Lubrication distribution system for a cotton harvester
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorTimothy A. Deutsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic lubrication distribution system includes a conduit system for supplying equal volumes of grease to each of a plurality of row units, the row units each supporting a manifold which is connected to the conduit system and proportions the grease received therefrom to simultaneously supply first and second grease receiving areas having substantially different grease volume requirements. The distribution system, from the supply pump to the grease receiving areas, is completely passive and reqiures no control valves, flow dividers or metering pumps.
Claims12
In a cotton harvester, the harvester having a plurality of cotton harvesting row units, each row unit including upright picker drum means for removing cotton from cotton plants and transmission means for driving and controlling the picker drum means, said picker drum means including first grease receiving areas adapted for receiving first preselected volumes of grease and said transmission means including cam means and gear means defining second grease receiving areas for receiving second preselected volumes of grease said first volumes being substantially greater than said second volumes, a lubrication system for automatically and simultaneously supplying grease to the first and second grease receiving areas comprising:
- a source of grease on the harvester;
- selectively activatable pump connected to the source of grease;
- supply line means connected between the pump and the row units for supplying grease from the pump to the individual row units at approximately equal rates when the pump is activated;
- and
- manifold means associated with each of the row units and including an input connected to the supply line means for receiving the grease from the supply line means, a first chamber in communication with the input, a plurality of first outputs opening from the first chamber, and means connecting the first outputs with the first grease receiving areas for providing a first proportion of the received grease to the first grease receiving areas, said manifold further comprising a second chamber, means for connecting the second chamber and the second grease receiving areas, and restrictor means connected between the first chamber and the second chamber for providing a second proportion of the received grease from the supply line means to the second grease receiving areas, said second proportion being substantially less than said first proportion.
In a harvester having a plurality of generally identical harvesting units, each harvesting unit including first grease receiving areas adapted for receiving first preselected volumes of grease and second grease receiving areas adapted for receiving second preselected volumes of grease, said first volumes being substantially greater than said second volumes, a lubrication system for automatically and simultaneously supplying grease to the first and second grease receiving areas comprising:
- a source of grease on the harvester;
- a selectively activatable pump connected to the source of grease;
- a manifold located adjacent each of the row units;
- a passive conduit system connected to the pump and including sized conduit means for supplying an equal volume of grease to each of the manifolds while the pump is activated;
- wherein said manifold includes a first chamber connected to the conduit means and a second chamber located downstream of the first chamber, and means restricting flow between the first and second chambers;
- means for connecting the first grease receiving areas with the first chamber for receiving a first portion of the grease received by the manifold from the conduit means;
- and
- means connecting the second chamber with the second grease receiving areas for supplying a second proportion of the grease received by the manifold from the conduit means to the second grease receiving areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.