US1875745A - Grease gun - Google Patents

Description

Sept 6 1932 J. vIwArRLAun Er AL 1,875,745

GREASE om:

Filed Nov. 21. 192s :s sheets-sheet 1 Q Y 5 E *u N E N N Ill "3 tf l :4 N

*d* n 1| n N u tu vz um l o y i u -2\ es Q wl/)wif L L INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1932.

J. MARLAND E'rAL 1,875,745

GREASE GUN Filed Nov. 21. 192e 8 sheets-Smet g Gx @afg e/a ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1932.

J. MARLA-ND E'rAL 1,875,745

GREASE GUN Filed Nov. 2l, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f4 #H mm@ mm z f7 /fff A TToRNY Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH MARLAND AND CHARLES A. GRIFFITH, F XNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNORS TO SANFORD INVESTMENI` COMPANY, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TIoN or DELAWARE GREASE GUN Application filed November 21, 1928. Serial No. 320,974.

Our invention relates particularly to apparatus for forcibly delivering into bearings non-flowing or semi-solid lubricant such as is ordinarily termed thick grease.

The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus adapted to receive a considerable quantity of such semi-solid grease and forcibly deliver the same through tubular conductors to the bearings or hubs or other mechanical structures which need lubrication.

Our improved apparatus includes a relatively large grease tank or reservoir, a powerdriven pump in communication with the reservoir for receiving grease from the reservoir and with large force driving it throu h a pipe leading to bearings which are to e lubricated. The apparatus also includes power-driven means in the reservoir for agitating the lubricant and driving it toward the reservoir outlet to the pu'np in position to be moved into the pump by the suction action of the ump. At said outlet are valve and strainer evices, and associated with the pump is a strainer structure. The apparatus also includes a relief pipe leading from the delivery pipe near the pump into the reservoir and adapted to permit the passage of lubricant from the delivery pipe back into the reservoir when the pump exerts such a high pressure in the delivery pipe as might be injurious to that pipe and the attachments communicating therewith.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying our improvement;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the main part of the same apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line, 3-3, of Fig. 4; U

Fig. 4 is an upright section on the line, 4-4, of Figs. 1 and 2, looking toward the left;

Fig. 5 is an upright section on the line, 5 5, of Figs, 2 and 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the strainer shown in the right hand part of Fig. 5;

5 Fig. 7 is an enlargement of the structure forming the outlet from the lower part cf the reservoir or tank shown in the upper part of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of one of the valve members shown in Fig. 7; 50

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a valve on a relief pipe shown in Figs. 1 and 5, Fig. 9 being a section on the line, 9-9, of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, A, is a base on which the main parts of the apparatus are supported. B is a pump having feet, B1 and B2, resting on the base, A. B3 is the pump cylinder wherein the piston, P, reciprocates. B4, is the discharge end of the pump. The piston is in the form of a cylindrical stem, to the left hand or Outer end of which is attached the cross head, B5, which is confined for horizontal travel between the two guideways, B6, B6.

The pitman, C, has one end coupled to the cross-head and has its other end coupled to the crank wrist, C1, which is supported 0n the crank wheel, C2, which is fixed on the horizontal crank shaft, C3, which rests in the fixed bearings, C4. (Fig. 2) At the end 75 0f the bearing, U4, opposite the crank wheel, C2, the shaft, C3, is surrounded by and fixed to a relatively large spur gear wheel, C5, which meshes with a smaller spur gear wheel, D6, which is fixed on one end of a shaft, D4, which rests in a bearing, D5. The oppos.te end of the shaft, D4, is surrounded by a relative-ly large spur gear wl1eel,D3,which meshes with the smaller spur gear wheel, D2, which is fixed on the shaft, Dl, of the motor, D which is supported on the base, A.

When the motor shaft is rotated, the series of spur gear wheels beginning with D2 and ending with C5 are rotated with a reduction in speed, whereby the shaft, C3, is rotated at a speed much lower than the speed of the motor shaft. In this manner the crank wheel, C2, is rotated and the pitman, C, and the cross head, B5, and the piston, P, are reciprocated. 95

Above the part, B, of the pump is a tank or reservoir, E, which has capacity for receiving a much larger quantity of lubricant than is taken by the pump for one stroke. The reservoir has an upright wall, El and a 10 base, E2, which has a circumferential, upward-directed flange, E3, extending along the inner face of the lower part of the wall, El, and suitably secured thereto as by means of rivets or bolts. Eccentric to the axial line of the reservoir, the base, E2, has a tapering, downward extension, E4, which terminates i'n a neck, E5, which meets an upward-directed neck, B7, formed on the pump. In the neck, B7, is an upright passage, B8, which leads into the pump. A discharge passage, E6, extends downward. through the base to meet the passage, B8, leading into the chamber of the pump, B

