Lubricant vent system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016186928-A1
Application number	US-201414910581-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 7, 2014
Priority date	Aug 7, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid inlet/outlet manifold for a lubrication system comprises inlet and outlet passages, and a vent valve. The outlet passage fluidly connects a lubricant reservoir to a lubricant work line. The inlet passage fluidly connects a inlet to the lubricant reservoir. The vent valve is actuatable between a first state fluidly isolating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, and a second state that fluidly connects the inlet passage to the outlet passage, thereby permitting lubricant in the lubricant work line to be vented into the lubricant reservoir.

First claim

1 . A lubrication system comprising:
a lubricant reservoir; a lubricant pump disposed to pump lubricant from the lubricant reservoir; a lubricant work line disposed to receive pumped lubricant from the lubricant reservoir; an inlet disposed to receive refill lubricant into the lubricant reservoir; a fluid inlet/outlet manifold disposed between the lubricant reservoir and the lubricant work line, the fluid inlet/outlet manifold having:
an outlet passage fluidly connecting the lubricant reservoir to the lubricant work line;
an inlet passage fluidly connecting the inlet to the lubricant reservoir; and
a vent valve actuatable between a first state fluidly isolating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, and a second state that fluidly connects the inlet passage to the outlet passage, thereby permitting lubricant in the lubricant work line to be vented into the lubricant reservoir.

2 . The lubrication system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller; and an electronic actuator disposed to actuate the vent valve in response to actuation commands from the controller.

3 . The lubrication system of claim 2 , wherein the electronic actuator is a solenoid actuator.

4 . The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein the vent valve is a shuttle valve or needle valve.

5 . The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet passage and the outlet passage are in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via a fluid tube extending from a first location near the fluid inlet/outlet manifold to a second location near a bottom of the lubricant reservoir.

6 . The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid tube comprises two concentrically disposed cylindrical passages.

7 . The lubrication system of claim 6 , wherein an inner passage of the two concentrically disposed cylindrical passage is in fluid communication with the outlet passage, and an outer passage of the two concentrically disposed cylindrical passages is in fluid communication with the inlet passage.

8 . The lubrication system of claim 1 , further comprising an automatic shutoff valve disposed upstream of the inlet to prevent overfilling of the lubricant reservoir.

9 . The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant work line comprises a lubricant injector.

10 . The lubrication system of claim 9 , wherein permitting lubricant in the lubricant work line to be vented into the lubricant reservoir allows the lubricant injector to reset.

11 . A fluid inlet/outlet manifold for a lubrication system, the fluid inlet/outlet manifold comprising:
an outlet passage fluidly connecting a lubricant reservoir to a lubricant work line; an inlet passage fluidly connecting a inlet to the lubricant reservoir; and a vent valve actuatable between a first state fluidly isolating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, and a second state that fluidly connects the inlet passage to the outlet passage, thereby permitting lubricant in the lubricant work line to be vented into the lubricant reservoir.

12 . The fluid inlet/outlet manifold of claim 11 , further comprising an electronic actuator disposed to actuate the vent valve in response to actuation commands from a controller.

13 . The fluid inlet/outlet manifold of claim 12 , wherein the electronic actuator is a solenoid actuator.

14 . The fluid inlet/outlet manifold of claim 11 , wherein the vent valve is a shuttle valve or needle valve.

15 . The fluid inlet/outlet manifold of claim 11 , wherein the outlet passage and the inlet passage are in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via a fluid tube extending from a first location near the fluid inlet/outlet manifold to a second location near a bottom of the lubricant reservoir.

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Holman John C
• Klaphake Andrew J
• Nijaguna Suresha S

Classifications

• F16N11/08

  with mechanical drive, other than directly by springs or weights (lubricating-pumps F16N13/00) · CPC title

• F16N11/00

  Arrangements for supplying grease from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated; Grease cups · CPC title

• F16N21/00

  Conduits; Junctions (in general F16L); Fittings for lubrication apertures · CPC title

• F01M2001/023

  Piston pumps · CPC title

• F16N13/06

  Actuation of lubricating-pumps · CPC title