Abstract:
A lubricator for feeding oil from a reservoir into a live air stream passing through a supply line to a pneumatic tool. The lubricator includes a passage of uniform diameter connectible at opposite ends into the supply line, and has within the passage in the path of air flow a teardrop formed air deflector functioning to cause differential pressures to develop through a pair of connected tubes in the reservoir, whereby oil is forced from the latter through one of the tubes into the air stream. One of the tubes is manually adjustable so as to cause a variation in the differential pressures and a consequent variation in the oil volume discharged into the reservoir.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to air line lubricators such as are connected in lines feeding operating air to pneumatically operable machinery, such as rock drills and other pneumatically powered tools. 
     A general object is to provide an air line lubricator of an improved nature which is rugged in its construction, enables high oil flow, is economical to manufacture, and provides a simplified means for regulating the oil flow. 
     A feature of the invention lies in the structure of the device whereby it includes an air flow passage of uniform diameter corresponding in diameter to that of the supply line. This avoids undesirable line flow losses and the loss of tool efficiency that might otherwise develop where there is a reduction in the diameter of the air flow passage. 
     Another feature lies in the structure and organized arrangement of its components whereby it is rendered economical to manufacture. 
     A still further feature lies in efficient and practical means for selectively regulating the volume flow of lubricating oil into the air flow passage. 
     These and other features, as well as the advantages flowing therefrom, will become more apparent as this disclosure proceeds in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the accompanying drawing: 
     FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an air line lubricator embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4, is a detail in side elevation of the teardrop element shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the pressure control tube. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The air line lubricator illustrated in the drawing as embodying the invention includes a body 10 having a linear air flow passage 11 extending longitudinally through a pair of aligned pipe nipples 12, 13 extending integrally from opposite sides of the body. The pipe nipples are adapted by threads for coupling the lubricator in a supply air line 15 leading to a pneumatically operable device, such as a rock drill or the like. As indicated by the arrows, the nipple 12 serves as an inlet from the source of air supply to the passage 11 in the lubricator; and the nipple 13 serves as an outlet from the passage to the connected tool. 
     The body 10 has a mounting flange 16 about its base mounted, as by a group of bolts 17 to the top of an oil tank or reservoir 18. The body has a recess 19 in its base end so as to ensure an air space above the fluid in the reservoir. 
     Means generally indicated at 21 (FIGS. 1, 3) is incorporated into the body 10 for effecting a controlled pressurization of the oil in the reservoir and, as a consequence, causing the oil to be forced into the lubricator passage 11 and mixed with the supply air flowing through the passage. 
     The means 21 includes an air pressure control tube 22 supported in the body for relative rotation, and extending radially through the passage 11. The lower end of the tube depends slightly below the base of the body into the upper area of the reservoir. The upper end of the tube projects vertically through a cap plug 23 fitted in an access hole opening radially into passage 11. The cap plug is removably secured in place by bolts 24. 
     The tube, which has been slidably inserted into the body, is retained in place against endwise displacement by retaining rings 25 mounted at opposite ends thereof. 
     Within the passage 11 in the path of air flow is disposed a teardrop formed air deflector element 26. Through the larger diameter portion 27 of the teardrop element the tube depends with a slide fit, and has relative rotation. The teardrop portion 27 is in the form of a sleeve serving as a bushing for the tube. Fixed in a nosepiece defining the tapered portion 28 of the teardrop element is an oil discharge second tube 29. This tube depends with a slide fit through the lower portion of the body 10, and projects below the base of the latter so as to depend deeply into the oil reservoir. The nosepiece 28 of the teardrop element is defined by means of a sheet of metal of V-form, the legs of which are welded to opposite surface areas of the sleeve portion 27, as best shown in FIG. 3. 
     The two tubes 22 and 29 are positioned in parallel closely spaced relation to each other, the control tube being forwardly of the discharge tube toward the inlet end of passage 11. The vertical axes of both tubes perpendicularly intersect the horizontal or longitudinal axis of passage 11. 
     The control tube 22 has in its side wall a vertically extending port 31 which is registrable with a laterally or horizontally extending port 32 formed in the side wall of the bushing portion 27 of the teardrop element; and the discharge tube 29 has a pair of side ports 33 registering with ports 34 in corresponding sides of the nosepiece. The several ports, 32, 33, 34 are desirably at the level of the longitudinal axis of passage 11. 
     The control tube 22 is open at its bottom; and is closed at its top end by means of a cap 35. The cap is provided with a diametrically extending stem 36, which is manipulative by the operator to selectively rotate the control tube relative to the body 10 and to the teardrop element so as to adjust the angular degree of registration of port 31 in the tube with the port 32 in the teardrop element. The spaced position of both tubes in the body of the lubricator and in the teardrop element restrains the latter from rotating with the control tube. 
     It is to be noted that the outer surface of the sleeve or greater diameter portion 27 of the teardrop element faces the inlet 12 of passage 11, and the oppositely located rounded vertex end of the nosepiece 28 faces the outlet end 13 of passage 11. The lateral port 32 in the teardrop element is preferably located in the southwest quadrant or third quarter of the sleeve, as best seen in FIG. 3. The outer or greater diameter 27 of the teardrop element is relatively smaller than the inner diameter of passage 11 so as to allow inlet air to flow freely around the teardrop element to the outlet 13. 
     The teardrop element, disposed as described in the path of air flow in passage 11, causes in its deflection of the inlet air flow differential air pressures to develop in the tubes 22 and 29, with a greater pressure developing in the control tube 22 than in the discharge tube 29. This causes the oil in the reservoir to be pressurized by some of the inlet air entering into the control tube through the registered ports 31, 32; and causes the pressurized oil to be forced or drawn through the discharge tube and aspirated or discharged in a fine spray through the small side ports 33, 34 into the inlet air stream. 
     In summary of the operation of the air line lubricator: The lubricator has an &#34;Off&#34; position when the port 31 in the control tube is not registered with the port 32 in the teardrop element. When the ports are in registration, the differential pressure developing in the control tube relative to that pressure developing in the discharge tube will progressively diminish accordingly as the port 31 in the control tube is carried by angular adjustment of the control tube from an &#34;On&#34; position (FIGS. 2, 3) at the starting end of the 90° port 32 to a position 90° removed at the opposite end of the latter port. This is understandable in that, when the control tube port 31 is at the starting end (FIG. 3) of the port 32, it is on a direct line with or intersected by the longitudinal axis of the air flow through passage 11 so as to receive the full pressure or force of the inlet air stream. As the control tube port 31 is angularly adjusted or moved counterclockwise (FIG. 3) further away from the starting end, the pressure developing in the control tube diminishes; and when the control tube port 31 is registered with the terminal end of port 32 adjacent the 2nd quadrant of the bushing, the pressure differential developing in the control tube is further reduced. 
     As long as the control port 31 and teardrop element port 32 are registered, whether the registration be closer to one end or the other of port 32, the pressure differential in the control tube will be greater than that developing in the discharge tube. This is because of the location and registration of the ports 33 of the discharge tube with the ports 34 in the tapered sides of the nosepiece, where a partial vacuum or low pressure develops because of the high velocity of the air stream flowing through the passage 18 as it leaves the opposed surfaces of the wider diameter sleeve portion 27 of the teardrop element. 
     It is understandable that the greater the differential pressure developing in the control tube 22, the greater will be the oil flow through the discharge tube 29 into passage 11; and as the differential pressure is reduced by angular adjustment of the control tube, the oil flow into passage 11 is reduced accordingly. 
     It is understood that seal rings may be provided where needed to seal against leakage from passage 11 around the plug cap 23 and around the tubes 22 and 29.