WO2003037754A2

WO2003037754A2 - A method and an apparatus for selectively dispensing a material

Info

Publication number: WO2003037754A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/034461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Gaiski
Original assignee: Stephen Gaiski
Priority date: 2001-10-31
Filing date: 2002-10-28
Publication date: 2003-05-08
Also published as: WO2003037754A3; AU2002342165A1

Abstract

A method and an apparatus (10) which selectively receives and dispenses material (14) and which automatically creates and generates a signal (64) which is an indication of the depletion of the received material (14) or the dispensation of an undesired amount of the received material (14) from the apparatus (10).

Description

A Method And An Apparatus For Selectively Dispensing A

Material

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for selectively dispensing a material and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus which allows material, such as and without limitation a lubricant type material, to be selectively communicated to and placed within and/or upon a machine or other type of apparatus in order to increase the useful operating life of the machine or apparatus.

Background of the Invention

Material dispensation assemblies, often referred to as "canisters" or "canister assemblies"^', are used by a wide variety of manufacturers and firms to ensure that lubricant is selectively or continually communicated to and placed upon/within machines or other types of apparatuses in order to increase the operating life of these items. The failure to properly lubricate a machine may not only. damage the machine but may also undesirably interrupt production and cause parts/objects to be produced having an undesirable shape, size or attribute. These assemblies may also be used to communicate various other types of non-lubricating material to these machines and other apparatuses in a wide variety of dissimilar applications.

Particularly, these dispensation assemblies are of three general types or configurations, each of the configurations being characterized by the manner in which the material is respectively dispensed to the machine or other apparatus. Moreover, each of these configurations may also be adapted to deliver lubricant or other material to a single site or to multiple sites upon or within the machine or other apparatus .

Particularly, the first type of dispensation assembly configuration is often referred to as a "spring loaded" type of configuration and is characterized by the use of pressure, which is created by a spring assembly, to selectively or continually emit material. The second type of dispensation assembly configuration is often referred to as a "gas/chemical pressurized" assembly or a "self-contained automatic lubricator" assembly. Particularly, this configuration is characterized by the use of pressure which is created by a chemical reaction and which releases a substantially and continual amount of material to a desired site at a rate which is determined by the "strength" or the attributes of the activated carrier material which is operatively deployed within the assembly. The third type of configuration is often referred to as an "electro-mechanical" assembly or a "self contained automatic lubricator" assembly. Particularly, this configuration utilizes the combination of a battery assembly, a gearbox, a piston or pump, and a controller or microprocessor to deliver material on a continual or a periodic or scheduled basis to a machine or other apparatus. Hence, a relatively large variety of dispensation assemblies exist and are utilized in a variety of dissimilar applications.

These material dispensation assemblies are typically located in relatively remote areas or locations and, more particularly, in settings and locations in which physical and visual access to these assemblies is very difficult, thereby increasing the difficulty in inspecting the assemblies and ascertaining whether the lubricant or other operatively contained material has been completely expended from or depleted from these assemblies. Even in relatively accessible areas or locations, to make such a determination, an operator must physically inspect the assemblies. Hence, maintenance and inspection schedules must typically be developed in order to ensure that each of these dispensation assemblies is inspected in a timel - manner. Moreover, to further complicate the current inspection process, it is known that inspection schedules must be tailored to the particular requirements of each unique type of machine (or other apparatus) since each machine (or other apparatus) may have a respective and unique lubricating schedule. Further, fluctuating production volumes and operational climates or temperatures also effect the amount of lubricating material which must be communicated to a machine or other apparatus and corresponding changes must be made to the respective inspection schedules in a dynamic or "ever changing" manner, in order to account for these changing material usages or needs.

Manufacturers and producers who utilize a large amount of these machines therefore must undesirably allocate a substantial amount of time and resources to create and dynamically modify material dispensation inspection schedules, thereby undesirably increasing the overall cost of the manufacturing process. Moreover, smaller entities may not even realize the importance of creating and modifying these inspection schedules or may purposefully ignore these schedules due to economic constraints, thereby increasing the likelihood that a machine or other apparatus may be operated without being lubricated, effective to undesirably reduce the operating life of the machine or other apparatus and interrupt production and/or produce undesirable parts and objects.

