AU606173B2 - Disposable lubricating system - Google Patents

Description

0617 3 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPL ETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Class Application Number: Lodged: '-rm Int. Class Complete Specification-Lodged: 00 0 4.Accepted: Published: Priority: Thlis docunitnt-cofltaifs thie amenidfit, fts made uinder Section 49 and is correct for printing.

o 00 00 4 0 Related Art: 0 00 00 0 0 00 00 0 0000 Name of Applicant: 0 0 4 Address of Applicant: TO BE2 COMPLETED BY APPLICANT SL LUBE/SYSTEMS, INC.

35 Market Street, Elm Wood Park, New Jersey 07407, United States of America Actual Inv~ntor., CH-ARLES A. BANKS JOHN L DeBLOCK Address for Service: STANDERC0CK, SMlITH BEA~DLE 207 Riversdale Road, Box 410) Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122

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Complete Specification for the invention entifled: DISPOSABLC LUBRICATING SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing 'It known to me:-

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The present invention relate to a lubricant dispensing assembly and more particularly to a disposable, single-use, spring-activated, demand feed, single point lubrication device.

4 Automatic lubricant dispensing assemblies of the type having a cup-shaped body with a continuously spring-biased piston cr plunger within the body to dispense lubricant have been manufactured and used for many years. For example, U.S. Patent No.

1,234,635 to Craven discloses a "grease cup" comprised of a generally cylindrical housing containing a plunger which is spring-biased to force 1 the grease within the body throu-jh an opening at the opposite end of the body. In that grease cup, the plunger is maintained in an inoperative fixed position relative to the housing by a lifting nut threaded on an external stem whereby the plunger can be locked against movement under the bias of the spring. In use, the locking nut is threaded about the stem to release the plunger for movement toward the dispensing end of the "grease cup." The piston and body, however, are not complementary shiaped to achieve complete discharge of the grease from the body.

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-2- Various other lubricating devices of the prior art, for example, Miller, U.S. Patent No. 1,341,190 and Gloviak, U.S. Patent No. 4,496,030 disclose particular types of camoperated locking devices for securing the grease cup body to the cap, the latter also disclosing a housing for one end of the coil spring which biases the piston toward the opposite end of the body. TY I configurations and mechanisms in these devices for applying pressure to the piston, as well as the piston itself, particularly for example in Gloviak, are of fO somewhat complex and, hence, expensive configuration and, in Miller, require the assemblage of a substantial number of individual parts.

Many such lubricant applying devices are intended for reuse and have special constructions to enable the introduction of replacement grease into the cup for such purpose. Also, certain grease cups use gases to drive the piston to dispense the grease from the cup and these may not be particularly safe in use. Complexity of construction necessarily entails additional expense. This has inhibited to a large extent the provision of a simple inexpensive I I disposable single use lubricating device.

The present invention minimizes or eliminates many of the problems associated with the provision of prior grease cups and provides apparatus for supplying a flow of lubricant to a device to be lubricated, comprising:a housing including a body defining a chamber having a closure at one end with an opening therethrough for dispensing lubricant from said chamber to the device to be lubricated; ALa cap closing the opposite ed of said chamber; /4a cap closing the opposite end of said chamber; bspe.003/sl lube 90 10 26 .i 3a piston disposed within said body for movement toward said one end; means cooperable between said piston and said cap for biasing the piston for movement toward said one end to urge the lubricant from the housing outwardly through said dispensing opening; and means cooperable between said piston and said cap for releasably retaining said piston adjacent the opposite end of a, 0 said housing and against the bias of said biasing means.

o f0 Particularly, the preferred form of the present o 00 S invention provides a lubricating essemblage formed essentially .o.s of plastic parts comprised of a generally cup-shaped body having a closure at one end with a metering opening therethrough for dispensing grease from the cup. The opposite 015 end of the cup-shaped body includes a cap which is locked to oo the body by means of a series of ca-ms and flanges cooperable between the cap and the body whereby the cap and body are

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locked against disassembly. The cap includes a seat for one end of a coil spring disposed between the cap and a piston disposed in the body. The cap includes a central inwardly projecting hub having a central bore for receiving a screw for engagement with an internally threaded upstanding sleeve projecting from the upper side of the piston. Laterally outwardly of the sleeve, there is provided an annular wall which; in part, defines a seat for the opposite end of the coil spring. The piston has a circumferential groove for receiving an O-ring for sealing against the interior walls of the cup-shaped body.