A tubular valve member, F, is fitted into the passage, E6, and has at its upper end an outward-directed circumferential flange, F1, resting on a packing ring G2, which surrounds the body of the member, F, and rests on the adjacent part of the neck, E5. A lower movable valve member, F3, is telescoped into the lower end of the valve member, F. The upper end of the member, F3, has an annular part, F4, which fits slidably within the member, F. The lower end of the member, F3, is disk-form and large enough to extend across 'the lower end of the member, F. Between the members, F4 and F5, the member, F3, is cut away at opposite sides, leaving two diametrically opposite members or columns, F6, in each of which is an upright slot, F7, said slots being at equal distances above the disk, F5. A cross pin, F8, extends horizontally through said slots and has its ends fixed in the wall of the member, F. Thus the member, F3, is supported by said cross pin in a manner to permit up and down movement of said member. The parts are so proportioned as to allow the member, F3, to move downward to bring the disk, F5, below the lower end of the member, F, so that there is passage space downward through the member, F, and outward between the columns, F 6, and between the lower end of the member, F, and the disk, F5; and 'to move upward to make the disk, F5, bear against the lower end of the member, F, whereby the upward passage through the member, F, is closed.

An upright strainer, F9, is mounted on the member, F, the strainer having an outwarddirected circumferential flange, F10, resting on the flange, F1, of the member, F. Clamping plates, F11, bear on the flange, F10, and onthe wawll of the slanting base, E2. of the tank, E. A cap screw, F12, extends through each plate, F11. and is threaded into the neck, E5. By this means the strainer, F9, and the member, F, are firmly clamped to the neck, E5. It will be understood that the strainer might be omitted and the clamping plates, F11, made to bear directly on the flange, F1, of the member F. The axial line of the downward passage in the neck, E5, being at one side of the axial line of the reservoir, space is left in the base, E2, for a bearing for the lower end of the shaft which will now be described.

In tlre upper part of the reservoir. two bearings, G, and a bridge, G1, folm a unitary casting extending from one side of the reservoir to the other, each bearing, G. having a base, G2, fitted against the inner face of the reservoir wall and secured thereto by bolts or rivets. An upright shaft, G3, located approximately on the axial line of the reservoir has its lower'end resting in a bearing. G-l, formed in the base` E2, while the upper end of said shaft extends through a bearing, G5, formed in the bridge. G1. Immediately below the bearing, G5, said shaft is surrounded by a set-collar, G6. Immediately above the bearing, G5, said shaft is surrounded by and fixed to a bevel gear wheel, GT, which meshes with a smaller bevel gear wheel, G8. mounted on the horizontal shaft, G9, which rests in the bearings, G. Said wheel. G8. is adjacent one of the bearings, G. At the opposite bearing, G, said shaft is surrounded b v a .setcollar, G10. extends through the adjacent bearing, G, and through the wall. El. of the reservoir, E. On Said end of the shaft. G9, is fixed a sprocket wheel, G11. which is in the same upright plane with the sprocket wheel. G12, which surrounds and is fixed to the shaft. C3. already described. -\n endless sprocket chain. G13, is applied to the sprocket wheels, G11 and G12. The sprocket wheel. G11. is larger than the sprocket wheel. G12. so that the reduced motion of the shaft, C3, is still further reduced in transmission of motion to the horizontal shaft, G9, in the reservoir E.

In the lower part of the reservoir four oblique propeller blades, H, are fixed radially on a hub. Hl, which surrounds and is fixed on the shaft, G3, to be rotated with said shaft.

In the discharge end of the pump is a check valve, B9, which is adapted to open for the discharge of lubricant from the pump during the forward movement of the piston and to close during the reverse movement of the piston.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows:

The reservoir or tank. E. is filled with the thick. non-flowing lubricant. Then the motor` D, is started, whereby the gearing intervening the `motor and the piston starts reciprocation of the piston at a velocity which is low relative to the velocity of the motor shaft. At the same time the gearing intervening the shaft. C3, and the shaft. G3. establishes rotation of the latter shaft at a still further reduced velocity. The rotation of the shaft, G3. causes the rotation of the hub, Ill. and the blades. Il. 'l`hose blades are set to cause their under faces to press the lubricant downward during the rotation of the blades. By this means, the lubricant, which The other end of the shaft. G9.

between the heads. I4 and I5.

does not ordinarily respond to the action of gravity, is moved downward to and over the strainer, F9, and the discharge passage, ISG. The reverse or backward movement of the piston, P, acts to close the check valve. B9, at, the discharge end of the pump and tends to create a vacuum in the pump Chamber between the piston and the check valve, B9, whereby suction through the tubular member, I". and the strainer. F9. is created, whereby lubricant is drawn down through the strainer and the member. F, and past the valve disk, `5, to fill the space in the vpump chamber in front of the piston. Then, during the. forward stroke of the piston, the valve disk, F5. is forced upward into closed position and the lubri lant is forced forward through the check valve, B9. As shown in the drawings, the pump chamber and the piston are of small cross section, and the velocity reduction between the motor shaft and the piston stem provides for driving the piston forward with great pressure.