Consequently, substantially all of the previously delineated attempts at extending the operating life of a production type of machine or other apparatus suffer from some drawbacks, including but not limited to the following: a.) substantial labor time must be allocated for each commercial and manufacturing facility to physically inspect each piece of equipment in order to ensure that each piece of equipment is being properly lubricated, b.) substantial labor time must be allocated for each commercial and manufacturing facility to dynamically and continually develop new inspection schedules that are dependent upon changes in the temperature and/or humidity of the production facility. c.) substantial labor time must be allocated for each commercial and manufacturing facility to dynamically and continually develop new inspection schedules that are dependant upon production changes. d. ) substantial production volume is lost each year due to a failure to properly and timely replace lubricant material within these material dispensation assemblies. e.) substantial labor or operating costs are incurred each year due to the failure to timely and properly replace lubricant material which has been depleted from a canister assembly. f.) substantial capital expenditures are allocated each year for the repair and replacement of equipment that is damaged or destroyed due to a failure to properly lubricate the equipment. g. ) substantial costs are incurred due to the requirement of "reworking" parts which may have been improperly formed as a result of an interruption in the production process which is caused by an improper lubrication of the utilized equipment and machinery. h.) unnecessary canister assembly- changes and costs are incurred, in many instances, since the replacement of these canisters assemblies is typically based on "set" or predetermined intervals of time, rather then upon an actual depletion of lubricant (e.g., canisters which contain material may be unwittingly disposed of) . i.) unnecessary depletion of material resources are incurred as production or formed parts are scrapped due to the interruption in the production cycle. j . ) unnecessary depletion of energy resources are incurred sinced formed production parts are often are scrapped due to an interruption in the production cycle which is caused by a malfunction of a machine or other apparatus which is caused by an absence of proper lubrication.

The present invention overcomes some or all of these previously delineated drawbacks in a new and novel fashion. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a material dispensation assembly which overcomes some or all of the previously delineated disadvantages of prior material dispensation strategies and techniques.

It is a second non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a material dispensation assembly which automatically generates a signal upon a detection of a depletion of or loss of a certain amount of material from the material dispensation assembly.

It is a third non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide an assembly which may be selectively attached to a material canister assembly and which senses the depletion of or loss of a material from the material canister assembly and which generates and transmits a signal which is indicative of the sensed depletion.

It is a fourth non-limiting advantage of the present invention to provide a method for determining when a certain amount of material has been depleted from a canister assembly.

According to a first non-limiting aspect of the present invention, a canister assembly is provided which selectively receives material and which selectively emits at least some of the received amount of material, the canister assembly further automatically generating a signal when the certain amount of material has been emitted.

According to a second non-limiting aspect of the present invention, an assembly for use with a canister which includes material and which selectively emits at least some of the included material is provided. The assembly senses the depletion of at least some of the material and automatically generates a signal upon the sensed depletion. According to a third non-limiting aspect of the present invention, a method is provided and includes the steps of placing material within a canister; emitting a certain amount of material; and generating a signal after the certain amount of the material has been emitted. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and by reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a partial side sectional view of a material containment assembly which is made in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a partial side sectional view of a material containment assembly which is made in accordance with the teachings of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a material dispensation or canister assembly 10 which is made in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Particularly, the material dispensation assembly 10 includes a first material containment assembly 12 which contains material (such as but not limited to a lubricant) 14, and which includes a nozzle 16 and a material ejection apparatus 17 which is effective to selectively eject or emit the material 14 from the containment assembly 12 through the nozzle 16. Particularly, the material containment assembly 12 may comprise any of the previously delineated canister assembly configurations (e.g., such as the spring assembly type) , and thus the material ejection apparatus 17 may comprise a piston /pump assembly, a spring assembly, or a gas/pressure producing assembly which is effective to selectively force the contained material 14 through the nozzle 16. Hence, portion or assembly 12 may comprise a conventional canister assembly, such as, by way of example and without limitation a canister assembly which is known as "Perma Star" and which is provided by the Perma Corporation or a model number 1U889 provided by Lube Devices, Inc..

The material dispensation assembly further includes a second material sensor portion 20 which includes a housing 21 having base portion 22 which is adapted to be removably attached to the containment assembly 12 and to receive the nozzle 16. By way of example and without limitation such removable attachment may be achieved by the use of conventional fastener (s) , by use of an adhesive material, or by frictional engagement between the base portion 22 and the nozzle 16 (e.g., by the use of complementary threads 23) .

