Mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate

Abstract: A mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate has a principal portion (3) formed with fluid feeding holes (181) (23) of size which allows them to be easily made therein, and fluid guide means (27) (28) inserted through the fluid feeding holes (18) (23) of said principal portion (3), wherein the difference between the opening areas of the fluid feeding holes (18) (23) and the sectional areas of the fluid guide means (27) (28) forms clearances (37) (35) which serve as fluid passages.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, which is adaptable to a multiplicity of applications. 2. Description of the Prior Art In, for example, weaving machines, the shedding operations of the shedding motion means such as cam machines, Dobby machines or the like are transmitted to the harness frames through suitable transmission means to obtain the vertical movements of these harness frames, whereby the warps are allowed to make the shedding motion means. This achieves the co-weaving operation of the warps with the wefts. The transmission means, which is applied to the shedding operation of the shedding motion means is largely divided into the negative type in which a spring means is used to carry out one of the upward vertical movement and the downward vertical movement of the harness frame, and the positive type in which the harness frame is driven for both of the upward and downward vertical movements thereof. (See Official Gazette No.4-228654 to Open Inspection of Patent Applications.) In the negative type transmission means, wire is generally used as a transmission member for the shedding operation of the shedding motion means, and in order to hold the tension of this wire, pulleys are employed. The pulleys are arranged to turn reciprocatively within the limits of a predetermined angle. On the other hand, the positive type transmission means generally employs linking mechanisms as transmission means for the shedding operation of the shedding motion means, and swinging levers incorporated in the linking mechanisms are designed to swing reciprocatively within the range of a predetermined angle. The pulleys and the swinging levers are both provided with bearing members and the shafts which support them, and the bearing members or the contact surfaces of the shafts with the bearing members are arranged to be always lubricated. In generally known construction in which the bearing members and the like are lubricated, the mating shafts are axially provided with oil holes, while at the same time, the shafts have oil outflow grooves diametrically made in their positions corresponding to the bearing members engaged with them, thereby allowing the oil holes and the oil outflow grooves to be communicatively connected to each other. On the other hand, it is also known that the bearing members incorporated in the pulleys and the swinging levers are separately provided with oil holes..(See the Official Gazette mentioned in the foregoing.) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the lubricating construction described in the foregoing, in which the shafts are axially provided with oil holes, it is difficult of practice from the viewpoints of machining technique to make the oil holes which are minimized in their diameters. This difficulty is still more increased with increment of the axial length of the shafts. Therefore, the oil holes in the axial directions must inevitably be increased in their diameters. However, an increase in the diameters of the axial oil holes makes it difficult to allow lubricant to flow from them to the oil outflow grooves of smaller diameters, thereby causing frequent occurrence of oil shortage in the shafts. This results in the trouble of their heating and singe. Therefore, in order prevent such trouble, lubricant is required to be fed under a high pressure from the oil holes to the oil outflow grooves, thereby bringing about a tendency for an oil feeding system to be far more enlarged in the capacity thereof On the other hand, when the bearing members are separately arranged to be provided with oil holes, these oil holes are required to be periodically replenished with lubricant. Replenishment of lubricant necessitates the operational stoppage of, for example, weaving machines each time it is performed. This causes a drop in the operating efficiency of the machines as well as an increase in the working trouble of a machine operator. In view of the foregoing disadvantages or trouble of the conventional construction for an oil feed to the bearing members and the like, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, which can meet the requirements of an infallible, quantitatively constant and continuous feed of lubricant or other fluid with no regard to a small flow rate thereof per unit time., and also which can prevent any concomitant occurrence of the foregoing disadvantage of a drop in the operating efficiency of the machines as well as an increase in the working trouble of a machine operator. EP A 0093 493 discloses an arrangement (Figure 4) in which a tube forms a fluid passage and has fluid guide means in the form of a plurality of capillaries inserted in the tube, in which the difference between the cross-sectional areas of the tube and the sectional area of the fluid guide means forms clearances or passageways of very small cross-section which serve as fluid passages. This specification does not teach the provision of lubricating holes at intervals along the tube. Japanese Patent Application JP 7063059 discloses a fuel delivery system in which fuel is supplied through a supply passage to full arc nozzles. Excess fuel passes through the small clearance between a shaft in a bore in a main body of the delivery device to a fuel oil sump. Again, this specification does not teach the provision of lubricating holes being provided at intervals along the tube. According to the present invention there is provided a mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, according to claim 1. That is to say, in the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, the principal portion thereof in a shaft-shaped configuration is axially formed with fluid feeding holes which are relatively easily produced by simple machining, and fluid guide means in a rod-shaped configuration are inserted through the fluid feeding holes over their overall length. The resulting dimensional difference between the opening areas of the fluid feeding holes and the sectional areas of the fluid guide means creates clearances which serve as flowing passages for lubricant or other fluid which flows through the fluid feeding holes. Such a mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate facilitates the formation of the fluid feeding holes, and at the same time, ensures that clearances of minute opening areas can be obtained between