Abstract: A lubricant pump includes a housing mountable to the upper end of a lubricant container and having a vertical central bore, an outlet passage extending between the central bore and an outlet port fluidly connectable with the lubricant distributor and a vent chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A vent inlet passage extends between the central bore and the vent chamber inlet and a vent outlet passage extends between the vent chamber outlet and a vent outlet port fluidly connectable with a container cavity. A movable valve element is disposed within the vent chamber and displaceable along an axis between a position in which the valve element obstructs the chamber inlet and/or the chamber outlet and a second position in which the chamber inlet is fluidly connected with the chamber outlet to provide an internal flow path from the central bore to the vent outlet port.

Abstract: A lubricant injector includes an injector body having an inlet port fluidly coupleable with a lubricant supply, an outlet port fluidly coupleable with a lubrication point, a piston chamber and a valve chamber. A piston is disposed within the piston chamber and defines a measuring section and an actuating section, the piston being linearly displaceable along an axis through the piston chamber so as to inversely vary the volume of the chamber measuring section and the volume of the chamber actuating section. A valve member disposed within the valve chamber is displaceable along an axis through the valve chamber between a first position, at which the inlet port is fluidly coupled with the piston chamber actuating and measuring sections, and a second position at which the inlet port is fluidly coupled with the piston chamber actuating section and the outlet port is fluidly coupled with the piston chamber measuring section.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control unit is provided that includes at least one electronic circuitry processor configured to function as a web server, at least one generic purpose input/output block for connecting to a fluid dispensing system device being a fluid valve, a meter, a pump or a tank for controlling or metering the dispensed fluid or for controlling the fluid pump or tank. The fluid dispensing control unit further includes at least one web input/output block that is provided for connecting the web server to a web enabling a remote control of the fluid dispensing control unit and the connected fluid dispensing system device via the web. The at least one generic purpose input/output block and the one web input/output block are connected with the at least one electronic circuitry processor.

Abstract: A grease dispensing device includes a grease drive system for moving grease through grease passaging. A sensor is arranged to sense grease in the grease passaging and to generate sensor data related thereto. After a delay period, a prime indicator changes between first and second states based on the sensor data to indicate whether or not the grease dispensing device is primed with grease. The grease dispensing device also includes a grease controller operatively connected to the sensor and the prime indicator. The grease dispensing device monitors the sensor data to determine whether the grease dispensing device is primed with grease and controls the operation of the prime indicator accordingly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control.

Abstract: A lubricant injector includes a body having an inlet fluidly coupleable to a lubricant source, an outlet, and an elongated bore extending along an axis and having an outer end proximal to the body second end, a closed inner end spaced axially from the body first end, a first port, and a second port disposed generally between the bore closed end and the first port. A delivery chamber separate from the bore has an inlet port and an outlet port fluidly coupled with the body outlet. A piston disposed within the bore divides the bore into an operating chamber coupled with the first port and a measuring chamber coupled with the second port. The operating chamber is fluidly coupled with the inlet and the measuring chamber is located between the bore closed end and the operating chamber and is fluidly coupleable with the inlet and alternatively with the delivery chamber.

Abstract: A grease testing device for testing oil separation from a grease sample includes a container defining a grease compartment for holding the grease sample. A grease shearer is at least partially positioned in the grease compartment and moves in the grease compartment to shear the grease sample in the grease compartment. A motor is operatively connected to the grease shearer to move the grease shearer in the grease compartment to shear the grease sample. A drain is arranged with respect to the grease compartment to receive oil separated from the grease sample from the grease compartment.

Abstract: A lubrication system includes a lubricant supply reservoir, a supply line connecting the reservoir with one or more dispenser valves, a return valve and a pump. A control is operatively connected with a pump and with the return valve, the control being configured to operate the pump and the return valve such that a quantity of lubricant within the supply line flows out of the supply line and into the reservoir when a period of storage within the supply line of the quantity of lubricant exceeds an estimated period of effectiveness of the quantity of lubricant or a predetermined portion of the estimated lubricant effectiveness period.

Abstract: A liquid flow device includes a container and a lid. When the lid is mounted on the container, the container supports a gas supply passage, a pressurization passage, an evacuation passage, and a liquid passage. A control valve is located between the gas supply passage and both the pressurization passage and the evacuation passage. In one configuration, the control valve provides communication between the gas supply passage and pressurization passage to pressurize the container and dispense liquid from the container through the liquid passage. In another configuration, the control valve provides communication between the gas supply passage and evacuation passage to create a vacuum pressure inside the container for evacuating liquid into the container through the liquid passage.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a container and a lid. When the lid is mounted on the container, the container supports passaging including a gas supply inlet and a venturi. A control valve in fluid communication with the passaging is adjustable to a dispensing configuration and an evacuation configuration and a separate mode selector valve is adjustable to a dispensing configuration and an evacuation configuration. The dispenser dispenses liquid when both valves are in the dispensing configuration and evacuates liquid when both valves are in the evacuation configuration. The mode selector valve can block flow through a pressurization passage of the passaging in the evacuation configuration and through the venturi or other evacuation passage in the dispensing configuration.

