US2431534A - Container mounted pump - Google Patents

Description

l; nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn n l llilflllllllnllllll 2 Sheets-Sheet l {lis-l1),

D. A. B`ENNER CONTAINER MOUNTED PUMP Filed Jan. 28, 1944 Nov. 25,' 1947.

D. A. BENNr-:R 2,431,534

CONTAINER MOUNTED PUMP Filed Jan. 28, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 v Ill' Nov. 25, 1947.

Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UN ITED" STAT ES; PATE NT F FICE CONTAINER" MOUNTED PUMP Dale A. Benner, Alton, 111.

Application January 28, 1944, SerialNo. 520,015

3i Claims.

This inventionrelatesto lubricating mechanismfor dispensing-vlubricants"from barrels, tanks or other containers,` and applying such` lubricants under-pressureto anyarticles, bearings, orA other objects to vbe lubricated.

Objectsofthe invention-are-to provide improvedlubricatingmechanism- `for-applying lubricant unfder regulated pressure to articles, bearingsA or other objectsto vwhich the lubricantis tobe ap- Said mechanism t0 end'supportinsihe same in Operative vConner;tionpvvitha barrel, tank or other container for the llibricarlt* so thabWhen said Inechanisrny is in Aoperation,y they required amount and regulating thearnount of. lubricantdischarged by` andV from said mechanismLand to bypass other or, excess,v quantities. of` lubricant withdrawn by said mechanism,from,saidfbarrehA tank or container, andreturn thesame thereto, so. that only.v

the desired or rneasuredamountof lubricant will be.V dischargedby and from ,said v mechanism .onto

t h a.article,v bearingror; object to-be lubricated; and to provicleimproved regulating means in cooperative connection with I said mechanism forindicating and for controllingthe amount orde-` gree 0f pressure' by 0r. under-which ,the lubricant.

is v delivered4 toy the,=n0Z Z1.e;-or api'ilicatorY by. and from which the lubricantfisjdischarged onto or against the lubricated article,` bearing ork object.

Another.L objectofthe invention'is to provide imnrovedmeans for attachingthe;invention to and supporting the same rigidly` in connection withthe. barrel. tankor. other container for the lubricant.v

Another objectief.. the. invention is to provide animproved .pump mechanism for withdrawing.

lubricant .from a barrel; tankor .other container.,

for regulating .thedischarge .of-said lubricant uri-- der pressure against and onto the ultimate article,` bearing-orfobject to.l be lubricated'J and forv regulating-bypassfor return of excess amounts voflubricant that aresnot required for lubrication purposes, into said barrel, tank or container.

Various lother-objectsand advantages of `the invention will be apparent from the following description without-specific mention thereof, reference being madeto tl'ieannexed drawings, in

Which- Fig.- 1 fis aside elevationof 'my improved lubriplied; to provide improved means for attaching 1,0?-

Fig. 2 is an enlarged'view on the line 22 ofE Fig. l; parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. l,- showinga planof the attaching and supporting device, a part of the pump mechanisml being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is van enlargedverticalsectional view oiy the pump cylinder and pump piston, a regulating bypass Valvedevice being'shown in section in an adjustment to bypass excess lubricantback into the barrel. tank or container.

Fig; 5 is-asectional view of the regulating bypass valve device in an adjustment in which the. valve is positively held in closed position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View on the line 5 6 of Fig. 4, showing the pump cyl inder, pump'piston, andbypass tube.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the manipulative valve mechanism controlling passage of the lubricant into and throughthe applicator nozzle or tip.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view showing the inlet end of the applicator nozzle or tip detached from the cooperating elements.

Fig. 91is a sectional'view oi'a modied form of'device for attaching, the pump mechanism to and supportingsaid pump mechanism in connection with a barrel, tank, or other lcontainer from which the lubricant is to be removed by said pump mechanism.

