AU681904B2 - Grease receiver and control system - Google Patents

Description

-1- GREASE RECEIVER AND CONTROL SYSTEM The present ihvention relates generally to valves and storage systems and, in particular, discloses an inlet valve for a storage container configured for storage of a highly viscous liquid.

It is well known to lubricate mechanical contrivances with grease so as to minimise wear during operation. Often, such as with small machinery and the like, the supply of grease to individual locations is ensured during regular servicing. However, in heavy machinery, it is often required to supply grease to individual locations on a continuous basis whilst the machinery is in operation. Accordingly, a reservoir of 10 grease is required to be carried on the machinery necessitating the requirement that the .o:i reservoir be filled at periodic intervals.

Typically, to fill a grease reservoir it is necessary to open a cap and fill the reservoir via a hose ::Hwever, such an arrangement can lead to contamination and spillage of the grease during filling operations.

15 It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate e: the abovementioned problems through provision of an arrangement which permits for be substantially automated filling of a storage container for highly viscous fluids.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a b e, valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port each extending from separate locations along a main bore, a spool slidably arranged within said main bore and movable along said main bore at least by pressure experienced at said outlet port, said spool being elongate and including first and second sealing sections disposed either side of a bypass section, said bypass section forming part of a flow path of said valve between said ports, whereby as said pressure moves said spool along said bore, said bypass section is displaced so that one of said first or second sealing sections occludes a transfer section of said bore between said ports to close said valve.

Preferably the valve is an inlet valve for a storage container.

In:\liboo00049;MXL Generally, the pressure is derived from the exclusion of air at valve height.

The viscous liquid then displaces the spool as this represents the only path for the liquid to take. Preferably the liquid is highly viscous like grease, paraffin and the like.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a storage container incorporating an inlet valve as defined above.

A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a storage container of a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a vertical cross-section of a valve body incorporated in the Scontainer of Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of a spool positional within the valve :body of Fig. 3; oooo Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section along the line V-V of Fig. 3 showing the 15 pressure release valve; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate vertical cross-sections of the valve in various stages of operation; Fig. 9 is a front vertical cross-sectional view of a storage container of another embodiment; and .:.ooi Fig. 10 is a side veL cross-sectional view of an inlet valve of the container of Fig. 9.

Turning to Figs. 1 and 2, a grease storage tank 1 is shown which includes a cylindrical wall 2 enclosed at one end by a top 3 and at the other end by a base 6.

Located in the top 3 is a lubricating pump mounting port 4 arranged to supply gricase from within the tank 1 to locations about the item of machinery to be lubricated. The top 3 also includes a grease inlet valve 10 which is adapted to automatically control the inflow of grease into the tank 1. The base 6 includes an outlet S for coupling to lubrication hoses and to assist cleaning.

In:\hboo]OOO49:LDP -3- Turning now to Fig. 3, the inlet valve 10 includes a valve body 11 preferably manufactured of steel or brass. The valve body 11 includes a valve inlet 12 where grease is received and which communicates to a valve outlet 13 via a main bore 14 and a transversely arranged transfer bore The transfer bore 15 is closed by a plug 17 and includes a pressure relief port 18 which communicates to a pressure relief valve 32 illustrated in Fig. 5. The main bore 14 is open at an end adjacent the valve outlet 13 and at its other end is covered by a filter breather 16 formed by a plug which permits venting to atmosphere. Arranged along the main bore 14 are two sealing O-rings including an 0-ring 19 positioned between the valve inlet 12 and the filter breather 16, and an O-ring 20 positioned between the valve inlet 12 and transfer bore "The main bore 14 is configured to receive a spool 22, shown in Fig. 4, which :is adapted to be retained within the main bore 14 by means of a circlip 21 positioned at V an end of the main bore 14 adjacent the valve outlet 13. The spool 22 includes a 15 substantially cylindrical body 23 which includes a bore 24. The body 23 includes a head portion 25 and a base portion 26 of corresponding external diameters that match the internal diameter of the main bore 14. A central portion 27 is positioned between •each of the head portion 25 and base portion 26 and has an outside diameter less than each of the head and base portions 25,26.

2C The spool 22 also includes a channel 28 extending from the bore 24 but of greater internal diameter and which encloses an annular sleeve 29 and a ball 30. The ball 30 is sized to seat upon a tapered seat 31 representing a transition between the channel 28 and the central bore 24, whereby the ball 30 is adapted to close the central bore 24 when forced against the seat 31 by the sleeve 29. The ball 30 does not seat on the sleeve 29. This allows filtered air to re-enter the tank 1. A circlip 50 retains the sleeve 29 within the channel 28.