Abstract: A pneumatic liquid dispenser includes a container and a lid. When the lid is mounted on the container, the container supports passaging defining a gas supply inlet for receiving pressurized gas, a gas outlet for delivering pressurized gas to the container, and a gas flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A pressure valve is located between the gas supply inlet and the gas outlet. The pressure valve is configured to automatically permit gas flow along the gas flow path when pressure in the interior of the container is less than a threshold pressure and to automatically block gas flow along the gas flow path when pressure in the interior of the container is greater than the threshold pressure. When gas flows freely through the gas flow path, the gas pressurizes the container to dispense liquid in the container through a liquid passage.

Abstract: A flow measuring device for measuring flow of a fluid. A housing has a passage which extends between an inlet and an outlet. A shaft is disposed within the housing and is rotatable about a central axis. A flow detector is mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the passage. The flow detector includes a rotatable, generally cylindrical body that rotates about a central axis as the fluid flows. A magnet is disposed within the housing such that the central axis extends through it, and is configured to rotate simultaneously with the body about the central axis. A magnetic encoder is disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the flow detector angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector.

Abstract: A lubrication system for lubricating bearings that includes at least one lubrication pump for pumping lubricant to the bearings and at least one metering valve for distributing the pumped lubricant throughout the lubrication system to the bearings. The system further includes a lubrication controller in communication with the at least one lubrication pump and at least one metering valve for controlling the lubrication system. The controller has firmware configured to provide a sequence of instructions to perform specified tasks and hardware that carries out the sequence of instructions to perform the specified tasks. In an unconfigured and unconnected state, the lubrication controller can be configured by reprogramming the firmware, to selectively control at least one of a series progressive lubrication system, a dual line lubrication system and a single line parallel lubrication system.

Abstract: A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft in a shaft opening, filling the free volume with the lubricant, providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state and a release state, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.

Abstract: A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving lubricant, providing a quantity of the lubricant in the free volume, and providing a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter affecting a degradation rate at which the lubricant will degrade and to produce at least one output signal indicative of the measured at least one parameter. The method also includes providing a pump for pumping lubricant into the bearing housing, providing a controller configured to receive the at least one output signal from the sensor and configured to control the pump based the received at least one output signal, and controlling the pump based on a function of the received at least one output signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining lubrication flow dispensed to lubrication points. Lubricant delivery is determined based upon the difference between volume measurements detected as the lubricant is delivered to the lubrication points, and volume measurements detected as the lubricant is vented after delivery. A flow sensor in the lubricant supply line measures lubricant delivered and lubricant vented and a controller determines the amount dispensed based upon the difference between the delivered and vented measurements.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a housing having an interior cavity, an opening, and an inward facing seal mounting surface. The assembly includes a bearing and a shaft mounted in the bearing for rotation about a central axis. The assembly includes a seal positioned axially between the interior cavity and the exterior of the housing to inhibit contaminants from entering the housing and damaging the bearing. The seal has a bearing side, an opening side, and a gap surface facing a corresponding surface that is either an outward facing surface of the shaft or thee inward facing seal mounting surface of the housing. The gap surface is spaced from the corresponding surface by a clearance gap. The width of the clearance gap increases from the bearing side to the opening side to direct fluid in the clearance gap away from the interior cavity as the shaft rotates.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. The apparatus includes a controller that diagnoses piston wear by driving the pump to achieve a predetermined pressure, stopping the pump with the piston in a home position, and measuring pressure at a preselected time interval after the step of stopping the pump. The amount of piston wear is approximated based on a difference between the predetermined pressure and the measured pressure at the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A battery-powered, handheld grease gun for dispensing lubricant. A pump mechanism driven by a motor is in communication with the lubricant and has a supply port for dispensing the lubricant at a lubrication point. A sensor monitors the pump mechanism of the motor. A display displays information indicative of the monitored condition of the device, such as volume of lubricant dispensed. A processor responsive to operator input selectively energizes the motor to drive the pump mechanism to dispense lubricant.

Abstract: A lubrication unit for delivering lubricant in a system and a method for controlling the unit. The lubrication unit includes a reservoir, a motor, and a pump. The lubrication unit has a flow rate sensor mounted downstream from the pump for measuring a flow rate of lubricant. The lubrication unit includes a control unit operatively connected to the flow rate sensor and the motor for controlling operation of the motor. The control unit includes an input selector for selecting at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of a volume and a flow rate of lubricant pumped by the pump. The control unit adjusts motor speed to obtain the selected characteristic.