US2227292A - Lubricating device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1940.

F. C. WOELFER, JR

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. '7, 19157 Y 'M Ca/ INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYJ Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT 'OF F ICE LUBRICATING DEVICE sFrank C.Woelfer, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 'assigner yto yThe :Cincinnati'Ball Crank Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, afcorporation of Ohio .Application October 7, 1937, Serial No. 167,782

vThis invention relates to the art of 'lubrication and is particularly directed to apparatus for delivering lubricant under ,pressure to a `point of use. More specifically, the invention lies in an improved, hand operatedlubricating gunadapted to contain a quantity of lubricant and incorporating means for `delivering the lubricant, through the medium ora hand operated pump, to fittings of the type employed in amotor vehicle.

The lubricant distributing lfittings of a motor vehicle are located at various points on the chassis and motor, and must of necessity, in a good many instances, be dilicult to reach. The connection of the gun to the 'fitting must be sealed. At the same time the structure of the lubricator must ,be such as to permit the application of the proper amount of `grease pumping pressure through a hand lever while the operator is holding or pressing the gun upon the fitting. 'Moreover, since, as stated, there ,is often verylittle clearance around thefitting, the delivery end-,of the lubricator must be of an extended slender structure, so as to reach into close quarters.

Accordingly, an objective of the Vpresent inventor has been to provide a hand operated lubricator or gun, in which thepumpingunit and itslhand lever are so located as` to make it extremelyconvenient to reach fittings which are 'in inaccessible locations, in this respect enabling the operator to insert the gun Vinto limited yspaces without interference because of the lever. Furthermore, it has been the Object of .the inventor to facilitate the operation by enabling the operator .to hold the gun upon the litting in a more positive manner than has been possible heretofore. Toward the accomplishment of these purposes, the yparts of the gun are now arranged so as to leave substantially the entire length of the gun from the delivery endrrearwardly free of lateral obstruction, and so as to utilize the pressure of ,the pumping stroke as an additional means for holding the gun on the tting.

It has been determined that follower plates, in the reservoirs of these guns, although necessary in some instances, are not entirely satisfactory in operation. Follower plates have vbeen used to force the grease or lubricant inthe "barrel or reservoir of the gun to the region of the `pumping piston in order .to insure Aa constant supply at the pump intake. In the more fluidor softer type of lubricant the wiping action of the iollower plate on the cylinder or barrel wall causes entry of the lubricant into the ypressure side of the cylinder, which is, of course, quite undesirable,

or slightly inclined.

Accordingly, it has beenthe further object of the present `inventor ,to provide a lubricator of `this type, in which `thefollower plate is unnecessary, particularly when the lighter lubricants are being delivered. inventor `has noted that the average gun is used yin a somewhat vertical position, since the operator stands in a pit or beneath a car on a lift.

In achieving this objective the f' That is to say, the delivery Iend of the gun isA projected upwardly.

Therefore, a physical embodiment of the invention'has taken the form `of a lubricator in which the `pumping unit is located at the rear end of lthe lubricator with the intake located at the Ybottom of the barrel when the gun is `in normal position of use.

Further .specific objectives with respect to the specific position of the pumping unit have been to mount the'purnp unit ,entirely upon the rear cylinder head for quick repairs and to delivei` the lubricant .through a central tube, thereby relieving the barrel :or main reservoir of delivery pressures. Further, it has been an `object to provide a gun of the present arrangement which may include a follower plate when the heavierf'l greases are .being dispensed.

Various other objects and features of the invention will `be more fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the gun, generally illustratingthe internal construction thereof.

vFigure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken similar to IFigure 1, but illustrating the gun'in position with the piston drawn back.

Figure 3 is aperspective view illustrating the gun in use.

`Figure `4 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of guny parts being broken away for illustrating an air actuated follower plate or piston therein.

Figure 5 is a view taken similar to Figure 4, illustrating a further modification, parts of this view being broken away for illustrating a spring lpermitting the lubricant, if of the lighter grade,ito

flow to the rear end. The pumping unit is located at the rear end and accordingly will receive, by gravity, all of the lubricant in the gun.

