US1732212A - Installation - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 15, 1929; J BUUR CHASSIS LUBRICATING INSTALLATIQN Original Filed Aug. 9/ 1922 J6 1a 17 2a 25 Patented Get. 15, 1%29 UNITE smrs ersnr series JOSEPH BIJUR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSEGNGB T0 AUTO RESEARCH CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CHASSIS-LUBRICATING INSTALLATEON Original application filtd August 9, 1922, Serial No. 1928. Serial My present invention. is concerned with fluid distributing installations and methods, and while of more general utility, is shown in a special application to chassis lubrication.

t is among the objects of the invention to provide an installation and a method of the above character, by which lubricant is supplied to bearings of a vehicle or other mecha nism or installation, in accordance with the requirements thereof during Operation.

Another object is to provide automatic means in a system of the character referred to, for positively arresting flow and preventing drainage as long as the mechanism is out of operation, without, however, materially opposing the pressure applied in the operation of the system, or interfering with the correct division'oi lubricant to the various bearings.

Another object is to provide an installation of the above type, disassocia ed from the revolving mechanism of the machine or vehicle. yet functioning in the course of normal operation by impulses applied thereto, without the exercise of conscious attention on the part of the operator.

Another object is to provide an installation and a method of the above type, which will function without the need for any special precautions or adjustments to assure approximately the same feed of substantially any grade of lubricant, without over-oiling in hot weather or underoiling in cold.

In my issued Patent No. 1,632,771, of June id, 1927, there is specifically disclosed a centralized system embodying a pump of substantial volume, the rate of the slow discharge of which under the sustained eftort ot a discharging spring is controlled through the intervening oil-filled piping by calibrated drip plug outlets of high resistance to flow. According to the specific disclosure of the said patent, intervals of some hours may intervene between successive pump operations, the pump having suflicient volume to sup ply to the bearings more than their current requirements of lubricant, that is, sufiicient for hours of vehicle operation after the pump has completed its discharge. Spring seated 580,668. Divided and this application filed June 5, No. 282,956.

valves at the drip plugs are provided, which remain closed during the intervals between pump operations to prevent leak from the distributing system.

According to the present invention, charges aro'injected into the distributing system, incldental to the progress of the vehicle and without the exercise of conscious attention the part of the driver, so that frequency of operation is feasible, and, accordingly, a corres ondingly small and inexpensive pump nay be used, as compared with a pump to be operated manually but once or twice a day. According to my invention, the small pump is operated in such manner as to maintain a substantially sustained pressure upon the distributing system, so as to cause the valves to remain open and to emit during the intervals between pump operations, regardless of their relative location or of difference in the level thereof, or of their lack of uniformity when they are seated by spring pressure. By the continuous en'iission tlius effected, the bearings are constantly kept moistened with oil to constantly compensate for the oil consum d at or lost from the bean ings.

lhe force pump is diminutive, of effective volume sufiicient to supply the chassis bearings for only a small fraction of a days run. The charge of the pump is so small that it can be ejected into a distributing system of the character shown in my patent and substantially regardless of the resistance of the drip plugs thereof, resilience in the installa tion enhanced by a small air bell or the like, it required, permitting this action. The small pump is operated with such frequency as to deliver its small charges into the line until pressure builds up to a point where the outflow equals the input and is substantially continuous throughout vehicle operation. Preferably the pump operating means is so arranged as to be capable of exertinga relatively high oil pressure under a moderate pump operating impulse, so that the pump can readily discharge, even w ien the distributing system imposes high resistance to flow.

