Abstract:
A sequential programmable lubrication dispenser system using a remote multiple ported rotary distributor in communication with a number of independent lubrication points. The multi-point distributor is supplied lubricant under pressure by an independent remote lubrication pump. Both lubrication pump and the rotary distributor have independent motorized activation that are sequentially linked by a programmable central controller. Rotary distributor has an apertured distributor disk that rotatably engages each of the multiple discharge ports allowing pressurized lubricant to flow out to multiple lubrication points at the pre-selected times.

Description:
[0001]    This patent claims foreign priority based on German Gebrauchsmusters No. 201 05 885.5, filed Apr. 4, 2001.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    This invention relates to lubrication of industrial machines which require multiple lubrication points on a reoccurring schedule to assure proper operation and reduce wear between critical moving parts such as bearings and joints.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0005]    Prior art devices that have been developed for the reoccurring lubrication of multiple lubrication points have been directed to point of use self-contained systems that are installed at each lubrication point. Such automatic systems typically have a self-contained lubricant drive means and some have a sequential timer that can be preset to activate and apply lubricant in a periodic manner, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,271,528, 5,386,883, 5,409,084, 5,634,531 and 5,971,229.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,386,883 and 5,409,084 use a gas generating cartridge to supply pressure to a piston that delivers lubricant to a lubrication point.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,271,528, 5,634,531 and 5,971,229 utilize an electric motor that advances a distributor piston within a pre-filled reservoir of lubricant which is then metered out to lubrication points.  
           [0008]    A number of prior art devices utilize multi-point distribution of lubricant using a variety of mechanical activation systems and sequential point selection, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 768,529, 791,418,1,862,164, 1,886,067, 3,217,835, 4,286,691, 4,632,448, 4,944,367 and 5,181,585 which are incorporated by reference herein.  
           [0009]    Applicant&#39;s own pending application Ser. No. 09/747,140, filed Dec. 22, 2000 is directed to a self-contained multi-port lubrication dispenser having a multiple port rotary distributor with a motor driven piston that pressurize a lubricant reservoir and a rotating distributor manifold that successively registers with each of the multiple discharge ports. The motor has an on-board timer and self-contained power supply for periodic activation in selectable timing sequences.  
           [0010]    Applicant&#39;s German Gebravuchsmusters No. 201 05 885.5, filed Apr. 4, 2001 which is directed to a device for distribution of lubricant having multi-port distribution housing with a distributor disk that is selectively rotated by a motor allowing lubricant to be distributed through aligned portals. Lubricant is supplied to the distributor housing by an integral pressurized lubrication reservoir.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    A multi-point programmable lubrication system for use in lubricating remote lubrication points on machines and the like. The lubrication system utilizes programmable interlinked independent multiple lubricant distributors having multiple outlet ports in communication with multiple lubrication points. A central lubrication reservoir and pump supplies lubricant under pressure to remote distribution distributors. Both the lubrication pump and distributor are controlled from a central programmable controller having co-dependent interval and cyclability. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a graphic side elevational view of the lubrication pump and distributor of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lubrication pump;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a top plan cross-sectional view of the cam activated pump portion of the lubrication pump on lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the distributor of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the indexing outlet portals with portions broken away; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic block flow diagram of the control circuit associated with the lubrication system. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a multi-point lubrication system  10  can be seen having a central lubrication reservoir and a pump assembly  11  and a motorized multiple distributor assembly  12 . The multiple point distributor assembly  12  is adapted to receive a plurality of outlet fittings  13 , each of which connect with a lubrication point of a machine to be lubricated (not shown). The lubrication reservoir and pump assembly  11  has a base  14  with a central recessed portion  15  therein. An annular channel  16  extends about the recessed portion  15  within a top engagement surface  17  of the base  13 . A lubricant reservoir  18  is formed by a storage cylinder  19  and recessed portion  15  which is sealingly positioned within the channel  16  by a gasket-sealing element  20  within. An annular closure  21  having a corresponding annular channel  21 A and an internal sealing gasket  20  is engageable on the free end of the cylinder  19 . A plurality of locking rods  22  are threadably engaged between the base  14  and the closure  21  securing the cylinder  19  therebetween in a sealing relationship therewith, as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The base  14  has a fluid pump  23  threadably secured within. The fluid pump  23  is well known within the art as a piston pump which are commercially available, an example of which is manufactured by Vogel AG of Berlin, Germany.  
         [0019]    As noted, such fluid pumps  23  of this type utilize a reciprocating spring urged piston and one-way ball valves and so well understood by those skilled in the art that further explanation or illustration is not required.  
         [0020]    The pump  23  has a reciprocating plunger pin  24  extending therefrom within the recess portion  15  of the lubrication reservoir  18  as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. An activation arm  25  pivotally extends from a support post  26  for engagement with the plunger pin  24  as will be hereinafter described.  
