Method and apparatus for purging air from automatic lubrication systems
AssigneeBob Ifield Holding Pty Ltd.
InventorBenjamin Ifield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic lubrication system where grease is dispensed to injectors from a pump having a grease piston (42) reciprocated by a connecting rod from an oil piston (43) driven by alternating hydraulic pressure, is provided with air purge valves (41) associated with each injector. The air purge valves detect abnormal operation of the piston movement due to air in the grease by way of indicators (45) and (46) communicating with chambers in the pump, and open the air purge valve to dump air laden grease into a recovery reservoir (48). A sensor in the air purge valve warns the operator of purge valve operation, alerting the operator to a possible system malfunction.
Claims21
An apparatus for purging gas from an automatic lubrication system of the type incorporating a pump arranged to pump lubricant from a reservoir through delivery lines to one or more injectors, comprising:
- one or more gas purge valves associated with at least some of the injectors, arranged to open and dump shots of lubricant containing unacceptable levels of gas before they reach the associated injector, each gas purge valve incorporating one or more components communicating with and reactive to conditions in the pump and arranged to open the gas purge valve when abnormal pump operation is sensed due to the presence of gas in the lubricant;
- wherein the pump comprises a piston pump having chambers either side of a Reciprocating piston;
- and
- wherein at least some of said components in the gas purge valve communicate with Said chambers in the pump, causing the gas purge valve to open when an abnormal pressure Balance is sensed between the chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.