Patent GB-784577-A (GB)
Title: Improved apparatus for the distribution of lubricants
IPC: F16N5/00
Filed: 1954-12-20
Abstract: 784,577. Reciprocating pumps. SOC. AUTOLUBE. Dec. 20, 1954 [Nov. 9, 1954], No. 36712/54. Class 102(1). [Also in Group XXXIV] A device for distributing very thick grease comprises a follower plate the external diameter of which is substantially equal to the internal diameter of a vessel containing grease, movable strikers mounted on the plate, and means for imparting shocks of the strikers to the follower plate. As shown in Fig. 1, a vessel 2 containing grease rests on a wheeled structure 1 supporting a tube 11 in four parts 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, screwed to one another. The tube serves as a guide for a slidable follower plate 12 which rests on the grease in the vessel 2 and is given downwardly-directed shocks to discharge the grease from the vessel. The shocks are imparted by means of a vibrator secured to the plate 12 and comprising cylinders 70 provided with pistons 71 which are raised by compressed air and returned abruptly by springs 81. The tube 11d is connected to a pot 13 formed with a recess to receive the end of a reciprocating tube 17. The tube towards its bottom end is surrounded by a flared relatively movable sleeve (not shown) which forms the basis of the invention claimed in Specification 784,578. The tube 17 is reciprocated by a compressed air motor and, as it reciprocates, grease forced out of the vessel 2 by the follower plate 12 is forced up the interior of the tube 17, passing out through apertures 19 and pipes 5, 6. The compressed air motor comprises a cylinder 29, Fig. 3, provided with a piston 37 which has a hollow axial rod 38 connected to the tube 17. The rod 38 encloses a rod 40 provided with a stop ring 41 and having limited sliding movement in the rod 38. The rod 40 is connected by a pin 43 to a member 44 which has two conical frusta 45a, 45b, one of which is surrounded by a cylindrical tension spring 46. Inside the member 44 is a rod 49 fixed to a discharge valve 53 controlling flow of air through duct 55 to atmosphere, and also fixed to a plate 56 carrying twospring-pressed valves 58a, 58b. With the parts of the device in the position shown, compressed air supplied through connection 59 flows past the valves and acts upon piston 37 to move it downwards together with tube 17. Compressed air also enters through pipe 79 and ducts 78, Fig. 1, to the space below each vibrator piston 71. Eventually the rod 40, Fig. 3, is moved downwards and the lower conical frustum 45a engages the spring 46 which expands and then engages the upper frustum 45b to move valves 58a, 58b to closed positions and valve 53 to open position. The compressed air above piston 37 therefore escapes through duct 55 and the piston, together with tube 17, is raised by spring 62, Fig. 1. Thus when compressed air is admitted to the device the tube 17 is reciprocated and the vibrator is operated to remove grease from the vessel 2. In a modification the tube through which the grease is discharged is stationary while the grease container is reciprocated the descent thereof being free or accelerated by spring action and being abruptly arrested by impact with a fixed abutment to cause settling of the grease.