US1716500A - Method of making lubricant nipples - Google Patents

Description

June 11,,19'29. L, Moo RE ,4 1,716,500

METHOD OF MAKING LUBRICANT NIPPLES Fi'led April 20, 1927 P my 5L i D Illlll Patented June 11, 1929.

GEORGE L. MOORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR TO ALEMITE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF MAKING LUBRICANT NIPPLES.

Application filed April 20,

This invention relates to lubricant receiving nipples of the type which are adapted to be iixed into a bearing structure and which are ordinarily provided with bayonet lugs for attachment to the discharge outlet of a grease gun.

An object of the invention is to provide a nipple of improved form, together with a method by-which they can be more easily and cheaply manufactured than those at present in use. Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had-to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a finished and assembled nipple in elevation.

Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the nipple.

Figure 4 is illustrative of the manner in which these nipples are formed from a bar of stock. a

Figure 5 shows the nipple as it comes from the screw machine. v

Figure 6 shows a die through which the nipples are forced to make the lugs.

Figure 7 shows another view of the die, with a nipple in position ready to be punched.

Figure 8 shows a punch for finally shaping the lug.

Figure 9 shows an end view of Figure 5 with added lines to show the parts removed by the die.

Figure 10 shows the nipple with the shearing operation partly completed.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 indicate various cross sections of the metal rod which may be conveniently used to produce these nipples.

One of the defects of the nipples which are at present in use is that a pin is passed through a hole drilled transversely through the nipple. This pin projects on each side, the ends serving for lugs to attach to the grease gun. The central part of the pin serves as a seat for the spring. The pin not only adds considerably to the cost of the nipples, but there is no means of providing a perfectly tight joint where the pin passes through the walls of the nipple. In the nipple as shown in the drawings a double advantage is gained, as the pin is dispensed with entirely and the lugs are made integral with the body. it is unnecessary, of course, to' drill through the walls of the nipple and the expense of making the pin and inserting it is saved. A

nearly the full length of the nipple 1927. Serial No. 185,087.

third advantage lies in the fact that with the pin construction the pin was located quite close to the ball andit was necessary to use very light springs of high grade spring steel to prevent the bending of the spring upon the introduction of the lubricant. lVith the presentconstruction the spring may extend if desired and a strong spring of comparatively heavy wire may be used. This results in a very positive seatingof'the valve and entire prevention of leakage.

The method of producing these nipples is very simple and easily performed. The stock is furnished in rods of suitable length for use in an automatic'screw machine. The main diameter A of the nipple is formed by turninlg in the screw machine. The diamter B is the original diameter of the stock. The thread 0 is cut by a die; the bores 5 and 6 are drilled and the nipple is finally cut oil, allautomatically in the screw machine. These operations in themselves are not broadly new in general screw machine practice and no further description of them is necessary.

The nipples as taken from the screw ma chine are in the form shown in Figure 5 and have an annular skirt D from which the lugs 7 are yet to be formed. operation is in a die such as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and forcing them through the die with a punch P. This shears off the segments SS of the annular skirt D, as indicated in Fig ures 9 and 10. The lug 7 is now of square cross section and for ordinary uses it may be left this way, but the lugs may be rounded by striking in an automatic die, as indicated in Figure 8, the nipples being placed in a hollowed out portion of the die 8 with the lugs adjacent to semicircular \g-roove 9. The

This forming punch 10 is formed atthe end the same as the die 8 and when the punch is struck against performed by inserting the nipple the die the grooves 9 and 11 cooperate to shape the square lug tocircular cross section. 7 It will be understood that while these nipples are preferably made fromrods having a circular cross section, as shown in Figure. 11, they may also be made from any suitable stockhaving a cross section as great as that of the nipple taken across the lug. For instance, they might be made of fiat sided stock, as shown in Figure 12, or hexagonal stock, as shownin- Figure 13.

- an internal bore which extends nearly to its upper end. The bore 5 is terminated in a valve seat 4 and a smaller outlet bore 6, a ball check valve 3 is seatedaga'inst the valve seat 4 by a coil sp)ring 2. This coil spring is held in position y turning over an annular skirt 10, which is left at the endof the nipple when the pieces are cut off.

The lubricant is injected through the bore 6 by a greasegun in a manner well under:

stood. The lubricant enters with considerable force and remains under considerable pressure, so that .it is desirable to have a tightly seated valve. It has been customary to have the'spring seat against a in in the bore, but since this pin also 'forme the lugs, it had'to be inconveniently close to the ball; Due to the relatively great movement of the ball by the lubricant it was necessary to use a very light spring which would permit a suiticientmovement of the ball without bending, as there was no room to put in a heavy spring with sufiicient length to avoid bending. The present arrangement; however, permits substantially the full length of the nipple to be used. as a spring-chamber, and a heavy spring of substantial length may be. used.

By use of this arrangement a comparatively leak proof nipple is obtained, for even though there ma be ,minute imperfections in the valve or t e valveseat, the force of the spring seats the valve so firmly that no lubricant can leak through.

It will be obvious that this invention may be used in various ways and accordingly I do not wish to limit myself except as set forth of nipples and ,of cross-section as great in one direction as the distance between the ends of the lugs on opposite sides, turning the rod down to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the nipple, except at the portion where the lugs are to be provided, thereby leaving a flange projecting from the cylindrical body of the nipple, cutting off the nipple from the rod and shearing away the portions of the flange not required for the lugs in a die.

2. The method of forming :lubricant nipples of the type having a substantially cylindrical body portion and having a plurality of lugs extending radially therefrom in the sameplane, which consists in providing a rod of stock having a cross section'of a size greater than the desired nipple diameter, turning down the'rod to the finished diameter of the nipple, except near the plane of the lugs,.thereby leaving a flange in the plane of'the lugs and shearing oif segments of the flange between the vportions which are desired as lugs, thereby leaving lugs of substantia-lly square cross section and striking the lugs in a die to reduce them tovcircular cross section.

tion.

roviding bar In testimony whereof]: sign this specifica- "GEORGE L. MOORE;

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