GB2294734A

GB2294734A - Grease gun applicator structure

Info

Publication number: GB2294734A
Application number: GB9421923A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zong Chan Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-01
Filing date: 1994-11-01
Publication date: 1996-05-08
Also published as: GB9421923D0

Abstract

In a grease applicator grease is drawn from a reservoir 20 via a non-return valve (134, Fig. 3) into a working chamber 131 and expelled therefrom via a non-return valve (132, Fig. 3) by a piston 14 actuated by a reciprocator 30. A grease cartridge 22 is provided in the grease reservoir 20 and is subjected to pressure by a weight plate 24. A cord 25 fastened to the plate 24 provides a visible indication of the grease remaining in the reservoir. <IMAGE>

Description

Grease Gun Applicator Structure BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention herein consists of a kind of grease gun applicator structure that is an improvement over conventional grease guns of excessive size by enabling more convenience in the application of grease.

Conventional grease gun structures are commonly utilized in occupations involving the general application of grease for purposes of lubrication and are mainly manually operated, wherein a hole is pierced into the grease cartridge and the grease is manually squeezed through a reciprocating structure to attain the objective of applying the grease. However, conventional grease guns are characterized by the following problems: 1. Due to human factors, manually operated grease guns are retarded in speed and, furthermore, have a low delivery volume.

2. The grease reservoir and grease gun are separated into two non-discrete physical units and requires the utilization of a grease reservoir actuating tool before grease application is possible.

3. Since the grease reservoir must be impervious to leakage, the grease reservoir is fabricated at high precision which entails higher cost.

The primary objective of the invention herein is to significantly improve the aforementioned shortcomings by utilizing a grease gun structure and grease reservoir structure of integrated design that features electro-mechanically powered grease delivery which simplifies the overall process of grease application and, furthermore, increases grease application efficiency.

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention herein is attached below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an isometric drawing of the grease delivery structure of the invention herein.

Figure 2 is an isometric exploded drawing of the grease delivery structure of the invention herein.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional drawing of the grease delivery structure of the invention herein.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein, the specific depiction of which illustrates the grease reservoir as unattached to the grease delivery structure.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein, the specific depiction of which illustrates the grease reservoir as attached to the grease delivery structure.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein, the specific depiction of which illustrates the grease reservoir after a certain volume of grease has expended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As indicated in the drawings, the invention herein is comprised of a delivery structure (10) and grease reservoir (20).

Of which, the delivery structure (10) is comprised of an applicator tube (11), a connector tube (12), a flux controller (13) and a piston (14); inside the flux controller (13) is a grease chamber (131), and at the front end of the grease chamber (131) is a check valve (132) that prevents grease from penetrating into the grease chamber (131), wherein the connector tube (12) is screwed in against the outer end of the check valve (132) and the soft material of the applicator tube (11) is installed over the connector tube (12). The piston (14) is inserted into the rear end of the flux controller (13) and the connecting rod (141) is then connected to the mechanical reciprocator structure (30), whereby the connecting rod (141) is capable of reciprocating motion that is transferred to the piston (14) which in turn reciprocates inside the grease chamber (13).

On the upper extent of the grease chamber (131) is a grease input tube (133) that serves as the junction to the grease reservoir (20). Inserted into the upper end of the grease input tube (133) is a check valve (134), the structure of which prevents grease from flowing back into the grease reservoir (20).

The grease reservoir (20) is comprised of a removable container (21), grease cartridge (22), grease reservoir holder (23) and weight plate (24).

The delivery structure (10) is securely attached to the grease reservoir (20) and the removable container (21) is constructed of a hard material, with a hole (211) through the bottom for inserting the grease input tube (133) of the delivery structure (10); inside the removable container (21) is a pliable grease cartridge (22) filled with grease and the entire grease cartridge (22) is positioned inside the removable container (21).

