US 12,222,067 B2Granted

Lubricant delivery apparatus

AssigneeLubecore International Inc.

InventorsJohn Peter Smid, Caleb Gordon Smid, Jan Eisses

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Abstract

A lubricant delivery apparatus for installation on a device that includes a moving component that is actuated by an actuating fluid from an actuating fluid source is disclosed. The apparatus includes a lubricant supply reservoir and a pump operably coupled to the reservoir for receiving a pre-determined amount of lubricant from the reservoir and for discharging the pre-determined amount of lubricant from the apparatus. The apparatus has a non-actuated state, wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is disposed within the pump and an actuated state wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is discharged from the pump. While the apparatus is installed on the device, the pump is operably coupled to the actuating fluid source such that actuation of the moving component is with effect that the apparatus transitions from the non-actuated state to the actuated state such that the predetermined amount of lubricant is delivered to the moving component.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lubricant delivery apparatus configured for installation within a device that includes a moving component that is actuated by an actuating fluid from an actuating fluid source of the device, comprising:

a lubricant supply reservoir configured for storing a supply of lubricant;
a pump operably coupled to the lubricant supply reservoir for receiving a pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant supply reservoir and discharging the pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant delivery apparatus via a lubricant discharge port;
and
an actuating fluid communication port configured for operably coupling to the actuating fluid source such that the actuating fluid communication port is in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source associated with the moving component of the device for receiving a flow of actuating fluid in response to actuation of the moving component by the actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source and for returning the actuating fluid to the actuating fluid source;
the lubricant delivery apparatus having:
a non-actuated state, wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is disposed within the pump and the pump is disposed for receiving actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source of the device via the actuating fluid communication port;
and
an actuated state wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is discharged from the pump via a lubricant discharge port;
and
while the lubricant delivery apparatus is installed on the device, the actuating fluid communication port is configured for receiving actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source in response to transitioning of the moving component from a non-actuated state to an actuated state and for discharging actuating fluid for returning the actuating fluid to the actuating fluid source in response to transitioning of the moving component from the actuated state to the non-actuated state such that actuation of the moving component is with effect that:
actuating fluid is supplied to the lubricant delivery apparatus via the actuating fluid communication port;
and
the lubricant delivery apparatus transitions from the non-actuated state to the actuated state.

10 more elements

a lubricant supply reservoir configured for storing a supply of lubricant;
a pump operably coupled to the lubricant supply reservoir for receiving a pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant supply reservoir and discharging the pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant delivery apparatus via a lubricant discharge port;
and
an actuating fluid communication port configured for operably coupling to the actuating fluid source such that the actuating fluid communication port is in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source associated with the moving component of the device for receiving a supply of actuating fluid in response to actuation of the moving component by the actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source;
wherein the actuating fluid communication port is in fluid communication with an actuating fluid communication passage;
and
the actuating fluid communication passage is configured for fluid communication with:
an actuating fluid inlet passage configured for receiving a flow of actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source via an actuating fluid inlet port;
and
an actuating fluid return passage configured for returning actuating fluid to the actuating fluid source via an actuating fluid return port;
and,
while the lubricant delivery apparatus is installed on the device in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source:
the actuating fluid communication passage is disposed in fluid communication with the actuating fluid inlet passage in response to transitioning of the moving component from a non-actuated state to an actuated state;
and
the actuating fluid communication passage is disposed in fluid communication with the actuating fluid return passage in response to transitioning of the moving component from the actuated state to the non-actuated state;
the lubricant delivery apparatus having:
a non-actuated state, wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is disposed within the pump and the pump is disposed for receiving actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source of the device via the actuating fluid communication port;
and
an actuated state wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is discharged from the pump via a lubricant discharge port;
and
while the lubricant delivery apparatus is installed on the device, in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source, actuation of the moving component is with effect that:
actuating fluid is supplied to the lubricant delivery apparatus via the actuating fluid communication port;
and
the lubricant delivery apparatus transitions from the non-actuated state to the actuated state.

