US2698064A - Air line lubricating device - Google Patents

Description

DCC- 28, 1954 s. F. sTRr-:lcKER ET AL. 2,698,064

AIR LINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1952 United States Patent O if' AIR LINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Seymour F. Strecker, John J. Oros, and John Skidmore,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to Air-Mite Devices, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 17, 1952, Serial No. 266,852

7 Claims. (Cl. 184-55) 'Ihis invent-ion is concerned with -an air lubricating device of the character designed to 'be connected into a compressed air line supplying pneumatically operated tools and which automatically provides lubricant to 4be carried through the line to the tool for lubricating same.

Reference will be made to our co-pending application Serial No. 262,454, tiled December 19, 1951, and entitled Air Line Lubricating Device, to point out certain broad principles .of operation common to lthis invention.

In the co-pending application above referred to there was described and illustrated an air line lubricating device in which the lubricant is dispersed in the air stream in the form of a finely divided spray as `ditferentiated from prior devices operating on the principle of dropping the liquid lubricant into the air stream where it is intended to be broken into a ne aerosol or spray which passes with the air into the tool. The device described had novel atomizing means for breaking the lubricant into a tine spray prior to its being fed into the air stream and means for controlling the amount of spray entering the air stream. This invention is concerned with a device in which the principle of operation is the same as that of the device disclosed in said co-pending application.

Many of the advantages attributed to the device disclosed in said co-pending application also may be attributed to the herein invention. In addition, the `invention herein described is characterized by the pro vision ,of an air line lubricating device which is' more simple and .economical in construction, which operates in an efcient manner to introduce lubricant directly into the air stream of the device in the form of a iinely dispersed spray, and which is provided with novel atomizing means.

An important object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of the character described in which the air chamber normally present above the lubricant reservoir is utilized as a part of the atomizing means for withdrawing fluid lubricant from the reservoir and thereafter reducing same to a inely, divided spray which is introduced into the air stream of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which an extremely simple vatomizing device is provided which ,sprays lubricant directly into the air stream.5 thereby providing a highly efficient lubricator for the air line.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device in which there is provided a reervoir having an air space above the reservoir, and there .is a vpassageway from the upstream side of the air line to the air-space, andthete is an atomizing nozzle which communicates between the said air space andthe downstream side of the air line, and saidfatomizing device adapted to withdraw lubricant from the reservoir and atomize the same directly into the line.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device as described in the previously set forth object in which the air pressure for operating the atomizing device .may be varied to vary the amount of lubricant atomized into the air line.

Many other objects will yoccur to the yskilled 'artisan as description of the invention proceeds. In connection 'therewith is illustrated `a vpreferred lembodiment of our `invention :and details and manner of construction and usethereof set forth.

ln drawings wherein like reference characters have Patented Dec. 28, 1954 ICC been used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several parts thereof:

i Fig. 1 .is a top plan view of the device embodying the mventlon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the said device along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and in the direction indicated.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the device along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the atomizing means .of the device along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and in the direction indicated.

The device embodying the invention is intended to be connected into a compressed air line between the source of air and the pneumatic tool so that it will operate only when the tool is operated. In this sense, Ithe operation of the device is automatic. In addition, there is provided novel atomizing means adapted to withdraw liquid lubricant from the reservoir and thoroughly to atomize same yprior to introducing same into the air stream of the device. The atomizing means is disposed in the air chamber normally present above the lubricant 4in said reservoir and lconstruction is provided for diverting air from the air stream into the said chamber and through the atomizer for creating a low pressure area thereat which causes liquid lubricant to be withdrawn through the atomizer and reduced to a finely divided spray upon leaving the atomizer. In addition, the atomizer is so arranged as to permit the spray to be introduced directly into the air stream of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the .air line lubricating device embodying our invention is designated generally by the reference character 10. Same includes a bowl 11 which may be made from some strong, transparent material such as plastic or glass, so that lubricant 12 contained therein may be visible. The bowl 11 is secured to a head 13 in a recess 14 provided on Vits undersurface into which the upper lip of the bowl 11 is seated. The lip is formed with an overhanging flange 16 and there may be a suitable gasket 17 between the ange 16 and the seat. An annular ring 18 engages the bottom Vof the head 13 inan edge-to-edge juncture 19 and a shoul-v der 20 Vformed on the inside of the ring 18 engages beneath the flange 16 `for securing the bowl 11 to the head 13. Suitable cap screws 21 extend through the head 13 at spaced positions thereabout and threadedly engage the ring 18 tightly to hold the -device 1t) in assembly.

