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US 10,711,943 B2Granted
Diaphragm seal injector
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorIgor V. Radzyuk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lubricant injector includes a housing and a metering section attached to the housing. The housing includes a body and a metering cylinder extending from the body. The metering section includes a diaphragm disposed within the metering cylinder. The diaphragm forms a static seal between the metering cylinder and a lubricant pathway that extends through the body, and the diaphragm defines a metering chamber for measuring a volume of lubricant to be applied during a lubrication cycle. A retaining member secures the diaphragm within the metering cylinder.
Claims22
A lubricant injector comprising:
- a housing including a body and a metering cylinder extending from the body, the metering cylinder extending along an axis;
- an inlet cylinder attached to the body of the housing, wherein the inlet cylinder defines a pressure chamber;
- a lubricant chamber disposed within the body and connected to the pressure chamber;
- a metering chamber connected to the lubricant chamber;
- a firing mechanism disposed within the inlet cylinder and extending into the lubricant chamber, wherein the firing mechanism is movable between a first position, where the metering chamber is fluidly isolated from the pressure chamber, and a second position, where the metering chamber is fluidly connected to the pressure chamber;
- a metering portion secured to the housing, the metering portion comprising:
- a diaphragm disposed within the metering cylinder and forming a static seal about the metering chamber;
- and
- a retaining member having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is attached to the metering cylinder, and wherein the retaining member secures the diaphragm within the metering cylinder;
- a pin at least partially disposed within the retaining member and configured to shift along the axis;
- and
- a lock nut connected to the pin and disposed within the retaining member, wherein the lock nut is connected to the pin such that the lock nut slides axially with the pin, and wherein the lock nut interfaces with the retaining member to prevent rotation of the lock nut about the axis;
- wherein a central portion of the diaphragm is configured to flex to expand the metering chamber in response to a flow of lubricant to the metering chamber when the firing mechanism is in the second position;
- and
- wherein a circumference of the diaphragm forms the static seal between the metering chamber and the retaining member.
12 more elements
A metering portion of a lubricant injector comprising:
- a diaphragm disposed within a metering cylinder, the metering cylinder extending along an axis, the diaphragm forming a static seal to define a metering chamber, wherein a central portion of the diaphragm is configured to flex in response to a flow of lubricant to the metering chamber to expand the metering chamber and measure a volume of lubricant;
- a retaining member attached to the metering cylinder and securing the diaphragm within the metering cylinder;
- and
- a pin at least partially disposed within the metering cylinder, wherein a metering end of the pin abuts the diaphragm;
- a lock nut connected to the pin and disposed within the retaining member, wherein the lock nut is connected to the pin such that the lock nut slides axially with the pin, and wherein the lock nut interfaces with the retaining member to prevent rotation of the lock nut about the axis;
- wherein a circumference of the diaphragm forms the static seal between the metering chamber and the retaining member.
3 more elements
A lubricant injector comprising:
- a housing including a body and a metering cylinder extending from the body;
- an inlet cylinder attached to the body of the housing, wherein the inlet cylinder defines a pressure chamber;
- a lubricant chamber disposed within the body and connected to the pressure chamber;
- a metering chamber connected to the lubricant chamber;
- a firing mechanism disposed within the inlet cylinder and extending into the lubricant chamber, wherein the firing mechanism is movable between a first position, where the metering chamber is fluidly isolated from the pressure chamber, and a second position, where the metering chamber is fluidly connected to the pressure chamber;
- a metering portion secured to the housing, the metering portion comprising:
- a diaphragm disposed within the metering cylinder and forming a static seal about the metering chamber;
- and
- a retaining member having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is attached to the metering cylinder, and wherein the retaining member secures the diaphragm within the metering cylinder;
- a backing plate disposed between the retaining member and the diaphragm;
- and
- a pin at least partially disposed in the retaining member and extending through the backing plate and directly contacting a central portion of the diaphragm;
- wherein the central portion of the diaphragm is configured to flex to expand the metering chamber in response to a flow of lubricant to the metering chamber when the firing mechanism is in the second position;
- and
- wherein a circumference of the diaphragm forms the static seal between the metering chamber and the retaining member.
12 more elements
A metering portion of a lubricant injector comprising:
- a diaphragm disposed within a metering cylinder and forming a static seal to define a metering chamber, wherein a central portion of the diaphragm is configured to flex in response to a flow of lubricant to the metering chamber to expand the metering chamber and measure a volume of lubricant;
- a retaining member attached to the metering cylinder and securing the diaphragm within the metering cylinder;
- a pin at least partially disposed within the metering cylinder, wherein a metering end of the pin abuts the diaphragm;
- and
- a backing plate disposed between the retaining member and the diaphragm;
- wherein the pin extends through the backing plate and directly contacts the diaphragm;
- and
- wherein a circumference of the diaphragm forms the static seal between the metering chamber and the retaining member.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.