US2656012A - Sealed bearing cleaning and lubricating head - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 J THORPE 2,656,012

SEALED BEARING CLEANING AND LUBRICATING HEAD Filed. Nov. 28, 1950 zmezz or" Jczc fi, 77207276.

standard lubricating guns Patented Oct. 20, 1953 T OFFICE SEALED BEARING CLEANING AND LUBRICATING HEAD Jack H. Thorpe, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 28, 1950, Serial N 05197396 2 Claims.

The primary purpose of my invention is the ing device adaptable for attachment to the purchasable in the open market, for example, the Alemite and Zerk guns to extend the usefulness and improve the operation thereof.

A11 important object of the invention is to-provide a small and light weight device that may readily be carried about, be easily handled and readily permit a more thorough as well as quicker cleaning and lubricating job than is'possible with any tool the market affords.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device that will operate as effectively on either air or hand operated guns.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device that will positively clean and lubricate bearings of varying sizes and wherein the axle hole of the bearing is in keeping with the size of the device, that is, neither too large or too small for the. sealing cone.

And a further object of my invention is the provision of a device that may readily be produced in varying sizesto meet varying sized bearing requirements, and wherein the principle of operation is identical for either cleaning or lubricating bearings, excepting that a pressure cleaning gun is used for the cleaning operation,

and a lubricating gun for the lubricating voperation.

Other objects and specific advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings,

in which:

view of the device as shown on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, showing one type of sealed bearing for the purpose of illustrating an operation of the device of my invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the device for use in less accessible places as where the bearing may be left in the machine; Figure 6 shows amodified form of the device :for use where the bear-ing is left in the machine against the seal of the head 2 and none of the surrounding parts of the ma chine are removed;

Figure"? shows a modified form of piston forming a part of the invention, having grooves cut in the shoulder thereof; and

Figure 8 is another modified form of piston forming a part of the invention, but with no shoulder, and having grooves to receive the retaining screws.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1, a grease gun I0 is clamped in inverted position in a vise H which is secured to a bench l2. A cable or other linkage I3 is connected with the trigger of the gun at the upper end and runs down to a foot pedal [4, pivoted on a leg of the bench. Pressure on the pedal M pulls the trigger through the cable l3 to allow air from the line l5 connected to a source of supply of compressed air, not shown, to force grease or cleaning fluid from the chamber i6 up through the chuck [1 into the head l8 .and thence into the sealed bearing l9, held down by the operator or any suitable means, not shown,

Where the bearing can be removed from the machine, an arrangement such as is shown in Fig. 1 is very advantageous as it leaves the hands free to hold the bearing in position.

The cleaningand lubricating head l8 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is cylindrical in shape, open at the bearing engaging end and provided at the opposite end with a grease fitting 19. A bayonet type of fitting is shown although any type may be used. The grease fitting is adapted to be held in the chuck ll of the grease gun l0,

.and may be either manually or air operated.

As best shown in Figure 4, the cleaning and lubricatin head MS has an internal bore 20 adapted to receive a piston 2| which is slightly smaller in diameter than the bore '20 so as to facilitate the passage of grease between the piston and the wall of the bore 20. The piston is provided between its ends with an annular shoulder 22 which normally engages stops in the form of screws 23, equally spaced around the periphery of the cylinder. A spring 24 bearing against the end Wall of the cylinder and engaging the inner end surface of the piston, urges the latter outwardly and into engagement with the stops 23. The piston is tapered at its outer end as shown at 240. to provide a variable sealing means in the bore of the bearing Hi. The outer end of the piston is further provided with a guide pin 25 to facilitate centering the device in the bearing.

The grease fitting I9 is screwed into the end wall of the cleaning and lubricating head in a bore 26 having a reduced diameter at its inner end which opens into the bore 20. Grease can be forced through the fitting I9, the bore 26 and into the bore 28. Pressure is built up in the cavity between the piston 2| and the end wall of the body to force'the piston outwardly to cause 7 the tapered end 24a to make a tight seal between the piston and the bore of the bearing l9.

At its bearing engaging end the head It is provided with a rubber sealing ring 21 which is carried in a groove 2% in the outer edge of the head. This sealing ring bears against either the sealing ring 29 or the outer race 30 of the bearing depending upon the diameter of the bearing to form an outer seal against the passage of grease. When the bearing is pressed down on the cleaning and lubricating head to contact both the piston and the sealing ring 2?, the piston is pressed inwardly away from the stops 23. This provides for a tight seal of the tapered end 24a of the piston within the bore of the inner race 3! of the bearing and allows for the use of the device on various sizes oi bearings within the range of the size of the device. It should be understood, however, that the device may be produced in varying sizes and modifications to handle sealed bearings f all types irrespective of size.