The upper surface of the head is provided with a diametrically extending cylindrical ridge 22 which may be and preferably is integral with the head, A central pas'- sageway 23 is provided in the ridge 22 throughout its length and transverse of thehead 13 and also perpendicular to the axis of the bowl 11. In the operation of the device 10, the `normal position of the cup is with its axis vertical as shown in the drawings.

The passageway 23 is connected with the air line 24 in a well-known manner. The left hand end of the pas'- sageway 23 is threaded at 25 `and the line 24 is connected thereto by an ordinaryipressure coupling26. The right hand end of the passageway 23 is threaded at 27 and is connected to the air line by the pressure coupling 2S. The direction of flow ofair through'the device is from left to right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. As will be further explained, the device is so constructed that same operates properly when so associated with the line 24. Consequently, to vinsure proper association of parts for proper direction of air ow through the device, l provide indicia which may consist of an arrow 29 on the top of the ridge .22, stamped or otherwise formed inthe metal from which the device is made.

lIn order to till the .bowl ,11 without necessitating disconnection of the entire device Vfrom the air line 24, a filler plug 70is :screw-threaded into an opening 71 in the top ofthe head 13, which opening :communicates with the ybowl 1=1.

The construction of the-device as thus^fardescribed is conventional and of-thetype described and-,shown in our said copending application. It is not -intended to -be limited thereto by wayofgsize or proportion of the parts as minor changes'therein couldoccur tothe-skilled artisan without departing from the spirit of the invention and the objectives thereby accomplished.

To accomplish the advantages attributed to this invention, we provide means hereinafter described to withdraw fluid lubricant 12 from the bowl 11 and reduce same to a nely dispersed spray before supplying same to the passageway 23. In proximity to the left hand side or upstream end of the passageway 23 is provided a vertical duct 31 which communicates between the passageway 23 and the air chamber 30 normally present in the bowl 11 above the lubricant 12. In proximity to the right hand side or downstream end of the passageway 23 is provided a second vertical duct 32 which is threaded. Screw threaded into said duct 32 is a nozzle 33 having a central chamber 34 therein, which chamber communicates at its top end with the passageway 23. The opposite end of the chamber 34 is closed by the bottom wall 35, having an opening 36 therein. Mounted in the opening 36 is a short tube 37 having a portion 38 depending from the wall 35 into the chamber 30 and an upper portion 39 extending up into the chamber 35.

In the nozzle 33 between the upper portion 39 and the wall 35 it is intended that there be at least one opening which serves to connect the chamber 34 with the air chamber 30 above said lubricant. In the embodiment shown there are provided three such openings designated 40.

The nozzle 33 is formed of hexagonal stock 41 to facilitate the securing of the said nozzle in the duct 32. It will be understood that the number of openings 40 need not be limited to a number more or less than the number shown herein, it only being necessary that the chamber 34 communicate adequately with the air chamber 30 in the bowl 11, so that there will be a rapid passage of air past the tube end 39.

