Automatic lubrication system

Abstract

An automatic lubrication system includes a reservoir configured to be coupled to an industrial machine component, a lubricant line coupled to the reservoir, and a mechanism coupled to the reservoir, the mechanism configured to exact an amount of lubricant from the reservoir based solely on movement of the industrial machine component.

1 . An automatic lubrication system comprising:
 a reservoir configured to be coupled to an industrial machine component;   a lubricant line coupled to the reservoir; and   a mechanism coupled to the reservoir, the mechanism configured to exact a volume of lubricant from the reservoir based solely on movement of the industrial machine component.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a lever. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 2 , further including a weight coupled to the lever. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 3 , further including a piston, the lever coupled to the piston, the piston configured to direct lubricant from the reservoir into the lubricant line. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 4 , wherein the reservoir includes an end cap, the piston disposed in the end cap. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic lubrication system includes a plurality of pistons, the mechanism coupled to each of the plurality of pistons. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 6 , wherein the automatic lubrication system includes a plurality of lubricant lines, each lubricant line corresponding to one of the plurality of pistons. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , further including a plunger disposed in the reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 8 , further including a spring disposed in the reservoir and coupled to the plunger, the spring biasing the plunger to maintain a pressure in the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir includes a first end having an inner surface, the spring coupled to the inner surface. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant line comprises a plurality of lubricant lines, each of the lubricant lines coupled to the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has a diameter of approximately eight inches and a length of approximately ten feet. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a ratchet. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 14 , further including a weight coupled to the ratchet. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 14 , further including a gear reduction mechanism coupled to the ratchet. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1  further including a plunger disposed in the reservoir, a first threaded rod coupled to the plunger, and a second, non-threaded rod coupled to the plunger. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 17 , wherein the threaded rod is a screw. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes end caps. 
     
     
         20 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1  further including a plunger disposed in the reservoir, wherein movement of the mechanism causes movement of the plunger within the reservoir and distribution of lubricant to the structural element. 
     
     
         21 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is activated by gravity. 
     
     
         22 . An automatic lubrication system for lubricating a structural element associated with both a first industrial machine component and a second industrial machine component, the automatic lubrication system comprising:
 a reservoir coupled to one of the first and second industrial machine components; and   a mechanism coupled to the reservoir, wherein relative movement between the first and second industrial components causes movement of the mechanism such that a volume of lubricant is discharged from the reservoir.   
     
     
         23 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , wherein the mechanism is a plunger extending from the first industrial machine component, the first industrial machine component configured to engage the plunger in order to discharge lubricant from the reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , further including a lubricant line coupled to the reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , wherein the mechanism is activated by gravity. 
     
     
         26 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , further including a piston coupled to the reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 26 , further including a spring coupled to the piston. 
     
     
         28 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , wherein the reservoir is a cylinder. 
     
     
         29 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , wherein the lubricant is grease. 
     
     
         30 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , wherein the reservoir includes a high pressure check valve. 
     
     
         31 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 22 , wherein the reservoir includes a low pressure check valve. 
     
     
         32 . The automatic lubrication system of  claim 31 , wherein the lubricant passes from the reservoir to the lubricant line through the low pressure check valve. 
     
     
         33 . A method of automatically lubricating a structural element on an industrial machine comprising:
 coupling an automatic lubrication system to an industrial machine component, the automatic lubrication system including a mechanism configured to move in response to movement of the industrial machine component;   moving the industrial machine component so as to trigger movement of the mechanism; and   automatically delivering an amount of lubrication to a structural element in response to movement of the mechanism.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of coupling includes attaching the lubrication system with fasteners to the industrial machine component. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the industrial machine component is a dipper body. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the industrial machine component is a dipper door. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the industrial machine component is a boom. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the structural element is a dipper door pin. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the structural element is a bail pin. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of moving the industrial machine component includes lowering a dipper body into a pile of material and dipping the dipper body into the material. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of moving the industrial machine component includes opening a dipper door relative to a dipper body. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of delivering includes directing lubricant through a lubricant line coupled to both a reservoir and the structural element.