Pulse-action mist lubrication system
OwnerWallace G. Boelkinsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The specification discloses an apparatus for automatically measuring out and discharging desired quantities of fluid such as lubricants or coolants and the like from a self-contained supply of the same, and for pneumatically dispersing the measured quantities of fluid into and propelling it through either a common or a coaxial tube. The dispersed fluid is applied to a desired object or article, in particular a cutting tool, workpiece, operating tool, or the like, at a remote end of said tube, in the form of a pneumatic dispersion or mist of said lubricant, coolant, or other fluid.
Claims13
A method of generating a fluidized mist, comprising the steps of:
- using a positive-displacement device to repetitively move discrete quantities of liquid into a chamber;
- applying compressed gas to said chamber to disperse the liquid in said chamber into a plurality of smaller quantities and move the smaller quantities of liquid into a tube, said compressed gas passing through said chamber to positively displace the smaller quantities of liquid from said chamber into said tube, whereby said liquid is propelled through said tube to a remote end thereof;
- emitting said smaller quantities of liquid from said tube in dispersed form in response to said compressed gas being applied to said chamber;
- and
- using a fluid-dispensing variable-resistance orifice at the end of said tube remote from said chamber, said orifice dispensing a generally uniform mist of said liquid from said chamber when the pressure in said tube is sufficiently high to exceed a cracking pressure threshold of said orifice.
A respective, pulsatory, fluid-actuated apparatus for dispensing a succession of metered quantities of liquid in response to a control signal, comprising:
- means for producing repetitive impulses of compressed gas, impulse-responsive liquid-metering means, and means for applying said impulses of gas to said liquid-metering means such that said repetitive impulses control actuation of said liquid-metering means to cause discrete individually metered quantities of liquid to be dispensed by said liquid-metering means on a recurring basis corresponding to the repetitions of said impulses;
- means defining a chamber for receiving said discrete individually metered quantities of liquid repetitively metered and dispensed by said liquid-metering means;
- means for pneumatically displacing the liquid from said chamber into a tube such that said displacing means passes through said chamber means and dispenses said discrete individually metered quantities of liquid in droplets into said tube whereby said liquid is positively displaced from said chamber means;
- means for pneumatically propelling said droplets through said tube to a dispensing point;
- and
- a fluid-dispensing variable-resistance orifice coupled to the end of said tube remote from said chamber, said orifice being closed to prevent passage of fluid therethrough when the pressure in said tube is below a predetermined cracking pressure threshold, said orifice acting to emit a mist of said liquid dispensed from said chamber when the pressure in said tube is sufficiently high to exceed said predetermined cracking pressure threshold of said orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.