It will now be s'een that the blades, II, in the reservoir are not concerned with the driving of the lubricant to the bearings which are to be lubricated: that the function of said blades is to agitate the non-flowing thick grease and by screw action drive it downward to rest on the base, E2, and the strainer, F9, in position to pass into the pump aided by the suction created by the piston during its backward movement. It is important that the blades so agitate and act on the lubricant in detail or incrementally as to eliminate air from the lubricant, in order that the pump will deliver no air into the pipe by which lubricant is conducted to the bearings which are to be lubricated. This elimination or expulsion of air can best be accomplished by shaping the blades to make them cut the lubricant into thin spiral sheets or layers and press those sheets or layers into a dense mass below the blades.

At the discharge end of the check-valve, B9, is a strainer structure, I. A nipple, I1, has one end threaded into the body of the check-valve, B9, while the other end of said nipple is threaded into the cap, I2. That cap is threaded around the tubular body. I3, the other end of which is threaded into the head plate, I4. which is joined to the second head plate. I5, by means of transverse clamping bolts. I6. A cone-form strainer, IT, has at its base a circun'iferential flange. IS. clamped A nipple. I9, has one end threaded into the head plate. I5. To the other end of that nipple is threaded a cross-coupling. IlO. From said coupling a relief pipe. J, extends upward and is tapped into the reservoir. E, at J1. On the pipe, J. isa resisting valve, J2, comprising a body, J3. into which the two parts lof the pipe, J, arc threaded in off-set position. (Figs. 5 and In the body, J3, is the valve seatwlsl,

against which normallyv rests the conical face of the valve head, J5. 'l`he valve stem, J6, is surrounded by an expanding coiled spring, JT, one end of which bears against the head, J5. and the other end of which bears against the plug, JS. which is threaded into the body, J3 to meet the spring, JT, and form an abutment for said spring. The strength of the spring is to be such as to resist passing of the lubricant from the cross coupling, lll), upward through the relief pipe.. J, under normal conditions. as will be described .further on.

The strainers, F9 and I7, arc to .serve to remove foreign lnattcr from the lubricant. As an example of such foreign matter we mention wood splincrs from barrels containing the lubricant. The .straincrs are so shaped as to have ample area and are so placed as to canse the lubricant.to tcndto slide over the exterior of the strainer. whereby such foreign matter is carried to or toward thc base of the strainer. The parts associated with each strainer are so formed and so related as to pel'- mit easy separation for removal of any accunmlation of foreign matter.

A strong pipe, K, preferably of metal. of any' desired length, leads from the crosscoupling, IU), in the direction of places at which bearings arc to receive lubricant. At any desired points along the length ot the pipe. K. flexible tubes or hose. Kl, may be attached to the pipe, K, as branches and provided at their ends with couplings, K9., adapted for connection with the bearings to be lubricated. These couplings, K2, may be of a form adapting them to connect with such grease screws or plugs as are now placed on bearings and hubs for this purpose.

The apparatus may be so placed as to make it convenient to bring the hubs or bearings of lnine cars within reach of the couplings. K2. For example. the main part of the apparatus may be placed on a small t'latcar,L` which is on a track adjacent a track on which mine cars or similar cars i may be'moved to be brought within reach of the connections. K2.

As above stated, it is intended that the pump shall drive the lubricant forward with large pressure, he apparatus being arranged with such action in view. Since the resistance to the passing of the lubricant through the pipe.. K. and the branches, K1. will var v, due to variation in resistance to passing of the lubricant through tht` couplings. K2. into bearings. and .since the couplings, K2. must bc closed when disconnectml. there is danger of the pressure at times becoming so great as to burst the pipe. Ix', or the branches, Kl. 'l`o place a limit upon such pressure. we connect the pipe, J. to the c1(1ss-co\.n liiig. Ilo` and the reservoir, E, as above described. IVhen the chosen maximum pressure is reachedlubricant may flow from the cross-coupling into the reservoir. the lubricant pressing the valve head, J5, against the spring, JT, and comllt) pressing the latter, whereby the lubricant may pass the valve seat, J4.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, a pet-cock, M, is attached to the lower part of the crosscoupling, IlO, for the purposeof affording access to said coupling and the members connected with said coupling, and to permit circulating cleansing water or other liquid through the apparatus.