Fig; 10 is a sectional view showing a modiiica` tion of apart of the device for controlling pas-*- sage of the lubricant into andY through the applicator nozzle or tip, and comprising means for bypassing all or partof the lubricant back into the-barrel, tank, or other container thereforasV desired:

My improvedlubricating mechanism is shown applied'or attached toav barrel, tank or container for lubricant, including an enclosing wall I, a

bottom Wall.2, and a top -wall '3 attached to thev lower andupper ends, respectively, of said wall' I.' As shown, thewalls Z'and 3'are attached 'to' thegrespective ends of the wall l bypinterlocking bent portions 4 forming leakprooi joints, andproviding circumferential peripheral beads near the ends ofsaid wall I They Walls I, 2 and 3 are usually composed of sheet metal of appropriate gage or thickness. However, the specific typeof materialofwhi'ch the barrel, tank or container for-the lubricant is formedAis unimportant.` 'Sometimes,the top 'wall' 3 is formed with a hole surrounded byY an`v` inwardly extended annularl flange providing a relatively short tube which may be internally screwthreaded for engagement of a screwthreaded closure bung therein. Also, the top wall 3 may be provided with a vent opening E to facilitate withdrawal of the lubricant contents oi the barrel, tank or container.

My invention comprises a bracket 'I long enough to extend diametrically across the top of the barrel, tank or container for which it is intended. Said bracket includes a downwardly extended angular arm B rigidly attached to or integral with one end portion thereof and arranged to engage under the top bead 4 and against the wall I when the bracket *I is placed diametrically upon said bead. The opposite end of the bracket 'I supports a releasable clamp device for cooperation with the arm 8 and adjustable to engage under a diametrically opposite portion of the bead 4V from said arm 8 and thereby interlock the bracket 'I with the top of the barrel, tank or container. Said clamp device comprises an angular member 3 complementary to the angular arm 8,-having an upward extension I5 projecting through a slot I3 in the end portion ofthe bracket 8 and functioning to guide said member in its movements and also to prevent lateral displacement of said member relative to the bracket 1. An externally screwthreaded rod II is mounted for longitudinal movements in a threaded hole in the downwardly extended end portion I2 of the bracket 1, and has its inner end swiveled to and engaging inra seat I3 in the member 9. The rod II is operative to clamp the member 9 against and under the bead 4 diametrically opposite from the point at which the angular arm 8 engages under said bead. The rod I I may also be operated outwardly to release the member 9 from clamping engagement under the bead 4 to permit removal of the mechanism from one and attachment to another barrel, tank or container. When applied or attached properly to the top end portion of a barrel, tank or container, the tubular boss i4 on the bracket l is in axial alinement with the tubular bung opening 5.

A vertically elongated cylinder I5 extends through the boss I4 of the bracket 'I and through the tubular bung opening 5 downwardly to a point adjacent to the bottom wall 2. Said cylinder is removably supported by the bracket 1. The cylinder I5 has a Valve cage I6 detachably secured to its lower end. The lower end of the valve cage I6 may seat directly upon the bottom wall 2 or may be spaced therefrom, as desired, and is preferably formed with a transverse inlet groove or passage il communicating with an inlet port opening into the valve cage I6 and thence into the lower end of the cylinder I5` The inlet port consists of a lower portion H3v of relatively small cross-sectional area, and an enlarged upper portion I9, thus providing an internal annular seat for a ball valve 2|. The ball valve 2I is contained in and is of less diameter than the enlarged upper portion I9 of the inlet port, but is of greater diameter than the reduced lower portion I8 of said port. Thus, when the valve 2I is positively held upon the seat 2U, the inlet port is closed to prevent any of the contents of the cylinder I5 from being discharged therefrom past the valve 2l and through the port I8-II. A spring 22 mounted in the valve cage is held under some compression against the valve 2I by a removable and replaceable pin 23 mounted in the upper end portion of the Valve cage I6 across the upper end of the port I9 and constituting an abutment for the upper end of said spring but will yield to per- 4 mit upward opening movement of said valve as required to admit lubricant into the cylinder I5.