Alternatively, the second portion 20 may be integrally formed with the nozzle 16 and/or to the containment portion 12. Hence, in one non-limiting embodiment, the portion 20 may be used in retrofit applications and be operatively and selectively applied to a conventional canister assembly.

Particularly, the housing 21 includes an interior channel 30 which is substantially and longitudinally coextensive- to the housing 21 and which communicatively and selectively receives the nozzle 16 and the material 14 which is emitted from the material containment assembly 12 when the base portion 22 is attached to the nozzle 16 in the manner which is shown in Figure 1. Hence, the base portion 22, by the use of the communicating channels 16, 30, directs the received material 14 to a machine or other apparatus (not shown) which is to be lubricated and/or which is to otherwise receive the material 14 which is emitted from the canister assembly 12. The second portion 20 further includes a biasing spring assembly 40 and a flange portion 41. Portion 20 further includes a screw assembly 42 which is movably or rotatably attached to the housing 21 and which is adapted to exert a certain and selected amount of force upon the spring assembly 40, thereby controlling the flexible or complaint nature of the spring assembly 40 in a manner which is more fully delineated below. The second portion 20 further includes a disk type plunger 44 having an edge potion 48 which rests upon the wall 51 of the flange portion 41, thereby allowing the plunger 44 to cooperate with the screw member 42 to capture the spring assembly 40.

The portion 20 further includes a rubber protective diaphragm 53 which is coupled and which operatively receives to the plunger 44 and which extends into the channel 30.

Hence, as the screw assembly 42 is turned in a clockwise manner, the screw assembly 40 is tightened (e.g., constricted or deformed against the plunger 44 and as the screw assembly 42 is turned in a in a counterclockwise manner, the screw assembly 40 is loosened) . The selective modification to the compliant nature of the screw assembly 40, as is more fully delineated below, determines the flow rate or the amount of material 14 within the channel 30 which causes the assembly 20 to generate a "warning" or "notification" type of signal.

The second portion 20 further includes a touch sensitive or pressure sensor 50 (e.g., a piezo sensor) and an "L" shaped member 59. The sensor 50 is operatively positioned on the member 59 and, such as, which is in close proximity to and placed just above the edge portion 48 of the -plunger 44. The second portion 20 further includes and a transmitter assembly 65 which is communicatively coupled to the sensor 50 by the use of bus 63. Particularly, the transmitter assembly 65 may comprise a radio frequency type of transmitter, a satellite type of transmitter, a global positioning type of transmitter assembly, or substantially any other type or desired transmitter assembly.

In operation, the material 14, which flows through the channel 30, pushes and contacts the diaphragm 53 and pushes the plunger 44 against the biasing spring assembly 40, thereby causing the edge portion 48 to contact the sensor 50. The amount by which the spring assembly 40 is tightened determines the amount of or the flow rate of the material 14 necessary to move the edge 48 against the sensor 50 (e.g., should the spring assembly 40 be relatively tight, a large amount of material 14 or a large flow rate is needed to push the spring assembly 40 such that edge 48 contacts the sensor 50) . When material 14 stops flowing in the channel 30 or flows at a flow rate which is below the flow rate necessary to cause the plunger 44 to move against the spring assembly 40 and contact the sensor 50, the edge portion 48 moves away from the sensor 50, thereby causing the sensor 50 to send a signal to the transmitter assembly 62, by the use of bus 63 , indicating the total absence of material 14 flowing through the channel 30 or the absence of a desired amount of material 14 flowing through the channel 30 (e.g., the desired amount being equal to an amount necessary to properly lubricate a machine) . The transmitter assembly 65 then automatically (without operator intervention) generates and communicates a signal 64 to a master station (not shown) which may have a global positioning type of receiver or to satellite or to a number of distributed stations which may each have a global positioning type of receiver, effective to notify monitoring personnel of the total and substantial absence of material 14_ flowing through the channel 30 or the absence of a desired amount of material 14 flowing through the channel 30 at a desired or necessary flow rate which may, but not necessarily, be caused by a malfunction within the assembly 12. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the automatically generated signal 64 includes global positioning information which allows the master station or the satellite or distributed stations to uniquely identify the location of the assembly 20. Alternatively, the signal 64 from the assembly 10 includes or comprises a unique frequency which is respectively assigned to the assembly 20 and, upon receipt of the certain frequency, an operator has knowledge of the identity and location of the generating station or assembly 20. In this manner, the need for a manual inspection of the canister assembly 12 is obviated and the need for manual inspection schedules are further obviated.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a material dispensation assembly 100 which is made in accordance with the teachings of a second embodiment of the invention.