During the operation of the invention herein, the grease reservoir (20) is inserted downward into the grease reservoir holder (23), which results in the upward insertion of the grease input tube (133) through the hole (211) to pierce the grease cartridge (22), thereby allowing the grease to flow through the grease input tube (133) into the grease chamber (131), at which time, the piston (14) is driven into a reciprocating motion that forces the grease in the grease chamber (13) to be conveyed outside after passing through the connector tube (12) and the applicator tube (11).When the piston (14) moves leftward, the grease flows outside through the check valve (132), while the other check valve (134) remains in a closed state to prevent the grease from flowing back into the grease reservoir (20); when the piston (14) moves rightward, the check valve (132) is closed, while the other check valve (134) is in an open state to enable downward passage of grease into the grease chamber (131), and this is the process whereby the automatic conveyance of grease is achieved.

When the volume of grease inside the grease reservoir (20) is decreased, since the size of the grease cartridge (22) diminishes, the weight plate (24) provides direct downward pressure onto the grease as the weight plate (24) itself slides downward; furthermore, there is an indicator cord (25) fastened to the top of the weight plate (24) and the protruding length of the indicator cord (25) provides a visible gauge of the volume of grease remaining in the grease reservoir (20).

Furthermore, when the grease inside the grease reservoir (20) is totally exhausted, a full grease reservoir (20) can be rapidly exchanged as a replacement.

The check valves (132 and 134) may be reed-type or ball-type, non-return valves.

The grease applicator described above facilitates the convenient and rapid application of grease and, furthermore, is portable enough to be carried in an automotive vehicle for enhanced convenience.

Claims

1. A grease gun applicator structure including: a delivery structure comprising a flow controller, inside of which is a grease chamber and on the front end and upper extent of the aforesaid grease chamber are check valves; the front end of the grease chamber being connected to a connector tube and an applicator tube being connected to the remaining end of the aforesaid connector tube; a piston extending into the rear end of the flow controller and a connecting rod of the aforesaid piston being attached to a reciprocating mechanism that causes the reciprocating motion of the aforesaid piston inside the aforesaid grease chamber, which then forces the grease to flow outside through the aforesaid applicator tube; securely positioned onto the upper extent of the aforesaid flow controller is a grease input tube that serves as a connection to a grease reservoir; a grease reservoir comprising a removable container constructed of a hard material and having a hole through the bottom for receiving the aforementioned grease input tube through which grease will be conveyed; inside the aforesaid removable container is a grease cartridge and the aforesaid grease cartridge is filled with grease and can be placed entirely into the aforesaid grease reservoir, with a grease reservoir mount attached to the bottom of the aforesaid grease reservoir; positioned on the aforesaid grease cartridge in the aforesaid grease reservoir is a weight plate and fastened to the top of the aforesaid weight plate in an indicator cord that extends outside; the arrangement being such that grease can flow downward from the aforesaid grease reservoir and pass through the aforesaid grease input tube into the aforesaid grease chamber, wherein the reciprocating motion of the aforementioned piston is co-ordinated with the aforementioned check valves, whereupon the passage of the grease is conveyed outside through the aforementioned connector tube and the aforementioned applicator tube, and is prevented from flowing back.

2. A grease gun applicator structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aforementioned check valves can be in the form of a reed-type, ball-type or any other types regulating valve structure.

3. A grease applicator comprising a grease reservoir and a flow controller, the flow controller comprising a body defining a grease chamber and having an inlet to the chamber and an outlet from the chamber, a piston reciprocatable in the chamber, a first non-return valve for allowing grease to flow into the chamber as the piston moves in a first direction to charge the chamber and for preventing grease from flowing back through the inlet as the piston moves in a second direction to discharge grease through the outlet, and a second non-return valve for allowing grease to flow from the chamber via the outlet as the piston moves in said second direction and for preventing grease returning to the chamber via the outlet as the piston moves in said first direction, the reservoir comprising a rigid container which communicates with the inlet of the flow controller and which is adapted to receive a grease cartridge.

4. A grease applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.