Abstract:
A chain drive lubrication system includes a pressurized can of lubricant having a top-mounted spray nozzle and a can support structure supporting the pressurized can of lubricant generally adjacent a chain drive with the top-mounted spray nozzle aiming the chain drive. A can securement device such as a set screw is mounted on the can support holder to releasably secure the pressurized can of lubricant in the can support structure. A trigger device is mounted on the can support structure extending above the top-mounted spray nozzle, the can support structure being generally free of spray nozzle engagement structures excepting the trigger device. Finally, the trigger device is operative to alternatively depress and release the top-mounted spray nozzle thereby spraying lubricant from the pressurized can of lubricant onto the adjacent chain drive.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to lubricant application devices and, more particularly, to a chain drive lubrication system which includes a pressurized can of lubricant having a top-mounted spray nozzle, a can support structure such as a cylinder which supports and secures the pressurized can of lubricant with the spray nozzle adjacent the chain drive, a set screw or the like which releasably secures the pressurized can of lubricant in the can support structure, and a trigger device mounted on the can support structure extending above the spray nozzle, the trigger device operative to alternately depress and release the spray nozzle thereby spraying lubricant from the pressurized can of lubricant onto the chain drive.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    There are many different types of farm equipment which are used today, including such implements as combines, tractors and balers. One thing that each of these implements have in common is that they all include chain drives of one type or another which are used to power their various moving elements. During use of the farm implements, each of these chain drives require lubrication in order to function correctly, which means that the operator of the farm implement must occasionally exit the cab of the unit and oil each and every one of the chain drives in order to ensure proper operation of the farm implement. While this lubrication process may ordinarily not present much of a problem, during times of extreme heat, extreme cold, or other uncomfortable weather and environment-related situations, it may not be such an easy matter to perform the necessary lubrication.  
           [0005]    There have been numerous types of lubrication systems proposed in the prior art which attempt to solve this long-felt need. Among these are devices including those provided by companies such as John Deere and Caterpillar which involve central lubricant reservoirs connected through a series of tubes to spray nozzles adjacent the chain drives. The problem with these systems is that they are expensive (costing upwards of $2500) and furthermore that they are prone to blockage due to the length and amount of tubing required to access each of the chain drives. There is therefore a need for a lubrication system which does not require a central lubricant reservoir or a complicated set of tubing or piping to transfer the lubricant to the chain drive system to which it is to be applied.  
           [0006]    There are numerous other types of lubrication devices which are used in connection with chain drives for motorcycles, vehicles, or other such devices including chain drives, including such devices as Mann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,380, Martin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,262, and King, Sr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,979. Each of these devices, however, include inherent deficiencies which do not lend themselves for use with all chain drives. In particular, of the cited prior art, only Mann discloses a lubrication system which utilizes easy-to-replace pressurized cans of lubricant which are preferred for many lubrication uses. Mann, however, requires that the spray nozzle of the pressurized can of lubricant have a directional tube inserted into the spray nozzle and further that the entire can be enclosed within a can support cylinder to enable the spray nozzle to be engaged and disengaged. The design of Mann makes it exceedingly difficult to quickly remove and replace pressurized cans of lubricant from the can support device of Mann. There is therefore a need for a lubrication system for chain drives which will quickly and easily direct lubricant from a pressurized can of lubricant onto the chain drive. It will also permit quick and easy removal and replacement of empty cans of lubricant from the lubrication system.  
           [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system which utilizes pressurized cans of lubricant.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system which may be either manually operated or remotely operated, depending upon the desires of the user.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system which includes a can support structure operative to support the pressurized can of lubricant generally adjacent a chain drive with the spray nozzle aiming at the chain drive for lubrication thereof.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system in which the can support structure is generally free of spray nozzle engagement structures excepting the trigger device to permit the pressurized can of lubricant to be quickly and easily removed and replaced from the can support structure.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system in which the pressurized can of lubricant is engaged by a trigger device mounted on the can support structure extending above the spray nozzle, the trigger device operative to alternately depress and release the spray nozzle thereby spraying lubricant from the pressurized can of lubricant onto the chain drive.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system which does not include a central lubricant repository and a plurality of lubricant transfer tubes to transfer lubricant from the central lubricant depository to the chain drives in order to simplify the chain drive lubrication system.  