A unitary tubular piston 24 is mounted for longitudinal sliding or reciprocating movements in the cylinder I5. Said piston has a valve cage 25 detachably secured to its lower end within the cylinder I5. As shown, the valve cage 25 has an inlef; port consisting of a lower portion 26 of relatively small cross-sectional area, and an upper portion 2'I of largercross-sectional area,thus providing an internal annular seat 23 for a ball valve 29. The valve 29 is contained in and is of less diameter than the enlarged upper portion 2l of the inlet port through the cage 25, but is of greater diameter than the reduced lower portion 26 of said port. A spring 3] mounted in the enlarged portion 2l of the inlet port through the valve cage 25 is held under som-e compression against the valve 29 by a removable and replaceable pin 3| located in the upper end of the valve cage 25 across the upper end of the said portion 21 of the inlet port and constituting an abutment for the upper end of said spring 30. The spring 36 will yield to permit upward opening movement of the valve 29 during downward movement of the piston 24 and while the valve 2l is closed in order to permit passage of lubricant from the cylinder' I5 through the port 26-21 into and through the piston 24. A number of piston rings or packing rings 32 are mounted on the piston 24 at longitudinally spaced intervals in order to restrict or prevent ow or passage of lubricant between the walls of the piston and the cylinder.

A bracket 33 is detachably secured to the upper end of the cylinder I5 to support a motor 34 or other actuator for the piston 24. A crank wheel 35 is attached to the driven shaft 36 of said motor and is operatively connected with the upper end of the piston 24 by a link 3l. As shown, the link 31 has one end connected with the upper end of the piston 24 by a pivot 38 and the opposite end connected with the crank wheel 35 by a detachable and replaceable pivot pin 39. The pivot pin may be connected with the crank wheel 35 at selected distances from the axis of theshaft 3S in order to vary the length of the stroke of the piston 24 as desired. For this purpose, the crank wheel 35 is provided with holes 40 located at different distances from the axis of the shaft 36 in order to receive the pin 39 and thereby regulate the extent of movement of the piston 24 by each rotation of the crank wheel 35 and shaft 36. The upper end of the tubular pistonV 24 is closed (Fig. 2) and the upper end of the 4cylinder I5 is closed by a detachable and replaceable packing gland device 4I through which the Piston 24 extends for longitudinal reciprocating movementsl by the motor 34 or other chosen actuator as de-` sired (Fig. 2). The motor 34 is supported on the upper end of the bracket 33, the lower end of said bracket 33 having a formation 42 through which the upper end of the cylinder I5 extends. A set screw 43 screwed in the formation is adjustable to secure the bracket 33 rigidly on the cylinder I5, and may be loosened to permit adjustment of said bracket along the cylinder I5, and to permit detachment of said bracket 33 from said cylinder when the gland device 4I is removed.

A combined pressure regulator device and valve housing 44 projects laterally from integral connection with the cylinder I5 above the bracket 7, and has an opening 45 communicating with the inside of said cylinder for the purpose of permitting the passage of lubricant from said cylinder ,l

into and from saidhousing. The tubular piston 24 has a vertically elongated slot 4,6 which is, in constant communication with the' opening 45j in any position' of said piston during Voperation thereof. This permits lubricant to pass from the inside ofthe piston 24 through theA slot 46 and the opening 4,5.into the valve housing and thence through atubulartting 41 and a conduit or flexible tube or hose 48 having `one end attached to'a tubular tting 49 (Fig. 5) opening into or from the device. The tubular fittings 41v and 49 to# gether with thev flexible conduit 48 form and provide a passage for conducting lubricant from the device 44. to the applicator device by which the lubricant is applied to the object to be lubricated. A'p'ressure gage indicator device 50 of kno-wn construction and operation is attached to the tubular tting '41. and is subjected and responds to the pressure ofl the lubricant contained in and passing through said fitting 41. The device 50 is responsive tothe pressure of the lubricant so as toindi'cate visually and with required accuracy and precision the amountk and degree of such pressure. The mechanisms of the indicator device 50 is not shown in detail for the reason that the construction and mode of operation thereof are known.v