0 Thus, the preferred lubricating apparatus of the 'jbspe.003/sl lube 90 10 26 -3a present invention essentially comprises a minimum number of parts, the majority of which can be readily and easily molded of inexpensive plastic materials. The O-ring seal is readily disposed in the 0 o 0 00 AO 0 0 0 i o 00 000B jbspe.003/sl lube 90 10 26 i circumferential groove about the piston and the coil spring is likewise readily located in seats on the piston and cap. The cap and piston are preas'-embled one to the other by means of the screw whereby the piston may be preloaded by the compression of the spring between the piston and cap. The cap and piston subassembly may then be readily applied to the otherwise open end of the cup-shaped body. To secure *o the cap and body one to the other, the cap and body are rotated relative to one another to lock the flanges below the cam surfaces in a detented position. That is, the cap, piston and spring 00 subassembly are detented against rotation once the subassembly is rotated into its final position, sealing the open end of the cup-shaped body.

To use the lubricating apparatus hereof, a cap closing off the metering opening on the dispensing end of the body is removed. The screw is then O2 unthreaded to disconnect the cap and piston one from the other, enabling the spring to bias the piston for movement axially within the cup-shaped body toward the opposite dispensing opening thereof. Thus, the grease is automatically placed '.nder pressure within the body by removal of the sjitw and will be dispensed on demand from the body.

Thus, in accordance with\the present invention, there is provided apparatus for supplying a flow of lubricant to a device to be lubricated comprising a .i housing, including a generally cup-shaped body having a closure at one end with an opening therethrough for dispensing lubricant from the housing to the device to be lubricated. A cap closes the opposite end of the cup-shaped body. A piston is disposed within the body for movement toward the one end. Means are provided cooperable between the piston and the cap for biasing the piston for movement toward the one end to urge the lubricant from the housing outwardly 0 0

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0 othrough the dispensing opening. Means are also provided cooperable between the piston and the cap a o for releasably retaining the piston adjacent the o^o opposite end of the housing and against the bias of the biasing means, such means including axially displaceable means accessible externally of the cap for releasing the piston for movement toward the one body end.

o Preferably, the retaining means includes a screw "o46,o accessible externally of the cap. The screw is cooperable with a threaded member on the piston to release the piston for spring-biased movement toward the dispensing opening end of the body.

Additionally, the locking means between the cap and the body includes a plurality of outwardly projecting cams carried by the body at circumferentially spaced positions thereabout. The locking means also includes a plurality of inwardly directed depending flanges at circumferentially spaced positions about the cap for locking under the cams upon application -i 6 i of the cap to the body. Each of the cams includes a tapered portion cooperable with a corresponding flange upon relative rotation of the cap and body for relatively axially displacing the cap and the body toward one another and a detent carried by each of the cams locks the corresponding flange under the cam to prevent relative rotation of the cap and the body.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved disposable, single-use, spring-activated, demand oo ofeed, single point, lubricating apparatus which may be readily, easily and inexpensively manufactured.

a0 00 lSo These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, appended 0 claims and drawings.

o 0o 0 0 0 0 *0 2,Q BRIE DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING F IGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a disposable lubricating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.and with the parts thereof illustrated in exploded juxtaposition; Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken generally through the axis of the apparatus and illustrating the apparatus in position prior to use; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the position of the parts subsequent to use when substantially all of the grease has been dispensed from the apparatus; Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the underside of the cap; Figure 5 is a plan view of the body of the apparatus hereof; 0 0 C d Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view o 0 of the upper portion of the body; 0 I9 Figure 7 is a plan view of the cap; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken o generally about on line 8-8 in Figure 7.

DESCRIPTION OF AN 0° EXEMPLARY AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference will now be made in detail to the 4s 0* 'present preferred embodiment of the invention, an :5 example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a disposable lubricating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally ~C1~7 I designated 10. Apparatus 10 includes a generally cup-shaped body 12 having a nipple 14 projecting from a closed end thereof, nipple 14 being externally threaded to receive a threaded closure cap 13 to close the bore 15S opening through the nipple. At the opposite end of body 12 from nipple 14, there is provided a cap 16 for sealing the open end of the body.

ao'p With reference now to Figures 2 and 3, it will o o be appreciated that cup-shaped body 12 has a metering orifice 18 disposed along its central axis in o° communication with bore 15 and that the closure wall 20 at the lower end of the body 12 is generally conical, terminating at its apex in metering orifice 18. At the opposite end of body 12, the cap 16, together with a piston 22, form a preassemble subassembly for sealing the otherwise open end of body 12.

Referring first to piston 22, it will be seen that its lower face 24 is complementary in shape to the shape of the closure wall 20 at the opposite end of body 12. That is, face 24 of piston 22 is frusto-conical in shape. Piston 22 is provided with an annular groove 26 formed in a marginal or peripheral wall portion 28 thereof, the edges of wall portion 28 and piston face 24 lying in close sliding relation to the interior wall of body 12. In the annular groove 26 there is provide' 0-ring 30 for I

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sealing between piston 22 and the interior walls of body 12.

