US2061790A - Lubricating system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. '24, 1936. F. c. BLANCHARD LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed April 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 37/716 22/710 2" ede riic (ZBZa 21/072 Nov. 24, 1936. F. c. BLANCHARD LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed April 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mullllulmnlllmlmlvllnm I raven/i07 Z fiegzwjggBzamkard 111271 WW 2 gfliifys 1936- F. c. BLANCHARD LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed April 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v I raven/i07 E ade-rick (Jillian/chard Patented Nov. 24, 1936 new STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM Frederick C. Blanchard, Dorchester, Mass. I Application April 20,1929, Serial No. 356,694

'7 Claims.

of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: r

Fig. 1 is an elevation, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of a lubricating system exemplifying the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views illustrating in two positions one of the controlling valves of 20 the system;

Figs. land 5 are sectional views illustrating in two positions another of thecontrolling'valves of the system;

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in elevation, and partly in. section, illustrating the pump unit, the reservoir, in which it is housed, and the motor and gearing for driving the pump unit;

Fig. 7 is a vertical, sectional view on an enlarged scaleof one of the feeders of the system;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig.7;

Fig. 9 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating the pump unit of the system;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, on line ll-ll of Fig; 10; s

Fig. 12 is a sectional view. on the line lZ-IZ of Fig. 10; g

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line l3l3 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on line I l-l4 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated therein, and having reference at first to Fig. 6, there is shown a lubricating system comprising a tank l5, presenting a reservoir for oil. The tank is provided with a filler cap I B, seated on and about a curb ll, which prevents dirt from falling into the'oil when the cap is removed for the filling of the'reservoir. vent the. entrance of foreign matter, and to filter the oil. mounted for movement to one side, by mountmg the same 9. 1 a ve i s p or rod l9,:Which the irregular A screen It is provided to 'pre- The filler cap is conveniently extends loosely through a cover-plate 20, and is encircled by a spring 2|, bearing at one end against the under side of the cover-plate and at its other end, against a suitable abutment 22 secured to the rod. When the cover is lifted, 5 this spring yields, and after the cover is lifted clear of the curb, the cover may be swung laterally to uncover the screen." The cover-plate is conveniently secured to the tank by screws 23.-

A drain plug 24 near the bottom of the reservoir is provided to drain the oil out of the latter, in

case it should be necessary at any time.

Referring now to Fig. 1, leading from the reservoir is a conduit system comprising a plurality of sections of pipe 25, and one or more 5'- feeders 26, whose external forms varysomewhat to conform to the requirements of the particular situation where they are to be used. For example, the feeder may be a through feeder, designated by the additional character a, or a deadend feeder, designated by the additional characterb."

The feeder illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 is one o the through feeders, which is interposed between and connects two pipe sections, and is coupled thereto by unions 21. The feeder comprises a body or casing 28, provided with a through passage 29 connecting the pipe sections, and providing for the passage of oil past this particular feeder. In the case of the dead-end feeder 26b, 3 the passage does not extend entirely through. Above the passage 29, there is a small, upwardlydirected opening 30, and a valve seat 3|, and above the latter a chamber 32 for a needle valve 33, normally resting on the valve seat and closing the passage 30. The valve is suitably constructed and arranged to respond to a predetermined pressure in the system, as by being loaded with an appropriately arranged spring 34. Herein, the lower end of this spring rests 40 against an abutment 35, presented by the valve, and its upper-end against an abutment 36, which is adjustable vertically by a hollow screw 31 threaded into the chamber 32. A steel ball 38, interposed between the abutment 36 and the 5- screw, is provided to ensure that the pressure of the spring shall be brought as nearly axial as possible with the valve. The rate of feed is in creased by turning the screw in one direction,

and is diminished by turning it in the other.

This varies the load of the spring imposed upon the needle valve.

When the valve opens, oil is admitted from the passage 29 into the chamber 32 thereabove,

whence it descends by a lateral passage 39 (see;

Fig. 8) to a nozzle 40. The rate of feed is readily observable through openings 4| in a casing 42, which is threaded onto the valve casing and holds a tubular glass 43. This casing presents a nipple 44, to be screwed into an appropriate opening in or adjacent the bearing to be lubricated.

