Patent ID: 9222618
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: F16N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for supplying lubricant, comprising: a reservoir for holding lubricant, said reservoir having a reservoir outlet; a pump comprising a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a cylinder inlet in communication with said reservoir outlet for flow of lubricant from the reservoir into the cylinder bore, a cylinder outlet supplying lubricant to a lubricant delivery system, and a piston movable in the cylinder bore; a drive mechanism including a stepper motor for moving the piston in the cylinder bore; a controller for controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively applying pulse width modulated (PWM) pulses to the stepper motor to control a speed and/or a torque of the stepper motor to move the piston to dispense lubricant; and said controller configured to apply a series of the PWM pulses to the stepper motor to supply lubricant at a minimum uninterrupted periodic rate which provides substantially constant, uninterrupted lubricant flow at one or more lubrication points of the lubricant delivery system; wherein the controller is configured to apply a series of the PWM pulses to the stepper motor to supply lubricant at a varying rate which provides substantially uninterrupted lubricant flow at one or more lubrication points of the lubricant delivery system; and wherein at least one of: