Patent ID: RE39217

Claim:
A centrifugal pump for pumping a liquid to be pumped, the pump comprising: a pump housing; a rotatable shaft disposed at least partially within said housing, said shaft defining a rotational axis; a lubrication chamber surrounding said shaft, said chamber for housing a lubricating fluid; shaft support bearings disposed in or adjacent said lubrication chamber, said bearings to be lubricated by the lubricating fluid; a dispenser including a base support member and a plurality of collapsible dispensing members pivotally attached thereto, said dispenser being attached to said shaft for rotation therewith and for dispensing the lubricating fluid in said chamber in order to lubricate said bearings; wherein said collapsible dispensing members are pivotally attached to said support member so that said dispensing members can collapse axially along said shaft when said shaft is not rotating thereby enabling said dispenser to be more easily inserted into said chamber during the manufacture of said pump or during maintenance being performed thereon; and wherein said dispensing members include an arcuate oil- engaging edge oriented to engage said lubricating fluid at a dispensing location between opposite terminal ends of said arcuate oil- engaging edge.