Grease or cleaning fiuidis forced out around the piston and the wall of the bore as. It enter the bearing at 552 between the outer periphery of the inner race 3i and the bore through the sealing member 29. The old grease can thus be carried off or flushed out through the crack 33 between the outer periphery of the inner race and the bore in the sealing member Be on the opposite side or" the bearing.

As shown in 5, the device has been modified to provide a unit for use in inaccessible places. Parts similar to those in the first form are identified with the same numbers. In this form the bore in the head It has been placed at right angles to the bore 29 in order to shorten the head and facilitate the use of the device in tight places. Pressure against the open end of the head holds it in engagement with the bearing to be treated. form of'grease fitting 35 is provided in this device. It is adapted to either snap into the chuck of the grease gun or to be held in engaged position therewith by pressure on the gun. No guide pin is provided on the tapered outer end of the piston 2 la in this form of my device, which itself furier helps to shorten the overall length thereof, this being of material advantage.

In 6, a cleaning and lubricating head 58 similar to that shown in the first form, excepting, however, that it omits the piston and spring. Th form is adapted to be used for cleaning and lubricating sealed bearings which are not .removed from the machine in which they are used. illustrate the use of this device a pulley 3:5 is shown mounted on the outer race 3? of a bearing The inner race 39 of the bearing is fixedly mounted on a stationary axle 45 which is carried in the upper end of a pedestal 4!. The cleaning and lubricating head it is pressed against the outer surface of the hearing. The head of .the axle enters the open end of the bore 2t. Grease or cleaning fluid is forced into the bearing as before, that is, between the outer periphery of the It will be noted that a different a bore opening at one end inner race 39 of the bearing and the corresponding hole in the seal 40a at a position designated as 3 la. The old grease is forced out on the opposite side of the bearing between the inner race and the hole in the seal 42, at a position designated as 43.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of piston 2th, the guide pin on the tapered end of the piston being omitted and the stepped portion thereof is provided with grooves i l. In this form of piston, the outer circumference may be of a Working fit with the bore 20, in as much as the grooves allow for the passage of grease between the piston and the wall of the bore Zil. The parts of the piston which are the same as those of the preceding forms are numbered identically with the numbering of said forms.

Figure 8 shows still another form of piston 2|c. In this form the guide pin 25 on the tapered end of the piston has been retained, and the stepped portion is omitted. In lieu of the latter, but equally adaptable for engaging the stops 23, grooves are provided for engagement therewith. The screws 23 ride in said grooves 15 and the inner ends of the latter act as stops to limit the outer movement of the piston.

With the exception of the above enumerated modifications, all types of the device are identical and serve their respective purposes equally Well. The device provides a uniquelydesigned contrivance for its purpose. It is extremely light in weight, durable, and readily produced from mate rials the open market afiords;

It may be made in varying sizes to best meet industrial and other requirements.

I am aware that slight modifications in struc ture may from time to time suggest themselves without departing, however, from the scope of the invention herein set forth. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangement and description disclosed, but what I do claim is:

1. An attachment adapted to be supported upon and to extend outwardly from the outlet of a lubricating gun, for facilitating the cleaning and lubrication of a sealed bearing having inner and outer races with a bore through the inner race, said attachment comprising a head having a bore closed at one end and opening at one end of the head with a diameter that will permit establishing close communication with the space between said races when said open end of the head is held against said bearing, a sealing member on said end of the head for forming an annular seal between the head and said bearing for confining the flow of cleaning fluid or lubricant to'the space between said races, a piston in said bore of said head, displacing the major portion of the space in said bore and having a tapered end adapted to seal against an end of the wall of the bore in said inner race, a coiled spring having its end abutting the other end of said piston andsaid closed end respectively for urging said piston outwardly from said bore, means limiting the outward movement of said piston, there being a continuously open fiuid passage between the piston and the wall of the bore through said head, and means for connecting said bore in the head with said outlet and for supporting the head upon the gun in outwardly extended relation thereto.

2. An attachment for facilitating the cleaning and lubrication of a sealed bearing having inner and outer races with a bore through the inner race, said attachment comprising a head having of the head and of a diameter adapted to establish communication with the space between said races when said end of the head is held against said bearing, a sealing member on said end of the head for forming an annular seal between the head and said bearing for confining the flow of cleaning fluid or lubricant to the space between said races, a piston in the bore of said head having a tapered end adapted to seal against an end of the wall of the bore in said inner race, a coiled spring in said bore abutting the other end of said piston for urging said piston outwardly from said bore, means limiting the outward movement of said piston, said piston being of a size to occupy the greater portion of the space in said bore and having a diameter forming an annular and continu- JACK H. THORPE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,168,746 Saal Aug. 8, 1939 2,187,608 Kropp Jan. 16, 1940 Pitisci Mar. 5, 1946

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