A specific feature of the invention is the use of loose preferably non-return valves in the drip plugs or in those at higher level only, which non-return valves, when the pump outlet is sealed, are adapted to be seated firmly by any return impulse, to prevent the entry of air. If air should enter through a fitting at higher level, for instance, through one on the frame, oil might escape through the fi tings at lower level on the axle, by reason of the head oil in the pipe between the two fittings. The valve may be of thin spring steel. or of a springless substance such as leather and in either case is seated by any return impulse aidedin the former instance by the resilience of the valve material. Venting of the piping system, which is a prerequisite to draining is thus precluded, and draining of the pipe contents is thus avoided, while the vehicle is stationary and the pump out of operation. The valves perform their function though devoid of seating springs, since they remain open during the continuous emission vhile the vehicle is in motion, but close and thereby prevent flow chiefly while the vehicle is at rest, at which times, said valves are not subjected to vibration tending to open them. Preferably the valves are arranged to retain a bodv of oil at the outlet side thereof, thereby hindering the venting of the system and further safeguarding against drainage.

To dispense with special manual operation, the lubricant pump may be energized automatically in the usual operation of the machine, or of a control element thereof. In the specific embodiment disclosed, the diminutivc oil pump is connected with a brake pedal or other lever frequently actuated in normal operation.

My invention embraces a method of operation, some of the salient features of which are, connecting a common source of liquid to various outlets in parallel, greatly obstructing the outlets and forcing liquid preferably in a succession of small charges frequent intervals from the source, thereby to build up and then sustain pressure ahead of the out lets, with consequent emission from the outlets atrate substantially unaffected by changes in flow resistance or viscosity. From another aspect, the pressure is built up and is sustained ahead of the outlets at a "value depending on the viscosity of the medium, with resultant emission from the outlets j ointly, at the rate determined by the rate of ejection from the source.

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 580,668, filed August 9, 1922. The drip plugs herein disclosed are claimed per se in other divisional applications, Serial No. 282,958,

' 282,959, and 282,960, all filed June th, 1928.

the invention,

Fig. l is a; diagrammatic view indicating the general construction of the pump system which to avoid confusion is shown below the fragmentary dot and dash outline of the vehicle,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of parts with drip plugs at different level,

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal cross-seetion of one form of drip plug,

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 8 of another form of drip plug, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 of still another embodiment of drip plug.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown a lubricating system embodying a reservoir 10 connected by pipe 11 to a small force pump 12. The pump 12 has the usual inlet check valve 13 and the outlet valve 14, the former opened by suction in the charging stroke and closed by pressure in the discharge stroke of the pump during which the latter is open for communication with the distributing system. 7

The distributing system includes piping p suggested in Figs. 1 and 2, along the structure of the vehicle, leading to the bearings, some of which areon the frame and others on the axles therebelow. At the various bearings, outlet fittings may be employed which may be of the construction shown in my prior patent above referred to.

I have indicated in Fig. 3 one of various specific constructions of drip plug shown in my parent application above referred to. This drip plug comprises an elbow-shaped fitting which may include a support element 15 provided with a transverse socket 16 into which is threaded an inlet cartridge 17 extending at right angles to the support, towhich the pipe end 3) is connected by an ap- I'FI'OPl'lZttB coupling The inlet cartridge has a longitudinal bore of accurately predetermined diameter, nearly filled with an obstruction in the form of an accurately gauged pin 18, the inner end of which is held in place by the bottom of the socket 16. In the support fitting is provided a valve 19 urged against its: seat 20 by a coil spring 21 which reacts against a polygonal washer 22 maintained in place within the bore of the fitting support by a split ring 22 in a corresponding groove. In a corresponding socket at the a wad or plug 23 of felt serving as a strainer to intercept any chips or scale entrained with the oil, thereby to prevent clogging of the restricted passage or disabling of the valve by lod ing of a particle at the seat thereof.

The calibration or rating of each drip plug depends on the effective length of the restriction pin 18 lodged in bores of identical diameter, the shorter the length of the pin the faster the rating. Each bearing is equipped with a drip plug of rating corinlet end of cartridge 17 is responding to the oil requirements thereof, the spring bolts, for instance, having drip plugs of slowest rating, the shackles of somevrhat faster rating, and the knuckles of still faster rating.

