Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~L;Z,33~72~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a distributor or
manifold for distributing liquid and in particular liquid
lubricant from a single source to a plurality of different
points of use and at different flow rates if required.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-
In production plants and the like using numerous
pieces of machinery it is generally the practice for the
operator to attend, at required intervals, to the
lubrication of the individual machines. The main problem
with this system is that i-t is subject to human error
where the operator may not use the proper amount of
lubricant or tot~ally ~orgets to lubricate the machinery.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:
The present invention provides a distributor
device particularly useful in a liquid lubricant
distribution system and arranged to be operated by a
programmable timing system specifically to avoid the
problems described above.
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More particularly the device itself comprises a
housing having an internal liquid reservoir, control means
for opening and closing the reservoir to a source of
pressurized liquid, a plurality of outlets from the
reservoir through the housing and valve means to
individually adjust liquid flow rates through each of the
outlets when the reservoir is open to the source of
pressurized liquid.
When used as a lubricating manifold, the
provision of a plurality of outlets, each of which has it
own flow rate adjustment, allows the distributor to be
connected through hoses or the like to different machines
which may require different amounts of lubricant as
automatically adjusted for by the manifold.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF_THE DRAWINGS:
The above as well as other advantages and
features of the present invention will be described in
greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of
t-e present invention in which:
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Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a manifold
or distributor according to a preferred embodiment of the
present inventiun;
: Figure 2 is a sectional view from one end of the
distributor or manifold of figure l;
~ Figure 3 is a side view showing in section the
: distributor or manifold of figure l;
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Figure 4 is a schematic view showing an oil
lubricating system in accordance with an aspect of the
~ ~ present invention;
p : DETAIL DESCRIPTION~ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
OF THE PRESENT INVENTI_N:
Figure 1 shows a manifold or distributor
generally indicated at 1 for use in a liquid distribution
system and as referred to above particularly intended for
use:in a lubricating system. The manifold comprises a
~:~ :main housing 3:which as seen in figures 2 and 3 includes
an:internal liquid reservoir or chamber 5. Located to the:
: : outside of the housing is a valve and specifically a
solenoid valve 7 for opening and closing reservoir 5 to a
source of liquid IubrlFant fed into the distributor
~: through condult 31.
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Opening directly to the internal reservoir are a
plurality of liquid outlets extending through the casing
or housing 3. These outlets comprise a narrowed inner end
11 and a wider outer end 13 fitted with a check valve
comprising ball 15 and spring 17. Further fitted into
each of the outlets is a connector fitting 19 for hooking
up with hoses 21 as best seen in figure 3. These hoses
are taken off the distributor -to different points of use,
i.e. different pieces of machinery or the like.
In accordance with the present invention flow
rate from the distributor is adjustable at the individual
outlets so that the amount of lubricant is variable from
outlet to outlet. This is accomplished by means of a
valving system individually adjustable at each of the
outlets and in particular through the use of a plurality
of needle valves, one at each outlet. These needle valves
which are indicated at 23 in figure 2 comprise narrowed
stem portion 25 and a larger head portion 27 threadably
fitted into the distributor housing. Each of the threaded
head portions is provided with an allen key slot 29 for
adjusting the needle valves which can be moved to a fully
closed position as shown in the left hand side of figure 2
where the stem on the needle valve completely blocks off
passage 11 to a fully opened position allowing complete
clearance through the liquid passage. Additionally the
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valves can be set in a semi opened position as shown in
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the right hand side of figure 2 where stem 25 of the
needle valve is partially blocking passage 11 of the
lubricant outlet. With the needle valve in the fully
closed position as shown in the left hand side of the
figure no lubricant can be forced out through that
particular outlet whereas on the right hand side of the
figure some lubricant is allowed to clear past the needle
valve through the outlet when the solenoid valve is open
to allow more lubricant to be forced into the chamber from
the outside lubricant source.
The overall lubricating system ~is best described
having reference to figure 4 showing the distributor or
manifold operated through a programmable controller 37
having an input 39 and controlling a servo motor 35. This
servo motor dictates the position of valve 7 for opening
and closing the liquid reservoir in the manifold to an
outside oil or lubricant source 33 from which lubricant is
drawn and forced into the manifold by means of pump 34
when valve 7 is open.
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The first step in the operation of the system is
to prime both the manifold and the outlet hoses~i.e. fill
them with lubricant. Here it is to be noted that once the
~ hoses have been completely filled the check valves prevent
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any return flow into the manifold. With the system thusly
primed any additional lubricant forced into the manifold
when the solenoid valve is opened instantaneously results
in distribution from the already filled hoses. This is
particularly important in view of the fact that the hoses
are likely to be, as shown in the drawings, of different
lengths which otherwise would result in a time dif~erence
between which the hoses would fill such that some of hoses
would be distributing while others are still filling with
lubricant. Also of importance is that with the system
preprimed even a small amount of lubricant allowed to
enter the chamber will result in an immediate distribution
from the hoses to the machines which may require as little
~ as a few drops of lubricantO
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Once the system is primed a program for
controller 37 is entered at input 39 for timed operation
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of the~system~ When the system is in the on or operativè
mode servo motor 35, through controller 37, functions to
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both open valve 7 and at the same time to operate pump 34
to force lubricant or oil from reservoir 33 into the
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manifold lubricant chamber and causes the lubricant to
flow out of the manifold through the outlets along the
respective hoses 21 to the desired points of use. Slnce
the flow rates through the individual outlets can be
separately adjusted by the positioning of the
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needle valves from a fully closed to a fully opened
position, the manifold can be preset to deliver different
amounts of lubricant to those different points of use as
required. Furthermore, if some of the outlets are not
being used they can be completely closed off as again
shown in the left hand side of figure 2, such that only
the outlets that remain open will permit the delivering of
lubricant. The use of needle valves in the flow rate
adjustment for the individual outlets has the particular
benefit of providing extremely sensitive adjustments
where, as described above, the lubrication of certain
machines may only require as little as a few drops of
lubricant controlled through the finely adjustable needle
valves~
AS a further feature of the present invention,
each of the distribution hoses is provided, as seen in
Figure 4, with a low lubricant level sensor and flow valve
at its outer end, the point of distribution to the machine
to which each hose is connected. In the event that any
one of the machines runs low on lubricant, this is sensed
~and the controller opens the solenoid valve for delivery
of lubricant to the required location.
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The actual manner in which the needle valves fit
at generally right angles through the outlet passages to
block them in a fully closed position is best seen in
figure ~ of the drawings. Here it is to be noted that the
diameter of the stem of each needle valve exceeds the
width of the narrow part of each outlet passage through
which the needle valve is fitted, which results in an
extremely effective seal by providing four distinct
sealing contact regions a9 b, c, and d, between the valve
stem and the outlet walls when the needle valves are fully
closed.
It will now be seen that in accordance with the
present invention a single manifold can be used to provide
liquid flow and if required at different flow rates to
dlfferent points of use free of operator error.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
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~present invention have been described herein in detail it
will be appreciated~by those skilled in the art that
variations maybe m~ade thereto without departlng from the
spirit of the invention or the~scope of the appended
claims.
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