21 more elements

An apparatus including a moving component that is actuated by an actuating system that operates via an actuating fluid that is supplied to the actuating system from an actuating fluid source comprising:

a lubricant delivery apparatus for delivering a predetermined amount of lubricant to the moving component upon actuation of the moving component, wherein the lubricant delivery apparatus includes:
a lubricant supply reservoir configured for storing a supply of lubricant;
a pump operably coupled to the lubricant supply reservoir for receiving a pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant supply reservoir and discharging the pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant delivery apparatus via a lubricant discharge port that is operably coupled to the moving component;
and
an actuating fluid communication port operably coupled to the actuating system such that the actuating fluid communication port is in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source associated with the moving component of the device for receiving a supply of actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source in response to actuation of the moving component by the actuating fluid and for returning the actuating fluid to the actuating fluid source;
the lubricant delivery apparatus having:
a non-actuated state, wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is disposed within the pump and the pump is disposed for receiving actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source via the actuating fluid communication port;
an actuated state wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is discharged from the pump via a lubricant discharge port;
and
actuation of the moving component is with effect that actuating fluid is supplied to the lubricant delivery apparatus via the actuating fluid communication port in response to transitioning of the moving component from a non-actuated state to an actuated state with effect that the lubricant delivery apparatus transitions from the non-actuated state to the actuated state;
and
in response to transitioning of the moving component from the actuated state to a non-actuated state, actuating fluid is discharged from the actuating fluid communication port for returning the actuating fluid to the actuating fluid source in response.

9 more elements

a lubricant delivery apparatus for delivering a predetermined amount of lubricant to the moving component upon actuation of the moving component, wherein the lubricant delivery apparatus includes:
a lubricant supply reservoir configured for storing a supply of lubricant;
a pump operably coupled to the lubricant supply reservoir for receiving a pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant supply reservoir and discharging the pre-determined amount of lubricant from the lubricant delivery apparatus via a lubricant discharge port that is operably coupled to the moving component;
and
an actuating fluid communication port operably coupled to the actuating system such that the actuating fluid communication port is in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source associated with the moving component of the device for receiving a supply of actuating fluid in response to actuation of the moving component by the actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source;
wherein:
the actuating fluid communication port is in fluid communication with an actuating fluid communication passage;
and
the actuating fluid communication passage is configured for fluid communication with:
an actuating fluid inlet passage configured for receiving a flow of actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source via an actuating fluid inlet port;
and
an actuating fluid return passage configured for returning actuating fluid to the actuating fluid source via an actuating fluid return port;
and,
while the lubricant delivery apparatus is installed on the device in fluid communication with the actuating fluid source:
the actuating fluid communication passage is disposed in fluid communication with the actuating fluid inlet passage in response to transitioning of the moving component from a non-actuated state to an actuated state;
and
the actuating fluid communication passage is disposed in fluid communication with the actuating fluid return passage in response to transitioning of the moving component from the actuated state to the non-actuated state;
the lubricant delivery apparatus having:
a non-actuated state, wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is disposed within the pump and the pump is disposed for receiving actuating fluid from the actuating fluid source of the device via the actuating fluid communication port;
and
an actuated state wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is discharged from the pump via a lubricant discharge port;
and
actuation of the moving component is with effect that:
actuating fluid is supplied to the lubricant delivery apparatus via the actuating fluid communication port;
and
the lubricant delivery apparatus transitions from the non-actuated state to the actuated state.

23 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/188,907Filed 23 Sep 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Sep 2020
Published: US 2024/0011601 A111 Jan 2024
Granted: 11 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F16N 7/38
Arrangements for supplying oil or unspecified lubricant from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be…
F16N 11/10
Arrangements for supplying grease from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated; Grease cups: by…
F16N 13/16
Actuation of lubricating-pumps: with fluid drive
F16N 23/00
Special adaptations of check valves