I have shown in F another construction of drip plug embodying a loose check valve, illustratively a lisp valve, which may be devoid of any spring and requires only sl ht force to t. In an illustrative of such con "action, a fitting shell Edge element "(3 providec, havar. itegral laterally extending nipple er;- tension for application to tlr bearing or bolt- Z), to be moi ed preferably though not ncces'aril" in vertical position. The fitting its lower end by a removable j into the upper end of the e is threaded an inlet plug 29 ser to camp the flange 30 of a downwardly extending eylin drical tube 31 against l attending ledge formed in the cartridge. The end of the tube 31 is above the plug and below the bore of the nipple 27. Between plug and ledge 32, an obstruction in the form o a bowlshaped piece 33 of parchment, ca skin or i' it similar high-resistance porous material is clamped, d bowl performing a resistance function mnilar to that of the restriction pin k In the present embodiment, I have shown between the bowl shaped element and the plug 22, a flap check valve or non-return valve, of leather or thin spring steel, constituting a tongue 3i struck out from a disk, the periphery 35 of which is engaged by the plug 29 to clamp said disk, the bowl 33 and the flange 31 against the ledge 32.

While, to prevent the entry of air into a istributing system, a loose non-return valve uil' may be provided in each of the drip plugs thereof, a satisfactory operative system will result by providing such non-return valves only in the drip plugs at higher elevation, for instance, in those on the frame, and omitting thei from the lower drip plugs. By such arrangement, entry of air into the line at the higher drip plugs f is prevented, said valve being firmly by any return impulse due to he head of oil in the piping between fittings f and Venting beingthus precluded, no leak or drainage can occur, and emission takes place only so long the pipe system is under pressure.

The limber flap valve 3 l of leather is seated by any return impulse. If of thin spring steel, a similar action occurs aided by the resi ience of the valve.

In 5 shown a modification of drip plug in which the restriction is illustratively a compacted plug 33 of felt, cotton or the like, disposed directly within the bore of a cartridge 26 similar to that of Fig. 4t. The restriction plug is compressed in place within the cartridge between an inlet plug 29 and a nut 31 provided with an integral depending sleeve 31 extending downward below the bore of nipple 2'? to form an oil seal as in the embodiment of Fi l. A perforated disk is interposed between the felt restriction mass and the nut 31, through which pressure is evenly applied to the restriction mass, forcing it against a projecting flange 29 on the inlet plug 29', the felt mass l'iulging under the pressure into the counterbore or depression within the flange 23, to prezs a disk non-return valve 34 therein against its seat 52 in said inlet plug. Preferably the inlet end of inlet plug 29 is provided *ith a strainer plug 53 of felt, serving to intercept any solid particles carried with the oil, which might otherwise become lodged at and in'ipair the seating effectiveness of the valve or ultimately clog the felt plug restriction.

In operation, the lubricant will be forced pet the strainer plug 53 to unseat the non- U1) absorbed, and past the oil seal 31 through the nipple to the bearing. Entry of air is prevented, by the oil seal and also by the nonreturn valve 3 which is seated firmly by 9 any return impulse of the oil.

Obviously, the strainer 53 may be provided in identical relation and for the same purpose in a corresponding socket in the inlet plug; 529 of the embodiment of Fig. 4.

The restriction 33-33 being near the valve, it holds oil in contact therewith after the system has ceased feeding, so that any return impulse has to pull oil through the crevice between the valve and the seat, a slow operationbefore air can go through. Oil helps seal the light valve and may, in fact, insure its being pulled to its seat at all. Being viscou oil resists being drawn past the valve by the very light force available.

Since a valve of leather or other limber material might droop so far away from the seat as to be urged away from, rather than toward its seat by return impulse, it is important to provide means to limit the valve deflection, and this is accomplished in the specific embodiments shown by the resistance members 33 and 33.

The light valve is amply protected from injury by the casing structure of the drip plug, and is guarded from derangement by the settling of solid particles thereatthis by the strainer at the inlet, and the flow resistance means at the outlet side thereof, between which elements the valve is located.

It will be apparent that with the unit in preferably vertical position, oil will pass therefrom only when it fills the cartridge at least up to the level of the bore of nipple 2727 and the cartridge is, therefore. al-

ways full at least to that level. The oil thus forms a trap, since it fills the cavity between plug 28 and the lower end of tube 3l3l through which air must enter before venting or draining is possible.

