Improvements in Grease Cups.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grease Cups.
1 EDWIN HENDRY BENNERS of 150 Orchard Street, Elizabeth in the County of
Union and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improvement in grease-cups, the object being to provide
a cup of simple and inexpensive construction, consisting of comparatively few parts,
and so disposed that the pressure upon the grease may be regulated and varied,
to the end that uniform feed of the semi-soft lubricating compound is insured at
all times.
A further object is to provide means whereby the amount of grease contained in the
cup is constantly exposed to view, and the grease is prevented from working above
the plunger without being detected, and, further, to provide for easily and quickly
replenishing the cup.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel features of con-
struction and combinations of parts, as will be herein-after described, and pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a
vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a view in section of the plunger. Figures 4
and 5 are side elevations of different forms of the cup, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view
of a modification.
A represents the barrel or body of the cup, which preferably has openings 1 in its
sides, and is lined with a cylindrical glass container 2, in which the grease or other
lubricating compound is contained. While a cylindrical metal container might
be employed in lieu of the glass container, the latter is preferable, and when used
great care is taken to make the glass exactly cylindrical in shape and true inside
so that the plunger will exactly fit its inner walls at every point. The glass cylinder
fits well up into the head 3 at one end, and it is held in place by a threaded metal
washer 4, which screws into the other end of the barrel back of the cylinder.
Between this cylinder and metal washer a thin packing-ring 6, of leather or other
soft material, is placed to form a grease-tight joint to prevent the escape of grease.
A base 7, preferably having a slightly-conical bottom is furnished with a threaded
flange 9 at its edge, by which it is screwed onto the lower end of the barrel A. The
usual screw threaded stem or tap 10 projects from this base, by which it is affixed to
the part of the machine to be oiled or greased. In this stem the aperture 11, for con-
ducting the grease from the container to the machinery, is formed, and a small
plug-valve 12, lying across this passage, may be turned to control the feed. Or the
plug valve may run entirely across the base shown in Figures 1, and 2 having a small
bolt head on one end and a rivet head on the other end.
Instead of the customary milled head on this valve by which to turn it, the plug is
cut off about flash with the portion of the stem wherein it is located, and furnished
with a slit 13, like a screw head, so that it requires a screw-driver or other special
instrument to turn it, the advantage derived being that all careless tampering with
the valve is prevented.
A plunger 14 is fitted inside the container, and to insure a perfect fit for preventing
the passage of grease above the plunger is provided with a packing-ring 15, of fibre,
leather, or their equivalents. A convenient means for attaching this packing-ring is
that shown, in which the plunger is provided with a flange 24 fixed on the body of the
lunger, and ring 25 adapted to screw on the body of the plunger a certain distance
nd hold the packing-ring tightly in place in a recess formed for it between the flange
nd the removable ring.

page_text: The object of this special arrangement is to facilitate the removal and renewal of the
packing-ring in case one becomes worn with use. However this is seldom necessary,
especially when a glass container is used, for the reason that its interior is so smooth
that the wear is comparatively slight.
The plunger-stem is extensible, made so in order that the plunger may be lowered
in the container as fast as the lubricating compound is displaced and be raised again
when it is to be refilled. The stem is made extensible through the medium of the
threaded shank 17 on the plunger and the sleeve 18, into which the tap screws.
This sleeve extends loosely through a larger sleeve 19 on the head 3 of the barrel, and
a strong spiral spring 17ª encircles the sleeve 18 of the stem, and is confined between
the annular boss 20 on the lower end of sleeve 18 and the annulus 21 in the outer end
of sleeve 19.
The sleeve 18 has a milled head 22 by which the sleeve 18 can be turned, and which
limits the downward movement of the sleeve 18 within the sleeve or tube 19. The
inner end of the sleeve 18 is screw threaded to receive corresponding threads on the
boss 20, said boss being threaded internally to receive the threaded shank 17. This
removable and threaded boss 2 facilitates the placing of the spring 17ª and the
sleeve 18 in their proper positions. As the plunger fits tightly within the container,
it cannot turn, and hence the effect of turning the head 22 is to raise or lower the
plunger, due to the action of the screw-threads of the extensible stem.
The operation is readily understood. The head 22 is turned in one direction until
the plunger is raised as far as possible.. Then the container is filled with grease and
placed on the base 7, and then attached to the machine.
The milled head is now turned the opposite way until the plunger hears upon the
grease and until the spring is somewhat contracted, so that more or less of its pressure
is also exerted upon the grease in order to force it through the apperture in the
bottom. Thus the tendency of the spring is to force the plunger down as fast as
displacement takes place in the container, resulting from the discharge of the grease.
When at last the spring again assumes its normal shape, the head 22 is again turned
to contract the spring as before, and so the action of the cup continues until the
grease is entirely exhausted, when the container is again filled.
When pressure is applied, the sleeve 18 rises out of the sleeve 19, and this serves to
indicate the amount of lubricating compound that is displaced from time to time.
In Fig. 6 the base 7 from the flange 9 is carried down to the tap 10, whereby the
container 2 can be made longer or deeper.
In Figure 2 the outside of the base 7 is made angular or hexagonal instead of being
milled as in Fig. 6.
In Fig. 4 the barrel A is made of solid metal so as to dispense with the glass
container 2..
It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement
of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my
invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein
set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination, with a grease container, a plunger fitted therein, and an
extensible spring-actuated stem on said plunger, of a base into which the container is
screwed, and a valve in the stem or base of the cup, said valve having a head located
within a recess in the part carrying the valve, the said head being made to receive a
removable instrument whereby it is turned, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with a barrel having a lining fitted therein, a screw-threaded
washer for holding the lining within the barrel, a packing between the lining and
washer; and a base into which the barrel is screwed, of a plunger fitted within the
lining, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with a skeleton barrel and a spring-actuated plunger carried

page_text: thereby, of a transparent lining fitted within the barrel, a washer removably secured
to the skeleton barrel for securing the lining within the barrel, a packing interposed
between the lining and washer, and a base to which the barrel is removably secured,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with an open barrel having a sleeve and a base to which the
barrel is secured, said base having a stem with a grease-orifice and a valve for
controlling the passage of grease through the orifice, of a glass container held in the
barrel, a washer for holding the glass within the barrel, a plunger fitted within the
container, a screw-threaded shank, a sleeve into which said shank screws, and a spring
surrounding the sleeve for forcing the plunger down, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with a barrel having a sleeve thereon, of a movable sleeve, a
spring forming a bearing for said movable sleeve, a wheel or head secured to the outer
end of said movable sleeve, and a plunger carried by said movable sleeve, substantially
as set forth.
6. The combination, with a container having an upwardly projecting rigid sleeve, a
removable sleeve located with said rigid sleeve, and a spring seated against the latter
and forming a bearing for the movable sleeve, of a plunger having a rigid stem,
the latter being attached by screw-threads to the movable sleeve, substantially as
set forth.
7. The combination, with the skeleton barrel, lining, and washer secured to the
barrel and holding the lining in place, of a yielding extensible stem carried by the
barrel, and a plunger rigidly secured to the lower end of the stem, substantially
as set forth.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.