           [0013]    Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive lubrication system which is relatively simple to manufacture and install and is safe and efficient in use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention provides a chain drive lubrication system which includes a pressurized can of lubricant having a top-mounted spray nozzle and a can support structure operative to support the pressurized can of lubricant generally adjacent a chain drive with the spray nozzle aiming at the chain drive. A can securement device such as a set screw is mounted on the can support structure and is operative to releasably secure the pressurized can of lubricant in the can support structure. Furthermore, the can support structure will be generally free of spray nozzle engagement structures absent the trigger device to permit the rapid insertion and removal of cans of lubricant. Finally, a trigger device mounted on the can support structure extends above the spray nozzle and is operative to alternatively depress and release the spray nozzle thereby spraying lubricant from the pressurized can of lubricant onto the chain drive adjacent the pressurized can of lubricant.  
           [0015]    The present invention as thus described provides a substantial improvement over those devices found in the prior art. For example, the use of individual cans of pressurized lubricant make it extremely simple to replace an empty can or to repair the chain drive lubrication system should one of the cans of lubricant become inoperative. Also, because the can support structure of the present invention is generally free of spray nozzle engagement structures such as tubes or the like which are required by some devices found in the prior art to direct the lubricant onto the chain drive, the pressurized cans are quickly and easily switched when it becomes necessary to replace the cans without requiring reconnection of those spray nozzle engagement structures. Finally, because each of the trigger devices on the can support structures can be engaged separately or as a unit, chain drive specific lubrication may be performed by the present invention which many of the devices found in the prior art are not capable of. It is thus seen that the present invention provides a substantial improvement over those devices found in the prior art.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chain drive lubrication system of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a detail side elevational view of the present invention showing operation of the trigger device; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the present invention applying lubricant to the adjacent chain drive.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    The chain drive lubrication system  10  of the present invention is shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 as including a can support structure  12  which, in the preferred embodiment, would be a cylinder having a base wall  14  and circumferential outer wall  16 . It is further preferred that the can support structure  12  be constructed of a relatively heavy-gauge sheet metal to ensure longevity of the chain drive lubrication system  10 . The can support structure  12  would have a height of approximately four to eight inches and a diameter of approximately one to four inches, depending on the size of the can of lubricant which is to be supported by the can support structure  12 . Extending through outer wall  16  is a threaded bolt hole  18  into which a set screw  20  is threadably inserted. The set screw  20  is designed to extend through outer wall  16  and frictionally engage the side of the pressurized can of lubricant  50  seated within the can support structure  12  as shown best in FIG. 2. The set screw  20  is designed to perform two important functions, the first being the securement of the pressurized can of lubricant  50  within the can support structure  12  and, secondly, to ensure that the pressurized can of lubricant  50  remains in an alignment which directs the spray nozzle  52  of the pressurized can of lubricant  50  towards the chain drive  80  to which the lubricant is to be applied. In the preferred embodiment, the pressurized can of lubricant  50  would be a can having a height of approximately eight to ten inches, a diameter of approximately one and a half to two and a half inches and would include a top-mounted spray nozzle  52  which can be alternately depressed and released to release lubricant from the interior of the can. The lubricant substance may be of various kinds, such as penetrating oil, silicone spray, and other commercially available products and may be contained in a non-aerosol or aerosol form. The specific lubrication qualities of the lubricant found within the pressurized can  50  will be determined by the user of the present invention and the equipment to which the lubricant is to be applied, but it is an important feature of the present invention that it can be used with commercially available pressurized lubricant cans which are easily obtainable and easily replaceable.  
         [0020]    The trigger device  30  of the present invention is shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 as including a generally upright strut  32  which extends generally parallel with the outer wall  16  of can support structure  12  and upwards therefrom. Pivotably connected to the top end of strut  32  is a trigger bar  34  having length of approximately three to six inches and extending generally parallel with base wall  14  of can support structure  12  over and above the can support structure  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the trigger bar  34  would extend across the top of can support structure  12  above the spray nozzle  52  of the pressurized can of lubricant  50 . The underside  36  of trigger bar  34  would engage the top face of spray nozzle  52  but, because of the relatively light weight of trigger bar  34 , would not depress spray nozzle  52  to release lubricant from pressurized can of lubricant  50  when the trigger bar  34  is merely resting on the spray nozzle  52 . Instead, release of lubricant from pressurized can  50  would be performed by exerting a downward force on the outer end  38  of trigger bar  34  which would cause underside  36  of trigger bar  34  to press downwards on spray nozzle  52 , as shown best in FIG. 2. Because pressurized can  50  rests on base wall  14  of can support structure  12 , the downwards force applied to trigger bar  34  causes the spray nozzle  52  to move downwards to release lubricant from the interior of pressurized can  50 , thus coating the chain drive  80  with a lubricant film as intended by the user of the present invention.  