The pump volume and the distributing system are so correlated that the pump charge may be readily forced into the distributing system therebeyond even though the oil by virtue of great viscosity in winter requires high pressure to effect propulsion past the restricted drip plugs at the rate imposed by the pump. Resilient capacity in the pipe system is utilized to accommodate pump discharge, and if the lines have not sufficient resilient capacity for the purpose, added capacity may be introduced by the use of an air bell or the like.

The lubricant pump may be energized automatically in the usual operation of the vehicle or of a control element thereof. In the embodiment shown, the oil pump is connected to be discharged, by each actuation of the brake pedal or other pedal or lever, which is moved from time to time in the normal operation of the vehicle. As diagrammatically indicated, the piston 89 of the pump is connected through link to a bell crank lever 41, which, in turn, is connected by a pitman 4:2 to the heel 43 of the pedal a l, a coil spring 45 normally retaining said pedal in elevated position and said pump in charged position.

Before wear takes place, only a part of the stroke of the clutch or brake pedal is utilized for a full pedal stroke, so that, as the clutch or brake Wears, the pedal may be depressed further until ultimately it strikes the floor board. For most operations, the brake or clutch is only partially depressed, resulting in correspondingly short pump strokes. The small diameter piston shown, may have a relatively large leakage, since its peripheral length is large compared to its area. Such pump piston is of diameter too small for a tight leather cup construction, and the type of piston shown, is less tight. For all these reasons, the average discharge of the pump is considerably'less than its capacity and, therefore, a pump of relatively ample capac ity is provided, illustrativelv, in the order of about a thimble full. The pump is quite small in comparison with that shown in the system of my issued patent, the total delivery due to the many operations in the course of a day, being sufficient for hearing requirements.

hen the valves in the drip plug are spring-seated and require a minimum high pressure to assure their opening concurrently, a relief valve R of any suitable construction may be provided, preventing communication to the line except when the pressure hell or air bottle 38 is charged at least to this minimum pressure.

It will e understood that in normal use of the vehicle, the brake pedal will be operated frequently. In each depression of the pedal, the pump piston 39 is depressed to force the pump charge to the distributing system. The added load imposed by the small pump is so slight, that its presence is not objectionable, if it is at all noticeable in the depression of the valve pedal.

In use, it will be understood that after one or more pump operations, a state of equilibrium will have been reached in the distributing system, which is substantially maintained in subsequent operation of the vehicle by the introduction of subsequent charges from the pump at the inlet and the slow emission of corresponding quantities through the drip plugs. The resistance imposed by the drip plugs and the volumes injected by the pump, impose a resultant pressure on the distributing system to cause continuous emission of quantities of oil equal to the charges successively introduced by the pump.

The resistance imposed by the check valves is so slight compared. to the pressure prevailing in the pipe system, that the drip plugs will reliably determine the proportioning of the flow to the respective bearings, even at the lowest effective pressure in the distributing system.

The leverage of the operating linkage is so great, that the moderate pressure exerted by the foot, is capable of exerting relat sly high pressure on the distributing system, to inject the charge into the line and to cause emission even when the resistance to flow in the line and drip plugs rises to high values, due to the relatively enormous rise inviscosi'ty of the oil in cold weather.

In the system, the action of my pump resen'ibles that of a constant-current electric generator, having like it, the property of forcing its output at the same rate'substantially regardless of he resistance or obstruction in the line which it supplies. In the dis tributing system, the several drip plugs having various 1 .ctions, corr Jond to a bank of incandescent lamps or of resistances having similarly proportioned electrical resistances and the distributing pipes corres iiond to the electric conductors.

I claim 1. An installation of the cltiaracter described for association with a mech said installation comprising the combi of a distributing systen'l having restricted drip plug outlets, a small force pump to supply said system, a pump-opcrating means energized incidei to the operation of the mechanism, and at frequent intervals, said installation having resiliency for continued emission through the drip plugs after the'opcrating means has completed its work.

