Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present inven-tion relates -to a lubricant
supply apparatus for supplyinq a lubricant to edges of
wheels or rails and, more particularly, to a lubricant
supply apparatus for supplying the lubricant to the
edges of wheels or rails without bringing a nozzle for
injecting the lubricant into contact therewith.
The following conventional apparatus is known as
the lubricant supply appara-tus of this type. A
lubricant is injected using an air reservoir for a
wheel brake. Air pressurized by a compressor is
cons-tantly maintained at a prede~ermined pressure an
held in the air reservoir. The pressurized air is then
supplied to an oil transfer pump through an air pipeline
via an elec-tromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve
is controlled to be on/off by a control circuit. A
lubricant is also supplied to the oil transfer pump from
an oil tank through an oil supply pipeline. Upon
operation of the electromagnetic valve, the oil transfer
pump is drivell. The lubricant is then supplied to a
2~ noz71e through an oil transfer pipeline. The air
pipeline is branched to supply the pressurized air to
the nozzle. As soon as the electromagnetic valve is
opened, -the pressurized air is supplied to the nozzle.
Therefore, the lubricant is mixed with the pressurized
air and sprayed from the nozzle to the edges of the
wheels.
However, the conventional lubrican-t supply
-- 2
apparatus has the following drawbacks:
a) Since the air pipeline must be provided
besides the oil transfer pipeline, mounting operation
becomes complex and maintenance becomes cumbersome.
b) Since a great amount of air is used, the
rate of operation of a compressor is high, resulting
in waste o~ energy.
c) Since the air reservoir for the wheel brake is
used as the drive source cf the oil transfer pump,
trouble in the air pipeline adversely affects the
operation of the brake mechanism.
,d) Moisture contained in the pressurized air in
the air pipeline is frozen in cold areas, so that the
electromagnetic valve or the oil transfer pump may not
be lubricated properly.
e) Since the lubricant is mixed with the air and
sprayed from the nozzle and the spray is subject to an
air pressure acting against the travelling direction of
a rollins stock car, part of the lubricant floats in
the air in the form resembling mist, resulting in waste
of the lubricant.
It is, ~herefore, a!l object of .he p-esent
invention to provide a lubricant supply apparatus
which is easily mounted to a rolling stock car, which
requires easy maintenance, which has safety, and which
! ~
results in saving of energy.
A lubricant supply appara-tus according to the
present invention has a purnping means, a supplying
means, a transferring means, a pump driving means, and
a connecting means. The pump driving means has a
cylinder housing with an elongate hole. A piston is
slidably disposed in the elongate hole. A pump chamber
is defined by the cylinder housing and one side of the
piston. A spring means is disposed in -the cylinder
housing to urge the piston in one direction so as to
increase the volume of the pump chamber. The pump
chamber has a rirst check valve to allow flow of the
lubricant therethrough. The supplyin~ means Eor
supplying the lubricant to the pump chamber
communicates therewith. Further, the pump chamber has
the transferring means for transferring the lubricant.
The transferring means has a delivery means and a
nozzle means. The delivery means delivers -the
lubricant from the pump chamber through the first check
valve. The nozzle means is disposed in the delivery
means and has a second check valve to maintain the oil
pressure in the delivery means. The pump driving means
has a plunger and a coil means. The plunger is free
to move reciprocally in the elonga-te hole with
predetermined strokes. A DC current flows through the
coil means to cause the plunger to move toward the
piston. Tne connecting means is connected to the
--4--
plunger to control the strokes of the piston.
Upon movement of the plunger toward the piston,
the piston is moved with the strokes against the urging
force of the spring means. A prede-termined amount of
lubricant is delivered through the first check valve.
In accordance with the above structure, the pre-
sent invention can provide a lubricant supply apparatus,
which is easily mounted to a rolling stock car, whose main-
tenance is easily performedr which has safety, and which
results in saving of energy.
This invention can be more fully understood from
the following detailed description when taken in conjunc-
tion with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a rolling
stock car having a lubricant supply apparatus according to
the present invention;
Figure 2A is a partially sectional view of an oil
transfer pipeline which is to connect to the main body of
the lubricant apparatus according to a first or a second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2B is a partially sectional side view of a
main body of a lubricant supply apparatus according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a side view of the lubricant supply
apparatus when viewed from the direction indicated by arrow
III in Figure 2B;
--5--
Figure 4 is a sectional view o a main body of a
lubricant supply apparatus according to a second embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a side view of a lubricant supply
apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present
i.nvention; and
Figure 6 is a sectional side view taken along the
line IV - IV in Figure 5.