It is intended by the construction shown to withdraw fluid lubricant from the bowl into the atomizing nozzle of the device and atomize same prior to introducing same into the passageway 23. Secured over the lower portion 38 of the tube 37 is an elongate preferably transparent tube 42 having its free end 43 adapted to be disposed in the body of iluid lubricant 12. Connection between the atomizing nozzle and the lubricant 12 is thus established by means of the conduit 42. The operation of the device is as follows: Air entering the device from the left hand side thereof is diverted through the duct 31 into the air chamber 30 above the lubricant 12. The compressed air will create a state of increased pressure above the lubricant 12 which will force air through the openings 40 into the chamber 34 of the nozzle 33. The increased pressure in the chamber 30 also may cause a force to be exerted downwardly upon the lubricant 12. The air passing into the chamber 34 will pass over the upper portion 39 of the tube 37 creating a low pressure area thereat thereby causing fluid lubricant to be drawn up into the tube 42, to pass out of the open end 39 and be atomized thereat. The atomized spray will then pass directly into the passageway 23 through the open end of the nozzle 33.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 there may be seen the regulating means provided for controlling the amount of spray fed into the passageway 23. A screw-threaded opening 44 is provided in the ridge 22 at a point between the upstream duct 31 and downstream duct 32 which is adapted to receive therein the threaded stud 45. The upper end of the stud 45 has a head 46 and the lower end is adapted to extend into the passageway 23 and across same to pass into the upper end of the threaded opening 47 in the head. The lower end of the opening 47 is closed by means of the threaded plug 48. By manipulating the head 46, the stud 45 mav be selectively disposed in the passageway 23 closing off a portion thereof or all of it as may be desired. Air is supplied to the downstream end of the line by maintaining the upstream end at constant pressure. Each cycle of the pneumatic tool causes air to pass into the downstream side of the passageway 23 either past the stud 45 or through the duct 31. The amount of air passed into the chamber 30 through duct 31 may be regulated bv varying the position of stud 45 in the passageway 23 thereby permitting the amount of lubricant spray supplied to the passageway to be controlled. I provide a locknut 49 on the stud 45 adapted to engage against the ridge 22 in the recess 50 and a gasket 51 between the ridge 22 and lock nut 49. The position at which the stud 45 is disposed in passageway 23 may be iixed by locking the nut 49 on the stud 45.

In connection with the operation of the regulating valve construction above described, the tube 42 preferably is formed of a flexible, transparent material, such as plastic. This enables the amount of lubricant drawn into or through tube 42 to be observed. With the stud 45 withdrawn to leave passageway 23 wide open, there may be a small diversion of air passing through duct 31 into the chamber 30, but probably too small in quantity to cause lubricant to be drawn up into the tube 42. The stud 45 may then be turned to extend into the passageway 23 blocking off a portion thereof thereby causing a greater diversion of air into the chamber 30. As the stud 45 is thus adjusted, the observer may note the lubricant rising in the tube until a continuous flow is observed during operation of the tool. The user is thereby able to determine the amount of adjustment in the position of the stud 45 in the passageway 23 which is required to obtain desired quantities of lubricant spray supplied to the passageway. The transparent tube 42 constitutes also indicating means in the bowl 11 for observing, at least approximately, the amount of fluid lubricant supplied to the passageway 23 as the regulating means is adjusted.

It is believed that the invention has been sufficiently described in order to enable practice thereof by persons skilled in the art to which same appertains. It is desired to reiterate that considerable variation is possible in minor details of the device without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired to be limited in the scope of the invention only by the claims hereto appended.

We claim:

l. A lubricating device adapted to be inserted into a compressed air line for a pneumatic tool including a head having a central passageway therethrough for connection into said line, a bowl secured to said head constituting a reservoir for a body of fluid lubricant and means in the head for withdrawing lubricant from said body and thereafter reducing same to a nely divided spray, said spray being supplied to the passageway to be carried'to the tool, said last mentioned means including an atomizer having an air intake in the bowl above the body of fluid lubricant, a discharge opening in the central passageway, a fluid conduit connecting with the body below its normal surface, and means connecting the upstream side of the central passageway with the bowl above the body of fluid and an air regulating device in said passageway for controlling the amount of spray supplied to said passageway.

2. A lubricating device adapted to be inserted into a compressed air line for a pneumatic tool including a head having a central passageway therethrough for connection into said line, a bowl secured to said head constituting a reservoir for a body of uid lubricant and means in the head for withdrawing lubricant from said body and thereafter reducing same to a finely divided spray, said spray being supplied to the passageway to be carried to the tool. said last mentioned means including an atomizer having an air intake in the bowl above the body of uid lubricant, a discharge opening in the central passageway, a fluid conduit connecting with the body below its normal surface, and means connecting the upstream side of the central passageway with the bowl above the body of fluid and an air regulating device for controlling the amount of spray supplied to said passageway, comprising a manually operated valve mounted on the head and having a valve stud movable in said passageway for controlling the amount of air passing therethrough.