         [0021]    An activation cam  27  has a cammed surface  27 A that is positioned within the recessed portion  15  so as to be selectively engageable with the activation arm  25  during cam rotation. The cam  27  has an integral drive shaft  28  extending therefrom through a sealing aperture  29  in the base  13 .  
         [0022]    A motor mounting bracket  30  is secured to and extends from the bottom surface  31  of the base  14 . A drive motor  32  and interconnected gear box  33  are positioned on the mounting bracket  30  being interconnected to the cam drive shaft  28 .  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the multi-port distribution assembly  12  can be seen having an annular housing  34  with a contoured sidewall  35  and integral bottom  36 . The sidewall  35  has an annular O-ring seat  37  in its upper surface  35 A and corresponding O-ring  38  within. The bottom  36  has a plurality of annularly spaced apertures A within. Each of the apertures A has an enlarged internally threaded manifold outlet  39 . Each manifold outlet  39  is adapted to receive the fitting  13  by which a line  40  extends and is in communication with a prescribed lubrication point (not shown) is to be lubricated by the multi-point distributor  11 .  
         [0024]    A distributor disk  41  is positioned within the housing  34  so that the disks lower face  42  seats upon the bottom  36  lower face  43 . The distributor disk  41  comprises a circular plate  44  with an integral drive stem  45  extending axially therefrom. The drive stem  45  has a registration slot  46  within its end for inner engagement with a drive spindle  47 . The distributor disk  41  has a contoured opening at  48  within its circular plate  44 . It will be evident that as the disk  41  rotates, the contoured opening  48  will selectively register with each of the apertures A successively as best seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A spring  49  is positioned on the drive stem  45  so as to apply constant pressure to the disk  41  against the bottom lower face  43 .  
         [0025]    A cap plate  50  is secured to the top surface  35 A of the wall  35  and has a particular opening CA within through which the drive spindle  47  extends. Seating rings  51  are provided about the drive spindle  47  to maintain a seal and thus define a pressurized distribution chamber  52  within the housing  34 .  
         [0026]    A lubricant inflow inlet  53  and associated interconnected fittings  54  are within the cap plate  50  and is interconnected to the lubrication pump  11  by a conduit  55  indicated by the inflow arrow IA and illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.  
         [0027]    A motor mount  56  is secured to and extends from the upper surface  57  of the cap plate  50 . An electrical drive unit  58  illustrated graphically is positioned on the motor mount  56 . The electrical drive unit  58  comprises an electric motor  59  and a gear reduction assembly  60  for driving the drive spindle  47 .  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a central control unit  61  is interconnected with the respective motor assemblies  32 A and  58  defining a control circuit C operating same. The controller  61  includes a programmable time circuit  62  operable to periodically activate the respective motor assemblies  32 A and  58  causing the cam  27  and pump  11  to rotate engaging the pivot arm  25  and corresponding pump pin  24  pumping lubricant L from within the lubrication reservoir  18  to the distributor  12  maintaining lubricant pressure within the chamber  15 . Simultaneously, the motor  59  engages the drive spindle  47  via the gear box  60  and interconnected disk spindle  45  with the distributor disk  41 . Lubricant L under pressure is displaced through the respective aperture ports A as the contoured opening  48  and the disk  44  successfully registers with each of the apertures A as hereinbefore described. The lubricant flows through the fittings  40  into the lubrication transport lines attached thereto and out to the respective remote lubrication points (not shown). It will be seen that as the contoured opening  48  will be registered fully with only one aperture A at a time, it is also noted that the leading edge  63  of an opening A 1  may begin to register with adjacent opening A 2  before the trailing edge  64  of the aperture has completed its registration with the previous opening A 1  as seen in broken lines in FIG. 5 of the drawings. This will keep delivery pressure of the lubricant L from pulsating during lubrication operation.  
         [0029]    The controller  61  can be programmed to provide a variety of different operational lubricant criteria in which both the lubrication interval defined as the time between cycles i.e. daily, monthly, etc. are available as well as the cycle time i.e. the actual duration of the lubrication transfer thus the amount can be selectively determined and programmed accordingly.  
         [0030]    It will be evident to those skilled in the art that relative size and spacing of the openings A, A 1  and A 2  and the relative size of the contoured opening  48  will determine the amount i.e. duration of lubricant to a corresponding remote lubrication point. By being programmable, the controller  61  can provide any lube cycle required to match the machine and its user environment.  
         [0031]    It is often advantageous to have many short lubrication cycles for a lubrication point rather than a few longer lubrication cycles thus reducing required maintenance and increase the useful life of the machine.  
         [0032]    It will thus be seen that a new and useful multi-point lubrication distribution system has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.