Turning now to Fig. 5, the pressure release valve 32 is shown which extends from the transfer bore 15 via the pressure relief port 18. A threaded channel 36 fn:\llbooIOOO49;LDP -4extends from the pressure relief port 18 to expose a pressure relief outlet 37. The outlet 37 is adapted to be closed by a ball 35 supported by a spring 34 held by a plug 38. The plug 38 is threaded and provided with a sealing O-ring 33 whereby a build-up of liquid pressure within the transfer port 15 acts to compress the spring 34 thereby moving the ball 35 away from the pressure relief outlet 37 thereby exposing same and permitting the escape of liquid to atmosphere.

Turning now Fig. 6, the spool 22 is shown illustrated positioned within the valve body 11 with a compressible member, such as a spring 39 positioned between the filter breather 16 and the spool 22. It is seen from Fig. 6 that the head portion 25 is positioned in the main bore 14 above the inlet port 12 with the base portion 26 positioned below the transfer bore 15. In this manner, grease is permitted to enter the inlet port 12, pass about the central portion 27 and via the transfer bore 15 to the valve outlet 13. As the storage tank 1 fills, air is released by the valve 10 through lifting the ooo• ball 30 from the sleeve 29 and passing through the central bore 24 to atmosphere via 15 the filter breather 16.

Turning now to Fig. 7, as the volume of grease within the tank 1 increases, air is expelled from beneath the valve 10, the flow of grease into the spool 22 moves the ball 30 against the tapered seat 31 thereby ceasing release of air to atmosphere via the filter breather 16. This causes a build-up of pressure within the tank 1 which is oo ooi 20 imparted against the sleeve 29 and ball 30 to force the spool 22 up and along the main bore 14 to compress the spring 39. This action causes the base portion 2\ to occlude the transfer bore Turning now to Fig. 8, as the tank 1 continues to fill, grease enters the bottom of the main bore 14 continuing to force the spool 22 along same. Eventually, the base portion 26 totally occludes the transfer bore 15 and is sealed against a land 41 adjacent the O-ring 20 thereby closing the valve 10. If the seal provided by the land 41 is not ideal, resulting in leakage of grease from the inlet port 12 to the transfer bore 15, the In:\liboo100049:LDP I spool 22 is further forced along the main bore 14 making a more substantial seal by the O-ring The pressure relief valve 32 is configured to operate at approximately 50 psi (345 kPa) thereby ensuring that the design pressure of the tank 1 is not exceeded whereas the spring 39 is compressible at pressures generally under 50 psi and preferably under 20 psi.

As the spool 22 operates to balance inlet pressure (for example from a pump supplying grease to the tank 1) as well as pressure from within the tank 1, pressures of generally up to 5,000 psi (34.5 MPa) and preferably 7500 psi can be used on the inlet side. Once the tank 1 is full, the supply pump will "stall out" and inlet flow will cease.

As grease is pumped out of the storage tank 1, atmospheric pressure, via the filter breather 16 forces the spool 22 back downwards along the main bore 14 oooo :permitting air to pass into the storage tank 1. This operation opens the valve 10 which o• allows the storage tank I to be re-filled.

i" 15 The inlet valve 10 and its configuration in the storage tank 1 permit a reliable means by which highly viscous fluids such as grease and similar liquids can be supplied to a storage container by automatic apparatus.

Turning now to Figs. 9 and 10, an alternative embodiment is provided. In Fig. 9, a grease tank 60 is shown upon which is mounted a grease pump 62 configured 20 to force grease from within the tank 60 to exit via a tank outlet, seen closed by a plug 64. A filter assembly 66 is used to filter grease being input into the tank 60 via a filler tube 68 and an inlet valve assembly 70. The inlet valve assembly 70 supplies a filler tube 72 which extends towards the bottom of the tank 60 and acts to eliminate air bubbles forming in the grease during filling operations. The inlet valve assembly includes a filler/breather 74 configured in a manner not unlike the previous embodiment and a relief valve 76 which includes a relief valve port 80 that communicates from within the tank 60 to a burst disc relief valve 78 configured to open and release fluid to atmosphere. Unlike the previous embodiment, the relief valve 76 is configured (n:\liboot00049:LDP

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independent of the inlet valve components of the assembly 70, whereas in the previous embodiment, the pressure relief port 18 was configured in the inlet path of the grease.

Turning now to Fig. 10, the inlet valve assembly 70 includes a structure not unlike that of the previous embodiment and, where appropriate, like components have been provided with like reference numerals, increased by a value of 100.

In particular, in this embodiment it is seen that the filler tube 72 matingly interconnects with the outlet 113. The spool 122 is also re-shaped to include a frustoconical section 150 to provide a better sealing against the land 141 which is similarly shaped.

o10 Notably, a drop rod 82 is provided in the bore 124 so as to contact the ball 130 0*ot so as to disengage it from the tapered seat 131 when the sleeve 129 has receded downwards. This ensures that the ball 130 does not stick through cohesion or adhesion :to the tapered seat 131.

O The embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 permits pressures of up 7500 psi to be used 15 on the inlet side and the spring 139 is compressible at pressures under 20 psi thereby S"ensuring that the interior of the tank 60 does not substantially exceed atmospheric pressure.

The grease valve arrangements of the described embodiments, although being described in association with a grease storage tank, need not necessarily be so ooooo 20 configured. An alternative configuration (not illustrated) is to mount the valve on a grease filling unit, such as a grease gun. In such an instance, the tank is configured with a simple block and filling tube arrangement into which the gun is inserted in order to fill the tank. The air bleed mechanism and pressure relief mechanism described in each of the above embodiments would however remain associated with the tank.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(n:\libooJOOO49:LDP Ir -rI

Claims (14)

1. A valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port each extending from separate locations along a main bore, a spool slidably arranged within said main bore and movable along said main bore at least by pressure experienced at said outlet port, said spool being elongate and including first and second sealing sections disposed either side of a bypass section, said bypass section forming part of a flow path of said valve between said ports, whereby as said pressure moves said spool along said bore, said bypass section is displaced so that one of said first or second sealing sections 10 occludes a transfer section of said bore between said ports to close said valve. Oi"

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a land configured oooo about said bore at said transfer section so that said one of said sealing sections contacts said land to seal and occlude said transfer section. .9.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein adjacent each of said land and V 15 the remaining one of said sealing sections when said transfer section is occluded, said *go* main bore comprises a sealing member for sealing said main bore against a corresponding one of the sealing sections.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said spool is slidably 999 _.".:retained in said main bore and said spool comprises a central bore in fluid communication with said outlet port and atmosphere, and means for closing said central bore.

A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said valve is configured to convey a viscous liquid from said inlet port to said outlet port, said liquid providing fluid pressure at said outlet port.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 5 when dependent on claims 3 and 4, wherein said valve is configurable as an inlet valve of a storage container for said viscous liquid, said means for closing said central bore comprising a ball, movable by n\b RAO4 T~T (n:ZjjboI00049:MXL -8- said liquid entering said central bore, and engageable with a portion of said central bore of reduced area to close said central bore.

7. A valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein when said liquid does not contact said ball to close said central bore, said central bore communicates between the interior of said container and atmosphere to permit venting of air from said container during filling of said container with said liquid.

8. A valve as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a drop rod arranged within said central bore and configured to dislodge said ball from said portion when said liquid does not contact said ball.

9. A valve as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, further comprising a pressure relief valve configured to release said liquid from said container in the event of failure o of said spool to close said transfer section when said container is filled with said liquid.

10. A valve as claimed in claim 9, wherein said pressure release valve is I selected from the group consisting of a ball valve and a burst disc valve. i" 15

11. A storage container for a viscous liquid, said container comprising a valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12. A valve substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 3 to 8, or Fig. 10 of the drawings. ooo.

13. A storage container for a viscous liquid including a valve as claimed in claim 12, said container being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings.

14. A storage container for a viscous liquid including a valve as claimed in claim 12, said container being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings. DATED this Twenty-fifth Day of June 1997 Power Mining Maintenance Pty. Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant A SPRUSON FERGUSON [n:\lIiboo100O49:MXL ABSTRACT GREASE RECEIVER AND CONTROL SYSTEM An inlet valve assembly (10) is disclosed which has an inlet port (12) and an outlet port (13) each communicating with separate locations on a main bore An elongate spool (22) is slidably arranged within the bore (14) and moveable along same by pressure experienced at the outlet port The spool includes a first sealing section (25) and a second sealing section (26) disposed either side of a bypass section (27) which forms a flow path of the valve between the ports (12 and 13). An increase in pressure at the outlet (13) moves the spool (22) along the bore (14) to displace the bypass section (27) so that one of the first or second sealing sections (25 and 26) occlude a transfer section (15) of the bore (14) between the ports (12 and 13) to close the valve. *0 Fig. 6. *CCCC .:oo: *oc (n:\liboo100049:LDP