Device for supplying lubricant with relief channel

Abstract

Device (300, 2500, 2900) for supplying lubricant, comprising a container (304, 2504, 2930) with an interior (2536) for receiving lubricant, a pump for pumping lubricant from the reservoir to a lubricant distribution system (500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1400, 2300, 2301), wherein the pump comprises the following: a cylinder (334, 2508) with a cylinder bore (338, 2566, 2910); a cylinder inlet (340, 2570, 2920) that is connected to the inside of the reservoir so that lubricant flows from the reservoir into the cylinder bore; a cylinder outlet (354, 2700); a piston (384, 1230, 1330, 2512, 2908) that is movable in the cylinder bore; a check valve (344, 2670, 2678) in the cylinder bore between the piston and the cylinder outlet to block backflow through the outlet; a relief channel (376, 2730) which is connected to the cylinder bore at a position upstream of the check valve to relieve the lubricant distribution system; a linear position drive mechanism (390, 1200, 1300, 2740) for moving the piston (i) in a forward direction in the cylinder bore by means of a pump stroke to pump lubricant through the cylinder outlet to the lubricant distribution system, (ii) in a reverse direction by means of a non-relieving return stroke, wherein the relief channel is not connected to the interior of the container, and (iii) in a reverse direction by means of a relieving return stroke, wherein the relief channel is connected to the interior of the container, wherein the linear position drive mechanism comprises a motor (394, 1204, 1370, 2742, 2914) with an output shaft (396, 2744) and a leadscrew (410, 2746), wherein the output shaft is in drive engagement with the leadscrew and the leadscrew is in threaded engagement with the piston, wherein the linear position drive mechanism comprises a plunger (414, 2800, 2916) on the piston which is movable in a plunger housing (404, 2756) for securing the piston against rotation when the leadscrew rotates, whereby the rotation of the leadscrew causes a linear non-rotating movement of the piston in the cylinder bore, wherein the plunger housing (404, 2756) has a cavity (2802) that defines a container with oil, a controller (450, 2308) for calibrating and controlling the operation of the linear position drive mechanism, and an oil supply mechanism (2784) for supplying oil from the reservoir (304, 2504, 2930) to associated threads (2768, 2722) on the leadscrew (410, 2746) and on the piston (384, 1200, 1300, 2512, 2908), wherein the oil supply mechanism (2784) comprises a rotatable section of the leadscrew (410, 2746) configured to immerse in the oil reservoir (2802).

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