said other end of said bore.

Claim 15

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, a lubricant delivery passage-way means, and piston-type means arranged to be operated by the energizing medium to pressurize a selected amount of lubricant from the supply and to move said selected amount of lubricant through the lubricant delivery passageway means, the improvement of a substantially leak-free, low-air consumption sensing and valving system which includes: casing means which define: (1) spaced gas inlet means and gas outlet means; (2) a sleeve-type annular opening between said gas inlet and gas outlet; (3) an elongated valve-receiving bore opposite and in alignment with said sleeve, one end of which is adapted to communicate with said gas inlet means and the other end of which opeNs to atmosphere; and (4) a branch flow path for providing communication between said valve-receiving bore and said first piston-type means; biased sensing means movable within said sleeve from a first position toward a second position in response to increases in the gas flow rate between said inlet and said outlet, and; valve means cooperatively associated with said sensing means and said valve-receiving bore (1) for permitting flow through said one end and into said branch when said sensor moves toward said second position while preventing flow between said inlet and said other end of said bore, and (2) for preventing flow into said one end when said sensing means is in said first position but permitting communication between said branch and said other end of said bore.

Claim 16

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, a lubricant delivery passageway means, piston-type means arranged to be operated by the energizing medium to pressurize a selected amount of lubricant from the supply and to move said selected amount of lubricant through the lubricant delivery passageway means, a pair of abutting casing members, one of which houses the piston-type means, the other casing member defining spaced gas inlet and outlet means, flow passageway means between the inlet and outlet means, the flow passageway means providing a gas flow branch in which a spring-biased piston-like sensor is positioned and a secondary branch through which gas under pressure is supplied to the piston-type means to operate same, the improvement comprising, in combination: an elongated bore in the first casing one end of which provides an outlet for gas as it is being vented from the piston-type means in the one casing member, the other end of the bore having a valve seat defined thereat, an elongated valve stem slidable in said elongated bore and being coupled to the piston-like sensor to move therewith, first valving means on said stem adapted for engagement with said valve seat, a second valving means positioned in said bore spaced longitudinally from said valve seat and arranged to provide a seal when the first valving means is unseated but to permit venting flow when the first valving means is seated, and said secondary branch including gas flow passageway means that intersect the elongated bore at a point longitudinally between the valve seat and the second valving means.

Claim 17

In an injection lubricator of the type that provides gas flow as an energizing medium, a supply of lubricant, a lubricant delivery passageway means, piston-type means arranged to be operated by the energizing medium to pressurize a selected amount of lubricant from the supply and to move said selected amount of lubricant through the lubricant delivery passageway means, a pair of abutting casing members, one of which houses the piston-type means, the other casing member defining spaced gas inlet and outlet means, flow passageway means between the inlet and outlet means, the flow passageway means providing a gas flow branch in which a spring-biased piston-like sensor is positioned and a secondary branch through which gas under pressure is supplied to the piston-type means to operate same, the improvement comprising, in combination: an elongated bore in the first casing one end of which provides an outlet for gas as it is being vented from the piston-type means in the one casing member, the other end of the bore having a valve seat defined thereat, an elongated valve stem slidable in said elongated bore and being coupled to the piston-like sensor to move therewith, first valving means on said stem adapted for engagement with said valve seat, a second valving means positioned in said bore spaced longitudinally from said valve seat and arranged to provide a seal when the first valving means is unseated but to permit venting flow when the first valving means is seated, and said secondary branch including gas flow passageway means that intersect the elongated bore at a point longitudinally between the valve seat and the second valving means.