2. A central lubricating installation com prising the combination of a distributing system, having highly restricted outlets at different levels, means to force small charges into the system incidental to the operation of the mechanism, and at frequent intervals, the parts of said system being constructed and arranged to maintain a pressure poten tial throughout the length thereof during operation ot the mechanisn'i substantially to prevent draining in the absence of pressure on the system.

3. A chassis lubricating installation, comprising the combination of a distributing system, means to force small charges into the SfSlBlll incidental to the progress oi the vehicle and at "frequent intervals, said system having drip plug outlets of high resistance to fiOW, and at dillerent levels and means to sul stantially prevent reverse flow through the outlets at higher level after pressure on the s stem has subsided.

4. A. central chassis lubricating installation including a distrilnitingsystem having drip plug outlets, and mea" tunctioning incidental to the normal progress of the vehicle, to resiliently apply and sustain pressure upon the lubricant in the system iior substantially continuous emission through the drip plugs during vehicle operation.

5, A chassis lubricating installation, com- 1D prising the combination of r s tem having restricted drip alug outlets in pressure transmitting relation with each other throughout emission therefrom, means to force small charges into the system incidental to the normal progress or the vehicle and at frequent intervals, said system being suiticiently resilient to minimize the fluctuations of pressure therein, thereby to eiiect substan tially continuous emission through all of the outlets to the bearings during the intervals between charge injections until the pressure due to the operation of the pump ceases.

{5. A chassis lubricating installation, comprising the combination of a diminutive pump, a distributing system supplied from said pining and having highly restricted drip plug outlets, means to operate said pump incidental to the normal progress of the vehicle and at frequent intervals, said distributing system being sur'liciently resilient to minimize the fluctuation of pressure therein, thereby to ellect continuous emission through all of the outlets to the bearings during the intervals between pump operations until equilibrium in the system is restored,

'7. A chassis lubricating installation, comprising the combination of a diminutive pressure pump, a distributing system supplied therefrom and having highly restricted drip plug outlets, means preventing reverse flow during the intervals between operations, said pump operatively interrelated with the vehicle for discharge incidental to the normal progress of the vehicle and at frequent intervals, said distributing system being sufficiently resilient to minimize the fluctuation of pressure therein.

8. In a chassis lubricating system, the combination of a diminutive pressure pump, a distributing system communicating therewith and having drip plug outlets, means impeding the admission of air to the system during the intervals between vehicle operations, said pump operatively inter-related with the vehicle for alternate pulsating charge and discharge incidental to the normal progress of the vehicle and at frequent intervals, said distributing system being suiiiciently resiliout to minimize the fluctuation of pressure in the distributing system between pump discharges.

9. The combination of a lubricant distributing system, having highly restricted fio-W controlling outlets, a pressure pump of volume sufficient to supply various bearings for only a small fraction of a days run, means normally closing the exit from said pump to said distributing system, and preventing the entry of air through the inlet to the distributing system, said outlets having non-return valves therein, said distributing system having resilient capacity to accommodate discharge from said pump, and to minimize fluctuation of pressure in the distributing system between pump operations.

10. The combination of a chassis lubricating system including a reciprocating force pump of volume suilicient to supply the chassis bearings for only a small fraction of a days run, a lubricant reservoir communieating therewith, a distributing system supplied from said pump, means closing the exit from said pump to said system during the intervals between pump operations, drip plug outlets leading from the system to the bearings, said outlets having non-return valves therein, said system having capacity resiliently accommodating discharge from said pump, said pump being so correlated With the vehicle as to be operated at short intervals through the stroke thereof in one direction and incidental to the progress of the ve hicle, and a coil spring causing the return stroke of the pump.

11. A central lubricating installation including a distributing system having an inlet for introduction of lubricant therethrough, drip plug outlets at different levels, the dri p plugs at higher levels including loose valves imposing substantially no resistance to emis sion under pressure on the system, and closing under return impulse, to inhibit reverse flow.