An annular seat 32 is provided in part by the interior surface of wall 28 and in part by an upstanding inwardly spaced annular wall 34 for receiving one end of a coil spring 36, the purpose of which will be described in detail below. Also, piston 22 carries an internally threaded upstanding sleeve 38 which projects axially from piston 22 on the opposite side thereof from face 24. Sleeve 38 is o counterbored and internally threaded at 40, Sleeve 38 terminates at its upper end in a plane also containing the upper end edge of the piston 22.

Cap 16 is generally flat and frusto-conical in configuration and has a depending skirt 42 for surrounding the outer margin of body 12, Cap 16 also has inwardly directed flanges 44 for locking the cap to body 12, as described hereinafter. Cap 16 further includes an annular seat 47 defined by its frusto-conical wall and an inner annular wall 46 which projects axially inwardly from the underside of the cap. The central portion of cap 16 is provided with a depending axially extending hub 48 having an aperture 49 recessed within hub 48 from the face of cap 16 for receiving an externally threaded screw L 50. Screw 50 is received through aperture 49 and is threaded to the sleeve 38. Thus, cap 16 and piston 22 may be secured together to form a preassembled subassembly with helical spring 36 compressed between the respective seats formed on the cap and piston.

On the margins of body 12 adjacent its open end, a plurality of laterally outwardly projecting cams 54 are disposed at circumferentially spaced positions thereabout. Each cam 54 has a tapered or chamfered leading edge 56 (Figure 6) and a recessed portion 58 defined between stops 60 and 62. Substantially o"ICi complementary thereto and formed on the skirt 42 of cap 16, there is provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed flanges 44, which cooperate with cams 54 to lock cap 16 and body 12 one to the other. Particularly, the flanges 44 have leading edge chamfers 64, a flat 66 and a stop or detent 68 (Figure It will be appreciated that the cap and piston are preassembled one to the other prior to application of the cap to the body.

To accomplish this, the opposite ends of the spring 36 are located in the seats 32 and 47. The cap and piston are then brought together in an axial direction against the bias of spring 36 such that screw 50, when inserted through hub 48, may be threaded to sleeve 38 to maintain the cap and piston in assembled relation and the spring 36 under compression, preloaded. With the body filled with grease, the preassembled cep and piston subassembly can then be applied to the body.

To accomplish this, the preassembled cap and piston subassembly is applied to the body by first inserting the flanges 44 between the cam locks. The subassembly is then rotated such that the chamfered portions 64 and 56 of the flanges and cams, respectively, engage one another. Upon further rotation, the chamfered surfaces cam or draw the cap ai.d body axially toward one another until flats 66 reside in the recessed portions 58 of the cam locks.

The ends of the flanges engage stops 62 and the stops lo-i 68 and 54 of the flanges and cams lock, respectively, o to preclude reverse rotation of the cap relative to the body. Thus, the cap and body are locked one to the other from disassembly.

0 o o j It will thus be appreciated that the user' need only unthread the screw to disconnect the piston from the cap in order to activate the lubricating 0 o apparatus hereof. More particularly, by unthreading "o o0 thu screw from sleeve 38, piston 22 is released for 20 movement under the bias of spring 36 in a direction 0 0 toward the metering orifice. Thus, the grease is placed under pressure a-d will feed through the metering orifice on demand.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the objects of the present invention are fully accomplished in that there has been provided a novel and unique inexpensive disposable lubricating apparatus, a "grease cup," which may be readily and easily manufactured and assembled at low cost, .12 Also, the lubricating apparatus hereof is readily activated to dispense the grease by a simple unthreading action of a single screw.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications andi equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

4 44 44 4 40 oa so apoa 0 a 4 44 44 444

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Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for supplying a flow of lubricant to a device to be lubricated, comprising: a housing including a generally cup-shaped body having a closure at one end with an opening th-rethrough for dispensing lubricant from said housing to the device to be lubricated; a cap closing the opposite end of said cup- shaped body; a piston disposed within said body for movement toward said one end; means cooperable between said piston and said cap for biasing the piston for movement toward said one end to urge the lubricant from the housing outwardly through said dispensing opening; and means cooperable between said piston and said cap for releasably retaining said piston adjacent the opposite end of said housing and against the bias of said biasing means including axially displaceable means accessible externally of said cap for releasing S 25 said piston for movement by said biasing means toward said one end. 14

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a threaded member accessible externally of said cap for rotation together with threaded means carried by said piston and cooperable with said threaded member whereby said piston may be released upon threaded disengagement of said threaded means and said threaded member.