For those types of greases or fluid lubricants which are heavy enough to resist gravity flow the gun may incorporate a follower plate, either spring or air impelled. The follower plate acts to drive the grease to the rear of the gun and, when incorporated, will permit the gun to be used in any position.

Referring to the drawing, the body or main section of the gun is a cylinder or barrel IU. This cylinder has its respective ends closed by means of cylinder heads I-I and I2, front and rear respectively. Between these front and rear cylinder heads and within the cylinder, axially thereof, is a delivery tube for the pumping piston of the pump assembly I3. The forward end of the delivery tube I4 is screw-threaded into a nipple I5, which is in screw-threaded connection with the forward end or nose of the head I I.

More specifically described, the head II is of tapered form to provide a restricted forward end in which the nipple I5 may be secured. The large end of the head attached to the cylinder is screwed upon the cylinder and incorporates a packing ring 0r gasket I6, lying in a counter-bored portion thereof. The forward end of the cylinder is turned inwardly to provide a lip I6a, abutting the packing I6.

A coupling element I1 is screwed onto the nipple angularly thereof upon an angularly disposed screw-threaded sleeve portion of the nipple. The angularly disposed bore I8 of the nipple extending from the bore I9 receiving the delivery tube, is enlarged to provide a chamber |90. containing a check valve 20, held against the shoulder formed by the counter-bore I9a by means of a coil spring 2|, under compression between the ball and the coupling. The passage 22 in the coupling is of the same size as the passageway I8 extending from the delivery tube to the valve chamber, so that the seating of the spring takes place marginally of this passageway. Y

The pumping unit I3 of the lubricator is mounted in the rear cylinder head I2. The cylinder head proper, previously indicated at I2, carries an inwardly projected pump cylinder element 24, axially disposed with respect to the cylinder and supporting the rear end of the delivery tube I4. The delivery tube is connected to the cylinder through a coupling sleeve 25. More specically, the tube is screwed into the coupler and the coupler is screwed into the end of the cylinder 24. A spring seating washer 26 is disposed in the coupler between the end of the delivery tube and the shoulder which is formed by the passageway 21 of the coupler element and the bore into which the tube is screwed.

A ball valve 28 is seated upon a shoulder, formed by further reduction in the bore of the coupler at the rear thereof, or at the end t0- ward the pumping piston. The ball valve 28 is held upon the seat by means of a coil spring 29, under compression between the washer 26 and the valve. The piston 30 projects beyond the rear end of the cylinder head I2, to the eX- terior of the gun. A packing gland 3i, of conventional form, seals the piston where it passes through the cylinder head. The intake ports 32 for the cylinder are located toward the rear end of the cylinder, immediately adjacent the cylinder head. A plurality is provided, four the piston by means of a cross pin 39.

being shown in this instance, disposed 90 apart. A packing ring 33 seals the rear cylinder head upon the cylinder.

The operating means for the piston is a lever 34 flexibly pivoted upon the cylinder head, through a double pivotal connection. A pivot stud 35 is screwed into the cylinder head and provides a head carrying a cross pin 36. A pair of links 31 are secured upon the cross pin (one element of the pair at each side'thereof) and connect to a cross pin 38, disposed in the pivot end of the lever. Intermediate the ends of the lever, but relatively close to the pivot point, the lever is connected to the projected end of The end of the piston is bifurcated for receiving the lever therein. The lever includes a cross web 40 and a marginal flange 4I, being of I-shape, in cross section. The flange is discontinued adjacent the pivoted connections to permit the lever to t within the bifurcated end of the piston and between the pivot links 31. A filling plug 42 is provided in the head whereby the lubricator may be filled through the rear end.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a follower plate may be provided, if desired. The follower plate is indicated at 43. As shown in Figure 4, the follower plate is urged rearwardly by means of air introduced into the forward end of the lubricator under pressure through a tting 44 containing the usual valve (not shown). A relief valve 45 is also provided.

A large coil spring may be used for impelling the piston 43 as shown in Figure 5, this coil spring being disposed under compression between the follower plate and the reduced forward end of the lubricator, specically the tapered forward cylinder head. For this reason the coil spring is tapered at its forward end.