A lubricant supply apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
Referring to Figure 1, a rolling stock car 10
standing on rails 12 comprises a body 20 and an underframe
13 therebelow. The underframe 18 is rotatably connected to
the body 20 through center plates 22. The underframe 18
has wheels 14 which contact with the rails 12. Lubricant
supply apparatuses 16 according to the present invention
are disposed on the upper part of the underframe 18.
The lubricant supply apparatus 16 comprises a
pump mechanism 25 and a pump drive mechanism 50 as shown in
Figures 2B and 3. The pump mechanism 25 comprises a main
body 24, a cylinder wall cylinder 26, a pump chamber
elongate hole 28, a piston 30, a spring 32 and a check
valve 34. A cylinder support member 36 is screwed in one
side sf the main body 24. A cylinder wall 26 is inserted
into and supported by the cylinder support member 36 through
~'~q ~
a sealing material 37. One end of the piston 30 is
slidably inserted along the cylinder wall 26. The pump
chamber 28 is defined by the cylinder wall 26 and one
end of the piston 30. The spring 32 is mounted at the
other end of the piston 30. One end o~ the spring 32
is fixed on the outer surface of the cylinder wall 26
and the other end thereof is fixed at a large diameter
portion 30a formed on the piston 30. The spring 32
constantly urges the piston~30 in the direction to
increase the volume of the pump chamber 28. If the
outer force does not act on the piston 30, the large
diameter portion 30a abuts against a stopper stepped
portion 36a. A vent hole 39 is formed in the vicinity
of the stopper stepped portion 36a of the c~-linder
support member 36. A check valve support member 38 is
screwed in the main body 24 and faces the cylinder
support member 36. A check valve 34 is disposed at the
top of the check valve support member 38. The check
valve 34 communicates with the pump chamber 28 and allows
to only flow the lubricant from the pump chamber 280
The check valve 34 comprises a valve seat 42, a
valve body 46 and a spring 48. A valve hole 40 which
cornmunicates with the pump chamber 28 is formed in the
valve seat 42. The valve body 46 has a sealing
material 44 seated on the valve seat 42. The spring 48
urges the valve body 46 against the valve seat 42.
A pump drive mechanism 50 is disposed adjacent to
7--
the main body 24. The pump drive mechanism 50 is
detachably mounted to one side surface of the main body 24
by bolts 52 and tongued washers 54. The tongues of the
washers 54 are hooked at edges to prevent loosening of the
bolts 52.
The pump drive mechanism 50 is deEined by a
casing 56. The casing 56 has a detachable rear cover 51.
A coil 58 received in a case 59 îs wound along the inner
wall of the casing 56. Both ends of the coil 58 are guided
to a path 112 for electric connections. A DC current flows
through the coil 58 via the path 112. A plunger 60
surrounded by the coil 58 is disposed on the axis of the
piston 30. A stationary core stopper 62 is adjacent to the
plunger 60 in the direction of movement of the plunger 60.
When the coil 58 is not excited, a predetermined stroke ~
is kept between the plunger 60 and the stationary core 62.
A cushion 64 is disposed between the rear cover 51 and the
rear portion of the plunger 60.
A connecting member 66 for controlling the stro-
kes of the piston 30 is disposed between the pump mechanism
25 and the pump drive mechanism 50. The connecting member
66 is a rod-shaped member having a predetermined length.
The stroke of the piston is determined by this length,
Both ends of the connecting member 66 abut against the
plunger 60 and the piston 30 and the connecting member 66
is supported thereby. If the
; A . ~.
-- 8
connectlng ~nember 66 is replaced with another
connecting member having a different length, the stroke
of the piston is determined thereby and the amount of
lubricant to be delivered is controlled. A sleeve 68
is disposed in the hole of the cylinder support member
36 to slidably guide the connecting member 66.
A replenishment path 70 for replenishing the
lubricant is communicated with the pump chambex 28. I'he
replenishment path 70 compx1.ses a ring-shaped cav--ty
72, a suction hole 74, an oil path 76 and an oil suppl~
hose 80. The cavity 72 is formed to surround the outer
circumferense of the cylinder wall 26 which defines the
pump chamber 28~ The suction hole 74 is formed to
communicate with the pump chamber 28 formed at the head
of the cylinder wall 26 and with the cavity 72. One
end of the oil path 76 is opened to the cavi-ty 72 and
the other end thereof is opened to the side surface of
the main body 24. The oil supply hose 80 is connected
to the other end of the oil path 76 through a ~oint 78.