Particularly, assembly 100 in adapted to be selectively and removably coupled to assembly 12 by a base portion 22 or integrally formed with assembly 12. Particularly, assembly 100 generally comprises a generally hollow housing 102 having an interior cavity 103 which is adapted to be selectively coupled to and operatively receive the nozzle 16. The cavity 103 forms an outlet or nozzle 105 through which the material 14 exits. The assembly 100 further includes a normally open switch 104 having a movable member 106 which is pivotally coupled to the base 109 and which has a longitudinal axis of symmetry 107 which is generally and intersectingly disposed to along the direction 108 of the vector of the flow of the lubricant material 14 within the interior cavity 103. The switch assembly 104 includes a touch sensitive or selectively depressible portion 111. The assembly 100 further includes a transmitter assembly 110 which is coupled to the switch 104 (to the portion 111) by the use of bus 112 which is contained within rigid conduit or assembly 117. Transmitter assembly 110 may be substantially similar to the transmitter assembly 62 which has been previously discussed.

In operation, the material 14 which is emitted from the nozzle 16 traverses the interior cavity 103 along the direction 108 and closes the switch 104 (touches and/or depresses the portion 111) , thereby causing the switch 104 to generate a first signal to the transmitter by the use of the bus 112. The material 14 is output through exit port 105. Upon the cessation of the material flow, the switch 104 is opened (e.g., member 106 occupies the position shown in Figure 2) and the opening of the switch 104 causes an interruption to occur in the generation of the signal to the transmitter 110. Upon this interruption, the transmitter 110 communicates a signal 64 to a central station, effective to inform the central station which, may include a global positioning type of receiver (or to several satellite or -distributed stations which each may have a global positioning type of receiver) of a detected depletion of material 14 from assembly 12. As earlier indicated, the signal 64 which is generated to the central station or the distributed stations may have global positioning information and/or may be of a certain unique frequency. The signal may therefore indicate the absence of a certain material flow rate within the cavity 103 or the absence of a flow rate which is not sufficient to keep the switch 104 closed which may indicate a malfunction within the assembly 12.

It is to be understood that the present invention is - not limited to the exact construction and method which has been delineated above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventions as are more fully

^• set forth in the following claims

Claims

What is Claimed Is :

(1) An assembly which selectively receives material, which selectively emits at least some of the received amount of material, and which automatically generates a signal when a certain amount of the received material is not being emitted.

(2) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said material comprises a lubricating material.

(3) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said signals generated when at least substantially all of said received material has been emitted from said assembly.

(4) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said signal is of the global positioning type.

(5) The assembly of Claim 1 comprising a canister portion which receives said material; a material emission assembly which is disposed within said canister portion; and a sensor portion which is coupled to said canister portion, which receives material from said canister portion and which senses when said certain amount of said material has been emitted by said canister portion and, in response to said sensed emission, generates said signal .

(6) The assembly of Claim 5 wherein said sensory portion comprises a plunger assembly a biasing spring which is coupled to said plunger assembly; and a contact sensor which is in contact with said plunger assembly when said material is emitted from said canister assembly.

(7) The assembly of Claim 6 wherein said sensor portion further comprises a rubber diaphragm which is attached to said plunger assembly.

(8) An assembly for use with a canister which includes material and which selectively emits at least some of the , included material, said assembly sensing the depletion of at least some of the material and automatically generates in a signal upon said sensed depletion.

(9) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said material comprises a lubricating material.

(10) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said signals generated when at least substantially all of said received material has been emitted from said assembly.

(11) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said signal is of the global positioning type.

(12) A method is comprising the steps of placing material within a canister; emitting a certain amount of material; and generating a signal after the certain amount of the material has been emitted.

(13) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said material comprises a lubricating material.

(14) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said signals generated when at least substantially all of said received material has been emitted from said assembly. (15) The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said signal is of the global positioning type.