U.S. patent number 3,869,023 [Application Number 05/325,660] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-04 for mechanical lubricating device and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Madison-Kipp Corporation. Invention is credited to Philip J. Kast, Ronald E. Thomson.
United States Patent |
3,869,023 |
Thomson , et al. |
March 4, 1975 |
MECHANICAL LUBRICATING DEVICE AND METHOD
Abstract
A mechanically actuated lubricating device for conveyor systems
and the like wherein energy from the system is transmitted to an
energy storing means which releases the stored energy in an impulse
manner to actuate a pump which dispenses clean shots of lubricating
fluid to the system.
Inventors: |
Thomson; Ronald E. (Cambridge,
WI), Kast; Philip J. (Madison, WI) |
Assignee: |
Madison-Kipp Corporation
(Madison, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
23268850 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/325,660 |
Filed: |
January 22, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
184/15.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16N
7/385 (20130101); B65G 45/08 (20130101); F16N
13/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16N
7/38 (20060101); F16N 13/00 (20060101); F16N
7/00 (20060101); F16N 13/10 (20060101); B65G
45/08 (20060101); B65G 45/00 (20060101); F16n
007/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;184/15R,15A,15B,2,3A
;198/1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
632,280 |
|
Nov 1949 |
|
GB |
|
196,809 |
|
May 1923 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Antonakas; Manuel A.
Assistant Examiner: O'Connor; Daniel J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro &
Klose
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The method of lubricating a conveyor system which passes a
lubricating station according to the steps of:
contacting said conveyor system intermittently with a member as
said system passes said lubricating station;
transmitting energy from said system through said member to an
energy storage means in the period of contact with a conveyor
system;
releasing the energy stored in said storage means in an impulse
action to drive pump means; and,
dispensing fluid from said pump means to said conveyor system;
whereby said conveyor system can be lubricated.
2. A lubricating device for use with a moving conveyor system in
which said system is to be lubricated by said device, said
lubricating device comprising:
a base member adjacent to the conveyor system to be lubricated;
a mounting post located on said base member;
an arm having two ends, said arm being disposed for movement with
respect to said post from a normal position in which the arm is out
of contact with the conveyor system to a biased position when one
of said arm ends contacts said conveyor system;
a spring means having two ends and adapted to be deflected and
thereby store potential energy;
one spring end being connected to said base member and the other
spring end being connected to said arm to maintain said arm in its
normal position of non-contact with a conveyor system;
said spring means being adapted to be extended when said arm is
moved with respect to said post from its normal position to the
biased position whereupon said spring is extended and potential
energy is stored;
a manual pump means for pumping lubricating fluid said means
including at least one fluid dispensing port and a piston rod
adapted for contact with and movement with said arm;
whereby, when said lubricating device is in operation, one end of
said arm contacts said conveyor system intermittently to move with
respect to said mounting post whereby potential energy is first
stored in said spring means as said spring means is deflected and
then released substantially instantaneously whereby said pump means
is actuated to release a clean shot of lubricating fluid from said
fluid dispensing port.
3. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said
mounting post serves as an attachment for said arm whereby said arm
rotates about said post when urged from the normal position by said
moving conveyor system.
4. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 and further
including a locking means attached to said arm to maintain said arm
in an inoperative position.
5. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 and further
including means for adjusting said spring means.
6. A lubricating system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said
spring is an extension spring.
7. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 and further
including a locking means pivotally mounted on said base and
selectively movable to engage said arm and thereby lock said arm in
a position free of contact with the conveyor system.
8. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said
locking means is maintained in a biased position when said locking
means is in locking engagement with said arm.
Description
This invention relates to a new and improved means for lubricating
conveyor equipment and the like and more particularly relates to a
lubricating device which can mechanically lubricate a conveyor
chain or other system while the chain or system is in
operation.
In the lubrication of conveyor systems, it is important that the
lubricating device be able to provide a clean shot of lubricating
fluid on a particular part of the conveyor chain and trolleys as
the chain travels past the lubricating station in the course of the
conveyor operation. If the lubricant is not deposited properly on
the conveyor, disadvantages arise in that an excess of lubricating
fluid will cause problems of drippage and will necessitate
accessory devices to catch the excess lubricating fluid.
Additionally, if the lubricating fluid is dispensed as a mist or
spray, too much of the conveyor system will be coated with the
lubricating fluid which, in some applications, is entirely
unacceptable. Accordingly, it is important that a lubricating
system provide what is known as a clean shot which is a repeatable
solid amount of fluid of predetermined volume which is ejected with
a particular velocity. The velocity is capable of propelling the
amount of fluid in any specific direction for a selected distance
with a relatively flat trajectory such that the amount of fluid can
be directed at a point in space-time and repeatedly contact this
point independent of external factors such as chain speeds, fluid
viscosity, ambient temperature and the like.
