US1172020A - Grease-cup. - Google Patents

Description

R. B. GREENWAY.

GREASE CUP.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 3. I915.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Suvamtoa ROBERT B. GBEENWAY, "OF SAN BERNABDDWO, CALIFORNIA.

GREASE-CUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed November 3, 1915. Serial No. 59,422.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. GREENWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Bernardino, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Grease-Cups, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in grease cups.

It relates particularly to grease cups of a type having an outer shell adapted to be secured to a moving part of machinery, such as the side rod of a locomotive, the shell having fitted in it a bushing in which is mounted a screw plug for forcing the grease from the shell into a bearing.

In my copending application, Number 21,516, filed April 15, 1915, there is shown and described a grease cup of this general type, in which the lower end of the .plug is closed, thus limiting the quantity of grease which may be placed into the cup to the capacity of the outer shell.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a construction having a hollow plug open at the inner end, whereby the capacity of the grease cup will be relatively greater than in my other invention above referred to. In my said other invention, a spring secured to the outer shell releasably held the plug from turning in either direction. This construction requires that the spring be withdrawn from engagement from the plug when the plug is screwed inwardly.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a construction which will permit the plug to be screwed inwardly without releasing the spring from engagement therewith, and which will hold the plug from being accidentally screwed outwardly.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my invention, Figure-1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved grease cup shown mounted in the side rod of a locomotive, the side rod and parts connected.

therewith being shown partly in section and partly in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the grease cup and a portion of theside rod, shown enlarged. Fig. 3 is a top view of the grease cup shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring being shown released from the plug. Fig. 4: is a top view of the same showing the spring engaged with the plug. Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation of the grease cup. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top view of a modified form of plug.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates an outer shell having a screw threaded upper end in which is fitted an internally and externally threaded bushing 2 in which is fitted an externally threaded plug 3 which is hollow, and which has an open inner end and a closed outer end. The plug is, preferably, provided ith a polygonal upper end adapted to be gripped.

with a wrench. The lower end of the outer shell 1 may be secured in any desired manner, as by brazing, to a part of the machinery, such as a locomotive side rod *1, with whichthe grease cup is to be used.

In the drawing the side rod & is shown mounted on a bushing 5, which is mounted on a crank pin 6. A hole 7 extends through the bushing 5 and the upper portion of the side rod 4. and communicates with the interior of the outer shell 1. By turning the plug 3 in the proper direction it may be screwed inwardly so as to force grease carried in the shell 1 through the hole 7 and upon the crank pin 6.

For preventing accidental turning of the bushing 2 in the shell 1, and to preventthe plug 3 from accidentally unscrewing owing to the vibration of the moving parts, I provide releasable means for locking the bushing 2 to the shell 1, said means also providing for'releasably locking the plug 3 from turning in one direction, while permitting it to be readily turned inthe opposite direction. For effecting these functions the following described mechanism may be employed, see Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive: 8 designates an arcuate spring having one end secured, as by rivets 9 to the periphery of the shell 1. The other end of the spring 8 extends through a transverse slot 10 in the upper end of the bushing 2, and is adapted to enter any one of one or more longitudinal grooves .provided in the periphery of the plug 3 and designated by 11. The spring" a beveled portion 12 adapted to be struck byone wall of a; groove 11, the plug may be readily screwed inwardly without having to withdraw the spring 8. The grooves 11 do not extend to the lower end of the plug 3. For withdrawing the spring 8 from engagement with the plug 3, when it is desired to remove the plug for the insertion of grease into the shell 1, there is provided a lever 13 having its fulcrumed end rounded and pivotally fitted in a peripheral recess ll in the bushing 2. The spring 8 extends through a hole 15 in the lever 13, the outer side of the fulcrumed portion of which is provided with a notch 16 adapted to receive the spring 8 when the lever is in the locking position, as shown in Fig. 4. hen in this position, the spring 8 holds the lever 13 in the closed or locking position.

In Fig. '2' I have shown a modification of the plug. In this form, the plug 3' is provided with a plurality of longitudinal ratchet grooves 11, which permit the plug to be freely screwed inwardly but which prevent its being accidentally unscrewed. In other respects the plug 3 corresponds in construction to the plug 3. When the grease cup is to be filled, the lever 13 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus releasing the spring 8 from the plug 3. The plug may now be unscrewed from the bushing 2. The plug and shell 1 may now he filled with grease and the plug replaced in the bushing 2, the lever 1-3 being thenswung to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby permitting the spring 8 to ree'ngage the plug. From time to time the plugis screwed inwardly so as to force grease through the hole 7 into the bearing. This may be eiiected without releasing the spring 8 or operating thelever 13. Vibration or pounding of the parts will not cause the plug or bushing 2 to unscrew. In case the grease has all been forced from the shell 1 and the bearing becomes heated from lack of lubrication, the plug 3 will be heated so as to melt the grease contained therein and this grease will run from the plug into the hearing and will afl'ord the lubrication needed. Thus by having an extra supply of grease carried in. the plug, damage to the parts, due to lack of proper attention on the part of the operator, may be avoided.

I' do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. In a grease cup, an outer shell, a bushing having threaded engagement therewith, a hollow plug open at its inner end and closed at its outer end and having threaded engagement with the hushing, and means secured to the outer shell for releasahly holding the bushing and plug from turning.

2. In a grease cup, an outer shell, a hushing having threaded engagement therewith,

a hollow plug open at its inner end and closed at its outer end and having threaded engagement with the bushing, and. a spring secured to the outer shell and having means for releasably engaging the bushing and plug for holding them from turning.

3. In a grease cup, an outer shell, a bushing having threaded engagement therewith and provided with a slot, a hollow plug open at its inner end and closed at its outer end and having threaded engagement with the bushing, and a locking member secured to the outer shell and extending into said slot and-adapted to releasably engage said plug.

4. In a grease cup, an outer shell, a bush ing having threaded engagement therewith and provided with a slot, a hollow plugopen at its inner end and closed at its outer end and having threaded engagement with the bushing, and a springsecured. to

the outer shell and extending into said slot ing having threaded engagement therewith,

a plug having threaded. engagement with the bushing, and a spring having mean'sior releasably holding the bushing from. turning and secured to the outer shell and provided with a releasable ratchet connection with the plug which will permit the plug to turn in one direction and will releasably gold it from turning in the opposite direc 7. In a grease cup, an outer shell, a bushing having threaded engagement therewith,

a plug having threaded engagement-with the bushing, and provided with a longitudinal peripheral groove, and. a spring secured to the outer shell and releasahly engaging said bushing and adapted to engage with said plug in said groove, the engagement of the spring with the plug being such as will permit the plug to turn in one direction and will releasahly hold it from in the opposite direction.

8. In a grease cup, an outer shell, a bushing having threaded engagement therewith, a hollow plughaving threaded engagement with the bushing, and means secured tcuthe outer shell for releasably holding the hushing from. turning and adapted to have ratchet connection with the plug which will ing means for releasably holding the bush- 1 ing from turning, and being movable into and out of said groove and adapted to releasably hold said plug from turning in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification.

ROBERT B. GREENWAY.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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