The oil supply hose 80 communicates with a oil tank
(not shown) to introduce the lubricant into the pump
chamber 28.
~ n oil transfer pipeline 82 for delivering the
lubri.cant communicates with the pump chamber 28. The
oil transfer pipeline 82 comprises an oil transfer pipe
86 and a flexible hose 90. The oil transfer pipe 86 is
connected through the check valve support member 38 and
q ~
9 ~
a joint 84. The flexible hose 90 is connected to the
top of the oil transfer pipe 86 through a relay joint 88.
A spray nozzle 92 is connected to the top of the
oil transfer pipeline 82 through a joint 94. The spray
nozzles 92 are disposed apart from the edges of
the wheels (flanged surfaces l~a of the wheels 14) or
the edges of the rails (inner side surfaces of the
rails 12 which oppose each other) respectively. The
spray nozzle 92 is fixed on the underframe 18 by a
10 nozzle support member 93. The spray nozzle 92
comprises a valve seat 98, a hood 100, a nozzle main
body 104, a valve body 108 and a spring 110. The valve
seat 98 is screwed at the top of the nozzle support
member 93. A valve hole 96 is formed in the valve seat
15 98. The hood 100 surrounds the nozzle main body 104
screwed ln the valve seat 98 and protects the nozzle
main body 10~. A nozzle hole 102 is formed inside the
nozzle main body 104. The valve body 108 is sealed by
a sealing material 106. The valve body 108 is tightly
20 urged against the valve seat 98 by the spring 110.
The mode of operation o the lubricant supply
apparatus 16 will be described. When a DC current is
applied across the coil 58 by a control circuit ~not
shown) via the path 112, the plunger 60 is abruptly
25 moved toward the stationary core 62. The movement is
transmitted to the piston 30 through the connecting
member 66. The piston 30 is then abruptly moved to
-- 10 --
coMpress the spring 32 so tha-t the volume of the pump
chamber 28 is reduced. Simultaneously, the path
between -the pump chamber 28 and the suction hole 74 is
blocked by the top of the piston 30. When the pressure
in the pump chamber 28 is raised and reaches a pre-
determined pressure, the check valve 34 is opened, and
then the lubricant is forcibly supplied to the oil
transfer pipeline 82. The lubricant is sealed in the
oil transfer pipeline 82 at a predetermined pressure.
There~ore, when the lubricant is forcibly supplied to
the oil transfer pipeline 82 from the pump mechanism
25, tke pressure is iml-nediately transmitted to open the
valve hole 96. The lubricant is thus sprayed from the
nozzle hole of the spray nozzle 92 in a rod-shape and
at a high speed. The predetermined amount of oil is
supplied along the flanyed surface 14a against the air
pressure callsed by travelling the rolling stock car.
When the coil 58 is deenergized, the piston 30 restores
its original position by the urging force of the spring
32~ Simultaneously, the lubricant is drawn from the
pump chamber 28 from the replenishment path 70 to the
pump chamber 28 and the plunger 60 is re-turned through
the connecting member 66. Thus, the predetermined
amount of lubricant is stored for the next replenishing
operation.
I'he following effects are obtained according to
the lubricant supply apparatus of the first embodimert.
The air pipeline is not used and only the oil
pipeline is used. Therefore, the structure of the
apparatus is simplified, and the apparatus is easily
mounted to the rolling stock car, also allowing simple
maintenance.
As a compressor is not used, energy is
efficiently saved.
The lubricant supply apparatus according to one
embodiment of the present invention is arranged
independently of the bxake system. Even if the lubricant
supply apparatus is broken, the brake system is not
influenced by such trouble.
As described above, the air pipeline is not used.
Therefore, the conventional problem that the moisture
contained in the compressed air in the air pipeline is
frozen in cold areas may not occur, thus preventing the
inefficiency of the lubricating operation.
Since the lubricant is sprayed from the nozzle in
a rod shape, part of the lubricant may not be blown
away in a form resembling mist.
Since the apparatus has a valve in the nozzle, the
lubricant may not leak frorn the nozzle. The transfer
pipeline is constantly under pressure, so that the
small amount and the pressure of lubricant supplied by
the pump chamber are accurately transmitted. Therefore,
the small amount of lubricant can be inje~ted
quantitatively.