the fluid feeding holes and the fluid guiding means. Moreover, the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention allows the insertion of the fluid guide means to enhance the fluid feeding pressure through the fluid feeding holes made in the shaft which is identified as the principal portion thereof, and accelerates the linear advancing movement of the fluid to the further end of the shaft. Such an arrangement in which the clearances between the inner circumferential surfaces of the fluid feeding holes and the outer circumferential surfaces of the fluid guide means are used as the fluid passages is the most effective and advantages for the application of the present invention if the principal portion thereof is shafting, and the shafting is axially formed with a main fluid passage. In this case, the main fluid passage is required to be provided with a tributary fluid passage diametrically outwardly of the principal portion such that the main fluid passage and the tributary fluid passage are communicatively connected to each other, and this tributary fluid passage can be furnished with the combined construction of the fluid feeding holes and the fluid guide means. That is to say, a first fluid feeding hole axially made in the principal portion is provided with notches in a slit-shaped configuration such that they axially intersect the principal portion at right angles. The notches are produced by simple machining operation. Therefore, the width of the notches are as created by the simple machining operation to produce the notches, and the width thus obtained suffices for embodying the present invention. This is useful to make the notches easily. The notches are formed with a communicatively connected portion to the first fluid feeding hole. Also, the notches have pad members in a plate-shaped configuration inserted into them to cover their unnecessary portions to form a fluid passage, thereby allowing a second fluid feeding hole to be formed in them such that it passes across the communicatively connected portion thereof to the first fluid feeding hole, and extends to their both outsides. Moreover, the second fluid feeding hole thus obtained has a second fluid guide means inserted therethrough. In order to apply such an arrangement, the second fluid guide means is preferably provided with an arched portion which can be protruded into the first fluid feeding hole from the second fluid feeding hole. That is to say, if the first fluid guide means which is inserted into the first fluid feeding hole is formed of a first rod member and a second rod member, the second rod member is successively inserted through the arched portions of the second fluid guide means inserted in the notches made in the shaft, the fixation of the second fluid guide means is simultaneously feasible with that of the first fluid guide means. In the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to the present invention, the shapes, dimensions and material of the principal portions and the fluid guide means are not limited to those described or shown for some preferred embodiments of the present invention which are described hereinafter. Moreover, in several preferred embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention uses lubricant as working fluid, and is applied to the weaving machines, fluid diffusing systems, the bed portions of carriages for lathes or other machine tools, needle bearings and the like. However, the working fluid and the applications of the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention are not limited to those described with respect to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Also, for example, if the principal portion of the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention is constructed such that a disposition plate member is overlaid on a framing member, and the disposition plate is formed with a plurality of fluid feeding holes in a notch-shaped configuration on the outer circumferential portion thereof, the basically same operation and effect of the present invention as described in the foregoing can be obtained. In this case, fluid guide means are inserted through the respective fluid feeding holes, and the fluid guide means are connected to one another to thereby allow the formation of a guide integrating body member. With such an arrangement, the clearances between the fluid feeding holes and the fluid guide means are plurally disposed along the direction of the surface of the disposition plate. This allows diffusible outflow and diffusible jetting of the fluid in a configuration of showering. Therefore, the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention can extend the uses thereof to a multiplicity of applying fields or phases. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged frontal sectional view of a principal portion of the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, as shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken along the line A - A of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line B - B of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the principal portion of the mechanical arrangement of Fig. 1 which shows the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig 6 is a further enlarged frontal sectional view of the principal portion of the mechanical arrangement as shown in Fig.2; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line C - C of Figure 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part (an end portion of a shaft) of the mechanical arrangement as shown in Fig. 1 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a part (a wire holder means attached to the outer circumferential portion of a pulley) of the mechanical arrangement as shown in Fig.1 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a different type hub of the pulley which is applied to the mechanical arrangement according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a frontal view showing the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to a second preferred embodinient of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a side view of the mechanical arrangement as shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 shows in the portion marked with an alphabetical symbol (a) a frontal view of a disposal plate which is applied to the mechanical arrangement according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and also shows in the portion marked with an alphabetical symbol (b) a side view of the disposal plate depicted in the (a)-marked portion; Fig. 14 shows in the portion marked with an alphabetical symbol (a) a frontal view of a guide joining body, and also shows in the portion marked with an alphabetical symbol (b) a side view of the guide joining body depicted in the (a)-marked portion; Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a bed member of, for example, a lathe