While it is known in the art to provide lubricating systems in
which various portions of the device are either electrically or
pneumatically actuated, there are some applications where the
expense of providing and maintaining the necessary source of
electrical or pneumatic power supply to actuate the lubricating
device is too costly. Accordingly, it is desired to have the
conveyor system serve as the source of power from which the
lubricating device can be actuated. In other instances, it is
desired to have a unit which can be readily installed and at the
same time is adapted for portable movement to various locations in
the conveyor system without concern for location of pneumatic and
electrical lines. At the same time a unit, which must depend upon
the operation of the conveyor system for its actuation, must be
able to provide a clean shot of lubricating fluid to the parts on
the conveyor system to be lubricated as opposed to either being
erratic in its operation or dispensing mist, fog or spray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the view of overcoming the various problems associated with
the prior art of lubricating devices, the invention disclosed and
claimed herein relates to a lubricating system which delivers clean
shots of lubricating fluid to the parts to be lubricated. At the
same time, the present invention does not require an electrical or
pneumatic source of power supply but rather the unit is
self-contained with the source of power necessary to actuate the
lubricating system of the present invention being supplied by the
movement of a conveyor system past the lubricating station.
Briefly, the invention relates to a device comprising a base plate
upon which is located an arm adapted to be pivoted about a pivot
post. One end of the arm is adapted to contact and be actuated by
the conveyor chain, trolley wheel or some other repetively
protruding object as the object passes the lubricating station in
the course of the operation of the conveyor system. The remaining
end of the arm is connected to an extension spring. The arm is also
in contact with a manually operated piston metering pump which is
supplied lubricant by means of gravity flow from a reservoir of
lubricating fluid located above the lubricating device of the
present system.
In operation, as a conveyor chain passes the lubricating device,
the arm is cammed to pivot about the pivot post. Pivoting of the
arm causes the remaining end of the arm to swing outward causing
the extension spring to be pulled in tension thereby serving to
store potential energy in the spring means. As the conveyor chain
continues to move past the lubricating device, the arm is permitted
to swing back to its normal position at which time the spring will
seek to release its energy as it seeks to return to its normal
extended position. As the spring means returns to its normal
position, the energy which is released in impulse fashion causes
the arm to act against a piston rod in a piston metering pump. The
pump will permit lubricating fluid to be released in a proper
metered amount through nozzles which are oriented to direct the
discharged fluid to those portions of the conveyor chain or system
to be lubricated.
The lubricating system of the present invention provides the
desired shot of lubricating fluid without any dripping due to
over-lubricating. Because of the rapid dissipation of stored energy
in the spring, the arm is caused to impart an impulse action
against the piston rod of the metering pump whereby the fluid is
discharged as a clean shot as opposed to being a drip, spray, fog
or mist.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed
description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the lubricating device of the present
invention in which the actuating arm is shown in actuated and
nonactuated positions;
FIG. 2 shows a section view along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of the conveyor chain of
FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a conveyor chain 10
composed of links 11 and 12 connected together at 13 by means of
pivot pin 14. The chain is adapted to be carried in a conveyor
channel 15 past lubricating station 20 where the lubricating device
30 of the present invention is located.
Device 30 comprises a base plate 31 which is welded or attached by
other suitable means to conveyor channel 15. While the plate is
shown as being welded, it can be attached for easy removal to other
areas of the conveyor system. A portion of channel 15 is cut away
at 16 and 17 so that access to conveyor chain 10 is permitted.
Pivot post 32 is located contiguous to end 29 of plate 31.
Arm 33 is adapted to pivot about post 32 at 34. One embodiment of
arm 33 includes two spaced bars 28 connected at one end by strip
27. It is appreciated that the arm could be solid if desired.
Roller 35 is pinned at 36 between bars 28 of arm 33.
At the opposite end of arm 33 there is located a lug 37. Lug 37 has
an opening 38 in which one end of extension spring 40 is located.
An "L" shaped bracket 41 is located at the end 26 of plate 31. Leg
42 of bracket 41 is attached to base plate 31 by welding or other
suitable means. Leg 43 projects vertically from bracket 41 and an
eyebolt 44 is adjustably fastened at 45 to leg 43. The remaining
end 46 of extension spring 40 is attached to eyebolt 44 as shown in
FIG. 1.
Adjusting of spring 40 is accomplished by moving eyebolt 44
relative to leg 43. The spring is adjusted initially to provide the
pre-tension necessary to achieve a clean shot taking into
consideration various factors which will affect the shot such as
fluid viscosity, chain speed, number of ejection nozzles and
ambient temperatures. While subsequent changes in the operating
conditions can affect the shot, the initial adjustment of the
spring is sufficient to insure that a clean shot is maintained even
during a wide variation in these operating conditions.
