With Lubricator Patents (Class 417/423.13)
  • Publication number: 20100040493
    Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifugal turbine gas blower with foil bearings for use with a fast axial flow laser. The blower utilizes variable components in order to operate at different speeds for multiple applications. In addition, a bypass load has been incorporated to avoid a surge condition. The blower utilizes foil bearings that are self-lubricating in order to achieve improved efficiency and maximized speeds during operation. The bearings are designed with a bump layer that provides damping for pre-load. Additionally, the backplate of the thrust assembly contains holes in order to reduce the thrust load and to balance the force on the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Walter Wilson
  • Publication number: 20090129956
    Abstract: A compressor system comprising a compressor (e.g., rotary screw compressor) a gearbox and a lubrication system for providing lubrication to the compressor and the gearbox is disclosed. The compressor and the gearbox are provided in operational association with one another within a compressor housing. The compressor system further comprises a gear pump for lubricating the gearbox and a compressor oil circuit for lubricating the compressor from a lubricant source within the lubrication system. The lubrication system further includes at least two lubricant feeds, with one feed connecting the gear pump and one feed connecting the compressor oil circuit. Upon activation of the gear pump and/or the compressor oil circuit, lubricant from the lubricant source is encouraged to flow through the associated lubricant feed for distribution to the associated portion of the compressor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Picouet
  • Publication number: 20090025386
    Abstract: An electrically assisted turbocharger is provided having an electric motor cartridge comprising a first cartridge housing portion (2) and a second cartridge housing portion (3). The cartridge housing portions (2, 3) are coupled together so as to assembly the electric motor cartridge (1) by radially and axially positioning a stator (4) there between. A shaft (34) is supported by a ball bearing assembly (35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Peer Rumsby
  • Publication number: 20080292479
    Abstract: A cooling fan includes a fan housing (10) having an upper tube (111) extending downwardly from a top side thereof and a lower tube (121) extending upwardly from a bottom side thereof, a ball bearing (20) being mounted in the upper tube, a sleeve bearing (30) being mounted in the lower tube, a stator (45) mounted around the lower tube, and a rotor (40). The rotor includes a hub (401) located between the ball bearing and the sleeve bearing and a shaft (50) extending through the hub. Two ends of the shaft are rotatably received in the ball bearing and the sleeve bearing, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YEU-LIH LIN, YING-MIN HUANG, ZHI-YA YANG, ZHI-JIAN PENG
  • Publication number: 20080232985
    Abstract: A vacuum pump includes a high-speed rotor, and an anti-friction bearing for rotatably supporting the rotor and including an inner ring, an outer ring, a rolling body, and a cage for the rolling body both the rolling body and the cage being located in an intermediate space defined by the outer and inner rings, with the cage having a threaded groove in a section of its surface adjacent to the inner ring for insuring a continuous feeding of a lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Bernd Koci
  • Publication number: 20080166246
    Abstract: To protect the bearings, lubricant and seals of a refrigerant compressor, the compressor includes one or more inductors for mitigating a high frequency common mode current that produces a high frequency shaft voltage. Each inductor is a ring of magnetic material encircling three insulated cables that convey three-phase power from an adjustable frequency drive to the compressor's motor. Without the inductors, the high frequency shaft voltage can become damagingly high due to the length of a cast iron housing that can be particularly long if the housing contains both a motor and several centrifugal impellers. The high frequency shaft voltage is just one component of a composite adverse shaft voltage. Another component, known as an operationally induced shaft voltage, can be reduced by a grounding contact, so instead of using just an inductor or just a contact, both can be used to provide a total solution to the problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Robert M. Swanson, Joel S. Duga, David M. Foye
  • Patent number: 7367190
    Abstract: In a supercharger (10) with an electric motor in accordance with the present invention, the electric motor (20) is arranged at a position adjacent to a compressor impeller (6), a center housing (14) has a cooling fluid flow path (34) formed in such a manner as to surround the electric motor (20) and be adjacent to a diffuser portion (25). A first cooling structure portion (38) is formed at a position in the electric motor (20) side in the cooling fluid flow path (34), a second cooling structure portion (39) is formed at a position in the diffuser portion (25) side in the cooling fluid flow path (34). The electric motor (20) is cooled by the first cooling structure portion (38). The diffuser portion (25) is cooled by the second cooling structure portion (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: IHI Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Shibui, Masahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7364403
