Patent ID: 6244387
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: F16N

Abstract:
A lubricant supply device comprising:a housing defining a reservoir for holding a supply of lubricant,a pump in said housing, said pump having an inlet for receiving lubricant from said reservoir and an outlet,a lubricant distributor having a sealing connection with the housing, said distributor having at least one inlet for entry of lubricant into the distributor and multiple outlets for exit of lubricant from the distributor for delivery to multiple points of lubrication,said sealing connection comprising mating surfaces on the distributor and the housing having a sealing fit with one another,supply passaging in the housing extending from the outlet of the pump and terminating at at least one outlet opening in the mating surface of the housing, andreturn passaging in the distributor and the housing for return of lubricant from at least one unused outlet of the distributor back to the lubricant reservoir,each of said at least one inlet of the distributor comprising an inlet opening in the mating surface of the distributor located generally opposite a corresponding outlet opening in the mating surface of the housing whereby lubricant from the pump is adapted to flow from said supply passaging of the housing directly into said at least one inlet of the distributor,wherein said return passaging comprises a return passage in the distributor having an outlet opening in said mating surface of the distributor and a return passage in the housing having an inlet opening in said mating surface of the housing, the inlet and outlet openings of the return passages being directly opposite one another to enable flow of lubricant from the distributor directly into the housing, and a seal for sealing between the inlet and outlet openings of the return passages.