Patent GB-238580-A (GB)
Title: Means for lubricating chains such as chain-conveyors, driving chains, and the like
IPC: B65G45/08
Filed: 1925-08-18
Abstract: 238,580. Tecalemit, Ltd., (Assignees of Fouquet, E.). Aug. 18, 1921, [Convention date]. Connecting fixed lubricators with moving apparatus; controlling flow of lubricant.-Lubricant is supplied to passages in the pivot pins of driving, conveyer and like chains through one or more nozzles which engage with the pins and accompany the chain for a part of its travel, a valve arranged within each nozzle preventing the discharge of lubricant except when the nozzle is in engagement with a pivot pin. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the chain 1 passes over a sprocket wheel 4 keyed to a shaft 11 to which is also secured an arm 12. A valve casing 13, to which lubricant is supplied under pressure through a passage 27 in the shaft and a flexible pipe 28, has a spherical shoulder 14 pressed against a seat in the arm 12 by a spring 16. A valve 22 within the casing 13 is normally closed by the pressure of lubricant acting on a cup-leather 24 fixed to the valve stem and by a spring 23 arranged between the valve and a nozzle 19 slidable in the casing. A lever 32 pivoted on a member 34 secured to the arm 12 and maintained in contact with the end 26 of the valve stem by a spring 33 carries at its end a roller 31 engaging the surface of a stationary cam 29. As the chain moves, the rounded head 7 of one of the pivot pins 2 of the chain comes into contact with the rounded end 15 of the casing 13 and engages in the bore of the casing, depressing the nozzle 19. The flexible mounting of the casing 13 ensures correct registration of the head 7 and the nozzle, between which is disposed a packing member 20. The cam 29 is so arranged that, when the nozzle has been depressed, the lever 32 is moved to open the valve, and lubricant then passes through the nozzle into a duct 8 in the pin 2, the entrance to which is normally closed by a spring-pressed ball 9. Before the pin leaves the wheel 4, the valve 22 closes, and when the pin and the casing 13 separate the nozzle 19 is again pressed outwards by the spring 23. The arm 12 may be provided with more than one casing 13. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, a piston valve is employed, comprising a tube 36 and a packing member 38 mounted in a sleeve 39 slidable in a sleeve 40 fixed to a flexible diaphragm 41 secured to the end of a chamber 42 on the arm 12 by a ring 43. The inner end of the tube 36 is closed by a plug 37. Lubricant is supplied to the chamber 42 through a pipe 48 from a passage 27 in the shaft, and, when the sleeve 39 is depressed by engagement with the head 7 of a pin 2, apertures in the members 36, 39, 40 are brought into alignment to permit the supply of lubricant from the chamber 42 to the duct 8. When the sleeve 39 is disengaged from the pin, the pressure of lubricant acting on the plug 37 presses the sleeve outwardly. The supply of lubricant to the chamber 42 is controlled by a valve 49 actuated by a stationary cam 50, and a fork 55 engaging a groove 54 in the cam provides for adjusting the lift of the valve by an axial movement of the cam. The arm 12 may be moved axially to bring the device out of action by a fork 53 engaging a groove 52 in a sleeve 51 secured to the arm. In a modification, the valve is arranged at right-angles to the pin. In the form shown in Fig. 5, wherein a conveyer chain has pivot pins 66, 68, the latter of which carry rollers 71 running on a rail 72, the valved nozzles are carried by the links 76 of an endless chain running on sprocket wheels 74, 75 and driven by the movement of the conveyer chain. Each link 76 forms a lubricant chamber closed by a flexible diaphragm carrying a valved nozzle 80 substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 3. The chambers in some of the links receive lubricant under pressure from a central rotating reservoir 82 through flexible pipes 81, and the chambers in the other links receive lubricant from these links through coiled pipes 85. In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the valves 80 are arranged at right-angles to the pins. The conveyer chain 86 runs between rails 93, 94 supported by axles 95, 96 in eccentrics 97, 98. By rotating the eccentrics by means of worm gear 99, the chain 86 may be moved away from the lubricating device.