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US 5,333,704 AGranted
Rotating lubricating technique for equipment
OwnerJohn Hoffinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lubricant is applied to a lubrication point by moving an emitter in a first portion of a movement path through lubricant in a reservoir and then moving the emitter through a second portion of the movement path. The emitter is loaded with lubricant in the first portion of the movement path and is drained from a drain port during the second portion of the movement path. The lubricant drained from the emitter is distributed to the lubrication point. A distribution device may be positioned below the emitter to collect the lubricant drained from the emitter and to distribute the collected lubricant to a lubrication point or position other than a position below the emitter during the second portion of the movement path.
Claims25
A lubrication device for applying lubricant to a lubrication point of a machine having a rotating component, comprising:
- a reservoir having an internal volume of a predetermined size to contain lubricant within the reservoir;
- an emitter connected in a fluid communication path with the reservoir and having an internal volume of a predetermined size substantially smaller than the internal volume of the reservoir, the emitter having an inlet through which lubricant enters the internal volume of the emitter an da drain port to allow the lubricant to drain from the emitter;
- means connected to the emitter for moving the emitter through a movement path having a first portion of a second portion;
- a lubricant delivery receptacle connected in the fluid communication path between the reservoir and the emitter and which is filled with a deliverable amount of the lubricant within the reservoir during movement of the emitter through the movement path, the lubricant delivery receptacle supplying the deliverable amount of lubricant to the emitter while segregating the lubricant within the receptacle from the remaining lubricant within the reservoir as the emitter moves through the first portion of the movement path;
- the inlet of the emitter allowing the lubricant to enter the emitter only during the first portion of the movement path and preventing lubricant from draining from the emitter during the second portion of the movement path;
- the drain port of the emitter allowing the lubricant within the emitter to drain from the emitter substantially only during the second portion of the movement path and inhibiting lubricant from draining from the emitter during the first portion of the movement path;
- and
- the drain port located in the emitter relative to the position of the emitter during the second portion of the movement path to deliver the lubricant to the lubrication point.
5 more elements
A lubrication device for applying lubricant to a lubrication point of a machine having a rotating component, comprising:
- a closed reservoir fixedly attached in a stationary position to the machine, the reservoir having an internal volume of a predetermined size to contain lubricant within the reservoir;
- an emitter positioned within the reservoir and having an internal volume of a predetermined size substantially smaller than the internal volume of the reservoir, the emitter having an inlet through which lubricant enters the internal volume of the emitter and a drain port to allow the lubricant to drain from the emitter;
- means connected to the emitter within the reservoir for moving the emitter in a first portion of a movement path into fluid communication with the lubricant in the reservoir and in a second portion of the movement path out of fluid communication with the lubricant in the reservoir;
- the inlet of the emitter allowing the lubricant to enter the emitter only during the first portion of the movement path and preventing lubricant from draining from the emitter during the second portion of the movement path;
- the drain port of the emitter allowing the lubricant within the emitter to drain from the emitter substantially only during the second portion of the movement path and inhibiting lubricant from draining from the emitter during the first portion of the movement path;
- and
- the drain port located in the emitter relative to the position of the emitter during the second portion of the movement path to deliver the lubricant to the lubrication point.
4 more elements
A method of applying lubricant to a lubrication point of a machine having a rotating component, comprising the steps of:
- containing lubricant within a reservoir having an internal volume of a predetermined size;
- utilizing an emitter having an internal volume of a predetermined size substantially smaller than the internal volume of the reservoir, the emitter having an inlet through which lubricant enters the internal volume of the emitter and a drain port to allow the lubricant to drain from the emitter;
- rotating the emitter in a circular movement path, the circular movement path having a first portion and a second portion;
- filling a lubricant delivery receptacle with a deliverable amount of the lubricant within the reservoir during movement of the emitter through the circular movement path;
- segregating the lubricant within the receptacle from the remaining lubricant within the reservoir during the first portion of the movement path;
- flowing lubricant from the lubricant delivery receptacle into the emitter through the inlet while the emitter is in the first portion of the circular movement path;
- draining lubricant from the internal volume of the emitter through the drain port while the emitter is in the second portion of the circular movement path;
- and
- delivering the lubricant drained from the emitter to the lubrication point.
6 more elements
A method of applying lubricant to a lubrication point of a machine having a rotating component, comprising the steps of:
- containing lubricant within a reservoir having an internal volume of a predetermined size;
- stationarily positioning the reservoir on the machine;
- utilizing an emitter having an internal volume of a predetermined size substantially smaller than the internal volume of the reservoir, the emitter having an inlet through which lubricant enters the internal volume of the emitter and a drain port to allow the lubricant to drain from the emitter;
- rotating the emitter through a circular movement path within the reservoir, the circular movement path having a first portion and a second portion;
- flowing lubricant from the reservoir into the emitter through the inlet while the emitter is in the first portion of the circular movement path;
- draining lubricant from the internal volume of the emitter through the drain port while the emitter is in the second portion of the circular movement path;
- and
- delivering the lubricant drained from the emitter to the lubrication point.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.