--12-
The DC current is appli d to the coil of the
apparatus. Even if a gap between the stationary core and
the plunger is formed over a long period of time, the coil
may not be burnt due to a surge voltage which may be
applied upon supply of an AC current. Therefore, the blown
particles of the lubricant may not be burnt.
Further, the amount oE lubricant to be supplied
can be controlled.
A lubricant supply apparatus 17 according to the
second embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to Figures 1 and 4. The same
reference numerals as in the first embodiment denote the
same parts in the second embodiment, and a detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
Male threads are formed on one side of the con-
necting member screw member 67 and engaged with female
threads extending through the plunger 60 along its longitu-
dinal axis direction. A fixing nut 118 is screwed around
the rear portion of the plunger 60 to fix the plunger 60
and the connecting member 67. The shaft portion 30b
coaxially extends from the large diameter portion 30a of
the piston 30. An end of the shaft portion 30b abuts
against the other end of the connecting member 67.
In order to adjust the amount of lubricant to be
delivered, the rear cover 51 and the cushion 64 must be
removed from the casing 56. The fixing nut 118 must then
be loosened. The connecting member 67 is then
-13-
rotated relative to the plunger 60 to adjust the stroke of
the piston 30.
The same effects as in the first embodiment are
obtained in the second embodiments.
Further, according to the lubricant supply
apparatus of the second embodiment, the positional relation
between the connecting member and the plunger is changed to
ad~ust the amount of lubricant to be delivered.
A lubricant supply apparatus according to the
third embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to Figures 1, 5 and 6.
A lubricant supply apparatus 208 comprises a pump
mechanism 209, a pump drive mechanism 211 and a check valve
support member 224.
The pump mechanism 209 comprises a cylinder sup-
port member cylinder housing 210, four pistons 212, four
springs 214 and a pressure plate surface 216. Four
cylinder holes 218 are formed in the cylinder support
member 210 in a circular shape at equal angular intervals.
Four through holes 251 are alternately formed
parallel to the cylinder holes 218. A connecting member
253 for replacement is inserted in the through hole 251.
- One end of the piston 212 is slidably inserted in each
cylinder hole 218. A pump chamber 220 is deined by one
25 end of a piston 212 and the cylinder hole 218. The spring
214 is wound around the other end
s~
of the piston 212 ex-tending from the cylinder hole 218.
One end of the spring 214 is fixed at the cylinder
support member 210, while the other end thereof is
fixed at the large diameter portion 212a of the piston
212. The spring 214 constantly urges the piston 212 to
increase the volume of the pump chamber 220. The
pressure plate 216 is disposed at the other end o-f -the
piston 212. The other end of the piston 212 constantly
abuts against the surface ^~ the pressure plate 216 hy
the urging force of the spring 214. The pressure plate
216 is a disc-shaped member and is in uniform con-tact
with the piston.
The check valve suppor-t member 224 is disposed in
the cylinder support member 210 through a packing seal
222 and faces the pressure plate 216. The check valve
support member 224 is coupled to the cylinder support
member 210 by bolts 226. Bolt holes 223 extend through
the chec]c valve support member 224. Bolts 225 are
inserted in the bolt holes 223 and meshed with nuts
229, respectively. Thus, the lubricant supply
apparatuses 208 are fixed on the underframe 18 (Fig. 1).
An oil transfer path 227 which communicates with
the pump chamber 220 is formed in the check valve
support member 224. The oil transfer path 227 is
defined by the check valve support member 224 and a
steel ball. A check valve 228 is disposed in the path
227,
~ ,
- 15 ~
The check valve 228 comprises a ~alve seat 230, a
valve body 232 and a spring 234. A valve hole 236
which communicates with the pump chamber is formed in
the valve seat 230. A sealing material 238 is disposed
between the valve body 232 and the valve seat 230. The
spring 234 urges the valve body 232 against the valve
seat 230.
~n insulator 241 is detachably fixed by a through
bolt 242 so as to face the -heck valve support member
224 of the cylinder support member 210. The insulator
241 is detachable from the pump drive mechanism 2110
The pump drive mechanism 211 is defined by a casing 244
and a rear cover 245. A coil 246 received in case 247
is disposeZ along the inner wall of the casing 244.
A plunger 248 is surrounded by the coil 246. A hole 256
extends through the plunger 248 along its longitudinal
axis. The hole 256 crosses the plunger 248 and com-
municates with a cavity providing a stroke Q of the piston.
A stationary core 250 is adjacent to a connecting
member 252 of the coil 246. When the coil 246 is not
excited, a predetermined stroke is kept between the
plunger 248 and the stationary core 250. The connecting
member 252 and a pusher 254 are disposed between the
pump mechanism 209 and the pump drive mechanism 211.