Into the inlet of the conduit system comprising the pipe sections 25 and feeders 26 oil is supplied under pulsating pressure by instrumentalities including a pressure-producing means such as a pumping unit (see Fig. 6) designated generally by the numeral 45, having a driving shaft 46 which extends through a bearing bushing 41 and a packing gland 48 to the exterior of the casing, where it is provided with a driving element, herein a gear 49 meshing with and driven by a pinion 50, to which power is furnished. by appropriate means, herein an electric motor 5|.

The pumping unit will now be described in detail, reference being had at first to Fig. 10. The principal part is a casting 52, which has a base 53 (see Fig. 14), secured to a pair of lugs 54, upstanding from the bottom of the tank. This casting presents bearings 55 and 56 (see Fig. 10) for the shaft 46. It also presents a pair of pump cylinders 51, and a pair of piston valve cylinders 58. All of these cylinders are open at the top. The pump cylinders are closed at the bottom by plugs 59, but the piston valve cylinders are open at the bottom to avoid the trapping of oil, which would prevent them from moving. Ports 60 con nect the pump cylinders 51 with the piston valve cylinders 58. Inlet and outlet ports BI and 62 are interposed between and intersect the piston valve cylinders 58;

There are two pistons 63, one working in each cylinder, and there are two piston valves64, one working in each piston valve cylinder. Each piston valve is provided with a reduced portion 65, whose length and location with reference to the piston valve and its relationship with the several ports are such that, in the operation of the pump, oil is drawn into the port BI and is discharged through the outlet port 62. In-the position of the parts shown in Fig. 10, the left-hand piston 63 is at the lowest point of its stroke, and is ready to start upwardly, while the right-hand piston is at the top of its stroke and is ready to start in a downward direction, the left-hand piston valve is at mid-point on its upward stroke, and the right-hand piston valve is at mid-point on its downward stroke. Under these circumstances, the left-hand piston has been forcing oil through the left-hand port 60 around the reduced portion of the left-hand piston valve and into the outlet port 62. Before the left-hand piston starts its up-stroke, and before the righthand piston starts its down-stroke, the'left-hand piston valve rises, and the right-hand piston valve descends. When this happens, the reduced portion of the left-hand piston valve places the left-hand cylinder in communication with the inlet port 6|, and. the right-hand cylinder in full communication with the outlet port 62. It follows that the next up-stroke of the left-hand piston causes oil to be drawn from the inlet port 6! into the left-hand cylinder, and oil to be forced from the right-hand cylinder into the outlet port 62.

The actuation of the pistons is conveniently accomplished by a pair of eccentrics 66 and a pair of eccentric straps 6T, encircling the eccentrics and connected by pivots 6a to the pistons. Similarly, the piston valves are. actu t d, by a P Of eccentrics 69, encircled by eccentric straps 19, connected by pivots H to the piston valves. While all of the eccentrics might be secured to the shaft, if it were desired to operate the pump in only one direction, it is desirable that the pump shall be capable of operation in either di-- rection for convenience in connecting it to the motor, or other power means by which it is to be driven. For this reason, therefore, the eccentrics 69 are secured to a collar 12, which in turn is secured to the driving shaft 46, but the eccentrics 66 are loosely mounted on the shaft, and are provided with pins 13 (one of which is well illustrated in Fig. 12), each of which is driven by a collar 14 secured to the shaft, and having a lost motion driving connection with the pin, as by providing the collar with a slabbed-off portion 15, the extent of which is such that, if the direction of rotation of the collar be reversed, the collar will travel one-half a revolution before it picks up the pin again. This arrangement ensures a proper timing of the pistons with relation to'the piston valves, no matter which way the shaft is rotated.

