IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0239352
(2002-09-18)
|
우선권정보 |
GB-20000006871 (2000-03-21) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/GB01/01114
(2001-03-14)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO01/71240
(2001-09-27)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Patterson, Denis Arthur John
- Stone, Simon
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
12 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A self-contained automatic lubricator for automatically dispensing fluent lubricant over a period of time is provided. The lubricator comprises a cylinder having a front wall with a discharge outlet, a rear wall and cylindrical side walls. A piston is movable within the cylinder from a rear position
A self-contained automatic lubricator for automatically dispensing fluent lubricant over a period of time is provided. The lubricator comprises a cylinder having a front wall with a discharge outlet, a rear wall and cylindrical side walls. A piston is movable within the cylinder from a rear position to a forward position. The piston and the side and front walls of the cylinder define a variable volume chamber for containing the lubricant to be dispensed, and a spring for moving the piston from its rear position towards it front position to reduce the volume of the variable volume chamber over a period of time for expelling lubricant through the discharge outlet. The lubricator further comprises a controller including gearing and an escapement mechanism, for controlling the transfer of energy from the spring to the piston and an electrical element controlling operation of the escapement mechanism (12).
대표청구항
▼
1. A lubricating device for automatically dispensing fluent lubricant over an extended period of time, comprising a cylinder having a front wall with a discharge outlet, a rear wall and cylindrical side walls; a piston movable within the cylinder from a rear position to a forward position, the pist
1. A lubricating device for automatically dispensing fluent lubricant over an extended period of time, comprising a cylinder having a front wall with a discharge outlet, a rear wall and cylindrical side walls; a piston movable within the cylinder from a rear position to a forward position, the piston and the side and front walls of the cylinder defining a variable volume chamber for containing the lubricant to be dispensed; a spring movable from a compressed condition to an expanded condition to release spring force for moving the piston from its rear position towards its front position to reduce the volume of the said variable volume chamber over a period of time for expelling lubricant through the discharge outlet; and a controller for controlling the movement of said spring from its compressed condition to its expanded position and comprising; an escapement mechanism;an electrical element controlling the operation of the escapement mechanism; andgearing connected between said escapement mechanism and said piston;wherein one of said gearing and said spring is positioned in a central first region extending axially of the cylinder and in that the other of said gearing and said spring is positioned in a second region which surrounds said first region. 2. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein said gearing is positioned in said first region and said spring surrounds the gearing. 3. A lubricating device according to claim 2, wherein the escapement mechanism is positioned inside, so as to be surrounded by, the spring. 4. A lubricating device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical element is positioned inside, so as to be surrounded by, the spring. 5. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein said spring is positioned in said first region. 6. A lubricating device according to claim 5, wherein the controller further comprises a control member providing a connection between the gearing and the piston. 7. A lubricating device according to claim 6, wherein the control member is positioned in said second region. 8. A lubricating device according to claim 5, wherein the escapement mechanism is positioned in said second region. 9. A lubricating device according to claim 5, wherein the electrical element is positioned in said second region. 10. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a control member providing a connection between the gearing and the piston. 11. A lubricating device according to claim 10, wherein the control member is positioned in said first region. 12. A lubricating device according to claim 10, wherein the control member comprises at least one rack member connected to the piston and in mechanical connection with at least one gear wheel of said gearing. 13. A lubricating device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one rack member has at least two sets of teeth in mechanical connection with at least two gear wheels of said gearing. 14. A lubricating device according to claim 10, wherein the control member comprises a rotatable screw-threaded member connected to said gearing and screw-threadedly engaged with a threaded element screw provided on the piston, movement of the piston from its rear position to its forward position by the action of the spring causing the screw-threaded member to turn, the turning of the screw-threaded member being controlled by the escapement mechanism and the gearing thereby regulating the movement of the piston. 15. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the external volume of the lubricating device is no more than 5 times the maximum internal volume of the said variable volume chamber. 16. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a helical compression spring acting on the piston. 17. A lubricating device according to claim 16, wherein there are at least two helical compression springs arranged coaxially one within the other, and wherein, for the or each radially adjacent pair o f helical compression springs, a force transmitting device is arranged to transmit the spring force from one end of the radially inner spring to the other end of the radially outer spring. 18. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical element comprises a power supply, an actuator for operating the escapement mechanism, and a settable timer for controlling the frequency of operation of the actuator for controlling the rate of discharge of the fluent lubricant from the variable volume chamber. 19. A lubricating device according to claim 18, wherein said power supply comprises at least one of an electric battery and solar power means. 20. A lubricating device according to claim 19, wherein said timer is settable for dispensing lubricant over a period of from 1 to 24 months. 21. A lubricating device according to claim 18, wherein said timer is settable for dispensing lubricant over a period of up to 36 months. 22. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein said gearing comprise a plurality of meshing gear wheels made of plastics material. 23. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a sensor for sensing an operational failure of the device. 24. A lubricating device according to claim 23, wherein said sensor comprises a visual alarm device and a sensing device for providing a sensing signal to said alarm device to activate the latter if a movable part of the lubricating device fails to move within a predetermined period of time. 25. A lubricating device according to claim 24, wherein said visual alarm device is mounted on and forms part of the lubricating device. 26. A lubricating device according to claim 24, wherein said visual alarm device is situated at a location remote from the lubricating device. 27. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the external volume of the lubricating device is no more than 2.5 times the maximum internal volume of the said variable volume chamber. 28. A device for automatically dispensing fluent material over an extended period of time, comprising: a cylinder having a front wall with a discharge outlet, a rear wall and cylindrical side walls, a piston movable within the cylinder from a rear position to a forward position, the piston and the side and front walls of the cylinder defining a variable volume chamber for containing the fluent material to be dispensed; a spring movable from a compressed condition to an expanded condition to release spring force for moving the piston from its rear position towards its front position to reduce the volume of the said variable volume chamber over a period of time for expelling fluent material through the discharge outlet; and a controller for controlling the movement of said spring from its compressed condition to its expanded position and comprising: an escapement mechanism;an electrical element controlling the operation of the escapement mechanism; andgearing connected between said escapement mechanism and said piston; wherein one of said gearing and said spring is positioned in a central first region extending axially of the cylinder and in that the other of said gearing and said spring is positioned in a second region which surrounds said first region.
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