to which the mechanical arrangement according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a shaft to which the mechanical arrangement according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied, with recesses located along both sides of notches; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a needle bearing to which the mechanical arrangement according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. Figs. 1 to 9 shows the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate applied according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention to the bearing portion of a pulley 2 which is one of the negative type transmission means of the shedding motion means used in a weaving machine (not shown). In this mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shaft 3 which is inserted through the pulley 2 so as to be freely rotatable with respect to the pulley 2 is formed as a principal portion of said mechanical arrangement which constitutes the core thereof. (This principal portion is hereinafter paraphrased merely as the shaft 3.) Lubricant such as grease or other similar fluid is supplied along an axially extending main fluid passage 4 which is provided internally of the shaft 3, and is fed to a bearing portion thereof through a diametrically extending tributary fluid passage 5 which is ramified from the main fluid passage 4. As shown in Fig.3, the pulley 2 is plurally used. That is to say, a plurality of pulleys 2 are consecutively attached to the shaft 3 such that the shaft 3 is inserted through their central portions. The pulleys are respectively arranged to be wound with wire 6. As shown in Figs.1, 2 and 4, each pulley 2 is provided with a pulley body 8 into which a hub 8a and a rim 8b are integrally formed from resin, a fixed bushing 10, a movable busing 11 and a disengaging means 12 which are internal elements received in a containing recessed portion 9 made in the middle portion of the hub, and a hub covering plate 14 which is attached to both sides of the hub of the pulley body 8 by means of rivets, bolts or other fastening means 13 to embrace the internal elements therein. The fixed bushing 10 and the movable bushing 11 are formed with oil grooves 15 and 16 on their contact surfaces with the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 3 such that the oil grooves 15 and 16 are communicatively connected to a tributary fluid passage 5. The pulley 2 is hereinafter described with respect to the other particular construction thereof. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the shaft 3 is provided with a first fluid feeding hole 18 extending axially thereof at an eccentric position on a sectional surface thereof, while at the same time, the shaft is formed with notches 19 in a slit-shaped configurations on an outer surface portion thereof at the same eccentric position as the first fluid feeding hole 18 is located in correspondence to the respective pulleys 2 such that the notches 19 axially intersect the outer surface of the shaft at right angles while being communicatively connected to a part of the first fluid feeding hole 18. The first fluid feeding hole 18 extends through the shaft over the overall length thereof, and is fitted with a nipple (not shown) on at least one of both open ends thereof, and if necessary, with a blanking stem 21 (Fig. 3) on the other end thereof. The first fluid feeding hole 18 is approximately 8.2 mm in the inside diameter thereof, and can easily be machined. The notches 19 have pad members 22 inserted into the whole portion thereof except the region of depth which will pass their communicatively connected portions with the first fluid feeding hole 18, thereby allowing the notches to be closed by leaving a spacing which corresponds to said region of depth. Therefore, the notches 19 and the pad members 22 form a second fluid feeding hole 23 in a square-shaped configuration which axially intersects and extends across the shaft 3 adjacently to the outer circumferential surface thereof. The pad members 22 are made from rubber, plastics or other similar elastic or elastomeric material, and are therefore allowed to be force-fitted into the notches 19 or to be bonded to the inside surfaces of the notches by using adhesives. Alternatively, the pad members may be made of a metallic material of the same kind or property as the shaft 3, and may be welded to the notches 19 after being inserted into them. In this case, there is an advantage in which a decrease in the strength of the shaft resulting from the formation of the notches 19 thereon can be prevented. The notches 19 which form the second fluid feeding holes 23 are approximately 1.5 mm in their width with a plus tolerance so that they can easily be machined. The first fluid feeding hole 18 has a first fluid guide means 27 inserted therethrough which comprises a first rod member 25 of a smaller diameter than that of the first fluid feeding hole 18 and a second rod member 26 of a smaller diameter than that of the first rod member 25. The second fluid feeding hole 23 has a second fluid guide means 28 fitted thereinto. The second fluid guide means 28 inserted through the second fluid feeding hole 23 is formed by bending to a predetermined configuration wire of a circular sectional configuration which is approximately 1.5 mm in the outside diameter thereof with a minus tolerance. The second fluid guide means 28 is bent such that a longitudinally middle portion thereof is formed with an arched portion 32a which can jut into the first fluid feeding hole 18 from the second fluid feeding hole 23 through the communicatively connected portion of each notch 19 to the first fluid feeding hole 18, the arched portion 32a is provided with main stem portions 32b which extend therefrom to both sides thereof, and each end portion of both main stem portions 32b is provided with an end portion 32c which is bent in a direction opposite the direction of the arched portion 32a so as to embrace and position the pad member 22 within the second fluid feeding hole 23. With such an arrangement, as illustrated in Figure 7, the second fluid feeding hole 23 is formed with four clearances 35 therein between the inside surfaces of the four internal corner portions thereof and the outer circumferential surface of the main stem portion 32b in the second fluid guide means 28. Therefore, it will be understood that the tributary fluid passage 5 already described in the foregoing also includes fluid passages formed by the areas of these four clearances 35. As is apparent from Fig. 6, outside both bent end portions 32 c of the second fluid guide means 28, there remains in the notch 19 a region or spacing which is not filled up by means of the pad member 22. This region is identified as a fluid passage in the shaft. However, the region is not so high in the applicability thereof to the fluid passage, because the fluid which