The structure of the follower plate 43 is conventional. It includes reversely disposed coupling shaped gaskets 46-46, held in assembly by means of a nut 41 screwed upon a hub element 48 and clamping the gaskets against the shoulder 49 of the hub between the spreader rings 50-50. A spacer washer 5I is provided between the gaskets. The follower plate is suitably guided upon the delivery tube including a sleeve assembly 52 for greater length and incorporating gaskets 53 encircling the delivery tube and sealing the piston therein.

Inasmuch as practically all motor vehicles are lubricated under a car lift or above a pit, with the operator standing, the natural position of the gun or lubricator, when in use, will be with the pumping unit disposed downwardly. Accordingly the lubricant will settle toward the lower or pumping end, under the iniiuence of gravity, and will flow into the pumping cylinder through the intake ports` 32, which lie substantially at the base of the lubricator when in this position.

This arrangement enables the operator to develop much greater pressure with less effort, since the unit is located at the back end of the gun and since he is pressing the lever toward the point of delivery. This arrangement permits shorter connections on the delivery end of the gun, the usual extension being unnecessary since the gun itself constitutes the extension from the hands of the operator. (See Figure 3.)

'Ihe follower plate is unnecessary with the fluid type lubricants. This is a distinct advantage, since the soft and fluid type lubricants tend to pass a follower plate, getting on the pressure side thereof, which is of course very undesirable. In the case of heavier greases a follower plate may be used, the gun still possessing the distinct advantages above noted because of the location of the pumping unit at the rear thereof, and because of the disposition of the handle.

Furthermore, since the central tube carries the pressure the barrel may be of lighter structure. The gun, due to the location of the intake ports can be emptied almost completely whereas with follower plates this cannot vbe done. The entire pumping unit assembly is carried by the rear cylinder head, which is quite advantageous in case of breakage or the necessity of cleaning the unit, for it may be quickly disconnected by the simple operation of unscrewing the cylinder head.

The grease in the tube cannot i'low through the outlet due to the fact that the tube is manually sealed at the delivery end by the valve 20. This valve unseats when additional grease is forced into the tube by the pump, but holds back the contents of the tube when the gun is not in use.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A grease gun, comprising, a reservoir barrel having a rigid discharge fitting at its forward end, a rear cylinder head for said barrel, a pump unit carried by said cylinder head, including a discharge tube extending to the discharge outlet of the barrel, and a lever for said pumping unit, said lever pivoted on the cylinder head and extending laterally thereof, whereby movement of the lever is lengthwise of the barrel.

2. A grease gun, comprising, a reservoir barrel having a rigid discharge tting, at its forward end, a rear cylinder head for said barrel, a pump unit carried by said cylinder head, a vdischarge tube extending axially of the reservoir barrel to the discharge outlet of the barrel, and a lever for said pumping unit, said lever pivoted on the cylinder head and extending laterally thereof.

3. A grease gun, comprising, a cylindrical reservoir having a tapered forward outlet end including a rigid discharge means, a delivery tube extending axially within the cylinder to the delivery end thereof, a pump cylinder mounted at the rear of the reservoir, said pump cylinder in communication with the delivery tube and ncluding intake openings immediately adjacent the rear end of the reservoir, a pumping piston in said pump cylinder projecting from the rear end thereof and a lever connected to and actuating said piston, said lever pivoted at the rear end of the reservoir.

4. A grease gun adapted for lubricating inverted fittings comprising, an extended barrel including a tapered delivery head and an angularly disposed `delivery nipple, a closure element for said barrel, an operating lever and pressure developing means mounted on said closure element atthe rear end of said extended barrel, and a delivery tube extended interiorly of the barrel between said pressure developing means and the delivery nipple, whereby, in operating position the barrel of the gun provides an extension to the fitting being lubricated.

5. A grease gun comprising, an elongated grease reservoir having a delivery head and a rear closure element, an angular grease fitting mounted on said delivery head, a grease delivery tube in communication with said grease fitting and extending interiorly of the reservoir to said rear closure element, said tube including grease inlet openings, a pressure piston within said tube adjacent said inlet openings, and a piston actuating lever pivoted on said closure element in operating connection with said piston, said inlet openings adapted to communicate with the interior of the reservoir when the piston is in retracted position, whereby, when the grease gun is in operating position the grease will be delivered by gravity to said opening.

FRANK C. WOELFER, JR.

Images