    Abstract: A lubricating system for a fan (10) includes a lubricant storage space (17) formed at an end portion of the fan for receiving lubricant therein. A lubricant temporary retaining space (145) is defined at the other end portion of the fan for temporarily retaining the lubricant therein. A lubricant returning space (125) communicates the lubricant storage space with the lubricant temporary retaining space for enabling the lubricant to flow from the retaining space to the storage space. The returning space is defined in a tube (12) made of plastic, wherein a bearing (13) is mounted in the tube and a stator (15) is mounted around the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-I Wu, Kuo-Chu Hsieh, Zhi-Ya Yang
  • Patent number: 7318707
    Abstract: A vertical centrifugal pump having a support bearing arranged above the pump and including an axial bearing (22) and a radial bearing (23). A housing (24) encasing the support bearing (22, 23) is directly connected to the flow-carrying housing (25) of the centrifugal pump. Lubrication, and optionally cooling, of the support bearing (22, 23) are performed by the pumped medium, which is conveyed to the support bearing (22, 23) through a connection leading from the pressure zone (28) of the flow-carrying housing and is discharged into the suction zone (29) of the pump, and a pump shaft seal (31) is disposed on the opposite side of the support bearing (22, 23) from the flow-carrying housing of the centrifugal pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Scharffenberger
  • Patent number: 7299792
    Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies. A dedicated lubricant reserve system ensures that the required operating level of fluid is provided to, and maintained in, the reservoir portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique
  • Patent number: 7264450
    Abstract: The method is provided for operating a pump unit with a centrifugal pump which is driven by an electric motor and which comprises a rotor running in a split tube. The rotor space is separated with respect to the stator in a fluid-tight manner. On running the motor to its operational rotational speed the fluid located in the rotor space due to the increasing rotational speed evaporates and is removed so that the motor finally functions as a dry-runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Grundfos a/s
    Inventor: Jorgen Christensen
  • Patent number: 7144229
    Abstract: A hermetic electric compressor is capable of efficiently pumping up a necessary amount of lubricating oil even at low-speed rotation and has a simple constitution to provide an excellent workablity in assembling. The hermetic electric compressor includes an oil pump. The oil pump includes (i) a slanting channel formed in the lower portion of a main shaft and slanting from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof outwardly, (ii) a throttle formed at the bottom end of the main shaft and having an inlet port of diameter smaller than the section of the slanting channel at the center thereof, and (iii) a lower communicating passage for providing a communication between the bottom end of a spiral groove and the slanting channel. This constitution is capable of effectively lift the head of the lubricating oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ishida, Toshihiko Ota, Terumasa Ide, Makoto Katayama, Takafumi Horiguchi, Takahide Nagao
  • Patent number: 7083385
    Abstract: An axial flow fan motor having an impeller molded integrally with a shaft from a synthetic resin. The shaft is easily assembled with a bearing arrangement by being brought into tight contact with the inner ring of the bearing arrangement and is reliably fixed thereto in the elastic region of the shaft. A through hole is formed in the shaft along its central axis. After the shaft is fit into the inner ring of the bearing arrangement, a metal pin is pressed into the axial through hole. Because the pin is pressed in, the shaft is elastically expanded and brought into tight contact with the inner ring and fixed thereto in the elastic region of the shaft. Furthermore, the distal end portion of the shaft elastically outwardly expands and is pressed against the end surface of the inner ring, thereby preventing the bearing arrangement from coming off the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Omi
  • Patent number: 6939115
    Abstract: A wet-type rotor pump which is particularly suitable for feeding coolant in motorcar engines comprises a pump wheel. By the pump wheel, a feed medium is fed through an intake channel into a discharge channel. Via a common shaft, a motor armature of an electric motor is connected with the pump wheel. The motor armature is surrounded by a slit pot, feed medium flowing around the motor armature to cool it. The shaft is supported by two radial bearings, one radial bearing being arranged in a supporting element. The supporting element that is arranged within the intake channel further comprises an abutting surface on which a flow surface of the pump wheel abuts to take up axial forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Knoll, Michael Weinert