Referring now to Fig. 14, the inlet of the pump is provided with a strainer 16, mounted in a re-- movable ring -ll', which is threaded into an intake elbow l8, the latter in turn being threaded into the casing 52, and having a passage 19 communicating with the inlet port H. The strainer 16 is located close to the bottom of the reservoir, and strains all the oil which enters the pump. An outlet pipe 8%], threaded into the casting 52 and communicating with the outlet port 62, is connected to the inlet of the first of the pipe sections 25 of the conduit system.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is also connected to thefirst pipe section of the conduit system a pipe 8|, which extends in a downward direction through the cover-plate of the reservoir, and, as shown in Fig. 13, is threaded into the casting 52, which is provided with a passage 82 communicating with said pipe and intersecting a passage 83, the latter having an outlet 84, adapted to by-pass oil into the reservoir. When this outlet is open,. so much of the oil is by-passed to the reservoir,- that in the outlying piping system beyond the by-pass pipe 8!, there is a comparatively low pressure (in practice about four pounds) ,insufficient to make the feeders respond. When, however, the by-pass outlet is closed, by pressure-controlling means such as a valve 85, the pressure in the system rises abruptly to a relatively high pressure (in practice about sixty pounds), which is sufiicient to make the feeders respond. As herein shown, the maximum pressure which is developed in the system when the valve 85 is closed is determined by a pressure relief valve presently to be described. In the present example, the valve 85 is a slowly rotating plate, appropriately driven by and in synohronism with the pump, as by securing the valve by a pin 36 to a worm gear 81, which meshes with and is driven by a worm 88, suitably formed on or secured to the shaft 46. I

Referring now to Fig. 11, the valve is maintained in firm engagement with the adjacent face of the casting 52, as by securing the valve and the worm gear by the pin 86 to a head 89 presented by a shaft 90, which turns in a bearing 9! presented by the casting, said shaft being constantly urged toward the right, as shown in Fig. 11, by a spring 92 which encircles the shaft and is interposed between a fixed abutment 93 on the shaft and a washer 94, which rests against the adjacent face of the casting 52. This spring, therefore, constitutes an automatic take-up, which prevents leakage of the valve when the latter is closed.

In practice, the valve 85 is variously timed according to the requirements of the particular installation. In some cases, it is closed once in every sixty revolutions of the pump, and there are various ratios down to once in every seven and one-half revolutions. When the valve is open, and oil is being by-passed back to the reservoir, the pressure in the piping system is only that required to keep the piping system filled. When the valve is closed, the oil is delivered against a simple pressure relief valve now to be described, as a result of which there is pro-. duced in the system a comparatively high pressure for a brief interval of time, the pressure belivery.

. I06 threaded onto the valve casing 96.

ing'of sufficient intensity tocause the feeders to respond. If a pressure curve were taken, it would show comparatively long dwells of a pressure insufficient to open the feeders, and comparatively short periods of pressure sufficient to open the feeders. V

Constantly operating, automatic systems feed altogether too much oil for many machines, thus resulting in wastage of oil and damage to goods. These disadvantages are avoided by the use of the herein-disclosed system, in which the operation of the feeders is not only intermittent, but the feeding periods are short kicks, separated by long dwells during which no oil is fed, thus giving more reliable feeds at much slower rates than is possible with feeders having a continuous de- Referring to Fig. 13, there is provided a pressure relief valve designated generally by the numeral 95, the same comprising a casing 96 threaded into the casting 52, and having a passage Ii? communicating with a short passage 98, which in turn communicates with the passage 83. The passage 9'5 terminates at its upper end in a valve seat 99, which is controlled by a valve I00 working in a cylindrical chamber I0 I. Above this valve, there is a comparatively stiff spring I02, whose lower end is seated in a chamber I63 provided in the upper end of the valve, and whose upper end rests against an abutment I84 presented by a plunger I05, which is guided by a cap A comparatively light spring IIlI is interposed between the abutment I0 3, on the plunger, and an abutment I98 presented by the cap I96. A button IIIS is attached to the upper end of the plunger.

When the mechanically actuated valve 85 closes the outlet 84 of the by-pass, and the pressure consequently rises, the valve Hill is lifted. Inasmuch as the spring I0! is lighter than the spring I02, the former yields to the greater extent under the influence of the pressure. The venting or relief of the valve is conveniently accomplished by providing the valve with a longitudinal passage H0, constantly communicating with the passage 91 and with one or more, herein several radial passages III leading to a circum ferential groove H2. The valve casing is provided with a relief port I I3, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13, and in full lines in Fig. 6. The inner end of this port is only slightly above the circumferential groove IIZ, and when the valve is tain amount of oil leaks past the valve I96 into the system; because it rises and falls with the pressure pulsations. If the oil supply were exhausted, or if the pump were not functioning or developing proper pressure, the button'would'not rise and fall Similarly, if the oil line were broken, badly leaking or clogged, the button would remain dormant. 'This feature is of great practical value, because the operator of the machine, or the oilwright, need only glance at. the button to be'assured as to the lubrication of the machine.

