Lubricant Delivery Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A fluid dispensing device for engine lubrication and/or suspension component maintenance delivers fluid under positive pressure from a remote storage reservoir via a positive displacement pump. Fluid is dispensed in controlled amounts through flexible conduit directly into the fluid cavity of the engine, suspension component or the like. Fluid volume is controlled by internal logic and input from the user via an external selection switch. The apparatus utilizes 12VDC power and compressed air supply. The apparatus has signal indication for both power status and operational status. A method of using the device for to pre-lubricate an engine prior to start-up is also disclosed.

1 . A device for delivering lubricant from a reservoir to a fluid cavity of a machine component, comprising: 
 an air inlet for receiving working air from a pressurized air source;    a fluid metering pump having a working member for metering lubricant from an inlet to an outlet, the pump being air actuated via the working air acting on the working member;    an air valve in communication with the air inlet and the pump, the valve having a valve member movable to control flow of the working air from the air inlet to the pump; and    an electronic control for controlling the air valve such that a prescribed volume of lubricant is metered from the device by the pump.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump and the working member meters a volume of lubricant from the pump per stroke, and wherein the electronic control operates the pump for a pre-scribed stroke count so as to meter a prescribed volume of lubricant to the fluid cavity.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , further including a selector for setting the stroke count.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the prescribed volume is selected according to a fluid capacity of a volumetric capacity in the fluid cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the air valve is a three-way valve having a valve member movable to (a) a first position in which working air can pass from the air inlet to the pump, (b) a second position in which the working air is blocked from passing from the air inlet to the pump, and (c) a third position in which working air can pass from the pump to an exhaust port of the valve.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a housing containing the air inlet, air valve, pump and control.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further including a fluid reservoir mounted to the housing defining an internal volume in communication with the pump inlet.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a gauge coupled to the outlet of the pump for measuring outlet pressure of the pump.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , further including an outlet line coupled between the pump outlet and the fluid cavity so that the gauge can measure both pump outlet pressure and fluid cavity pressure.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the gauge measures pump outlet pressure when the pump is operating and measures fluid cavity pressure when the pump is not operating.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control operates on direct current voltage.  
   
   
       12 . A device for delivering lubricant from a reservoir to a fluid cavity of a machine component, comprising: 
 an air inlet for receiving working air from a pressurized air source;    a fluid metering pump having a working member for metering a prescribed volume of lubricant per stroke from an inlet to an outlet, the pump being air actuated via the working air acting on the working member;    an air valve in communication with the air inlet and the pump, the valve having a valve member movable to control flow of the working air from the air inlet to the pump; and    an electronic control for cycling the air valve for a prescribed number of cycles such that the pump operates for a pre-scribed stroke count to meter a prescribed volume of lubricant to the fluid cavity selected according to a volumetric capacity of the fluid cavity.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the pump is a positive displacement piston pump.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , further including a selector for setting the stroke count.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the air valve is a three-way valve having a valve member movable to (a) a first position in which working air can pass from the air inlet to the pump, (b) a second position in which the working air is blocked from passing from the air inlet to the pump, and (c) a third position in which working air can pass from the pump to an exhaust port of the valve.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 12 , further including a housing containing the air inlet, air valve, pump and control.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , further including a fluid reservoir mounted to the housing defining an internal volume in communication with the pump inlet.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a gauge coupled to the outlet of the pump for measuring output pressure of the pump.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 8 , further including an outlet line coupled between the pump outlet and the fluid cavity so that the gauge can measure both pump outlet pressure and fluid cavity pressure, wherein the gauge measures pump outlet pressure when the pump is operating and measures fluid cavity pressure when the pump is not operating.  
   
   
       20 . An engine pre-lubrication system for delivering lubricant to a fluid cavity of an engine prior to initial start-up of the engine, the system comprising: 
 a positive displacement fluid metering pump having a working member for metering lubricant from a reservoir to an outlet, the pump having an air inlet coupled to a pressurized working air source for actuating the working member;    an air valve in communication with the air inlet and the pump, the valve having a valve member movable to control flow of the working air from the air inlet to the pump, and    an electronic control for controlling the air valve such that a prescribed volume of lubricant is metered from the device by the pump according to a volumetric capacity of the fluid cavity;    an outlet line coupled to the pump outlet and the fluid cavity for dispensing metered lubricant into the fluid cavity; and    a pressure gauge operatively coupled to the pump outlet for measuring pump outlet pressure when the pump is energized and engine fluid cavity pressure when the pump is de-energized.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , further including a portable housing containing the pump, air valve, electronic control and to which the outlet line and pressure gauge are connected.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the reservoir is mounted to the housing so that an internal volume of the reservoir is in communication with an inlet of the pump.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the working member meters a volume of lubricant from the pump per stroke, and wherein the electronic control operates the pump for a pre-scribed stroke count so as to meter a prescribed volume of lubricant to the fluid cavity.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , further including a selector for setting the stroke count according to a fluid capacity of a volumetric cavity in the machine component.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the air valve is a three-way valve having a valve member movable to (a) a first position in which working air can pass from the air inlet to the pump, (b) a second position in which the working air is blocked from passing from the air inlet to the pump, and (c) a third position in which working air can pass from the pump to an exhaust port of the valve.  
   
   
       26 . A method for pre-lubricating an engine prior to initial start up of the engine using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 supplying lubricant for intake through the pump inlet;    supplying pressurized working air to the pump for driving the working member;    coupling an outlet line from the pump outlet to a fitting on the engine in communication with a fluid cavity of the engine; and    energizing the device to meter a prescribed volume of lubricant to the fluid cavity of the engine.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further including setting a selector to meter the prescribed volume of lubricant according to a volumetric capacity of the engine fluid cavity.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the working member meters a volume of lubricant from the pump per stroke, and wherein the electronic control operates the pump for a pre-scribed stroke count so as to meter the prescribed volume of lubricant to the fluid cavity, and wherein the selector used is to set the stroke count.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , further including measuring pump outlet pressure when the pump is operating and measuring fluid cavity pressure when the pump is not operating using a gauge mounted between the pump outlet and the outlet line.