flows through the clearances 35 mostly comes to be guided from the main stem portions 32b of the second fluid guide means 28 to both end portions 32c thereof, while remaining in proximity with the wall surfaces of the main stem portions 32b and both end portions 32c. The first fluid guide means 27 inserted into the first fluid feeding hole 18 is provided with the first rod member 25 and the second rod member 26 as described in the foregoing, and the second rod member 26 is inserted into the arched portion 32 a of the second fluid guide means 28 which juts into the first fluid feeding hole 18. The first rod member 25 is inserted through the first fluid feeding hole 18 together with the second rod member 26. It is suitable or advantageous for the embodiments of the present invention that the first rod member 25 and the second rod member 26 are made from resin of a soft physical property, rubber or other similar material, and it is optimum that both rod members are made from a material which is generally used to make oil seals. With such an arrangement, as depicted in Fig.6, the first fluid feeding hole 37 is formed with a clearance 37 therein between the inner circumferential surface thereof and the outer circumferential surface of the first rod member 25. Therefore, this clearance 37 forms the area of the fluid passage in the first fluid feeding hole 37, and corresponds to the main fluid passage 4 already described in the foregoing. In the shaft 3, the communicatively connected portions of the first fluid feeding hole 18 and the second fluid feeding holes 23 to each other are formed axially of the shaft 3 in alignment as a whole. Therefore, the arched portions 32a of the second fluid guide means 28 are arranged in alignment. For this reason, the second rod member 26 is also positioned so as to extend linearly by means of the arched portions 32a of the second fluid guide means 28. Moreover, since the second rod member 26 is linearly arranged, the first rod member 25 is also linearly disposed. As a result, the clearances 37 are formed in alignment, and this results in an advantage of a decrease in the flowing resistance of the entire fluid passage thus obtained against the flow of the fluid flowing therethrough. In practice, in order to form the main fluid passage 4 and the tributary fluid passage 5, the second fluid guide means 28 are inserted into all the notches 19 of the shaft 3 in a predetermined direction. Next, the second rod member 26 of the first fluid guide member 27 is inserted through the first fluid feeding hole 18 from one end thereof to allow the second rod member 26 to be passed in sequence through the arched portions 32 of the second fluid guide means 28. This procedure for the formation of the main fluid passage 4 and the tributary fluid passage 5 prevents any detachment of the second fluid guide means 28 from the notches 19, and also obviates any detachment of the second rod member 26 from the first fluid feeding hole 26. Moreover, the elasticity of the material from which the second rod member 26 is made allows this rod member and the second fluid guide 28 to be mutually pressed into abutment with each other. This additionally serves to precisely position the second rod member 26 and the second fluid guide member 28 in a predetermined place. Subsequently, the first rod member 25 of the first fluid guide member 27 is inserted into the other spacing than filled or occupied by means of the second rod member 26 within the first fluid feeding hole 18. Consequently, the second rod member 26 is supported by using the first rod member 25, thereby achieving the complete removal of any play of the second fluid guide members 28 within and relative to the notches 19. In the last stage of the formation of the main fluid passage 4 and the tributary fluid passage 5, the pad members 22 are inserted into all the notches 19, and are fixed to the notches by the use of a suitable means. The pad members 22 are positioned by means of the bent end portions 32 c of the second fluid guide means28, as described in the foregoing. In the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, thus made according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, if lubricant is fed from one end of the first fluid feeding hole 18 to which a nipple (not shown) is attached, this lubricant axially flows through the main fluid passage 4 along the first fluid guide member 27 (the first rod member 25 and the second rod member 26. Moreover, if the lubricant reaches each portion of the shaft which is mounted with the pulley 2, the lubricant ramifies into the tributary fluid passage 5 along the arched portion 32a of the second fluid guide means 28 which juts into the first fluid feeding hole 18 through the communicatively connected portion of the first fluid feeding hole 18 and the second fluid feeding hole 23. Moreover, in the tributary fluid passage 5, the lubricant is guided to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 3 along both bent end portions 32c of the second fluid guide member 28 from the main stem portion 32b thereof, and is fed to the oil groove 15 of the fixed bushing 10 and the oil groove 16 of the movable bushing 11, which bushings are both provided in the pulley 2. See Figs 1 and 4. The oil grooves 15 and 16 are blocked in their both circumferntial ends to form them as flow stopping portions 15a and 16a. The oil grooves 15, 16 and the flow stopping portions 15a, 16a cooperate with each other to form oil reservoirs which serve to prevent the discharge of the lubricant outside the bushings. Particularly in devices which are designed to have swinging movement through a predetermined angle, such as the pulleys of the weaving machines, it is desired to form such oil reservoirs in their bearing portions (bushings). That is to say, the oil reservoirs allow even a small amount of lubricant to achieve sufficient lubrication to the bearing portions and the mating shafts over a long period of time. This results in long-term upkeep of the function of the bearing portions (bushings) which are provided with the oil reservoirs. Internal elements provided in the containing recessed portion 9 of the pulley 2 will be briefly described with reference to Fig. 1. The fixed bushing 10 is made from Nylon or other similar resin, and is shaped such as to be ramified into two portions at the place of the fastening means 13 thereof. Each ramified portion of the fixed bushing 10 is arranged to have back pressure exerted thereupon by using backup screws 40 diametrically buried in the pulley body 8 from the outer circumferential portion thereof. Therefore, if the fixed bushing 10 is required to be adjusted in the contact pressure thereof with the shaft 3 as a result of, for example, wear or abrasion thereof, the operation of the backup screws 40 achieves adjustment of the contact pressure of the bushing 10 with the shaft 3. On the other