The connecting member 252 has a predetermined length
and detachably disposed to abut against the rear surface
of the pressure plate 216. A bearing 258 which supports
J~,~
- 16 -
the connecting member 252 is disposed in the hole in
which the connecting member 252 is mounted. The other
end of the connecting member 252 abuts against the
pusher 254. The pusher 254 has a small diameter portion
254a and a large diameter portion 254b so as to form a
step. The small diameter portion 254a is fitted in the
forward end of the hole 25~. The pusher 254 is held in
the plunger 248 through a washer 255.
A replenishment path ~0 ~or replenishing the pump
chamber 220 of the lubricant is formed in the cylinder
support member 210. The replenishment path 260
comprises an oil pipe 262 and an oil transfer hose 264.
One end of the oil pipe 262 is defined by the cylinder
support member 210 and a steel ball 265. The oil pipe
262 communicates with the pump chamber 220 disposed at
the head of the cylinder hole 218. The oil transfer
hose 264 is connected to the other end of the oil pipe
262 through a joint 261 The oil supply hose 264 is
connected to an oil tank (not shown) to kransfer the
lubricant to the pump.
An oil transfer pipeline 268 for delivering the
lubricant from the pump chamber is connected to the
check valve support member 224~ The oil transfer
pipeline 268 comprises a spray nozzle 270 and an oil
transfer pipe 272. The oil transfer pipe 272 is
connected to the check valve support member 224 through
a joint 274. The spray nozzle 270 is connected to the
~r~
- 17 -
top of the oil transfer pipe 272 through a joint 276.
In this embodiment, four spray nozzles 270 extending
from the four pump chambers respectively are disposed
to be apart from a plurality of wheel edges and rail
edges. The spray nozzles 270 are mounted on the
underframe 18.
The spray nozzle 270 comprises a valve seat 278, a
hood 280, a nozzle main body 282r a valve body 284 and
a spring 286. The spray nozzle 270 is fixed at a nozzle
support member (not shown) by a nut 290. A valve hole
292 is formed at the center of the valve seat 278. The
hood 280 surrounds the nozzle main body 282 screwed in
the valve seat 278 to protect the nozzle main body 282.
A nozzle hole 294 is formed inside the nozzle main body
i5 2a2. A sealing member 296 is disposed in the valve
body 284. The spring 286 urges the valve body 284
against the valve seat 278.
An electric wire is connected to the coil 246
through a path 298 for electric connections.
The mode of operation of the lubricant supply
apparatus according to the third embodiment of the
present invention will now be described.
A DC current from a control circuit (not shown)
via the path 298 flows through the coil 246. The
plunger 246 is abruptly moved toward the stationary
core 250 of the pump drive mechanism 211. The pressure
of air between the stationary core 246 and the plunger
248 is kept constant by the hole 256 for discharging
the air. The movement of the plunger 248 is trans-
mitted to the pressure plate 216 through the pusher 254
and the connecting member 252. The pressure plate 216
urges the four pistons 212 against the urging forces of
the springs 214, respectively. The piston 212 is abruptly
moved to decrease the volume o~ the pump chamber 220.
When the pressure in the pump chamber 220 is increased
and reaches a predetermined~value, the check valve 228
is opened~ The lubricant is forcibly supplied to the
oil transfer pipeline 268. The lubricant is kept in the
oil transfer pipeline 268 at a predetermined pressure.
Therefore, when the lubricant is forcibly supplied from
the pump chamber 220 to the oil transfer pipeline 268,
the pressure thereof is immediately transmitted to open
the valve hole 292. The lubricant is then sprayed from
the four spray nozzles 270 in a rod shape, simultaneously.
The lubricant injected from each nozzle is applied to
the flanged surface 14a for a predetermined length
against the air pressure caused by traveling of the rolling
stock car (Fig. 1). When the pump drive mechanism 211
is deenergized, the pistcn 212 is returned to the original
position by the urging force of the spring 214.
Simultaneously, the lubricant is drawn from the
replenishment path 260 and the pressure plate 216
returns to the initial position upon movement of the
piston.
/
ilJ i~.J _S~
-- 19 --
The same effects as in the firs-t embodiment are
obtained in the third embodiment.
Yurther, according to the lubricant supply
apparatus of the third embodiment, the lubricant can be
supplied simultaneously to the four wheels by one
lubricant supply apparatus.
