Oil mist lubrication and oil immersion system

Claim 2

Apparatus for use with an oil mist lubrication system for the lubrication of machine elements and the like wherein an oil aerosol at above atmospheric pressure is conveyed via an aerosol supply conduit from said oil mist lubrication system, the combination which comprises: a sealed housing, formed by an enclosing wall, within the confines of which there is mounted an end of a rotatable shaft which carries machine elements that are to be lubricated, a reservoir within the bottom of which an oil pool can be maintained at level sufficient that the lower portions of the machine elements can be partially immersed therein, and within which sealed housing an aerosol supply conduit is connected and in communication therewith for supply of oil aerosol at above atmospheric pressure to the housing, a sealed closed loop conduit, one terminal end of which is connected to and in communication with the lower portion of the sealed housing below said oil level for supply of oil thereto, an intermediate portion at sufficient height above the bottom of the housing to permit an oil level to be maintained therein, and the opposite terminal end of which is connected to and in communication with an upper portion of the housing above the oil level, oil collection means in open communication with, and in sealed relationship with said closed loop conduit, whereby, oil aerosol supplied under above atmospheric pressure can enter into the upper portion of the closed sealed housing and into the vapor space of the housing via the aerosol supply conduit and into the upper portion of the closed loop conduit, and oil is provided ingress and egress to and from the oil pool at the bottom of the housing, lower portion of the closed loop conduit and intermediate portion of said closed loop such that an above atmospheric equilibrium pressure can be maintained upon the oil level in both the housing, closed loop circuit and oil collection means, this preventing fluctuating oil levels and differential pressures between the said housing and closed loop circuit.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the closed loop circuit contains a transparent sight tube at the intermediate location, the oil level being maintained therein to permit visual observation of the oil level within the housing.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use with an oil mist lubrication system for the lubrication of machine elements and the like wherein an oil aerosol under pressure is conveyed via an aerosol supply conduit from said oil mist lubrication system, the combination which comprises: a sealed housing, formed by an enclosing wall, within the confines of which there is mounted an end of a rotatable shaft carrying machine elements which are to be lubricated, a reservoir within the bottom of which can be maintained an oil pool at level sufficient that the lower portions of the machine elements can be partially immersed therein, a first T-shaped conduit connection, an end of the axially aligned open portion of which is connected To a fitting and projected within the wall of the housing and through which conduit connection and fitting an aerosol supply conduit is projected to provide conduit means through which oil aerosol can be injected into the sealed housing, the upper end of the said T connection between the external wall of the aerosol supply conduit and inside wall of the said T connection being sealed to leave an annular passageway between the external wall of the aerosol supply conduit and branch opening within the said T connection, a sealed closed loop conduit, an upper horizontal portion of which is connected with the side branch portion of the said T connection and in communication with the annular passageway therethrough, a vertically oriented portion, an end of which is in communication with said horizontal portion and the other of which is adjoined to an oil level control tube located at the same height as the surface level of the pool of oil maintained within the closed housing, the sealed loop circuit including a second T connection connected via its axially aligned open end with a conduit fitted to the oil level control tube, and a second horizontally oriented conduit portion below the said tube, an end of which is connected with the branch portion of said second T connection and the opposite end of which is communicated with the reservoir portion of the housing below the oil level, and an oil collection means in open communication with, and in sealed relationship with said sealed closed loop circuit, which includes a tubular member, the bottom of which is closed by a container mounted thereon, the upper end of the tubular member being projected upwardly into the axial lower open end of the second T connection, and into the oil level control tube, the lower end of the axial portion of the T connection is sealed between the inside wall of the T connection and external wall of the said straight tubular member such that oil can overflow from the oil level control tube through the opening within the straight tubular member, and into the container mounted thereon, whereby oil aerosol can enter via the aerosol supply conduit into the vapor space of the closed housing and via the annular passageway within the first T connection into the upper portion and transparent sight tube within the upper portion of the closed loop circuit, and oil from the reservoir of the housing is accorded ingress and egress into the lower portion of the closed loop circuit such that an equilibrium pressure is maintained upon the oil level in both the housing and closed loop circuit, this preventing fluctuating oil levels and differential pressures between the said housing and said sealed closed loop circuit.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use with an oil mist lubrication system for the lubrication of machine elements and the like wherein an oil aerosol under pressure is conveyed via an aerosol supply conduit from said oil mist lubrication system, the combination which comprises: a sealed housing, formed by an enclosing wall, within the confines of which there is mounted an end of a rotatable shaft carrying machine elements which are to be lubricated, a reservoir within the bottom of which can be maintained an oil pool at level sufficient that the lower portions of the machine elements can be partially immersed therein, a first T-shaped conduit connection, an end of the axially aligned open portion of which is connected To a fitting and projected within the wall of the housing and through which conduit connection and fitting an aerosol supply conduit is projected to provide conduit means through which oil aerosol can be injected into the sealed housing, the upper end of the said T connection between the external wall of the aerosol supply conduit and inside wall of the said T connection being sealed to leave an annular passageway between the external wall of the aerosol supply conduit and branch opening within the said T connection, a sealed closed loop conduit, an upper horizontal portion of which is connected with the side branch portion of the said T connection and in communication with the annular passageway therethrough, a vertically oriented portion, an end of which is in communication with said horizontal portion and the other of which is adjoined to an oil level control tube located at the same height as the surface level of the pool of oil maintained within the closed housing, the sealed loop circuit including a second T connection connected via its axially aligned open end with a conduit fitted to the oil level control tube, and a second horizontally oriented conduit portion below the said tube, an end of which is connected with the branch portion of said second T connection and the opposite end of which is communicated with the reservoir portion of the housing below the oil level, and an oil collection means in open communication with, and in sealed relationship with said sealed closed loop circuit, which includes a tubular member, the bottom of which is closed by a container mounted thereon, the upper end of the tubular member being projected upwardly into the axial lower open end of the second T connection, and into the oil level control tube, the lower end of the axial portion of the T connection is sealed between the inside wall of the T connection and external wall of the said straight tubular member such that oil can overflow from the oil level control tube through the opening within the straight tubular member, and into the container mounted thereon, whereby oil aerosol can enter via the aerosol supply conduit into the vapor space of the closed housing and via the annular passageway within the first T connection into the upper portion and transparent sight tube within the upper portion of the closed loop circuit, and oil from the reservoir of the housing is accorded ingress and egress into the lower portion of the closed loop circuit such that an equilibrium pressure is maintained upon the oil level in both the housing and closed loop circuit, this preventing fluctuating oil levels and differential pressures between the said housing and said sealed closed loop circuit.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the oil level control tube contained within the closed loop conduit is transparent, and constitutes a sight tube for viewing the oil level.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transparent sight tube is constructed of plastic.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the oil level control tube and second T connection are replaced by a single transparent T connection by virtue of which the oil level therein can be viewed and controlled.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the container mounted on the bottom of the tubular member constituting a portion of the oil collection means is transparent, and provided with a drain which can be opened at will to release oil overflowed from the oil level control tube.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a permanently open bleed port is contained within a wall of the container, and sized to maintain above atmospheric pressure as well as equalize the pressure within the housing, closed loop conduit and container.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the diameter of the bleed port ranges between about 1/32 and 3/32 inch, for pressures ranging about 5 to 7 inches of water.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a sight tube is located on the housing, below the oil level, for viewing the condition of the oil contained within the housing.