3. Apparatus according to Claim wherein said threaded member comprises an externally threaded screw and said threaded means comprises an internally threaded eleme t carried by said piston.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherain said internally threaded element comprises an internally threaded upstanding sleeve carried centrally of said piston Apparatus according to Claim 1 including means coope::able between said cap and said body for locking said cap and said body one to the other.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said locking means includes an outwardly projecting cam Scarried by said body and an inwardly directed flange depending from said cap for locking under said cam S 5 upon application of said cap to said body.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said cam includes a tapered portion cooperable with said flange upon relative rotation of said cap and said body for relatively axially displacing said cap and said body toward one another.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 including a detent carried by said cam for locking said flange under said cam to prevent relative rotation of said cap and said body.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said Q 0 locking means includes a plurality of outwardly projecting cams carried by said body at o a circumferentially spaced positions about said body °o and a plurality of inwardly directed flanges at 0 circumferentially spaced positions about said cap and depending therefrom for locking under said cams upon 0 application of said cap to said body, each of said cams including a t£E -red portion cooperable with a 0 0- o0 corresponding flange upon relative rotation of said 0, cap and said body for relatively axially displacing said cap and said body toward one another, and a detent carried by each of said cams for locking the corresponding flange under said cam to prevent 15 relative rotation of said cap and said body. i t Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes a helical coil spring and a seat in each of said cap and said body in opposition to one another for housing the opposite ends of said coil spring. L I 16

11. Apparatus according to Claim 1 including a seal carried by said piston in engagement with the interior walls of said body for preventing lubricant from leaking from said body past the piston in a direction toward said cap.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said body at said one end thereof has a conically shaped end wall terminating at its apex in said dispensing opening and said piston has a generally complementary conically shaped face in opposition to said wall whereby substantially all of the lubricant contained in said body may be dispensed through said opening.

13. Apparatus for supplying a flow of lubricant to a device to be lubricated, comprising: a housing including a body defining a chamber having a closure at one end with an opening therethrough for dispensing lubricant from said chamber to the device to be lubricated; a cap closing the opposite end of said chamber; means for locking said cap and said body one to U the other against relative rotation; a piston disposed within said body for movement toward said one end; i 17 means cooperable between said piston and said cap for biasing the p:'ston for movement toward said one end to urge the lubricant from the housing outwardly through said dispensing opening; and means cooperable between said piston and said cap for releasably retaining said piston adjacent the opposite end of said housing and against the bias of said biasing means.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said locking means includes an outwardly projecting cam carried by said body and an inwardly directed flange depending from said cap for locking under said cam upon application of said cap to said body. Apparatus according to Claim 14 wherein said cam includes a tapered portion cooperable with said flange upon relative rotation of said cap and said body for relatively axially displacing said cap and said body toward one another.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15 including a detent carried by said cam for locking said flange under said cam to prevent relative rotation of said cap and said body.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said biasing means includes a helical coil spring and a seat in each of said cap and said body in I 1 18 opposition to one another for housing the opposite ^ends of said coil spring.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 13 including a seal carried by said piston in engagement with the interior walls of said body for preventing lubricant from leaking from said body past the piston in a direction toward said cap.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said body at said one end thereof has a conically shaped end wall terminating at its apex in said dispensing opening and said piston has a generally complementary conically shaped face in opposition to said wall whereby substantially all of the lubricant coniained in said body may be dispensed through said opening. Apparatus for supplying a flow of lubricant to a device to be lubricated, comprising: a housing including a generally cup-shaped body having a closure at one end with an opening therethrough for dispensing lubricant from said housing to the device to be lubricated; a preassemble, subassembly for closing the opposite end of said cup-shaped body and including a cap and a piston; 4 19 means carried by said subassembly and cooperable between said piston and said cap for releasably securing said piston and said cap one to the other including axially displaceable means accessible externally of said cap for releasing said piston and said cap from said fixed relation and enabling relative movement therebetween; means carried by said subassembly and cooperable between said piston and said cap including a spring for biasing said piston for movement away from said cap; said axially displaceable means securing said cap and said piston one to the other against the bias of said spring; fnd means ccoperable between said subassembly and 30 said body for locking said subassembly to said body with said piston disposed in said body thereby to close the opposite end of said body, said spring, in response to release of said piston and said cap from said fixed relation, biasing said piston for movement toward said one end of said body to urge the lubricant from the housing outwardly through said dispensing opening. I 1_ I

21. Apparatus for supplying lubricant substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. The articles, things, parts, cl mcnt n t features, methods, processes, compounds ompositions referred to or indicated in pecification and/or claims of the applic individually oi' collectively, and any and cnmhinations of any two or more of such. DATED THIS 17th June, 1988 SANDERCOCK, SMITH BEADLE Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SL LUBE/SYSTEMS, INC. n It -I r% 1 .1 1