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US 10,731,791 B2Granted
Centerfill of lubricant reservoir
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Holman, Benjamin J. Paar, Mike V. Atkinson, Brandon T. Gustafson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centerfill assembly for a lubricant reservoir includes a hollow tube for receiving lubricant from the top of the reservoir and loading the lubricant into the reservoir near the bottom of the reservoir. Loading the lubricant near the bottom of the reservoir introduces lubricant near where the stirring paddles mix the lubricant and near where the lubricant is loaded to the lubricant pump. Adding the lubricant near where the pumps load and near the stirring paddles helps to eliminate air pockets in the lubricant. In addition, having the centerfill rod minimizes exterior plumbing and allows for the mounting of valves on the fill line.
Claims21
A lubricant reservoir comprising:
- a housing defining a reservoir;
- a fill port extending through a top of the housing;
- an actuator movably disposed within the housing and dividing the reservoir into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to be filled with lubricant;
- a centerfill tube extending from the fill port, through the actuator, to the lower portion of the reservoir, wherein the centerfill tube is configured to receive lubricant from the fill port and provide lubricant to the lower portion;
- and
- an alignment plate attached to the top of the housing, the alignment plate including a plate body, a collar extending from the plate body into the fill port, and an aperture through the plate body;
- wherein the centerfill tube provides lubricant to the reservoir within the lower portion and proximate an end of the lower portion opposite the actuator;
- and
- wherein an end of the centerfill tube extends at least partially through the collar.
6 more elements
A lubricant reservoir comprising:
- a housing defining a reservoir;
- a fill port extending through a top of the housing;
- an actuator movably disposed within the housing and dividing the reservoir into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to be filled with lubricant;
- a centerfill tube extending from the fill port, through the actuator, to the lower portion of the reservoir, wherein the centerfill tube is configured to receive lubricant from the fill port and provide lubricant to the lower portion;
- and
- a flag attached to the centerfill tube and disposed within the lower portion;
- wherein the centerfill tube provides lubricant to the reservoir within the lower portion and proximate an end of the lower portion opposite the actuator.
4 more elements
A lubricant pump comprising:
- a pump base comprising a wet section and a dry section;
- a housing extending from the pump base and defining a lubricant reservoir;
- a fill port extending through a top of the housing;
- an actuator movably disposed within the housing and dividing the lubricant reservoir into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to be filled with lubricant;
- a supply valve disposed on a top surface of the housing, the supply valve including a lubricant outlet
- a centerfill tube disposed within the lubricant reservoir and extending from the fill port, through the actuator, to the lower portion, wherein a first end of the centerfill tube is configured to receive lubricant from the lubricant outlet, wherein a load port extends into the centerfill tube proximate a second end of the centerfill tube opposite the first end, and wherein the load port is configured to provide lubricant to the lubricant reservoir from the centerfill tube proximate a connection between the lubricant reservoir and the wet section;
- and
- a connecting bolt extending through the supply valve and engaging the first end of the centerfill tube.
5 more elements
A lubricant reservoir comprising:
- a housing defining a reservoir;
- a fill port extending through a top of the housing;
- an actuator movably disposed within the housing and dividing the reservoir into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to be filled with lubricant;
- a fill valve disposed on the top surface of the housing, the fill valve including a lubricant outlet;
- a centerfill tube extending from the fill port, through the actuator, to the lower portion of the reservoir, wherein a first end of the centerfill tube is configured to receive lubricant from the lubricant outlet and a second end of the centerfill tube is configured to provide lubricant to the lower portion;
- and
- a connecting bolt extending through the fill valve and engaging the first end of the centerfill tube;
- wherein the centerfill tube provides lubricant to the reservoir within the lower portion and proximate an end of the lower portion opposite the actuator.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.