A manually actuated piston pump 50 is bolted at 51 to base plate
31. Pump 50 has an inlet port 53 and two exit ports 54 which leads
to lubricant ejecting nozzles 55. Pump 50 includes a piston rod 56
and spring 57. Cap 58 is located at the end of rod 56. A rubber
bumper 59 is attached to arm 33 and is in contact with cap 58. The
bumper serves to reduce the noise which would occur if metal cap 58
contacted arm 33. Pump 50 is adapted to receive lubricant which is
stored in a reservoir (not shown) located above base plate 31.
Lubricant is adapted to flow by means of gravity from the reservoir
through supply line 60 to the inlet port 53 of pump 50. The pump 50
is a conventional pump. While a number of pumps could be utilized
for this particular application, one pump which has been found to
be satisfactory is a manually operated pump which is available from
Lincoln St. Louis, 4010 Goodfellow Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, a
Division of McNeil Corporation. The pump is illustrated and
described in Section A, page 4 of a brochure designated Form
5354-2. While the pump shown in the drawings utilizes two exit
ports 54, it is appreciated that any number of ports could be
utilized both for intake and exit purposes.
In operation as conveyor chain 10 passes by lubricating station 20,
link 12 will cause roller 35 and arm 33 to be pivoted about post 32
to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. As arm 33 is
pivoted about post 32, extension spring 40 is placed in tension
thereby storing potential energy.
When link 12 passes the location of arm 33 on base 31, the arm will
be permitted to be returned to its normal position by link 11. As
shown in FIG. 3, link 11 comprises two spaced members 6 and 7. The
space between members 6 and 7 is wider than the width of roller 35
as seen more clearly in FIG. 2. When arm 33 is permitted to travel
in the space between numbers 6 and 7, the potential energy in
spring 40 is converted to kinetic energy and serves to pivot arm 33
about post 32. As arm 33 pivots about post 32, spring 40 seeks to
return to its normal position and serves to give an impulse to arm
33 which contacts bumper 59. The impulse action against arm 33 is
transmitted through bumper 59 to cap 58 and rod 56 which, in turn,
actuates piston pump 50. Actuation of piston pump 50 will allow
lubricating fluid to be ejected from exit ports 54 and lubricating
ejection stations 55 as clean shots onto conveyor chain 10 at the
location of pivot pins 14.
The operation will be repeated as conveyor chain 10 moves past
lubricating station 20. The entire operation of the piston pump 50
is by mechanical actuation of arm 33 and spring 40 seeking to
return arm 33 to its normal position wherein spring 40 is in its
normal state of pre-extension. Utilization of spring 40 serves to
assure that clean shots of lubricating fluid are directed to the
appropriate points of lubrication on conveyor chain 10. The precise
delivery of lubricant to the conveyor system is independent of how
erratically the potential energy might be stored in spring 40.
No pneumatic or electrical source of supply is required.
Accordingly, the lubricating unit of the present invention can be
used at many locations in a conveying system without the need of
considering the location of an electrical power supply or a source
of pneumatic power supply.
In some instances it will be desired that after a period of
lubrication, the lubricating device of the present invention should
be placed in an inoperative position. With the view of
accomplishing this objective, a slot 70 is located in base plate
31. Pin 71 is welded to bar 28 of arm 33. Pin 71 is adapted to ride
in slot 70 during operation of the lubricating device. When it is
desired to place the lubricating device in an inoperative position,
lock member 72 which is pinned for rotation about base plate 31 at
73 is rotated in position. This is accomplished by moving arm 33 to
the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. Subsequently, lock
member 72 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2
so that when arm 33 is released and is pivoted about post 32 as
spring 40 seeks to return to its normal position, pin 71 will abut
lock member 72 and will be held in a locked, biased position until
such time as lock member 72 is released.
The device of the present invention is relatively easy to install.
While an arm adaptable with the conveyor chain shown in FIG. 3 has
been shown, it is readily appreciated that the invention of the
present device can be used with various other conveyor chains
utilized in conveyor systems presently available. Similarly, while
the arrangement shown herein has employed an extension spring, it
is appreciated that other types of energy storing means such as a
compression spring could be utilized. Further, other types of
locking devices to retain the lubricating device in an inoperative
position can be employed.
The lubricating system of the present invention has been shown in
one plane where the base plate 31 is in a horizontal position. If
desired, the lubricating system could be oriented in other planes.
Moreover, while gravity flow has been shown as the means for
delivering lubricant to the pump, the lubricant could be supplied
by other means such as a spring means to force feed the lubricant
to pump 50.
What is desired and is accomplished with the present invention is
to utilize available energy from the conveyor system, transmit that
energy to the lubricating device as potential energy, and release
the potential energy in an impulse action to actuate a pump means
whereby clean shots of lubricating fluid are ejected from the
lubricating device absent any requirement for pneumatic or
electrical power sources. Moreover, the device of the present
invention can be moved about in a portable fashion, if desired, and
can be retained in a locked, inoperative position when
necessary.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to one
skilled in the art.
* * * * *