         [0021]    In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a manual engagement shaft  40  would depend downwards from the outer end  38  of trigger bar  34  permitting the user of the present invention to pull downwards on the manual engagement shaft  40  to force trigger bar  34  downwards engaging spray nozzle  52  to release lubricant from pressurized can  50 . Alternatively, the chain drive lubrication system  10  of the present invention may be connected through a series of mechanical linkages (not shown) to a central location on the vehicle such as a vehicle cab such that force exerted at the vehicle cab on handles located within the vehicle cab would be translated through the mechanical linkages to the trigger device  30  pulling trigger bar  34  downwards to engage spray nozzle  52  to release lubricant from pressurized can  50 . Finally, the use of electrically activated trigger mechanisms  44  are contemplated by the present invention and would preferably include a mechanical linkage  48  connected to the trigger bar  34  extending downwards to a solenoid device  46  which would, when engaged, provide downwards force to the trigger bar  34  causing spray nozzle  52  to move downwards to release lubricant from the interior of pressurized can  50 . Of course, it should be noted that numerous other types of trigger devices and nozzle activation structures may be used with the chain drive lubrication system  10  of the present invention which accomplish the intended purpose of releasing lubricant from the pressurized can  50 . For example, it may be desirable to include a rubber disk  42  or the like on the underside  36  of trigger bar  34  to engage spray nozzle  52  thus increasing the frictional contact between the spray nozzle  52  and trigger bar  34  so that the trigger bar  34  does not accidentally disengage from spray nozzle  52 . These and other similar modifications would be understood by those skilled in the art.  
         [0022]    The use of the chain drive lubrication system  10  of the present invention is relatively simple compared to those devices found in the prior art. In one illustrative example as shown in FIG. 3, can support structure  12  would be secured to the body of the farm implement to which it is to be attached via a bracket or by welding, such that the can support structure  12  is adjacent the chain drive  80  to which lubricant is to be applied. Once the can support structure  12  is affixed to the body  90  of the farm implement, trigger bar  34  is swung upwards and a pressurized can of lubricant  50  is dropped into the can support structure  12 . After the pressurized can of lubricant  50  is placed within the can support structure  12 , the spray nozzle  52  is aligned to direct lubricant onto the adjacent chain drive  80 . Set screw  20  would then be moved inwards to contact the side of pressurized can  50  and exert friction thereon to secure the pressurized can  50  within can support structure  12 . The trigger bar  34  is then swung back into engagement position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, any mechanical linkages are reconnected to permit operation of the trigger bar  34  and the chain drive lubrication system  10  is then ready for use. To apply lubricant to the chain drive  80 , the user may either manually engage trigger structure  30  or remotely engage trigger structure  30  via mechanical linkages or electrical devices as shown in FIG. 4. Trigger bar  34  would then be pulled downwards pivoting on strut  32  until the underside  36  of trigger bar  34  exerts sufficient force on spray nozzle  52  to depress it downwards to release lubricant from the interior of pressurized can  50 . Continuous downward force applied to trigger bar  34  results in continuous release of lubricant through spray nozzle  52  from pressurized can  50  until the chain drive  80  is properly lubricated and the user of the present invention is satisfied. Each of the chain drive lubrication systems  10  mounted around the body  90  of the farm implement would be engaged or disengaged in a similar manner.  
         [0023]    It is to be understood that numerous additions, modifications, and substitutions may be made to the chain drive lubrication system  10  of the present invention that fall within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. For example, the construction materials, sizes and shapes of the various elements of the chain drive lubrication system  10  may be modified or changed so long as the intended functionality of the present invention is neither degraded nor destroyed. Also, the trigger device  30  may be modified to accommodate various sizes and shapes of pressurized cans  50  although it is preferred that the chain drive lubrication system  10  of the present invention be free of all spray nozzle engagement structures except the trigger device  30  which engages the top section of spray nozzle  52  thus ensuring that the pressurized can of lubricant  50  may be quickly and easily replaced upon being emptied. Also, the present invention, although described for use in connection with farm implements, may be used with any device utilizing a chain drive system or one which requires lubrication to perform correctly. Finally, the nature of the mechanical and electrical linkages, serving as trigger engagement devices may be modified or changed depending on the farm implement or vehicle to which the present invention is to be mounted.  
         [0024]    There has therefore been shown and described a chain drive lubrication system  10  which accomplishes at least all of its intended objectives.