hand, the movable bushing 11 comprises in combination a bushing body 43 and a spring case 42 which is made from Nylon or other similar resin. The spring case 42 is positioned in the containing recessed portion 9 by using a plurality of positioning protrusions 44. The bushing body 43 has the fastening means 13 inserted through an elongated hole made therein so as to slightly approach one end thereof, thereby allowing the bushing body to be moved towards or away from the shaft 3. The bushing body 43 is additionally forced against the shaft 3 by means of three springs held in the spring case 42. Also, the bushing body 43 is provided with notches 47 between every two contact positions thereof with the springs 46, and this facilitates the occurrence of deflection or elasticity in the bushing body 43 itself. The provision of this kind of movable bushing 11 in the shaft 3 furnishes the contact degree of the bushing body 43 with the shaft 3 with pliability, flexibility or other similar physical property in which the bushing body is always allowed to be brought into a predetermined suitable degree of abutment with the shaft regardless of wear or abrasion of the bushing body 43. From this, it follows that the pulley 2 has abacklash absorbing system formed in the bearing portion thereof. Also, the bushing body 43 itself is deflectable or resilient by reason of the notches 47 made therein, and this increases the pliability or flexibility to be imparted to the contact of the bushing body 43 with the shaft 3. As a result, the pulley 2 is still more enhanced in the backlash absorbing operation and effect thereof between the shaft therethrough and the mating bushings thereof. A disengaging means 12 is provided with a revolving portion 50 which is rotatably held between the hub covering plates 14 (Figs. 1 and 4), a tool engaging portion 51 which can be protruded outside the hub covering plate 14 from the revolving portion 50, and a disengaging armed member 52 which extends diametrically and outwardly of the revolving portion 50. This disengaging means 12 is provided such that the disengaging armed member 52 is inserted between the bushing body 43 of the movable bushing 11 and the fixed bushing 10 which are in proximity with each other adjacent to an end portion of the hub on the opposite side of the elongated hole 45. With such an arrangement, the contact of the disengaging armed member 52 with the fixed bushing 10 is designed to keep always enhanced by means of a spring means (not shown). The tool engaging portion 51 is arranged to have a tool such as hexagon-head wrench inserted thereinto. Therefore, if a tool is attached to this tool engaging portion 51, and is operated against the tension of the spring means (not shown yet described in the preceding), the bushing body 43 of the movable bushing 11 can be disengaged from the shaft by using the disengaging armed member 52. This disengaging means 12 is required to be operated when the connecting angle of the shaft 3 and the pulley is adjusted, and particularly when the oil grooves 15, 16 of the bushings 10, 11 and those (not shown) of the shaft 3 are brought into alignment with each other. In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to facilitate adjustment of the mounting angle of the pulley 2 to the shaft 3, a projection 55 serving as a guide for the adjustment of the mounting angle is provided at a portion of the pulley body 8 which is not wound with the wire 6, as shown in Figure 2, while at the same time, as depicted in Fig. 8, the shaft 3 is provided with a tool engaging notch 56 at one end portion thereof, and a jig 57 such as formed in a spanner-shaped configuration which can be engaged with this notch 56 is provided as an accessory component part. Moreover, in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9, the pulley is provided with a wire holding means 60 at a portion thereof at which the wire 6 is coiled around the pulley 2, to thereby keep the relative position of the pulley 2 to the wire 6 constantly unchanged. As is best illustrated in Fig.9, this wire holding means 60 comprises a wire passing means 61 in a frame-shaped configuration, a bolt means 62 threadably engaged with the wire passing means 61, and a clearance adjusting means 63 which can regulate the clearance adjustably formed within the wire passing means 61 by using the bolt means 62 to pass the wire 6 therethrough. The wire passing means 61 is provided with a keel member 65 protruded towards the bottom of a rim portion 8b of the pulley body 8 from the central portion of the bottom thereof which is arranged to be brought into abutment with the rim portion 8b of the pulley body 8. On the other hand, the pulley body 8 is formed with a positioning notch 67 in the rim 8b thereof, and this positioning notch 67 can be engaged with the bottom portion of the wire passing means 61, and a keel receiving hole 68 which is allowed to have the keel member 65 inserted therethrough. With such an arrangement, once the positioning of the wire 6 relative to the wire holding means 60 is adjusted, the relative position of the wire holding means 60 to the pulley can be unchangeably maintained, and this allows the wire to be invariably held with respect to the pulley 2. In the negative type weaving machines, the wire holding means 60 inevitably needs to be provided. The reason for this need is that it is necessary to prevent any abrasion of the wire 6 which may be caused by an occurable reverse rotation of the pulley 2. That is to say, in this first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pulley 2 is provided with the fixed bushing 10 and the movable bushing 11 in the bearing portion thereof for the shaft 3 instead of a roller or ball bearing which is generally used for a shaft receiving portion in machinery. In the pulley 2 to which the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied, the employment of the fixed bushing and the movable bushing to the pulley 2 can remove a disadvantage of wear or abrasion of these bushings and therefore that of the mating shaft by using the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to the present invention, while on the other hand, rotational resistance of the pulley 2 against the shaft 3 can not be so much diminished as when a ball or roller bearing is applied although the application of the roller or ball bearing to the pulley easily causes a backlash between the pulley and the mating shaft, because the bearing rollers or balls can easily be worn out or abraded. Therefore, in the transmission means of the shedding motion means for the weaving machines, or other similar devices in which there is the risk that reversely rotational force instantaneously occurs on the shaft such as to make an impact thereupon, the rotational resistance of the pulley 2 against the shaft 3 occasionally causes the pulley 2 to undergo simultaneous sudden reverse rotation with the reverse rotation of the shaft 3. This threatens instantaneous yet excessive abrasion of the wire 6, and may cause a decrease in the durability or service life of the wire 6. However, the application of the wire holding means 60 allows the prevention of abrasion of the wire 6, and achieves a suitable amount of slide of the wire 6 with respect to the pulley 2. The wire holding means 60 is opposed to the projection 55 serving as a guide for the adjustment of the mounting angle of the pulley 2 to the shaft 3, such that the shaft 3 is interposed between the wire holding means 60 and the projection 55. This allows the pulley 2, or the wire holding means to be easily and infallibly positioned with respect to the wire 6. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the hub 8a of the pulley body 8 is formed with an opening portion 70 of a large diameter, and this opening portion 70 as a regularly octagonal core-like hub member 71 of some thickness inserted thereinto. This hub member 71 is provided with the tool receiving portion 9. Also, the core-like hub 71 is formed with a shoulder portion 72 on the outer circumferential portion of each of both sides thereof such that the shoulder portion 71 edges the outer circumferential portion of each side of the bush 71. The hub covering plate 14 attached to each side of the hub of the pulley body 8 is provided with a regularly octagonal positioning aperture 73 which can have the shoulder portion 72 of the core-like hub member fitted thereinto. With such an arrangement, the relative fitting angle of the hub covering plate 14 and the core-like hub member 71 can be selected from eight kinds of angles which accurately divide the circumference of the hub covering plate 14 into eight equal parts. As a result, the mounting angle of the shaft 3 and the core-like hub member 71 is decided in preference, while on the other hand, the engaging angle of the pulley body 8 with the core-like hub member 71 is available as eight kinds. This facilitates large alteration of the angle through which the wire is wound to the pulley body8. Fig. 11 to 14 show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the mechanical arrangement for flowing fluid at a minute flow rate according to the present invention is applied to the head portion of a fluid diffusing system or nozzle means. In this mechanical arrangement according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a principal portion 110 which forms the nucleus of the mechanical arrangement is provided with a framing member 112 and a disposition plate member 113. The principal portion 110 is combined with a guide integrating body member 116 in which a plurality of fluid guide means 115 are integrally connected to one another, and the fluid guide means 115 are arranged to be coupled to the end portion of a fluid feeding pipe 117 or other equivalent. The framing member 112 of the principal portion 110 is in a configuration of a square-shaped frame, and an opening portion 119 within the frame of the framing member 112 is also in a square-shaped configuration. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 13, the disposition plate member 113 is formed in a configuration of a planely square-shaped and sideways T-shaped base which comprises a large-sized base portion 113a on the front side thereof and a small-sized base portion 113b on the reverse side thereof The small-sized base portion 113b is formed such as to have plane size and thickness which allow it to be precisely fitted into the opening portion 119 of the framing member 112. The disposition plate member 113 is formed with slots 123 such that they extend therethrough in the direction of the thickness thereof from the outer circumferential surface of the large-sized base portion 113a to that of the small-sized base portion 113b. Therefore, if this disposition plate member 113 is overlaid on the framing member 112 so that the small-sized base portion 113b is fitted into the opening portion 119 of the framing member, the outer circumferential surface of the small-sized base portion 113b is brought into contact with the inner circumferential edge portion of the opening portion 119, and the respective slots 123 are inserted into the opening portion 119 of the framing member 112, thereby allowing the large-sized base portion 113a to cover this opening portion 119. On the other hand, the guide integrating body member 116 is provided with netting farming horizontal portions 116a made of wire of such thickness as to allow them to be inserted through the slots 123, rising portions 116b formed by bending the wire materials upwardly which are in effect the horizontal portions, and engaging portions 113b outwardly bent at the end portions of the respective outermost rising portions 116b. The wire netting formed by means of the horizontal portions 116a has the substantially same plane size as the small-sized base portion 113b of the disposition plate member 113. Each mesh of the wire netting is formed such that the length of each side thereof is equal to the distance between every two slots 123 made in the disposition plate member 113. Also, the rising portions 116b is designed to have height which is identical to the thickness of the small-sized base portion 113b. With such an arrangement, if the disposition plate member 113 is inserted into the framing member 112 by interposing the guide integrating body member 116 therebetween, the rising portion 116b and the engaging portion 116c of the guide integrating body member 116 are respectively inserted through the slots 123, thereby allowing the fluid guide means 115 to be formed. As a result, the difference between the opening areas of the slots 123 and the sectional areas of the rising portions 116b of the fluid guide means 115 make clearances which serve as fluid passages. In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of fluid passages are formed along the outer circumferential surface of the disposition plate member, as described in the foregoing. Therefore, the outflow or jet of fluid which is fed through the fluid diffusing system or nozzle incorporating therein the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to the present invention is feasible in the direction of surface. Consequently, the fluid diffusing system according to the present invention achieves a diffusion of fluid flowing therethrough, in a variety of diffusing states including spraying to showering. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the framing member 112 may have a guide body 130 in a pyramid-shaped configuration attached to the rear thereof to allow it to jut into the fluid feeding pipe. In this case, the fluid will be guided to the rising portions 116b of the fluid guide means 115 from the fluid feeding pipe 117 along the guide body 130, and this accelerates the guide of the fluid to the fluid diffusing system. Also, in this second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the principal portion 110 and the guide integrating body member 116 are formed in a quadrilateral configuration. However, they may be shaped in a circular or disk-shaped configuration, and a fluid discharging passage connected to the fluid diffusing system may be arranged in a circular configuration. Moreover, the guide body 130 may be formed in a cone-shaped configuration instead of a pyramid-shaped configuration, and if the fluid discharging passages are disposed in a circular configuration, the guide body 130 is more desired to be of a cone-shaped configuration. The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to the present invention is not limited to the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention. For example, if the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention is applied as a fluid feeding means to mechanical devices or machinery, as shown and described in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the applicable fluid is not limited to lubricant, and water, oil or gas such as employed for the use of cooling or washing can be applied. If the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention is applied in the form of the second preferred embodiment thereof, it can be used for the use of fuel jet in an internal combustion engine, and as a variety of washing apparatus, water and air showering devices and the like, a wider range of fluid can be applied. Also, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention can be applied to the suction of fluid as well as the outflow and jetting of fluid. As is apparent from the foregoing description, the mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate according to the present invention is made such that the shaft of a principal component thereof has the fluid feeding holes made therein, and the fluid guiding means are inserted through the fluid feeding holes, to thereby form clearances which serve as fluid passages by using the dimensional difference between the opening areas of the fluid feeding holes and the sectional areas of the fluid guiding means. Therefore, the fluid feeding hole are such as to be easily made in the shaft, and moreover, the fluid passages can be minimized in their opening areas to achieve a minute flow rate for fluid flowing through them. This produces a great advantageous effect of the present invention. That is to say, any devices, machines or systems comprising in combination the shafting and the bearing portion can be more greatly reduced in their backlash between their shafting and their bearing portions engaged therewith if the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention is applied to the combined mechanism of the shafting and the bearing portions with each other. That is because the mechanical arrangement of the present invention only allows a minute flow rate of lubricant feed to the outer circumferential surface of the shafting, and the lubricant is held in the fluid feeding holes made in the shafting over a longer period of time. If the principal portion is formed in a shaft-shaped configuration to allow the clearances for the fluid passages to extend axially thereof, the principal portion is required to be provided with the diametrically extending tributary fluid passage to guide the fluid from the clearances of the fluid passages to the outside of the principal portion. In this case, the tributary fluid passage can incorporate the combined structure of the fluid feeding hole and the fluid guide means with each other. This can obtain the same advantage of the present invention as described in the foregoing. If the principal portion of the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention is constructed such that the framing member and the disposition plate member are overlaid on each other, and the disposition plate member is formed with a plurality of fluid feeding holes in a notch-shaped configuration in the outer peripheral portion thereof, these fluid feeding holes dispose a plurality of clearances relative to the fluid guide means, and these clearances extend in the direction of surface. This achieve diffusing outflow or jetting of the fluid as showering. The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, according to the present invention can be also applied to carriages for lathes or other similar machine tools. Fig. 15 shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the machanical arrangement according to the present invention is applied to a bed member of, for example, a lathe. In Fig. 15, a pad member 22 is inserted into the second fluid feeding hole (not shown) made as shown and described for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. A pad member 22a is inserted through the second fluid feeding hole to form a clearance which serves as a fluid passage. The second fluid guide means applied in the first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown at 28a, and extend through the clearance via the first guide means 27 to both sides thereof such that both end portions of the second fluid guide means 28a are flush with the outer surface of the bed member or located slightly below this outer surface of the bed portion. If both end portions of the second fluid guide means 28a are located slightly below the outer surface of the bed portion, recessed portions are formed on the outer surface of the bed member, and they respectively serve as oil reservoir means. This is true of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention which is already described in the foregoing. Fig. 16 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of recesses 152 are provided along both sides of notches 19 which have pad members 22 inserted into them although the other components and their arrangements remain identical to those of the mechanical arrangement according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The recesses 152 serve as oil reservoir means in the same way as the recessed portions provided in the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Such oil reservoir means render great services to allow oil to be retained for a longer period of time between the shafting and the mating bearing portion thereof to which the mechanical arrangement according to the third and fourth preferred embodiments of the present invention is applied. Fig. 17 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the mechanical arrangement according to the present invention is applied to a needle bearing. In the needle bearing shown in Fig. 17, lubricant which flows out of the tributary fluid passage made in the shaft engaged therewith is retained in clearances 154 between needles 158. That is to say, the clearances 154 act as oil reservoir means, and this allows the needle bearing and the mating shaft thereof to be extended in their service lives to a longer period of time.

