Abstract:
A tool for use in a lubrication system having an oil-containing sump for supplying lubricating oil to a mechanical device and an oiler device connected to the sump for delivering a supply of oil to the sump, the oiler device comprising a base for supporting an oil reservoir and an adjustable element movably disposed within the base for predetermining a level of oil to be maintained within the sump. The tool has a first portion configured to extend into the base for engagement with the adjustable element and a second portion disposed exteriorly of the base to visually indicate the disposition of the adjustable element relative to the oil-containing sump, preferably in the form of a pointing device, optimally a laser beam generating instrument, for representing the disposition of the adjustable element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to systems and devices for lubricating mechanical equipment and, more particularly, to devices used for setting and maintaining a supply of lubricating oil to a sump associated with the mechanical equipment being lubricated. 
     The use of an oil sump to provide a supply of lubricating oil is a common means of lubrication selected by machine designers to lubricate various types of industrial equipment, such as pumps, blowers, gear boxes, drives and compressors. The provision of an oil sump offers the advantages of a simple and low-cost design which, if properly attended, can be operated with commensurately low maintenance costs and low risk of component failure. 
     A critical requirement to the efficacy of an oil sump is the proper maintenance of the oil level in the sump. Depending on the item of equipment to which the sump provides lubrication, it may be necessary that the oil level be maintained within a relatively narrow range to assure sufficient lubrication without overfilling of the sump. Generally speaking, the smaller the sump and attendant quantity of the oil supplied in the sump, the more narrow will be the range of acceptable oil levels. 
     It is widely recognized that oil in a sump or any other enclosed lubrication system will be gradually lost due to leakage and other factors, thereby necessitating some means for replenishing the oil supply at least periodically. In oil lubricating systems, the most common means of maintaining a generally constant lubricant level in the sump is to attach a so-called constant level oiler device to the sump to provide a continuously available excess quantity of oil fed gravitationally through the oiler into the sump as its oil level depletes. Various types of constant level oilers are known in the industry, including both adjustable and non-adjustable types. The present invention relates specifically to adjustable-type constant level oilers. 
     Basically, adjustable constant level oilers provide an enclosed reservoir which contains a quantity of oil for delivery, as needed, to the associated sump. The reservoir rests on an adjustable element within a supporting base connected to the sump. Adjusting of the element supporting the reservoir varies the elevation of the reservoir relative to the sump and thereby varies the gravitational flow of the oil to the sump to, in turn, determine the equilibrium level of oil maintained in the sump. Hence, the careful setting of the position of the adjusting element in the initial setup of the constant level oiler is critical to maintaining a proper desirable level of oil within the sump. 
     While this lubrication system utilizing a constant level oiler to supply an oil sump is simple in design and operation, it has been discovered through an empirical sampling that a surprising proportion of constant level oilers in actual operation are improperly set so as to maintain either too high or too low of an oil level within the associated pump. In either case, the end result is that the associated mechanical component will generate excessive heat, causing early degradation of the oil supply and shortening the life of the mechanical device. 
     While various factors may contribute to inaccurate settings of constant level oilers, one significant problem is believed to be the necessity with conventional oilers that the adjustable element be set manually through a trial and error process. The adjustable element resides within a base which supports the oiler, whereby its elevational position within the oiler base can only be set visually from a downward view into the base, which impairs the ability of a technician to carefully sight the level of the adjustable element in relation to the associated sump. Hence, one manufacturer&#39;s installation instructions provide for the initial setting of the adjustable element, placement of the oil reservoir and operation of the equipment to check the actual prevailing lubrication level in the sump, followed by repeating the process one or more times if the oil level in the sump is too high or too low. 
     A need accordingly exists within the relevant industry for an improved means of setting up a constant level oiler which would be simplified and easier to accomplish than conventional set-up techniques yet would also provide greater precision and reliability to the setting of the desired oil level. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention proposes to satisfy this recognized need basically by providing a unique tool by which the positional setting of the adjustable element within the base of the constant level oiler is indicated visually from the exterior of the constant level oiler for more precise adjustment relative to the associated oil sump. 