12. A central lubricating installation in cluding a distributing system having an inlet for introduction of lubricant thereto, drip plug outlets adifferent levels, means functioning incidental to the operation of the lubricated mechanism, resiliently to sustain pressure upon the oil in the system, for sub- CPI stantially continuous emission through the drip plugs during operation, said drip plugs including loose valves presenting but slight resistance to the flow of lubricant under pressure and adapted to be seatedby any return impulse to inhibit reverse flow.

13. A central lubricating installation comprising a distributing system having drip plug outlets, including loose valves imposing little resistance to emission under pressure impressed on the system, each drip plug for an outlet at higher level affording a lubricant holding chamber at the outlet of the valve thereof, guarding the latter against entry of air and consequent leakagethrough a lower outlet.

14. A central chassis lubricating installation including a distributing system having an inlet for introduction of lubricant therethrough, drip plug outlets at different levels, means functioning incidental to the progress of the vehicle, resiliently to sustain pressure upon the oil in the system for substantially continuous emission through the drip plugs during vehicle operation, said drip plugs including loose valves presenting little resistance to the flow of lubricant under pressure, the flow obstruction of each drip plug being at the outlet side of the valve thereof, thereby providing a substantially oil filled chamber between the obstruction and the valve, guarding the latter against entry'of air and consequent leak from a lower outlet of the system.

15. A central lubricating system comprising distributing piping, a source of pressure at .the inlet to the piping, drip plug flow resistance devices near the outlets from the piping and at different levels, said drip plug devices including free check valves adapted to be closed by the tension of lubricant tending to leak from the piping at a lower outlet, and thereby functioning to inhibit emission or leak, as long as the pressure source is out of operation.

16. A central lubricating installation in cluding a distributing system, a pump for intermittently injecting oil under pressure into the system, said system having branches with controlling obstructions therein, to determine the division of lubricant to the corresponding bearings, loose check valves at the high parts of the distributing system opening under propulsive pressure generated by the pump, said valves after the pressure imposed on the system due to the action of the pump has ceased, being closed by the head of the lubricant in the branches therebelow, to prevent venting and thereby to avoid draining of the system;

1'? A chassis lubricating installation including a force pump of volume sufficient to supply the chassis bearings for onlya small fraction of a days run, means for discharge ing. said pump at frequent intervals in the course of normal operation of the vehicle, a distributing system supplied from said pump and having drip plug outlets leading to various chassis bearings, and presenting flow resistance to impede discharge under 2.1113

tributing system, and thereby inhibiting such Q15 leak, said system being sufficiently resilient to store pressure due to pump discharge thereinto, thereby to effect substantially continuous emission to the bearings during the intervals between pump operations as long as t;

the vehicle is operating.

18. In a central chassis lubricating installation, a diminutive piston force pump, means correlating said pump with the vehicle for actuation thereof at short intervals during operation of the vehicle, a distributing system having branches leading to various chassis bearings, drip plugs in said various branches and at different levels, each drip plug including an obstruction imposing high resistance to flow, said drip plugs also in cluding free check valves of resistance to flow so small that those at higher level are held closed after pressure on the distributing system has subsided, thereby to prevent venting and to avoid leak of lubricant from the distributing system.

19. In a central chassis lubricating installation, the combination of a piston force pump of volume sufiicient to supply the chassis bearings for only a small fraction of a days run, means correlating said pump with the vehicle for actuation thereof at short intervals during the progress of the vehicle, a distributing system having branches leading to various chassis bearings, drip plug units in said various branches, each unit including an obstruction imposing high resistance to flow,

said distributing system having resilient capacity to effect substantially continuous emission through the drip plugs during the intervals between pump discharges, said drip plugs also including loose check valves of re sistance to flow so small that those at the drip plugs on the vehicle frame are urged closed by suction due to the tension of the lubricant in the branches extending downward therebelow, each valve closure occurring after the resilient pressure on the pipe line has been relieved.

20. In a chasis lubricating installation, the combination of a pressure pump, a distributing system supplied therefrom and having outlet branches leading to various bearings,

drip plug fittings in the various branches,

each having a fixed substantially invariant resistance to flow, and loose non-return valves, the valves in the drip plugs at higher level being urged to closed position, responslve to the tension due to lubricant in the branches extending therebeloiv, thereby precluding venting and preventing draining of the system when the pump has ceased operating, the valves being adjacent the resistances and at the inlet side thereof, Whereby said valves are guarded against entry of air by a substantial body of lubricant thereadjacent.

21. In a lubricating installation, the combination or" a force pump, a distributing system supplied therefrom and having branches leadingtheretrom to the various bearings, drip plug units applied substantially at said bearings, each of said units including a flow restriction and a suctionseated check valve near the inlet end thereo t, and an oil seal in the lower end of each drip plug to prevent the entry of air.

A chassis lubricating installation comprising the combination oi a distributing system having restricted drip plug outlets, a small force pump to supply said system, pump operating means actuated by the driver incidental to the progress of the vehicle and at frequent intervals, said installation having resiliency to permit emission through the drip plugs to continue after the operating means has completed its Work.

23. In a vehicle of the type having control levers, in combination, a centralized lubricating system comprising a source of lubricant, means for applying pressure upon a portion of the lubricant, piping connecting said. portion of lubricant to the bearings, means in advance of the bearings and across the line of lubricant flow for absorbing the pressure therein for slow feed of lubricant to the bearings, and means connected to one of said control levers and operated thereby for energizing said pressure applying means.

The combination set forth in claii in which the energizing means comprises small pump operated at each stroke of the control lever to "force its charge of lubricant into an air bottle which propels the lubricant on its Way to the bearin 's.

25. A central chassis lubricating installation incluc ing a distributing system having drip plug outlets, said outlets including loose light valve structures with resiliency for nor mally seating the same, imposing little resistance to pressure impressed on the system, and means between the outlet of each drip plug and the valve thereof, obstructing emission and retaining a body of oil in the intervening space, thereby guarding said valves against the entry of air, by reverse flow.

26. The method of lubricating various bearings of a mechanism by pressure feed Which consists in connecting the lubricant supply to toe bearings in parallel, and propelling lubricant from the supply toward the bearings at instants distributed throughout the operation of the mechanism, and at average rate equivalent to toe combined current use at the bearings, and obstructing the inlets to the bearings to degree sul'licient-to sustain back pressure With resultant emission to each bearing at nearly constant rate.

27. The method of producing substantially uniform emission of lubricant to a multiplicity of distributed bearings under Widely varying viscosity of the lubricant, by propelling the same at average rate equal to the desired total rate of current use at various bearings, and proportioning the flow between the bearings by greatly obstructing the inlets thereto, each to a predetermined degree corresponding to the lubricant requirements thereof, and sufficient at every bearing to set up substantial back pressure at all bearings under conditions of greatest fluidity of the lubricant.

28. The method of central lubrication by pressure feed, which consists in connecting common source of lubricant to all of the bearings concurrently, greatly restricting the t said bearings, injecting from said source at intervals, successive smal charges of lubricant, and resiliently sustaining the pr 'ure during the intervals between successive injections.

29. The method of liquid distribution through a multiplicity of outlets, which consists in proportioning the flow resistances at said outlets for determining the relative feed therethrough, and, firstly, metering the combined feed to the outlets and, secondly, applying the propulsive pressure for effecting the feed through the outlets, both steps by a succession of volume discharges from the liquid source to the outlets in parallel, at intervals spaced throughout the emission from the out lets, While resiliently sustaining propulsive pressure during the intervals between successive volume discharges.

30. A lubricating system comprising a diminutive pump, a pipe system connected thereto having highly rest ;icted flow retarding outlets connected in pressure communica ing relation With each other throughout operation, said system having sullicient resilience to maintain slow discharge through said outlets While accommodating sudden discharge of the pump, and pump operating means connected to exert suliicientforce for quick dis charge of the pump into the system under dilierent conditions of operation.

31. A lubricating installation, comprising a distributing system having controlling drip plug outlets so highly restricted as to sustain substantial back pressure, said system connecting said drip plugs in pressure communicating relation with each other through out operation, means for forcing substantially predetermined small-volume charges from time to time into said system under all conditions of operation, said distributing system having sutlicient resilience to accommodate pump discharge and to sustain emission between pump charges.

