US2331462A - Fluid supply apparatus - Google Patents

Description

I E. P. DENIGAN 2,331,462

FLUID SUPPLY APPAR ATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [aware A Den/yaw gay-L422 4 FLU-ID SUPPLY APPARATUS Fileduan. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Oct. 12, 1943. R DENIGAN 2,331,462

FLUID SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 26 g/ I E .28 I I I y 55 5g 47 52 55 5a .52 1F j 117 i 1} #374 34- 47 46 57 -T 46 52 Z7d'g24 1 55 (52 77 70. 4 1 6.5 70/ 77 A 4 Z; 15 66 6g 67 Z5 70 51 '70 J ISA. 3'8

, J6 27 .54, a; 64 61 68 J5 59 A! 59 Patented Oct. 12, 1943 Blaw-KnoxCorhpany, Pittsburgb Pal, can.

poration of New Jersey Application January 20, 1942, Serial Ne. 42%.433 11. Claims. (01.. s==171 This invention relates to apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure to a system of distribution pipes. The invention is of particular utility in a two-pipe, lubricant-distribution system but its application is in no Wise limited thereto.

Fluid distribution systems such as the aforementioned two-pipe lubricating system have come into extensive use. Conventional means have customarily been employed for delivering fluid under pressure and for connecting the pipes sufficient for the purpose but present several objections from the standpoint of practicaloprating conditions. Usually the pump is motor driven and is, controlled by an automatic timer and a change-over switch for operating" the transfer valve magnetically. It is the object of my invention, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus for delivering fluid under pressure-alternately to one of two distribution pipes, which is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction, is entirely self-contained, unitary and coinpact, and operates to developthe desired pressure efficiently, without requiring excessive maintenance nor, indeed, any attention at all iraurematic control is provided therefor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a pump-and-valve mechanism including a body portionsurmounted by a storage container or reservoir for the fluidto be delivered. The body of the apparatus is-pre'ferably op'eriat the top and the reservoir open at the; bottom,

thus insuring free communication therebetweer'i. 1

The body is bored to provide pump cylinders. A control valve is also incorporated in the body and connectingpassages between the pump cylinders and the valve are cored or otherwise formed in the wall of the body. The valve is-preierably of the sliding-piston type and I provide 'electro-magnetic operating means therefor particularly suited f orautomatic control; Pistons reciprocating in the pump cylinders may be openwhich refer to the accompanying drawings fillustrating the preferred embodiment briefly outlined above. In the drawings,

V Figure 1 is a plan viewshowing the -P 1 411- 1 Figure 3 is having a piston I 3 re'cipr v 1. ii ect on an infz naisecl qna iew aka on .the' plans (if line 111 111 or Figure 2 fi ure 3A is apartial section similar m- Fi u e 3 showing certain p as in alternate p'o pens;

i e s; a rt ai ec'tm t k in the pan of line'l v 'lv of Frg [e' 1 nd isu' 1$ Y'l'ii idal v i l k inlbi 3 .6 1. ofl ne v-=v of Fliil f g R fe in ow i l l t he -Wh pu p 'fi fdw ve maha i ln o m .i er t indicated generallyat mand is adapted. to er fluid, e'. g. a lubricant such as grease, to one of two distributiojnpipes' 'H' and 1'2; he mechanism ljO'. includesqa piste 4 which serves-ina'mann'er to belsipia 'rrdj fully hereinafter, to .cd ne'cft the aper or the pump proper toone or the" other of the' pi pes l l and r2.- The valve 1 3 is;rejeiprocate'dfrom" one extreme lpo's'itio'n' to' use other bys'olenoid's 114 tan ar 1:9 mbuntejd" on apase 20; An auxiliary ated manually or may be power driven. Ihe I supporting leg'2l'is secure to the body] aand to thefbase. A motor Z2 mpu ted on the b "e -2}:

drives a' ge'ar reducer also disposedonl e e. .Th lQW-SP b Shfi 9f. h re u e :h s a cr nk 24; thereon; A link 25 is pivoted' ;to the crank zeanu to" rocker ni aon a shafted journaledinthebody Hi; 'Whenthe motor 22 is running, ,merrore; the" sea-n12 oscillates bask The body f6: is sernwfi rbewi shaped and ha s a relatively thibleritfi; "Thesha-f a e inserted-1h a ea-reverse bore"throughthe hody near the'bot- 't'oinlthereof until its' i'nner erid enters a socket borediiri abossrflu; llt'is secu'md by' a keeper ring 128*, the inner .edgezof'. enters a groove 29- turned', in i the surface 3 of- :the :shaft. "The eir- .terio'r ntireow h a amtz urfa .28a; dapt d to receive the ring zfi which is held in place ;by

s rews '30. A p c n n is ;5 ;n e in a counter-borewithinthesurface18a. V

Cylindrical-bosses; 3,2 project jnwardly jrom g rib fi the light the bosses 32 are counter-bored and tapped to receive closing plugs 34. A piston 35 has its ends slidably received in the cylinders 33. The pis ton has a reduced central portion 35. An arm 31 secured to shaft 21 by a pin 31a is rounded and bifurcated at its upper end, providing spaced bearing portions 38, one on each side of the reduced portion 36 of the piston, adapted to engage the spaced shoulders 39 formed by the latter. By this construction, oscillation of the shaft 21 causes reciprocation of the piston 35. i

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the body I6 is open at the top and the reservoir H is open at the bottom. The reservoir comprises a cylindrical shell 40 secured to a flange 4| upstanding from the body [6, by screws 42. As shown in Figure 2, the shell 40 has a cover 43. An indicator stem 44 is reciprocable through the cover 43 and is supported by a disc 45, the lower end of which bears on the surface of the fluid within the reservoir, thus indicating the volume of fluid contained therein at any time.

By virtue of the construction of the body It and reservoir l'l described above, the interior of the body is maintained fullof fluid at all times since it is in direct communication with the reservoir. The ends of the bosses 32 are slotted as at 46 to provide inlets through which fluid may flow into the cylinders 33. As the piston is withdrawn from either cylinder, a vacuum will be created therein because of means to be described later. When the end of the piston clears the slot 46, fluid will immediately fill the cylinder.

Outlet ports 41 are drilled into the periphery of the body I from below and communicate with the counter-bores at the outer ends of the cylinder bore. The outlet ports are counterbored as at 41a to form seats for ball check valves 48. These valves are held against their seats, subject to displacement by fluid discharged through the outlet ports, by springs 49 carried in plugs 50 threaded into the counter-bores 41a.

The wall of the body l6 has a radial bore or cored recess 5| providing a common outlet or relief valve chamber. Cored passages or ducts 52 in the wall of the body communicate with each other through the chamber 5| at one end and with the counter-bores 41a respectively at their other ends. the chamber 5| and the interior of the body [6. A relief valve 54 is normally maintained seated against the outer end of the port 53 by a compression spring 55 on the stem of the valve indi- A relief port 53 communicates with grease when the inlet 46 is uncovered, as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 4.

The piston I3 is slidably disposed in a cylinder 60 bored transversely through the wall of the body l6, preferably parallel to the cylinders 33. A vertical passage 5| connects the cylinder 60 to the chamber 5|. Outlet or delivery ports 62 and 63 are drilled through the wall of the body I6 and communicate with the cylinder 6C: at points spaced along the length thereof. Bypassing or return ports 64 and 65 also communicate with the cylinder 60 at points spaced outwardly of the ports 62 and 63 and with the interior of the body l6.