     More specifically, the tool of the present invention provides a first portion configured to extend into the base of the constant level oiler and into engagement with the adjustable element, and a second portion disposed exteriorly of the base and including a pointing device to visually indicate the disposition of the adjustable element relative to the oil-containing sump. Thus, as the elevation of the adjustable element of the oiler is moved upwardly and downwardly during the set-up process, the pointing device of the present tool provides a visual reference at each step in the adjustment process to sight the position of the adjustable element relative to the oil sump from exteriorly of the oiler, thereby greatly improving the ability of the technician to more precisely set the position of the adjustable element. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pointing device on the second portion of the tool is most optimally in the form of a laser beam generating instrument, to represent most precisely the disposition of the adjustable element. It is contemplated to be desirable that a marking be made or provided on the exterior of the sump precisely at the most desirable elevation of the oil level therein. In turn, the laser beam or other pointing device points toward or shines against the sump as the position of the adjustable element is calibrated, thereby to ensure the most precise positioning of the element in relation to the sump. 
     It is further preferred that the first and second portions of the tool be rigidly fixed with respect to one another. For example, the tool may be configured as a unitary body in an inverted U-shape having a first depending leg forming the first portion, a second depending leg generally parallel to the first leg forming the second portion, and a bridge portion connecting the first and second legs in spaced parallel relation. In use, therefore, the tool is fitted onto the base of the oiler with the first leg extending downwardly alongside an interior side of the base into engagement with the adjustable element, with the second leg extending downwardly alongside an exterior side of the base, and with the bridge portion disposed across an upwardly facing edge of the base. A positioning element such as an adjusting screw may be threadedly supported on the bridge portion of the tool for adjusting the elevational disposition of the tool relative to the base so as to position the first depending leg of the tool in contact with the adjustable element without placing unnecessary weight or force against the element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical cross-section, depicting a conventional lubrication system having a constant level oiler for controlling the oil level in an associated mechanical oil sump for a mechanical device depicted only representatively as a bearing shaft; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view depicting a preferred embodiment of the tool of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are views of the lubrication system of  FIG. 1 , but depicting sequential steps in the use of the present tool for setting the oil level within the sump via adjustment of the adjusting element of the constant level oiler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the accompanying drawings and initially to  FIG. 1 , a conventional oil sump lubrication system, indicated generally in its totality at  10 , is shown schematically in partial side elevation and partial vertical cross-section. The lubrication system  10  basically comprises an oil-containing sump  12 , indicated only representatively, which partially contains a quantity of lubricating oil and also in which is disposed a mechanical device partially submerged within the quantity of contained oil for lubrication. The mechanical device is indicated for illustrative purposes as a simplified form of ball bearing assembly  14 , but as those persons skilled in the art will recognize, the mechanical device could be a pump, blower, gearbox, drive, compressor or any other form of mechanical component requiring lubrication. In turn, the configuration of the sump would be designed in relation to the mechanical device and, hence, it is to be understood that the depiction of the arrangement of the sump and the mechanical device are merely schematic for purposes of illustrating the environment relevant to the present invention. 
     The lubrication system  10  further includes a constant level oiler device, generally indicated at  16 , which is connected to the sump  12  to provide a replenishing supply of oil to the sump as the quantity of oil contained in the sump is gradually expended. For purposes of illustration and description of the present invention, the constant level oiler device  16  is shown as being an “Opto-Matic” model of constant level oiler manufactured by Trico Manufacturing Corp., of Pewaukee, Wis., although it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to use with this particular model or manufacturer of constant level oiler, but instead has a broader and more generalized application for use with other forms of adjustable-type constant level oilers. 
     The constant level oiler device  16  basically comprises a hollow cup-shaped base  18  open at its upper end and formed with threaded ports  22 ,  24  at its bottom end and on one side surface for selective connection to an oil delivery conduit. The base  18  contains an oil level adjustment assembly  26  having a foot portion  28  supporting an upright threaded bolt extending centrally through the base  18 . Upper and lower adjuster arms  32 ,  34 , each in the form generally of a wing-type nut, are threadedly supported on the upright bolt  30  for rotational movement upwardly and downwardly therealong for purposes more fully described hereinafter. 