` A pressure regulating valve l (Figs. 4 and 5) is-mounted in the housing 44 beyond the opening into the fitting 41 in order to permit bypass flow of lubricant b'ack'into the barrel, tank or other container for said lubricant without causing the bypassed lubricant to be conducted to'or discharged from the applicator device that is attached to *thev tube or hose '48. A valve controlling stem 52 is mounted for longitudinal movements in a fitting 53 Vdetachably and replaceably secured to the housing 44. The stem 52 is screwed through the fitting 53 so that it will be moved longitudinally in one direction or the other and axially 'with respect to the valve 5I when said stem is rotated'manually by the handle element 54, or otherwise. A spring 55 is mounted on axially alinedportions of the valve 5|' and stem 52, and has 'one end seated against said valve and the opposite end seated against a collar 55 on the valve stem.' It is evident that, when the valve stem is located in an outward adjustment (Fig. l) the spring 55 is expanded, a gap is provided between axially alined portions of the valve and valve stem, and the valve may'open under the influencerof pressure against its inner end to permit bypass flowv'of lubricant. When the valve stem 52 is in contact with the extension of the valve 5l (Fig. 5),' said valve is thereby positively held closed and cannot'open to permit bypass flow of` lubricant: In intermediate positions of the stleml52, that is in positions of said stem between the position in which there is abutting Contact with thev valve 5l (Fig. 5), and extreme outward position of said stem, the valve 5I may be opened by different amounts `or degrees of pressure against the inner end of saidvalve. That is, it requires greater pressure to open the valve 5l when the spring 55 is under increased tension than it does to open said valve when said spring 55 is under reduced tension. Thus, the valve and its equipment constitute means for regulating the pressureunder which the lubricant is applied to the'articlesto be lubricated through the applicator device.'

A tube 51 has one endopening into the space at the eiiiuent side of the valve 5| and extends into and along a' groove 58 extending longitudinaily along o-ne side of the cylinder I5. The opposite endiof .saidtube 5,1;opensinto the barrel,

tank or other container to which the lubricating mechanism is applied and attached.

' The opposite end of the flexible conduit 48 from the 'tting 4.1. is attached to and opens into one end of a tube 59 constituting apart of the applicator device. A member 60 is detachably secured to the tube 59, extends laterally therefrom, and has communication with the inside of said tube 59 through a port 6l. The member 5l) functions as a conduit for conducting lubricant from the tube 59, as a housing for a ball valve 62 co-ntrolling and regulating discharge of lubricant from said member, .as an enclosure for a spring actuating andyieldingly holding said valve 62 closed againstits seat 64, and as a support and guide for a movable applicator tube 65. The tube E5 extends for longitudinal sliding movements into the outer end of the member 60, has its inner end engaging against the eliluent side of the ball valvev 62, and is formed with a number of inlet openings or slots 55 which permit lubricant to enter said',l tube 65 when the ball valve 62 is open, that. is, when said ball valve 62 is pressed inwardly from its seatv 64. When the ball valve 62 is in closed position on the seat 54 to which said valve is moved by action of the spring 63, it is impossible for lubricant to pass said valve or to enter the tube 55. The tube 65 may be moved inwardly by pressure to force the valve 52 inwardly in opposition to the spring 53, and away from the valve seat 64, in order to permit lubricant to pass said valve. under pressure from the pump mechanism and to be discharged under pressure through the applicator tube 55 onto the articles, bearings or other objects to be lubricated.