  • Patent number: 6913438
    Abstract: A circulating lubrication system for a centrifugal pump, or other rotating equipment utilizing an oil sump, is disclosed. The lubrication system includes an external reservoir located distant from the main lubrication chamber, so that lubricating fluid from the main misting chamber is forced out of the main chamber, cooled and cleaned (i.e. filtered) in the external reservoir, and thereafter fed back into the main lubricating chamber. In such a manner, the lubrication system maintains substantially clean, cool, and moisture free lubricating fluid in the main misting chamber and reduces the required downtime of the device. Thus, the life span of the device is lengthened while at the same time production is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Environamics
    Inventor: Robert E. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6761544
    Abstract: A component, such as a submersible motor, having a lubrication distribution system. The component includes an outer housing having a rotatable shaft disposed within the housing. The shaft is supported by one or more bearings and a lubricant is disposed within the housing. A conduit is provided for conducting a lubricant from the lubricant pump to desired locations, such as the one or more bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick M. McCartney
  • Patent number: 6746216
    Abstract: An oil pump for a scroll compressor has a bearing hub with a vent disposed between at least one fluid inlet in the bearing hub and a thrust washer. The vent provides an additional fluid flow path to equalize fluid pressure underneath the thrust washer. By minimizing or eliminating low fluid pressure zones with the bearing hub, fluid flow through the oil pump can be maintained at a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventor: Zili Sun
  • Publication number: 20040042918
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a mounting tube having an annular flange extending radially and inwardly from an inner wall surface thereof. A rotor includes a rotor shaft extending into the mounting tube. First and second bearings are sleeved on the rotor shaft, and each has an abutment plate, and a peripheral flange that extends axially from the abutment plate, that slidably contacts the inner wall surface of the mounting tube, and that cooperates with the rotor shaft and the abutment plate to define a lubricant-receiving reservoir thereamong. Two annular bearing-covering caps are sleeved on the rotor shaft to sealingly cover the lubricant-receiving reservoirs in the first and second bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Hao-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 6699020
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a mounting tube having an annular flange extending radially and inwardly from an inner wall surface thereof. A rotor includes a rotor shaft extending into the mounting tube. First and second bearings are sleeved on the rotor shaft, and each has an abutment plate, and a peripheral flange that extends axially from the abutment plate, that slidably contacts the inner wall surface of the mounting tube, and that cooperates with the rotor shaft and the abutment plate to define a lubricant-receiving reservoir thereamong. Two annular bearing-covering caps are sleeved on the rotor shaft to sealingly cover the lubricant-receiving reservoirs in the first and second bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Hao-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 6682324
    Abstract: The radial turbo-blower comprises a stator (35) that is housed in a stator housing (10) and a rotor (13) that rotates within a pump housing (11). The rotor (13) comprises a cavity (23) with a bearing arrangement (26) that is received by a protruding bearing pin (25). A pump chamber (12) is separated from a stator chamber (22) by a thin partition wall (21). Thereby, an atmospheric pressure is maintained in the stator chamber (22). The blower consists of few components and has a short structural length. It is substantially maintenance-free and the rotor area is protected from being contaminated by oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Leybold Vakuum GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Hodapp, Karl-Heinz Ronthaler, Hans Kriechel
  • Publication number: 20030219347
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thrust bearing assembly and a horizontal skid utilized in a horizontal pumping system. In one embodiment, the thrust bearing assembly comprises a cylindrical open housing, at least one radial ball bearing, at least one rotating seal, and at least one axial thrust bearing. The axial thrust bearing does not have to be completely submerged in lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: James V. Mascola
  • Patent number: 6612814