     The constant level oiler device  16  further includes an oil reservoir  36  having a generally spherical globe  36 A merging downwardly into a generally cylindrical collar  36 B. The oil reservoir  36  is hollow and opens downwardly through the lower rim of the collar  36 B, which rests on the upwardly facing surface of the uppermost adjuster arm  32 . A cylindrical skirt  38  annularly surrounds the collar portion  36 B of the oil reservoir  36  at a slight annular spacing therefrom and is sealed to the oil reservoir  36  adjacent the juncture between the globe  36 A and the collar  36 B. In this manner, the assembly of the oil reservoir  36  and the skirt  38  may be situated on the base  18  with the collar portion  36 B extending interiorly within the base  18  into resting engagement on the upper adjuster arm  32  and with the skirt  38  outwardly encircling the base  18 . The skirt  38  may be equipped with a set screw  40  to secure the oil reservoir assembly in place rigidly relative to the base  18 . 
     In operation, the base  18  is connected via either of the ports  22 ,  24  to an appropriate pipe or conduit, indicated only schematically at  42 , which in turn is connected to an oil entrance port formed in the sump  12 . The port  22  or  24  of the base  18  which is not actively connected to the conduit  42  is closed via a threaded plug.  FIG. 1  depicts merely for illustrative purposes a so-called side-mounted connection between the constant level oiler device  16  and the sump  12 , wherein the side port  24  of the oiler device  16  is connected laterally with a similar side port in the sump  12 , but those persons skilled in the art will also recognize that a so-called bottom-mounted connection between the bottom port  22  of the oiler device  16  and a bottom port in the sump  12  may be utilized. 
     In basic set-up for operation, the oil reservoir  36  is initially filled with oil and inverted into assembly, as above-described, onto the base  18 , whereby the oil gravitationally fills the base  18 , the collar portion  36 B and a portion of the globe portion  36 A of the oil reservoir  36 . The elevation of the upper adjuster arm  32  determines the elevation of the oil reservoir  36  and, in turn, determines the equilibrium level to which the oil fills the bottom of the sump  12 . Thus, prior to set-up, the upper adjuster arm  32  is threadedly moved manually along the upstanding bolt  30  into a disposition at an elevation as close as possible to the desired level of oil within the sump  12 . The lower adjuster arm  34  is threadedly moved along the bolt upwardly into abutment with the underside of the upper adjuster arm  32  as a means of locking the upper adjuster arm  32  in its adjusted disposition. 
     One of the difficulties in this conventional set-up procedure is the inability of the technician to accurately set the elevation of the upper adjuster arm  32  in relation to the desired oil level within the sump  12 , because of the inability of the technician to view the interior of the sump  12  and also to view laterally the interior of the base  18  of the constant level oiler device  16 . It is conventional to place a marking on the exterior housing surface of the sump  12  visually indicating the desired interior oil level to be maintained within the sump  12 , and the technician is able to view downwardly into the interior of the base  18  of the constant level oiler device  16 , but it is difficult for the technician to accurately sight laterally or horizontally the elevation of the adjuster arm  32  against the exterior level marking on the sump  12 . Hence, as noted above, Trico Manufacturing Corporation, the maker of the “Opto-Matic” model oiler device recommends the trial-and-error procedure discussed above in initially setting up the oiler and also each time the oiler must subsequently be refilled with a supply of oil. Unfortunately, however, technicians do not always properly follow this procedure and, moreover, it still remains difficult to precisely set the elevation of the upper adjuster arm  32 . 