A bifurcated lever 61 embraces the member 60 between its arms which are connected with the tube 59 by a pivot` 68. A bifurcated yoke B9 has its arms Connected with the lever 51 by pivots 10, andits central portion provided with an opening through which the tube 55 extends (Fig. 7). A collar 1I is adjustably secured on the tube 65 and is engaged by the yoke 59 so that, when said yoke is operated by the lever 61, the tube 65 will be forced 'inwardly into the member 55 and will move the valve 62 from its seat 64 in opposition to the closure spring 53. The amount of lubricant that may pass the valve 62 for discharge under pressure through the applicator tube 65 depends upon the extent to which said valve 52 is opened, thatis, the distance of said valve 62 from its seat E4. A tip' 12 is detachably secured to the effluent endoi the applicator tube 55 for letting, spray1 ing, or applying the lubricant to any articles, bearings, or other objects as desired.

A modiedform of attaching and supporting device for the pump mechanism is shown in Fig. 9. This modified form of attaching and supporting device for the pump mechanism may be used in substitution for or instead of the bracket 1 in some instances, es when the walls I, 2 and 3, and particularly the wall 3, are composed of sheet metal thick and strong enough to make use of the bracket 1 unnecessary. This form of the device consists of a iitting 13, analogous to the boss I4 but unattached to any bracket such as the bracket 1, having a cylindrical externally threaded downward extension 14 arranged and intended to be screwed into the internally threaded nange or short tube 5. This form of attaching and supportingdevice for the pump mechanism may be used in substitution for the elongated bracket 1 when at least the top wall 3 of the barrel, tank, or other.lubricantgcontainer is strong enough to support the 4entire pump mechanism. A set screw.

.aas-ipsa lmay be screwed throughY the fitting 13zinto clamping engagement with the cylinder l to support said cylinder and therebythev pump mechanismby said tting. Obviously, such a set screw 15 isused in theboss I4 for thesame purpose.

Amodication of a part of the .device for controlling passage of the lubricant into and through .theapplicator device, consistingof the member 60, applicator tube65 and tip 12, is shown in Fig. 10. This modied device may be used optionally in substitution for the applicator device shown in Figs. 1` and '1. This modified device consists of a tube 1E having the member 60 attached thereto for receiving and conductinglubricant therefrom inthe same manner as said member 68 receives and conducts lubricant from the tube 59. A lateral tubular extension 11 from the tube 'I9 is attached to one end of a hose 18 having its opposite end opening through the top wall 3 of the barrel, tank, or container lfrom which lubricant is removedb-y the pump mechanism. The tubular eX- tension 11 and the tube 18 form a conduit or passage for conducting and bypassing lubricant from the tube 16 back into the barrel, tank, or container from which said lubricant is removed by the pump mechanism, Without Yelecting or discharging said lubricant through the applicat-or tube 65. A valve 19 actuated by a spring 80 controls and regulates passage of lubricant from the tube 16 into and through the passage 11-18 and, therefore, controlsV bypassing of said lubricant around or from the applicator device back into the barrel, tank, or container from which said lubricant had been removed. The spring 8B yields to pressure lof .lubricant against the valve 19, so that said valve.19 may open when the valve B2 is wholly closed or is only partly open, or when a greater amountof lubricant is pumped into the tube 19 than can be discharged past the valve 62 into and through the applicator tube 65. This modified form of applicator device may be used either when the pump mechanism is supported by a bracket such as the bracket 1,'01` when the pump mechanism is supported by the modied form shown in Fig. 9, as desired. When the bracket 1 is used, the angular member 9 may be detachably supported in connection therewith by a screw Bl having its head above the bracket 1 and wider than the slot I0'.