Claims: A mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate, provided with a principal portion (3) formed with fluid feeding holes (18, 23) of size which allows them to be easily made therein, and fluid guide means (27) (28) inserted through the fluid feeding holes (18) (23) of said principal portion (a), wherein the difference between the opening areas of the fluid feeding holes (18) (23) and the sectional areas of the fluid guide means (27) (28) forms clearances (37) (35) which serve as fluid passages, the principal portion (3) is formed in a shaft-shaped configuration, and is provided with an axially extending main fluid passage (4) and a tributary fluid passage (5) therein which is communicatively connected to the diametrical outside portion of the principal portion from the main fluid passage (4), the main fluid passage (4) is formed by the clearances (37) between the inner circumferential surface of a first one of the fluid feeding holes (18) axially extending through at least one end of the principal portion (3) and the outer circumferential surface of a rod-shaped fluid guide member (26) of a smaller diameter than the first fluid feeding hole (18) which is inserted through the fluid feeding hole (18) over an overall length of the fluid feeding hole (18), characterized in that the tributary fluid passage (5) is provided with a slit-shaped notch which axially intersects at right angles the first fluid feeding hole (18) made axially of the principal portion (3) from the outer surface of the principal portion and which has a width to allow them to be easily made, a pad member (22) in a plate-shaped configuration which is fitted into the notch (19) to cover an unnecessary portion, thereby forming a second one of the fluid feeding holes (23) which extends over a communicatively connected portion within the notch (19) to the first fluid feeding hole (18) to both sides of the notch (19), a second fluid guide mean (28) which is inserted through the second fluid feeding hole (23) formed by means of the notch (19) and the pad member (22). The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that the second fluid guide means (28) is provided with an arched portion (32b) which can be protruded into the first fluid feeding hole (18) out of the second fluid feeding hole (23), and a first fluid guide means (27) inserted into the first fluid feeding hole (18) comprises in combination a second rod member (26) which is inserted through the arched portion (32b) of the second fluid guide means (28), and a first rod member (25) which is passed through the first fluid feeding hole (18) in the other place than that through which the second rod member (26) is inserted. The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the principal portion (3) is axially provided with a plurality of tributary fluid passages (5) at predetermined intervals of place, and each tributary fluid passage (5) is fitted with a suitable actuator body through a suitable bearing member therearound. The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate as set forth in claim 1, characterised by that the principal portion (110) is provided with a framing member (112) and a disposition plate member (113) in which the outer circumferential portion thereof is bought into abutment with the inner circumferential edge portion of an opening portion (11) in the framing member (112) to allow the opening portion (11) to be closed, and the disposition plate member (113) is formed with a plurality of fluid feeding holes (123) in a notch-shaped configuration which extend therethrough in the direction of the thickness thereof from their outer circumferential portions into the opening portion (11) in the framing member (112), and also, the fluid feeding holes (123) have fluid guide means (115) inserted through them to connect them to one another, thereby forming a guide integrating body member (116). The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that a plurality of recesses (152) are provided along both sides of notches (19) which have pad members (22) inserted into them. The mechanical arrangement for feeding fluid at a minute flow rate as set forth in any of claims I to 5, characterized by that the principal portion (3) is inserted through a needle bearing and the tributary fluid passage (5) is arranged to allow clearances between needles to retain in them lubricant which flows out thereof.

Inventors: YOKOI JUNICHI, YOKOI, JUNICHI
Applicants: YOKOI IND INC, YOKOI INDUSTRIES INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F16N21
IPC codes: D03C13, F16N21, F16N7