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel position setting tool, as indicated generally at  44  in  FIG. 2 . Basically, the tool  44  is configured to be used during set-up of the constant level oiler device  16 , when the assembly of the oil reservoir  36  and the skirt  38  have been removed from the base  18 , as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The tool  44  may be of differing configurations, but fundamentally is configured to be placed about the upper rim of the base  18  with one portion of the tool  44  extending interiorly within the base  18  into engagement with the upper adjuster arm  32  and with another portion of the tool  44  situated exteriorly of the base  18  at precisely the same elevation as the interior portion engages the adjuster arm  32 , thereby to visually provide a precise reference to the elevation of the adjuster arm  32  to enable the technician to accurately sight in relation to the exterior marking on the sump  12 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a preferred embodiment of the tool  44  is depicted as being a unitary body formed in an inverted U-shaped configuration with two parallel leg portions  44 A,  44 B, depending from a connecting bridge portion  44 C. In this manner, the tool  44  may be disposed on the rim of the base  18  with the leg portion  44 A extending downwardly into the interior of the base  18  and the leg portion  44  extending downwardly alongside the exterior of the base  18 , with the bridge portion  44 C overlying the upper rim of the base  18 . An adjusting screw  48  extends downwardly through the bridge portion  44 C in parallel relation to the inner and outer legs  44 A,  44 B, such that the lower end of the adjusting screw  48  rests in direct contact with the upper rim of the base  18 . The adjusting screw  48  includes a thumbwheel portion  48 A is integral with the opposite upper end of the adjusting screw  48  for adjustably extending or withdrawing the adjusting screw into or out of the spacing between the inner and outer legs  44 A,  44 B, thereby to enable the elevation of the tool  44  relative to the base  18  to be adjusted and also to assist in stabilizing the resting disposition of the tool  44  once its elevation is adjusted. By extension and withdrawal of the adjusting screw  48  via the thumbwheel  48 A, the tool is rested on the base  18  at precisely the elevation at which the inner leg  44 A contacts the upper adjuster arm  32 . In turn, the outer leg  44 B of the tool  44  provides an external visual reference to the elevation of the upper adjuster arm  32  within the interior of the base  18 , e.g., by the formation of the lower edge of the outer leg  44 B to be disposed at precisely the same elevation at the exterior of the base  18  as the inner leg  44 A or the outer leg  44 B may carry a visual reference marking at precisely such elevation. The tool  44  may be provided with a leveling means, such as a bubble type level device  46 , to insure that the inner and outer legs are correctly oriented vertically. A lock nut  47  may be provided on the shaft of the adjusting screw  48  to secure the adjusting screw in place once its disposition has been precisely set, thereby to assure that the elevation and level of the tool is maintained. 
     Optimally, the tool  44  may be equipped with some form of pointing device at the lower end of the outer leg  44 B as a supplementary visual reference to the technician. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, a laser beam generating instrument, shown only schematically at  50 , may be utilized as a pointing device on the outer leg  44 B so as to be shone directly horizontally against the exterior of the sump  12 , thereby to provide the most precise visual indication when the adjuster arm  32  and, in turn, the tool  44  is adjusted to precisely the same elevation as the desired level of oil within the sump  12 . The tool  44  may have a switch, such as represented at  52 , to enable selective actuation and deactuation of the laser beam instrument or other pointing device  50  when needed as a sighting reference. However, it is to be understood that the provision of such a pointing device is not a necessary element of the present tool, as the outer leg  44 B itself provides a reliable visual reference to sight against the marking on the exterior of the sump  12 . 
     The advantages of the present positioning tool will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art. Utilizing the present tool  44 , it will not longer be necessary for any technician to perform any repetitive trial-and-error process in setting up the constant level oiler device  16 . Instead, the tool  44  will enable technicians to make a precise setting of the elevation of the upper adjuster arm  32  before the oil reservoir  36  is filled with oil and inverted onto the base  18 , without concern for having to repeat the process to ensure the proper oil level is achieved within the sump. Minimal or no skill or experience is needed on the part of the technician to perform a proper set-up of the constant level oiler  16 . Further, the overall time required for set-up will be significantly shortened. Most importantly, however, the more reliable maintenance of proper oil levels for lubricating the associated mechanical device will optimize the useful life of the device as well as the useful life of the lubricating oil. 
     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.