3. A lubricating device adapted to be inserted into an air line operating pneumatic tools comprising a bowl adapted to contain a body of fluid lubricant and having an air chamber above the lubricant, a head on the bowl having an air passageway therethrough for connection into said line, said head having a duct communicating between the upstream end of the passageway and said chamber and a second duct having one end thereof communicating with the downstream end of the passageway, an atomizer arranged between the opposite end of the second duct' and said air chamber having an air intake in the chamber and including a uid conduit having its lower end disposed in the body of lubricant and its upper end secured to the atomizer, said upstream duct arranged to have air entering the passageway diverted therethrough into the air chamber for increasing the pressure of the air therein and through said air intake past the upper end of the conduit so as to draw lubricant therethrough and atomize the same, and manually operable valve means in the passageway disposed between the ducts for controlling the amount of air being diverted.

4. A lubricating device adapted to be inserted into an air line operating pneumatic tools comprising a bowl adapted to contain a body of uid lubricant and having an air chamber above the lubricant, a head on the bowl having an air passageway therethrough for connection into said line, said head having a duct communicating between the upstream end of the passageway and said chamber and a second duct having one end thereof communicating with the downstream end of the passageway, an atomizer arranged between the opposite end of the second duct and said air chamber having an air intake in the chamber and including a iluid conduit having its lower end disposed in the body of lubricant and its upper end secured to the atomizer, said upstream duct arranged to have air entering the passageway diverted therethrough into the air chamber for increasing the pressure of the air therein and through said air intake past the upper end of the conduit so as to draw lubricant therethrough and atomize the same and manually operable valve means in the passageway disposed between the ducts for controlling the amount of air being diverted, said bowl and conduit being transparent whereby to permit the uid lubricant being drawn through the conduit to be observed as the said valve means is adjusted.

5. A lubricating device adapted to be inserted into an air line operating pneumatic tools comprising a bowl adapted to contain uid lubricant and having an air chamber above the lubricant, a head on the bowl having an air passageway therethrough for connection into said line, a nozzle secured to the head opening into the downstream end of said passageway and having an air intake in said chamber, a uid conduit between the nozzle and the lubricant below the normal level thereof, said conduit having an outlet in said nozzle spaced from the air intake, and means connecting the upstream end of the passageway with said chamber for forcing air in the chamber past said outlet so as to cause fluid lubricant to be drawn therethrough and reduced to a nely dispersed spray, said spray being supplied directly to the passageway, said means comprising a duct in the head between the upstream end of the passageway and said chamber, said duct arranged to have air entering said passageway diverted therethrough into said chamber for increasing the pressure of air therein sutlicient to force said air through the air intake past said outlet and manually operable valve means in the passageway between said duct and nozzle for controlling the amount of air being diverted.

6. A lubricating device adapted to be inserted into a compressed air line for a pneumatic tool including a head having a central passageway therethrough for connection into said line, a bowl secured to said head constituting a reservoir for a body of tluid lubricant and having an air chamber above the lubricant, a duct in said head having an outlet communicating with the downstream end of the passageway and a nozzle in the duct connecting to the air chamber arranged to withdraw lubricant from the said body and supply same to said passageway as a nely divided spray to be carried to said tool, including an air intake in the nozzle opening from said air chamber, a conduit having its lower end disposed below the normal level of lubricant and its upper end spaced from said air intake and producing a spray in said nozzle prior to the outlet of said duct into said passageway, and a second duct connecting the upstream end of the passageway with said air chamber for diverting air from the passageway into the air chamber and thence into the air intake of the nozzle, the said air passing the upper end of the conduit and creating a low pressure area thereat so as to draw lubricant up the conduit and atomize the same in the nozzle.

7. A device as described in claim 6 in which there is a manually operable valve mounted in the head arranged to control the amount of air diverted through the upstream duet for regulating the amount of spray supplied to said passageway.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,907,045 Curtis May 2, 1933 2,073,009 Hersey et al. Mar. 9, 1937 2,187,241 Kehle Ian. 16, 1940 2,304,644 Heftler Dec. 8, 1942

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