    Abstract: An electrical fan comprising a blade module and a coil module. The blade module includes a space defined therein, and a shaft. The space has a bottom where an end portion of the shaft is embedded. The coil module includes an oil-retaining bearing, an oil-retaining ring, and a shaft sleeve. The shaft sleeve has an internal flange at a top thereof. The oil-retaining bearing is mounted inside the shaft sleeve, and the oil-retaining ring is clamped between the internal flange and the oil-retaining bearing once the shaft of the blade module has penetrated through the shaft sleeve and the oil-retaining ring of the coil module. Via the oil-retaining ring, the lubricant oil is retained in the oil-retaining bearing, thereby preventing loss and evaporation of lubricant oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Ideal Elethermal Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Jen Shih, Tai-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 6585496
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with an oil reservoir that is self-regulating dependent on the overall lubricant level in the compressor. The reservoir is provided by a structural member having an inner rim and a bottom wall. The bottom wall is provided with a metering orifice that returns lubricant to the main sump. The metering orifice will ensure that undue amounts of lubricant are not maintained in the reservoir during low oil operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventor: Zili Sun
  • Publication number: 20030095880
    Abstract: A ceiling fan has a stator 38 rigidly mounted to a shaft 33 and a rotor 40 rotatably mounted to the same shaft about the stator. The shaft is rigidly mounted to a housing. The rotor is supported upon a thrust bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Vinay Mehta
  • Patent number: 6567268
    Abstract: A cooling fan has a housing with a chamber defined therein. The housing has a seat provided in the chamber, a sleeve made of non-magnetized material and formed on the seat, a self-lubricating bearing received in the sleeve, a magnetic ring provided at a top of the sleeve, and lubricant received between the bearing and the magnetic ring. A circuit board is provided on the seat and outside the sleeve. A coil is provided on the circuit board and outside the sleeve. A rotor is rotatably mounted on the sleeve. The rotor has a hollow body covering the coil and the circuit board. A spindle is formed at a center of the hollow body and extends through the magnetic ring and in the bearing. A gap is defined between the magnetic ring and the spindle. Magnetic liquid is received in the gap for preventing the lubricant from escaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: Hsin-Mao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6551055
    Abstract: A lubrication system for equipment (e.g. centrifugal pump) employing a rotating shaft and corresponding support bearings is disclosed. The lubrication system includes a lubricant dispenser having a plurality of blades or dispensing members pivotally attached thereto, the dispenser affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. Centrifugal force created by rotation of the shaft to which the dispensing blades are attached causes the blades to extend radially outward from the shaft center during operation so as to dispense the lubricant throughout a lubricating or misting chamber in order to lubricate the adjacent bearings. The system is also advantageous in that the blades are permitted to pivot or flap downward toward the shaft in either direction so that the dispenser may be more easily inserted into the misting chamber during manufacturing of the device or replacement of the lubricating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Environamics Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6544011
    Abstract: A heat dissipation fan has a casing, a stator, a lubricating bushing and a fan. The stator is secured to the casing with a sleeve. The lubricating bushing has lubricant contained therein and is mounted in the sleeve. The fan is rotatably mounted in the casing and has a permanent magnet to be a rotor. A shaft extends from the fan and through a passage defined through the lubricating bushing. A locking disk is securely mounted on the shaft to hold the lubricating bushing. An oil guide is arranged on the lubricating bushing. Accordingly, the air in the cavity can be released from the oil guide during the assembly of the dissipation fan. The oil guide can keep oil from flowing out of the sleeve and drying out the lubricating bushing. The useful life of the dissipation fan is prolonged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Hsin-Mao Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20020172609
    Abstract: A heat dissipation fan has a casing, a stator, a lubricating bushing and a fan. The stator is secured to the casing with a sleeve. The lubricating bushing has lubricant contained therein and is mounted in the sleeve. The fan is rotatably mounted in the casing and has a permanent magnet to be a rotor. A shaft extends from the fan and through a passage defined through the lubricating bushing. A locking disk is securely mounted on the shaft to hold the lubricating bushing. An oil guide is arranged on the lubricating bushing. Accordingly, the air in the cavity can be released from the oil guide during the assembly of the dissipation fan. The oil guide can keep oil from flowing out of the sleeve and drying out the lubricating bushing. The useful life of the dissipation fan is prolonged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Hsin-Mao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6474962