The piston l3 has a snug sliding fit with the cylinder 60 at its two end portions 66 and 61 P and a middle portion 68, but is of reduced diamcated at 56. The spring bears on the inner end of the chamber 5| and on adjusting nuts 5'! threaded onto the outer end of the valve stem. A plug 58 closes the outer end of the chamber 5| and is recessed at 59 to receive the end of the valve stem. It will be apparent that the valve 54 opens through the passages 52 to the chamber 5|. The

check valves, of course, prevent reverse flow of fluid on withdrawal of the piston from either cylinder. When the check valve is closed, withdrawal of the piston from the cylinder creates 75 a vacuum in the cylinder, causing it to fill with 'eter therebetween. The end portions 66 and 6! are sufliciently long to provide for packing rings 69 to prevent entrance of dirt. They are inserted from without and are self retaining. Small grooves 10 are turned in the close fitting portions 65, 61 and 68 of the piston |3. These fill with grease and are effective in keeping the piston in alignment and lubricating it within the cylinder 60.

It will be apparent that when the valve |3 is in the position in which it is shown in Figure 3, the fluid delivered by the piston 35 will flow from the chamber 5| through the passage 53, thence through the portion of the cylinder 50 between portions 61 and 68 and thence through the outlet port 63 to pipe l2. At the same time, the pipe II and outlet port 62 are in communication with the by-passing port 64 through the portion of the cylinder 60 between portions 66 and 68. This feature is of particular importance in two-pipe, pressure lubrication systems since it is desirable, in such systems, to relieve the pressure on one pipe when supplying fluid to the other pipe.

When the piston I3 is in its other extreme position, as shown in Figure 3A, the pipe II and outlet port 62 are in communication with the passage 6| through which fluid is delivered from the chamber 5| by reciprocation of the piston 35, and pipe I2 and outlet 63 are in communication through by-passing port 65 with the interior of the body I6.

The solenoids I4 and I5 for reciprocating the piston l3 include coils assembled in a frame 12 carried on studs 13 extending upwardly from the base 20. Cores 14 reciprocable through the coils are connected to opposite ends of the piston by cables 15 trained over sheaves 16. The sheaves are journaled on brackets 11 secured to the body l5. By this construction, it will be evident that energization of the coils of the two solenoids alternately will cause the piston I3 to move back and forth between its extreme positions. The vertical positions of the solenoid coils may be changed by adjusting the nuts on the studs 13 so that the piston will be in the proper position at the end of its stroke in both directions.

The solenoids will usually be energized alternately by a suitable change-over switch operating at the end of each pumping operation. The pump is usually controlled by an automatic timer to operate for a predetermined period at definite intervals, say a few minutes out of each hour. A typical control system is disclosed in application Ser. No. 427,434 of William H. Venable, filed J anuary 20, 1942.

The reservoir 1 maybe filled by removing the cover 43 with the stem 44 and its disc 45. I make will be raised as the filling progresses.

' It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a fluid-supply apparatus having numerous advantages over previous arrangements for delivering fluid under pressure to a distribution system. The device of my invention is simple, compact, unitary and entirely self-contained. The construction is such that the device may be manufactured'at relativelylow cost by simple machining operations and conventional foundry practice. The pump and valve cylinders as well as their inter-connecting passages are easily formed by drilling straight through the body or by cores in the casting thereof. The pump piston is insertable through either end of its bore and the crank for actuating it may be fitted after insertion into the body from either the top or through the hole in the bottom for the bushing 18.

The device is Well suited to manual operation as well as to a power drive. The piston 13, for example, may easily be actuated by a manually exerted pull on the cables or a handle or knob may be secured to one end of I3 instead of the cables and solenoids at both ends; and the shaft 21 may be oscillated by manual effort applied to the crank 26 if the link is omitted.

A continuous supply of fluid is maintained at the inlets 46 of the cylinders 33 because of the construction and relation of the body l6 and reservoir I1. By incorporating the transfer or reversing valve and the relief valve in the body of the device, I eliminate numerous joints which would be necessary if these parts were separate, which is advantageous because every joint in a high-pressure system is a potential leak. As already stated, the transfer valve operates to relieve the pressure in the pipe other than the one to which fluid under presure is being supplied. The bottom-filling connection is desirable said body, a piston having its ends slidably dis-' posed in said cylinders, respectively, discharge ducts leading from said cylinders, respectively, to an outlet chamber, a transverse valve bore through the. body in communication with said chamber, outlet ports intersecting said bore at points spaced therealong, and a valve piston reciprocable in said bore adapted, in alternate positions, to connect said ports selectively to said outlet chamber.

2. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a bowlshaped body open at the top and surmounted by a' reservoir, coaxial cylinders bored radially in the body wall, a piston having its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders, respectively, discharge passages extending from the outer end of said cylinders, respectively, to an outlet chamber, a transverse valve bore through one side of said body, a connecting passage from said chamber.

to said bore, outlet ports extending-through the body wall and intersecting said valve bore at points spaced therealong, and a valve piston reciprocable in'said bore and adapted to place said connecting passage in communication with said cylinders extending from said rim interiorly of said body, a piston having its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders, respectively, inlet ports adjacent the inner'ends' of said cylinders, outlet ducts in said circumferential rim leading from the outer ends of the cylinders, respectively, to an outlet chamber, a pair of outlet ports extending into said body, and a valve in said body movable from one extreme position to another and effective in each extreme position to connect one of said outlet ports to said chamber.

4. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a hollow pump-and-valve body, opposed, coaxial cylinders extending interiorly of said body, a piston having its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders, respectively, inlet ports adjacent the inner end of said cylinders, outlet ducts leading from the outer ends of the cylinders, respectively, to an outlet chamber, a relief valve disposed in said chamber and opening into said body, a pair of outlet ports extending into said body, and a valve in said body movable from one extreme position to another and effective in each extreme position to connect one of said outlet ports to said chamber.

5. A fluid-supply apparatus a defined by claim 3 characterized by return ports opening into said body, said valve being effective to connect to one of said return ports the outlet port other than the one connected to said chamber.

6. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a bowlshaped body open at the top and surmounted by an open-bottomed reservoir, diametrically opposite bosses projecting inwardly of said body, said bosses havin a bore therethrough providing opposed co-axial cylinders, a piston having its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders, inlet ports adjacent the inner ends of said cylinders opening into the interior of said body, discharge passages extending through the wall of said body from the outer ends of said cylinders, respectively, to a relief-valve chamber, a spring-closed valve in said chamber opening into the interior of said body, a valve bore through the wall of said body adjacent one side thereof communicating with said chamber, outlet port extending into the Wall of the body and intersecting the valve bore at points spaced therealong, return ports intersecting said valve bore at points spaced therealong and opening into the interior of said body, and a valve slidable in said valve bore between alternate extreme positions, said valve being effective in each position to connect one of said outlet ports to said chamber, and the other outlet port to one of said return ports.

7. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a pump-and-valve body open at the top and surmounted by an open-bottomed reservoir, a cylinder extending inwardly of the wall of said body, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a relief valve chamber in the wall of said body and spaced from said cylinder, a passage through the wall of said body from the outer end of said cylinder to said chamber, outlet ports extending into the wall of said body, and a valve in said wall effective to place said outlets selectively in communication with said chamber.

8. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a p'ump-and-valve body open at the top and surmounted by a reservoir, opposed coaxial cylinders open at their inner ends to the interior-of said body, a piston having its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders, respectively, discharge ducts communicating at one end with said cylinders, respectively, and in communication with each other at their other ends, outlet ports extending into said body, and a valve in said body movable from one extreme position to another and eiiective in each extreme position to connect one of said outlet ports to the intercommunicating ends of said ducts.

9. A fluid-supply apparatus as defined by claim 8 characterized by each of said cylinders having an inlet port open tothe interior of the body and reservoir and so positioned adjacent the inner end of the cylinder that the inlet port of a given cylinder is uncovered when said piston moves to it extreme retracted position relative to a said cylinder.

EDWARD P. DENIGAN.

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