When my improved lubricating mechanism is attached or applied to a lubricant barrel, tank, or other container in the proper manner shown and described, lubricant may be pumped into the tubular piston 24 by reciprocating said piston vertically. Such reciprocating movements may be imparted to the piston 24 either by the motor mechanism shown or byany other'actuator, as desired. During reciprocation of the pump plston 2li, lubricant is caused to enter the opening 45 and to pass through the fittings 41 and 49, the tube t9, the tube 59,' the member 58, and the applicator tube 65 when'the valve 62 is open. The degree or extent of pressure and the amount of lubricant discharged from the applicator tube 65 may be optionally determined andregulated by adjustment of the valve 62. That is,A when the valve Sais fully open, a relatively larger amount of lubricant will be discharged Vfrom the applicator tube in a given time than when said valve 62 is onlypartially open. The valve 62 also controis the pressure under vwhich the lubricant is discharged from the applicator tube 65 and applied to the articles, bearings, or other objects to be lubricated. The extent to which lthe valve 62 is opened is optionally controlled by the operator .through the lever61, yoke B9, and applicator tube 65. The above control of pressure and iiow, of lubricant at `the valve 62 (Fig. '1) is, of course, in conjunction with the control at the valve 5l (Fig. 5), because variations in the adjustment of the valve 5| controlling the bypassing yof lubricant will automatically vary the pressure of the lubricant at said valve 62.

When the valve 62 is completely or partly closed and a greater amount of lubricant is being pumped into the opening 45 than is discharged through .the applicato-r tube, such lubricant may be bypassed back into the barrel, tank or container from which the lubricant had been taken by adjusting the valve stem 52 away from and out of contact with the valve 5| to permit said valve 5l to be opened by the confined liquid under pressure. When the valve 5l is opened by the conned Y lubricant under pressure, said lubricant that passes said valve 5l will be bypassed and returned through the tube 51 into the barrel, tank, or container from which the lubricant had been pumped.V

From the foregoing, it is -plainly evident that this invention attains all of its intended objects and purposes efficiently and under perfect control of the operator. The construction and arrangement of the parts comprising the mechanism may easily be varied Within the scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

- I claim:

1'. Lubricating mechanism comprising a verticalcylinder adapted to be inserted in a lubricant container, said cylinder having an inlet port at its lbottom and an outlet port through its cylindrical wall at its upper portion, a check valve in said inletport arranged to permit the ow of lubricant into the cylinder, a unitaryV tubular pistonand conduit mounted for sliding movement in said cylinder, an inlet port in the bottom of said piston with a check valve therein arranged to permit the flow of lubricant into the piston and conduit from the cylinder, an outlet port in the conduit comprising a vertical slot in its Wall registering with the outlet port in rthe cylinder for the full stroke of said piston, said piston and conduit being closed except for said inlet and outlet ports, and mechanism for vertically reciprocating said piston and conduit in the cylinder.

2.*Lubricating mechanism comprising a vertical cylinder, said cylinder having an inlet port at its Abottom and an outlet port through its cylindrical'wall at its upper portion, a check valve in said inlet port arranged to permit the flow of lubricant into the cylinder, a unitary tubular piston and conduit mounted for sliding movement in said cylinder, an inlet port in the bottom of said piston with a check valve therein arranged to permit the flow of lubricant into the piston and conduit from the cylinder, an outlet port in the conduit comprising a vertical slot in its wall registering with the outlet port in the cylinder for the full stroke of said piston, said piston and conduit being closed except for said inlet and outlet ports, .mechanism for vertically reciprocating said piston and conduit in the cylinder, a bracket secured to said cylinder forsupporting the cylinder through a bung of a lubricating container, and clamping means for securing the bracket to the top of the container.

43. Lubricating mechanism comprising a lubricant container, aV vertical cylinder extending downwardly through a bung in the top of the container t-o the bottoxnof thecontainer and having 9 an inlet port at its bottom, a check valve in said port permitting the flow of lubricant into the cylinder, an outlet port through the Wall of the cylinder above the top of the container, a unitary tubular piston and conduit mounted for sliding 5 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,169,514 Buzzard Aug, 15, 1939 2,172,136 Davis Sept, 5, 1939 1,633,304 Barks June 21, 1927 1,749,216 Goldman Mar. 4, 1930 1,768,909 Iddings July 1, 1930 2,172,136 Davis Sept. 5, 1939 1,880,857 Davis Oct. 4, 1932 1,800,333 Wertz Apr. 14, 1931

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