    Abstract: An irrigation pump for use in irrigating small fields or supplementing larger irrigation systems can also be used for portable water supply for emergency, military, or for underdeveloped countries. The pump system is designed to be light-weight and semi-portable and can be powered with a small engine or electric motor. The apparatus uses a down well impeller that is driven by a flexible vertical shaft and a vertical shaft motor drive or engine. The pump impeller incorporates its own thrust and journal bearings for the pump shaft. The bearings are water lubricated. The main drive shaft is flexible and elongated and is supported over its entire length with a flexible shaft guide sleeve. The flexible drive shaft is surrounded by a convoluted well pipe so that the drive shaft and the well pipe can be removed from the well casing bore as a unit and then coiled for storage. The drive shaft accepts couplings at each end and a seal at its upper end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Peter B. Allen, Matthew William Marsh
  • Patent number: 6471495
    Abstract: An irrigation pump for use in irrigating small fields or supplementing larger irrigation systems can also be used for portable water supply for emergency, military, or for underdeveloped countries. The pump system is designed to be light-weight and semi-portable and can be powered with a small engine or electric motor. The apparatus uses a down well impeller that is driven by a flexible vertical shaft and a vertical shaft motor drive or engine. The pump impeller incorporates its own thrust and journal bearings for the pump shaft. The bearings are water lubricated. The main drive shaft is flexible and elongated and is supported over its entire length with a flexible shaft guide sleeve. The flexible drive shaft is surrounded by a convoluted well pipe so that the drive shaft and the well pipe can be removed from the well casing bore as a unit and then coiled for storage. A flange on the outlet fitting can be used to bolt the entire assembly of engine and outlet fitting to the well head at a well casing flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Peter B. Allen, Delmer Cotton Renner
  • Patent number: 6450785
    Abstract: A hermetic motor compressor unit for household and similar refrigeration appliances, comprising a sealed casing having a bottom that forms a sump for holding lubricating oil. Inside of the casing is a compressor and driving motor that share a common hollow crankshaft that rotates about a vertical axis. To ensure effective lubricating oil flow into the hollow crankshaft, a means for providing suction comprising a sleeve is rigidly fixed to the lower end portion of the crankshaft. A fluted member made of a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the material from which the hollow crankshaft is made that is connected to the stator of the drive motor is inserted into the sleeve to draw the lubricating oil from the sump. The lubricating oil is drawn in from the oil sump into recesses in the fluted member when the sleeve is rotated into the position in which it allows the recesses to communicate with lower apertures in the sleeve. This occurs during the downstroke of the fluted member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Zanussi Elettromeccanica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fredrik Dellby, Carlo Zonta
  • Patent number: 6224354
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for a submersible machine, such as a pump, a turbine or a mixer. The machine includes a driving unit (1) and a hydraulic unit (2) having an impeller connected to the driving unit via a rotary shaft (3). In order to prevent the medium in the hydraulic unit from entering the driving unit along the driving shaft, an intermediate seal device is arranged. The seal device includes two mechanical face seals (5) and (6) and an intermediate room (7) containing barrier liquid. In order to prevent possible leaking barrier liquid from damaging the shaft bearing (4), a storage tank (9) for collecting said liquid is arranged within the room (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Bengt-Ake Brandt, Boris Fredriksson
  • Patent number: RE39217
    Abstract: A lubrication system for equipment (e.g. centrifugal pump) employing a rotating shaft and corresponding support bearings is disclosed. The lubrication system includes a lubricant dispenser having a plurality of blades or dispensing members pivotally attached thereto, the dispenser affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. Centrifugal force created by rotation of the shaft to which the dispensing blades are attached causes the blades to extend radially outward from the shaft center during operation so as to dispense the lubricant throughout a lubricating or misting chamber in order to lubricate the adjacent bearings. The system is also advantageous in that the blades are permitted to pivot or flap downward toward the shaft in either direction so that the dispenser may be more easily inserted into the misting chamber during manufacturing of the device or replacement of the lubricating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Environamics Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Rockwood