It is to be observed that the upperpart of the reservoir is open to the atmosphere and that at any time during the operation of the apparatus more Alubricant may be lshoveled into the reservoir.

IVe claim as our invention,

1. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage, a fixed upright, tubular valve lmember seated in said passage, and a movable upright valve member supported in said tubular valve member.

2. In a grease gun, the combination of' a tank having in its bottom vwall a passage, a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage, a fixed up right tubular valve member seated in said passage, and a movable upright valve member supported in said tubular member and having a part formed to extend across the discharge end of the tubular member When the movable valve member is in its backward position.

3. In a grease gun; the combination of a tank having in its bottom walla passage, a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage, an upright tubular valve member seated in said passage, a movable upright valve `member supported in said tubular member, a strainer having at its base an outward directed flange extending over the tubular member, and securing means engaging said flange.

4. In a rease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage, an upright tubular valve member seated in said passage, a movable upright valve member supported in said tubular member, a strainer having at its base an outward directed flange extending over the tubular member, clamping members engaging said flange, and screws engaging the clamping members.

5. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage, an upright tubular valve member seated in said passage, a movable upright slotted valve member extending' into the tubular member, and means supported on the tubular member and extending into the slots of the movable valve member whereby said valve-member is made slidable in said tubular member.

6. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage, an upright valve slidable in said passage and having at its discharge end a part larger than said passage and adapted to obstruct said passage when said member is in its backward position.

7. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a valve in said passage, a pump below said bottom wall and communicating with said passage, a valve at the discharge end of the pump, an upright rotary shaft in the tank,

and lateral blades supported on said shaft and shaped obliquely to cut the lubricant into thin layersand press said layers downward.

8. In a grease gun, the combination of a horizontal piston pump having between its ends an upward-directed tubular neck, a tank open above and communicating with the pump by a passage registering with said neck, a valve in said passage, a valve at the discharge endpf the pump, agitating means in the tank, a motor, velocity reduction gearing between the motor and the pump and between the motor and the agitating means, a lubricant delivery pipe outside the tank and leading from the discharge end of the pump, and a valved return pipe communicating with the delivery pipe and the tank.

9. In a grease gun, the combination of a horizontal piston pump having between its ends a tubular upright neck, an open tank located above and having a bottom passage communicating Withvsaid neck, an upright valve in said passage., a valve at the discharge end of the pump, an upright shaft rising from the tank bottom and having a lower bearing at one side of said passage, agitating means on said shaft, and means for driving said pump and said shaft.

10. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a pump communicating with said passage, a valve in said passage,power-actuatedobliquefaced means located in the tank for incrementally prcssing the grease downward toward said passage and expelling air from the grease, a delivery pipe` leading from said pump, means on said pipe for connecting with grease receiving means, a cut-off valve in said pipe, and a valved relief pipe communieating with the delivery pipe and the tank.

1l. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage', a pump communicating with said passage, a valve in said passage,power-actuatd'obliquefaced means located in the tank for incrementally pressing the grease downward toward said passage and expelling air from the grease, a delivery pipe leading from said pump, means on said pipe for connecting with grease receiving means, a cut-olf valve in said pipe, a valve at the discharge end of the pump, and a valved relief pipe communicating with the delivery pipe and the tank.

12. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall a passage, a. pump communicating with said passage, a valve in said passage,po\veractuated obliquefaced means located in the tank for incrementally pressing the grease downward toward said passage and expelling air from the grease, a delivery pipe leading from said pump, means on said pipe for connecting with grease receiving means, a cut-olf valve in said pipe, a strainer on the course of forward movement of the grease, and a valved relief pipe communicating with the delivery pipe and the tank.

13. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having a bottom wall, an upright rotary shaft bearing oblique wings adapted to cut the grease into layers and press said layers downward, power-driven gearing in operative relation with the upper part of said shaft for rotating said shaft, an upright passage extending through said bottom wall beside the base of said shaft, a'pump located below said bottom wall and extending across and communicating with said passage, and a movable valve member supported in said bottom wall passage.

14. In a grease gun, the combination of a tank having in its bottom wall an upright passage, a fixed tubular valve member seated in said passage and having its upward part flanged outward above said bottom wall, a movable valve member supported in said fixed valve member, and a horizontal pump extending across and communicating with said passage.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, this 3d day of November, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight.

JOSEPH MARLAND.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name this 3d day of November, 1928.

CHARLES A. GRIFFITH.

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