Grease Gun Self-Refilling Pump Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grease guns require a secondary pump for refilling, leading to equipment redundancy and environmental concerns due to grease residue handling during reservoir replacement.

Innovation Solution

A grease gun design that utilizes its own pumping mechanism, featuring a rotating cylindrical lobed grease channel with check valves to control flow, allowing internal refilling without a secondary pump, and incorporating a piston with preset stroke positions for efficient grease reservoir refilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a secondary pump is used to refill the grease gun reservoir, then refilling capability is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling capabilityVSAvoidequipment redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the refilling function and grease delivery function into a single integrated pump system. The pump can operate in two modes: delivering grease to the reservoir during service operations, and refilling the reservoir from an external source when needed. This eliminates the need for a separate secondary pump while maintaining both refilling capability and grease delivery capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it can pump grease from the reservoir to the dispenser during normal operation, and it can also refill the reservoir from an external grease source. This multi-functional design eliminates equipment redundancy while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the reservoir is replaced when running out of grease, then continuous operation is maintained, but grease residue exposure and environmental harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidgrease residue exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of discarding the entire reservoir when grease is depleted, the system recovers the reservoir by refilling it with fresh grease. The pump delivers grease to the reservoir until full, then switches to refilling mode to top off the reservoir, minimizing waste and eliminating the need to discard and replace the reservoir.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potentially harmful practice of reservoir replacement (which creates grease residue exposure and environmental issues) into a beneficial refilling process. By using the pump to refill the reservoir in place, the system eliminates the harmful disposal and replacement operations while maintaining continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If manual refilling method is used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but refilling efficiency and cleanliness decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidrefilling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pump system performs the refilling operation automatically without requiring manual intervention. The operator simply needs to position the grease source and activate the pump, which then autonomously delivers grease to the reservoir and switches to refilling mode when the reservoir is full. This self-service capability dramatically improves refilling efficiency compared to manual methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and environmentally friendly refilling of the grease gun reservoir using its own pumping capability, reducing the need for additional equipment and minimizing grease residue exposure.

Implementation Method 1

The grease gun head has a check valve operatively coupled to the first end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCheck valve: Valve

Implementation Method 2

The cylindrical grease channel longitudinally rotates within the grease gun head to a first position and a second position wherein the spacing of the one or more openings is such that when the cylindrical grease channel is rotated to the first position, a first opening is over the grease port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational positioning:

Implementation Method 3

A piston is situated within the grease channel. Pumping piston has two preset stroke start and stop positions to facilitate refilling the reservoir or pumping service grease

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical pumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS9062825B2Grease gun

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 RYAN MICHAEL C

AI summary

A grease gun head has a rotating cylindrical lobed channel situated within the head so that the grease gun may utilize its own grease pump to refill its grease reservoir. The channel and configuration of ports may also be modified to remove the need for rotation of the grease channel.