Patent GB-282984-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for lubricating "bowden wire" mechanism
IPC: F16C1/24
Filed: 1927-01-05
Abstract: 282,984. Lees, A. M. Jan. 5, 1927. Force-feed lubricating.-Lubricant supplied to a chamber receiving a Bowden-wire casing is forced into the casing by means operated directly or indirectly by the member operating the mechanism. In the form shown in Fig. 1, wherein an operating lever 1 is pivoted on a body member 4, the casing 7 of the cable is held in the inner end of the member 4 and the wire 2 passes through a cylindrical chamber 10 to engage the lever, a piston 3 being secured to the wire within the chamber. When the lever is operated, the piston moves beyond a hole 6, whereby lubricant may be introduced to the space in front of the piston. On releasing the lever, the piston moves back over the hole 6 and forces the lubricant into the casing 7. In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder 10 is separate from the member 4 and is provided with an extension 16 engaging a recess in the member. The cylinder may be in two parts clamped together. In another modification, a piston secured to the wire is provided with teeth engaged by teeth on the lever, while in a further modification the chamber 10 is in the form of a bellows which is collapsed by movement of the lever. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the cable casing 7 extends into a cylindrical hole 10 in the lever 1 and acts as a stationary piston, the casing being secured in a member 18 pivoted on the body member 4. If the inlet hole 6 is provided with a non-return valve, it may be arranged in the position 6<a>. In another form, for use at an intermediate point of a cable, the wire passes over and is attached to a, grooved pulley mounted in a lubricant chamber formed with cylindrical projections in which the ends of the 'cable casing are secured and in which pistons secured to the wire operate. As applied to a twist-grip control, a hollow plunger 10, Fig. 12, has teeth 46<a> engaging spiral grooves in the grip 27, the casing 7 of the cable being secured in the outer end of the plunger and the wire 2 passing therethrough for attachment to a piston 3 held stationary in the body member 4. When the grip 27 is rotated, the plunger 10 is drawn on to the piston 3, forcing lubricant introduced through the hole 6 into the casing 7. In the combined twist-grip and lever mechanism shown in Fig. 13, the grip 27 is mounted on a tube 30 held stationary on the handle-bar. Projections 32 on the outer end of a member 33, which at its other end constitutes a piston movable in a cylinder 34 mounted within the handle-bar, project through slots 31 in the tube 30 and engage spiral slots in the grip 27. The casings 7 of two cables are secured in the head of the member 34, the wire 2 of one of them being anchored to the member 33 and the wire 2<1> of the other extending through the member 33 to engage the lever 1. A lubricant inlethole 6 in the member 34 registers with holes in the members 27, 30 and in the handle-bar. Movement of the grip 27 forces lubricant introduced into the member 34 into the casing 7. In the modification shown in Fig. 15, the part 33, which does not operate as a piston, is formed in two or more parts to each of which a wire 2 is attached. The cable casings 7 are held in recesses in a member 44 within the handle-bar, which recesses communicate with a chamber 45. A third wire 2<1> passes through a tube 46 to the lever 1, the tube 46 communicating with a cylinder 47 in the outer end of the member 30, and a piston 48 secured on the wire 2<1> moves in the cylinder 47. In this case, movement of the lever 1 forces lubricant, introduced into the cylinder 47 through a hole 6, along the tube 46 to the chamber 45 and casings 7.