In practice,'the button is marked with the word Flush. By depressing the button, the heavy spring I82 is compressed, thereby loading the relief valve heavily,so that the pulsation-pressure is greatly increased, with a corresponding increase in the amount of oil fed to all the bearings. This simultaneous flushing is advantageous when starting a machine which has been idle for some time, or if exceptionally difficult operating conditions must be met. When the button is released, the pressure is automatically restored to normal, and the established feed rates are resumed. I

Referring now to Fig. 1, the system is applied to a plurality of machines H5, each having a plurality of bearings H6, each onefed by one of the feeders 26. One of these machines .is I designated by the additional character A, and another by the additional character 'B; The machine II5A has its feeders connected in series by pipe connections which, together with the feeders, constitute a branch leading from the main line or conduit, and this branch terminates in a dead-end feeder 26b. The'machine N53 has its feeders connected in series by two branches, having a common connection leading from the main conduit, and each of these two branches terminates in a dead-end feeder 26b. Each of'the remaining machines II5 has its feeders connected in series by pipe connections which, together with the feeders, constitute a local auxiliary loop leading from and back to the main conduit.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, each loop may be connected to and disconnected from the main conduit by appropriate valve means, herein a four-way valve Ill comprising a-stator H8 and a rotor I IS). The stator is provided with four ports I29, and the rotor is provided with two passages I 2!. As shown in Fig. 2, the stator 'is in the position'in which the loop is incommunication with, and for the time being virtually a part of, the main conduit, in the sensethat the entire column of oil flowing through the main conduit flows through the loop also. When the rotor is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the loop is disconnected from the main conduit, and the column of oil in the main conduit flows past the loop without entering it. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the branches associated with the machines II5A and II 53 may be connected to and disconnected from the main conduit by appropriate valve means, herein a three way valve I22, comprising a stator I23 and a rotor I2 3. The'stator is provided with three ports I25, and the rotor is provided with a passage I26.

shown in Fig. 4, the stator is in the position in which the branch is in communication with the main conduit, and part of the column of oil fiowing in the latter is taken off into the branch. When the rotor is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the branch is disconnected from the main conduit, and the column of oil in the latter flows past the branch without any oil entering the latter.

Each machine is provided with an appropriate power-controlling means for starting and stopping the same. In the example shown, the powercontrolling means comprises tight and loose pulleys I2! and I28 on a driving shaft I29, a belt I30, and a belt shifter comprising a fork I3I and a sliding rod I32, provided with a handle I33. When the belt is engaged with the tight pulley, as shown, the machine is driven, and when the belt is engaged with the loose pulley, the machine is stopped.

The control of the machine is conveniently coordinated with the control of its valve by providing the latter with an arm I34, connected by a link I35 to the rod I32, the arrangement being such that when the machine is running, the valve is in the proper position to cause oil to be supplied to the feeders associated with the machine. When, however, the machine is stopped, the supply of oil is shut off by the valve. Thus it is evident that the operator of the machine need not give any thought to the lubrication of the machine, except to inspect the sight feed, and even this inspection may be assigned to one person, such as a department oilwright in charge of the entire system. As shown in Fig. 1, the main conduit, comprising the conduit sections 25, extends from the reservoir past the several machines in succession, and terminates beyond the last, or most outlying machine (the one at the upper lefthand portion of Fig. 1) in a dead-end, which may be closed by a cap or plug I36, which may be removed to scavenge the system of air when first starting a new installation, or to allow the system to be flushed out, if desired.

The general operation of the system should be evident without further description. The pump, driven by the motor, is continued in operation during working hours, and delivers fresh oil to the system in suilicient quantity to satisfy the demand of all the feeders. Each feeder, adjusted to the number of drops per hour called for by the bearing which it serves, can be checked in an instant by the department oilwright, or by the machine operator examining the sight-feed. The person in charge knows that each system under his care is functioning as a whole, because he sees the indicating and flushing plunger reciprocate. When the machine is running, the system delivers oil in predetermined amounts to each bearing, the amount to each of course being predetermined by adjustment of the spring-loading screw 31. When any machine is idle, no oil is delivered to it. The use of the system is characterized by economy of oil. By accurate and independent adjustment of the feed rod at each lubrication point, from two to three drops per hour to substantially a stream, it is possible to deliver a minimum amount of oil consistent with safety. The system provides against waste, as well as against excess of oil.

