A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs. in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.
It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5.
The present invention provides for a grease gun 10 that dispenses grease 52 to an object for servicing. The grease gun 10 includes a grease container 12 that has a cylindrical wall 14 made of aluminum. The outer surface 20 of the cylindrical wall 14 can be stamped in order to form one or more gripping elements 22 thereon that assist the user in grasping and transporting the grease gun 10. In such instances, the inner surface 18 of the cylindrical wall 14 opposite the gripping elements 22 is smooth and does not have bumps brought about by formation of the gripping elements 22. A first piston 36 that forces grease 52 from the grease container 12 will more easily slide along the smooth inner surface 18. Wear on the first piston 36 and leakage from the grease container 12 may also be reduced upon the elimination of bumps from the inner surface 18.
The grease container 12 has a cylindrical wall 14 that defines an interior 16 into which the first piston 36 is at least partially disposed. The first piston 36 includes a mounting member 46 onto which a resilient member 38 is mounted. The resilient member 38 contacts the inner surface 18 of cylindrical wall 14. The resilient member 38 can be made of a variety of materials, for instance the resilient member 38 may be made of rubber or a thermoplastic material. The resilient member 38 may make a single seal with the inner surface 18 or may make a double seal as shown in
A rod 42 is also included in the first piston 36 and is attached to the mounting member 46 by a nut 48. In this manner, the position of rod 42 is fixed with respect to mounting member 46. Threading 60 on end 34 of the cylindrical wall 14 is used in order to releasably attach an end cap 50 onto end 34. Although shown as using external threading 60 to attach end 34 to end cap 50, other forms of attachment are possible. For example, end cap 50 can be friction fit, welded or mechanically fastened to end 34. Rod 42 is disposed through a hole in end cap 50 and has a handle 44 attached to one end. Spring 40 is located between and engages both mounting member 46 and end cap 50. As such, spring 40 acts to urge the mounting member 46, and attached components, upwards in
In the embodiment shown in
A user may grasp and push hand lever 62 towards the grease container 12. Hand lever 62 is connected to link 72 by pin 68. Link 72 is likewise attached to dispensing portion 64 through a pivot connection. Additionally, hand lever 62 is connected to second piston 56 by pin 70. Movement of hand lever 62 causes the second piston 56 to slide horizontally within the dispensing portion 64. Movement of the second piston 56 to the left in
The grease container 12 can be filled with grease 52 by drawing from a bulk supply or by pumping the grease 52 into the grease container 12. Alternatively, prefilled cartridges can be used in order to introduce grease 52 into the grease container 12. The grease container 12 can be detached from the dispensing portion 64 In order to refill the grease container 12. The mounting member 46 and the resilient member 38 will generally be located at the end 32 once the grease container 12 runs out of grease 52. The handle 44 may be pulled by the user in order to move the mounting member 46 from end 32 to compress the spring 40 and provide space in interior 16 for adding grease 52.
The exterior of the cylindrical wall 14 is shown in
Formation of the gripping element 22 causes indentations on the outer surface 20 so that the thickness 24 of the cylindrical wall 12 is reduced in the area of the gripping element 22 as can be more clearly seen in the cross-sectional views of
The cylindrical wall 14 is thus made so that the inner surface 18 opposite the gripping element 22 is not deformed and remains smooth. As shown in
Although described as being smooth along the length 26 of the cylindrical wall 14, the inner surface 18 need not be smooth along its entire length 26 in other embodiments. For example, the inner surface 18 may only be smooth along the portion of the length 26 that is traveled by the resilient member 38. Alternatively, the inner surface 18 may have bumps or other distortions at locations that are not opposite the gripping element 22. Further, smaller grooves or cuts may be present on the inner surface 18 that may be made through normal use of the cylindrical wall 14. For example, small grooves may be formed in the direction of axis 90 on the inner surface 18 by movement of the resilient member 38. In these instances, the inner surface 18 is still considered smooth as smaller cuts and grooves do not cause the inner surface 18 to be wavy and tend not to interfere with movement of the resilient member 38. As such, the inner diameter 28 of the cylindrical wall 14 is constant in the direction of axis 90 in the area opposite gripping element 22. Again, the inner diameter 28 may be constant throughout the entire length 26 or through only a portion of the length 26. A constant inner diameter 28 is to be understood as being present even though indentations or minor bumps such as grooves, cuts or ridges may be present on the inner surface 18. The inner surface 18 is smooth in that bumps formed by formation of the gripping element 22 are not present even though smaller grooves, for example formed by extrusion of the cylindrical wall 14, are present.
The cylindrical wall 14 is made of aluminum. The use of aluminum allows for the thickness 24 of the cylindrical wall 14 to be sized so that formation of the gripping element 22 does not cause a distortion or bump to be made on the inner surface 18. The use of aluminum is also advantageous in that the cylindrical wall 14 will be lighter than cylindrical walls 14 made of other materials thus helping to reduce the overall weight of the grease gun 10. Additionally, the use of aluminum results in a stronger cylindrical wall 14 that is more resistant to denting in instances where the grease gun 10 is dropped or otherwise inadvertently impacted. As the cylindrical wall 14 is less resistant to denting, the first piston 36 is more likely to function normally thus resulting in a longer life of the grease gun 10. Although the length 26 of the cylindrical wall 14 can be any distance, length 26 is 10.75 (ten and three fourths) inches in one embodiment. Likewise, although the cylindrical wall 14 can weigh any amount, the cylindrical wall 14 may weigh 22 (twenty two) ounces or less in various embodiments.
It is to be understood that the word aluminum as used in the present application is broad enough to cover both aluminum and aluminum alloys. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the cylindrical wall 14 is made of aluminum alloy 2014-T6 and has a tensile yield strength of 180 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 200 MPa. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the cylindrical wall 14 is made of 6069 heat treatable Mg—Si—Cu aluminum alloy and has a tensile yield strength of 338 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 400 MPa. The cylindrical wall 14 can be made of aluminum and have an ultimate tensile strength up to 400 MPa in accordance with certain exemplary embodiments. Alternatively, the cylindrical wall 14 can be made of aluminum and have an ultimate tensile strength from 400 MPa to 650 MPa in accordance with other exemplary embodiments. In accordance with yet other exemplary embodiments, the cylindrical wall 14 is made of pure aluminum.
Although shown in
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.