Patent GB-726484-A (GB)
Title: Couplings for use with lubrication nipples
IPC: F16N21/04
Filed: 1953-06-30
Abstract: 726,484. Grease-gun couplings. TECALEMIT, Ltd. (Tecalemit Soc. Anon.). June 30, 1953, No. 18149/53. Class 99 (1). [Also in Group XXXIV] An arrangement for coupling a coupler having an injector.with a lubricating nipple of the type comprising a member of deformable resilient material provided with a normally-closed axial passage, is characterized in that the member is shaped to guide the tip of the injector, or of the coupler or part thereof in which the injector is arranged, in such a manner as to bring the injector tip near to the inlet orifice of the axial passage, and this passage is of such length that it acts to embrace and to form a lubricant-tight seal with a substantial proportion of the effective length of the tip of the injector when the tip is inserted through the passage., In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the nipple 1 is provided with a member 4 of deformable material formed with an axial passage 7 and having its upper portion 8 cup-shaped to guide the tip of the lubricant injector towards the passage 7. The cup is preferably covered by a metal member 9. The injector tip, as shown in Fig. 5, may have at its.inner end a ball 15 arranged to swivel in a housing formed by the inner surface of the nose 17 of the coupler 16 and by a flexible packing 18. The coupler may be integral with the injector tip and attached to a lubricant supply conduit by a flexible hose. In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the injector tip 11 forms part of a grease gun 21 provided with a nozzle 22 the nose of which is rounded to guide the nozzle on to the metal member 9 and effect sealing contact with the upper central portion of the member 4. Manual pressure on the grease gun causes the injector tip 11 to penetrate the member 4. In an alternative arrangement penetration is effected by the pressure of the lubricant. In the construction shown in Fig. 11, the injector tip 11 is protected against damage if the lubricating device were used inadvertently against a hard body. The coupler is attached to a lubricant compressor 36 provided with a filter 37 from which the lubricant passes to a flexible conduit 39 opening into a tube 41. The tube is slidably mounted in a tube 42 integral with a casing 43 and has a slot 44 for movement of the flexible conduit 39 as the tube 41 slides. The tube 41 has a flange 46 for guiding the tube as it slides and at its lower end is slidably mounted within a protective nozzle 47. Between the flange and the nozzle is a spring 48 surrounding the tube 41 and above the flange is a stronger spring 51 located between the flange and a plug 50 screwed into the top of the tube 42. When pressure is applied against the nipple the spring 48 is compressed, the end of the nozzle 47 and the end of the tube 42 are brought against the upper face of the nipple and the injector tip 11 is passed through the axial passage in the deformable member in the nipple. If the coupler is inadvertently applied against a hard surface, the lower end of the injector tip will eventually be pressed against this surface and the pressure will be taken up by the stronger spring 51. In an alternative construction, Fig. 14, the protection of the injector tip is ensured by shaping the lower end of the outer tube 54 in the form of an umbrella which at various maximum angular positions engages tangentially the lateral surface of the upper portion 56 of the nipple 1.