Patent ID: 9140407
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: F16N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for pumping lubricant, comprising: a reservoir including a tank having a side wall and an interior for holding lubricant; a stirrer rotatable in the reservoir; a force-feed mechanism on the stirrer operable on rotation of the stirrer to exert a pushing force pushing lubricant from the reservoir along a flow path defined by a tubular passage extending from an inlet opening of the passage; and a pump housing having a top wall underlying the reservoir, said flow path comprising an opening in the top wall of the housing; a pump below the reservoir for pumping lubricant from the reservoir to the lubricant distribution system; said pump comprising a cylinder having an inlet aligned with the opening in the top wall of the pump housing, a cylinder bore positioned at an outlet opening of the flow path, and a piston movable in the cylinder bore through a pumping stroke and a return stroke, said cylinder inlet having a face in sealing engagement with an opposing face of the top wall of the pump housing; said cylinder bore communicating with the interior of the reservoir via said defined flow path whereby rotation of the stirrer causes the force-feed mechanism on the stirrer to exert said pushing force pushing lubricant along the defined flow path, and such that movement of the piston through said return stroke generates a reduced pressure in the cylinder bore to exert a pulling force pulling lubricant along the defined flow path, said pushing and pulling forces combining to move lubricant along the defined flow path from the reservoir into the cylinder bore.