A chassis lubricating system comprising a diminutive plunger pump, a pipe system Connected to the outlet thereof having drip plug outlets, so highly restricted as to sustain substantial back pressure, said pipe system having sufficient resilience to maintain slow discharge through said drip plugs while accommodating the discharge due to a sudden actuation of said pump plunger and means adapted so to operate the pump incidental to the normal progress of the vehicle.

33. A lubricating installation for a mechanism subjected to varying temperatures, comprising a pipe system having an inlet and having a multiplicity of outlets leading to the bearings, fittings of controlling high resistance feeding said outlets, said system connecting said fittings in pressure communicating relation with each other throughout operation, and means comprising a reciprocating diminutive pump for feeding lubricant into the system at slow average rate adapted to the current requirements of the bearings, and with force sufficiently high to maintain substantial constancy of said average rate under falling temperatures and the consequent increase in viscosity of the lubricant.

34:. A chassis lubricating system comprising a force feed plunger pump a pipe system supplied therefrom and having a multiplicity of drip plug outlets so highly restricted as to sustain substantial back pressure, means to operate said pump for discharge propulsion therefrom at various times throughout the operation of the vehicle and at slow average rate of feed substantially equal to the current requirements of the chassis bearings, said operating means including a primary energizing member, and transmission linkage connecting said member to said plunger, all of the parts of said linkperforming a forward movement for pump discharge action and a return movement preparatory to the following pump discl'iarge action, said plunger exerting a discharge force so high as to obviate corresponding retardation of flow with increase of oil viscosity.

35. An installation for lubricating various bearings at different levels on a chassis, com prising a pipe system having an inlet and a multiplicity of outlets leading to the bearings, fittings of controlling high resistance feeding said outlets and adapted to sustain back pressure, means to hinder drainage of the pipe system during the intervals between vehicle operations, plunger means for feeding oil into the system, plunger operating means actuated at various times throughout vehicle operation to exert discharge thrust upon said plunger at each said operation, of

force sufficiently high to maintain substantial constancy of average rate of feed under substantial increase of viscosity of the oil.

36. An installation for lubricating various bearings at different levels on a chassis, comprising a force feed pump, a lubricant reservoir associated therewith, a pipe system supplied from said pump and having drip plug outlets at said bearings, so highly restricted as to sustain substantial back pressure, means to hinder drainage of the pipe system during the intervals between vehicle operations, means to operate said pump incidental to the normal progress of the vehicle and at frequent intervals, alternately to draw a charge from said reservoir, and to discharge the same for slow average rate of feed substantially equal to the current requirements of the chassis bearings, said operating means exerting a force so high as to obviate cor responding retardation in pump discharge with increase of oil viscosity.

3?. The method of central pressure lubrication of a mechanism which consists in substantially fixedly blocking the entry of lubricant through the bearing inlets and compolling the emission of lubricant through said blocked inlets by injection from a central source in parallel toward the hearings in a succession of forceful charges of substantially predeteri'nined small volume distributed throughout the period of running of the mechanism and in aggregate volume adapted to the corresponding total requirements of the bearings under all conditions of operation.

38. The method of central pressure chassis lubrication which consists in highly obstructing the lubricant inlets of the hearings to predetermined degree, segregating a small substai'itially predetermined charge of lubricant, quickly expelli said charge toward said bearing inlets in i .rallel, and repeating said segregating and expulsion operations at suiiicient intervals during operation of the chassis, adequate y to lubri :ate the bearings thereof during such chasis operation.

3 The method of operating a drip plug lubricant distributing system of fixed resistance type which consists in forcefully injectinp' thereinto at intervals tl'iroughout operation of the lubricated mechanism under pressure varying with ten'iperatures, small charges of lubricant aggregating substantially the total requirements of the lubricated mechanism during such operation.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 25th day of May, A. D. 1928.

JOSEPH BIJUR.

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