Patent ID: 6450690
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: F16C,F16N

Abstract:
A reservoir for lubricant, comprising:a housing for rotatably mounting a bearing, said housing having an exterior surface; a concave recess in said housing, said concave recess open to said exterior surface of said housing, said concave recess comprising an annular surface; a conduit allowing fluid communication between said concave recess and said bearing; a diaphragm sealed to said annular surface of said concave recess, said diaphragm having at least a partially convex lower surface facing said concave recess, and an exterior surface facing away from said concave recess, said diaphragm having an initial conformation when the reservoir is substantially empty of lubricant, and a filled conformation when the reservoir is substantially filled with lubricant; a shield exterior to said exterior surface of said diaphragm, said shield having at least one passageway therethrough; and at least one indicator having a distal end, said indicator projecting from said exterior surface of said diaphragm, said indicator aligned with said passageway, said distal end having a first position relative to said concave recess in said initial conformation, said distal end having a second position relative to said concave recess in said filled conformation, said second position distal to said first position relative to said concave recess, and said distal end extending into or through said passageway in said second position.