Autofill shutoff valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10781971-B2
Application number	US-201615568324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

An autofill shutoff valve includes a valve body mounted to a lubricant reservoir and secured to a fill tube extending into the reservoir. The autofill shutoff valve has a valve stem extending through the valve body and into the lubricant reservoir. The valve stem is actuated by a plate disposed within the reservoir from a first position, wherein lubricant flows from a lubricant inlet to a lubricant outlet through the valve body, to a second position, wherein the valve stem blocks the flow of lubricant through the valve body. The autofill shutoff valve provides lubricant directly to the reservoir, thereby eliminating external plumbing and the autofill shutoff valve also prevents overfill of the reservoir by cutting off the flow when the reservoir is full.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lubricant reservoir comprising:
a housing defining the reservoir;
a reservoir inlet extending through a top of the housing;
an actuator disposed within the housing and dividing the housing into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the actuator is configured to shift upwards in response to a rising lubricant level within the lower portion; and
an autofill shutoff valve disposed on the housing, wherein the autofill shutoff valve comprises:
a valve body;
a lubricant flowpath extending through the valve body;
a lubricant inlet extending into the valve body and connected to the lubricant flowpath;
a first lubricant outlet extending into the valve body and connected to the lubricant flowpath, wherein the first lubricant outlet is disposed adjacent the housing and is configured to provide lubricant directly to the housing; and
a valve stem extending through the lubricant flowpath between the lubricant inlet and the first lubricant outlet, wherein the valve stem is movable between a first position, corresponding to a refill state, and a second position, corresponding to a filled state;

wherein the valve stem allows lubricant to flow from the lubricant inlet to the first lubricant outlet when the valve stem is in the first position and the valve stem blocks the flow of lubricant between the lubricant inlet and the first lubricant outlet when the valve stem is in the second position.

2. The lubricant reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the autofill shutoff valve further comprises:
a constriction disposed within the lubricant flow path between the lubricant inlet and the first lubricant outlet; and
a sealing portion extending from the valve stem;
wherein the sealing portion is disengaged from the constriction when the valve stem is in the first position and the sealing portion is engaged with and seals the constriction when the valve stem is in the second position.

3. The lubricant reservoir of claim 1 , wherein the autofill shutoff valve further comprises:
a second lubricant outlet extending into the valve body and connected to the lubricant flowpath, wherein the second lubricant outlet is configured to provide lubricant to external plumbing.

4. The lubricant reservoir of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a retaining member secured to the valve body, wherein a first end of the valve stem extends through the retaining member and into the housing.

5. The lubricant reservoir of claim 4 , wherein the retaining member further comprises:
a retaining body attached to the valve body;
a throat seal disposed within the retaining body;
an alignment sleeve disposed within the retaining body; and
a retaining clip disposed within the retaining body and securing the alignment sleeve and the throat seal within the retaining body;
wherein the first end of the valve stem extends through the throat seal, the alignment sleeve, and the retaining clip.

6. The lubricant reservoir of claim 4 , and further comprising:
an alignment plate disposed on an interior side of the top surface, wherein the alignment plate includes an aperture and wherein the retaining member extends into the aperture to prevent rotation of the alignment plate.

7. The lubricant reservoir of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a fill tube extending from the valve body and through the actuator, wherein the fill tube is configured to receive lubricant from the first lubricant outlet and provide the lubricant to the housing.

8. The lubricant reservoir of claim 7 , and further comprising:
a connecting bolt extending through the valve body and connected to the fill tube, wherein the connecting bolt secures the autofill shutoff valve to the housing.

9. The lubricant reservoir of claim 8 , wherein the connecting bolt further comprises:
a head;
a shank extending from the head;
a supply path extending through the shank and configured to provide lubricant to the fill rod; and
a lubricant port extending into the shank and in fluid communication with the lubricant flowpath.

10. An autofill shutoff valve comprising:
a valve body;
a lubricant flowpath extending through the valve body;
a lubricant inlet extending into the valve body and connected to the lubricant flowpath;
a first lubricant outlet extending into the valve body and connected to the lubricant flowpath, wherein the first lubricant outlet extends downwards within the valve body to be adjacent a lubricant reservoir and is configured to provide lubricant directly to the lubricant reservoir; and
a valve stem extending through the lubricant flowpath between the lubricant inlet and the first lubricant outlet, wherein the valve stem is movable between a first position, corresponding to a refill reservoir state, and a second position, corresponding to a filled reservoir state;
wherein the valve stem allows lubricant to flow from the lubricant inlet to the first lubricant outlet when the valve stem is in the first position and the valve stem seals the lubricant flowpath between the lubricant inlet and the first lubricant outlet when the valve stem is in the second position.

11. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 10 , wherein the valve stem further comprises:
a first end;
a second end; and
a stem body extending between and connecting the first end and the second end, wherein the stem body is configured to seal the lubricant flowpath between the lubricant inlet and the first lubricant outlet when the valve stem is in the second position.

12. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 11 , wherein the stem body further comprises a sealing portion extending from the stem body.

13. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 12 , and further comprising:
a constriction disposed within the lubricant flow path, wherein the sealing portion is configured to mate with the constriction.

14. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 11 , and further comprising:
a first retaining member secured to the valve body, wherein the first end of the valve stem extends through the first retaining member.

15. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 14 , wherein the first retaining member further comprises:
a retaining body attached to the valve body adjacent the lubricant inlet;
a throat seal disposed within the retaining body;
an alignment sleeve disposed within the retaining body; and
a retaining clip disposed within the retaining body and securing the alignment sleeve and the throat seal within the retaining body;
wherein the first end of the valve stem extends through the throat seal, the alignment sleeve, and the retaining clip.

16. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 14 , and further comprising:
a second retaining member secured to the valve body opposite the first retaining member, wherein the second end of the valve stem extends through the second retaining member.

17. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 11 , and further comprising:
a retaining member secured to the valve body and disposed above the valve stem;
a shoulder disposed on the second end of the valve stem; and
a bias spring disposed between the shoulder and the retaining member, wherein the bias spring biases the valve stem towards the first position.

18. The autofill shutoff valve of claim 17 , and further comprising:
a bulb attached to the retaining member and disposed at least partially outside of the valve body; and
a visual indicator disposed on the second end of the valve stem, wherein the visual indicator is configured to extend into the bulb when the valve stem is in the second position.

19. The autofill shutoff

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Holman John C
• Atkinson Mike V
• Gustafson Brandon T
• Paar Benjamin J

Classifications

• F16N2037/006

  Filling · CPC title

• F16N39/002

  by deaeration (degasification of liquids B01D19/00) · CPC title

• F16N39/00

  Arrangements for conditioning of lubricants in the lubricating system (cleaning of lubricating oil, lubricating compositions C10M) · CPC title

• F16N37/00

  Equipment for transferring lubricant from one container to another · CPC title

• F16N29/04

  enabling a warning to be given; enabling moving parts to be stopped · CPC title