The quick pressure impulse of high intensity and the resulting jump of the needle of each feeder produce a measurable feed of short duration, taken from a circulating supply of lubricant. This makes possible much lower feed rates than heretofore regarded as safe. The jump of the feeder needle overcomes any tendency of the oil to form a film in the valve seat. This opening, being above the column of oil, safe-guards it from the entrance of foreign matter, which might be in the system.

Reference is made to my co-pending applications, Serial No. 338,546, filed February 8, 1929 (now Patent No. 1,900,754) and Serial No. 338,549, filed February 8, 1929 (now'Patent No. 1,953,824). In each there is shown a circulatory system having a conduit extending from a pressure-producing unit past one or more machines, each provided with one or more feeders supplied by the conduit, and the latter conducts the surplus oil back to the source. In each patent a valve at the return end of the conduit causes a pulsating pressure which in turn causes intermittent operation of the feeder or feeders. In the present application, the valve which causes the pulsations is at the inlet end of the system.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, What I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. The combination of a machine having controlling means to start and stop the same, one or more oil feeders for feeding oil to said machine, a feeder-supplying conduit, means for supplying to the inlet of said conduit oil under pulsating pressure which causes said feeder or feeders to respond when it rises to a predetermined point, and means connected to said controlling means to cause stopping of said machine to be accompanied by cessation of the supply of oil to said machine.

2. The combination of a machine having controlling means to start and stop the same, one or more oil feeders for feeding oil to said machine, a feeder-supplying conduit, means for supplying to the inlet of said conduit oil under pulsating pressure which causes said feeder or feeders to respond when it rises to a predetermined point, a valve controlling the supply of oil from said conduit to said feeder or feeders, and means for coordinating the operation of said controlling means and said valve to cause stopping of said machine to be accompanied by closing of said valve and to cause starting of said machine to be accompanied by opening of said valve.

3. In a lubricating system, the combination of a reservoir, a main conduit to which oil is supplied under pressure from said reservoir, said conduit having an outlying dead-end, a loop conduit between said reservoir and said dead-end. one or more feeders supplied by said loop conduit, and means at will to constitute said loop conduit a part of said main conduit.

4. In a lubricating system, the combination of a reservoir, a main conduit having an inlet from said reservoir and having an outlying dead-end, a loop conduit between said inlet and said deadend, one or more pressure-responsive feeders supplied by said loop conduit, means at will to constitute said loop conduit a part of said main conduit, and means for supplying oil from said reservoir to said inlet under pulsating pressure which causes said feeder or feeders to respond when said loop conduit is in communication with said main conduit.

5. In a lubricating system, the combination of a reservoir, a main conduit having an inlet from said reservoir and having an outlying dead-end, a branch conduit between said inlet and said dead-end, one or more pressure-responsive feedoil to be supplied to said machine when the laters supplied by said branch conduit, means at will to place said branch conduit in communication with said main conduit, and definitely-timed, power-operated, means for supplying oil from said reservoir to said inlet under predetermined pulsating pressure which causes said feeder or feeders to respond when said branch conduit is in communication with said main conduit.

6. The combination of a machine having starting means to start the same, one or more feeders for feeding oil to said machine, a feeder-supplying conduit, means for supplying to the inlet of said conduit oil under pulsating pressure which causes said feeders to respond and to feed when the pressure rises to a predetermined point, and means connected to said starting means to cause ter is started.

7. The combination of a machine having controlling means to start and stop the same, one or more feeders for feeding oil to said machine, a feeder-supplying conduit, means for supplying to the inlet of said conduit oil under pulsating pressure which causes said feeders to respond and to feed when the pressure rises to a predetermined point, and means connected to said controlling means to cause oil to be supplied to said machine contemporaneously with the starting of said machine and to cause the supply of oil to be discontinued contemporaneously with the stopping of said machine.

FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD.

Images