Grease pump

Abstract

A grease pump including a gerotor pump. The grease pump includes a head, a source of grease, and a discharge conduit. The head has bores defining an inlet passage and an outlet passage, and additional bores in communication with the inlet passage that lead to an air vent valve and a grease fitting. The gerotor pump is disposed in the head and is caused to rotate by an external, separate rotary power tool. By design, the gerotor pump will stop pumping grease when air accumulates in the outlet passage, and air vent valves in fluid communication with the inlet passage and outlet passage may be used to relieve air from the device.

1 . A grease pump for pumping of grease from a source of grease, the grease pump comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the source of grease and an outlet passage; and    a gerotor pump disposed in the housing and having an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet passage and an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet passage,    wherein operation of the gerotor pump pumps grease through the outlet passage.    
   
   
       2 . The grease pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft rotatably disposed in the housing and operably connected to the gerotor pump, wherein the shaft is accessible external to the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The grease pump of  claim 1 , further comprising an air vent valve sealingly secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet passage.  
   
   
       4 . The grease pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a grease fitting sealingly secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet passage.  
   
   
       5 . The grease pump of  claim 1 , further comprising an air vent valve in fluid communication with the outlet passage.  
   
   
       6 . The grease pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a central longitudinal axis and the gerotor pump has a central longitudinal axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the housing.  
   
   
       7 . A grease pump for pumping of grease, comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;    a gerotor pump disposed in the housing and hydraulically interposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the gerotor pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet passage and an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet passage; and    a source of grease sealingly secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet passage.    
   
   
       8 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , further comprising rotary means for turning the gerotor pump.  
   
   
       9 . The grease pump of  claim 8 , wherein the rotary means for turning the gerotor comprises an electric motor and the electric motor is external to the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The grease pump of  claim 9 , wherein the rotary means comprises a hand drill.  
   
   
       11 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , further comprising an air vent valve sealingly secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet passage.  
   
   
       12 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , further comprising a grease fitting sealingly secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet passage.  
   
   
       13 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , further comprising an air vent valve in fluid communication with the outlet passage.  
   
   
       14 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , wherein the housing has a central longitudinal axis and the gerotor pump has a central longitudinal axis, and the gerotor pump axis is perpendicular to the housing axis.  
   
   
       15 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , wherein the source of grease comprises a grease cylinder.  
   
   
       16 . The grease pump of  claim 7 , further comprising a discharge conduit in fluid communication with the outlet passage.  
   
   
       17 . The grease pump of  claim 16 , wherein the discharge conduit comprises an air vent valve.  
   
   
       18 . The grease pump of  claim 16 , wherein the discharge conduit comprises a flexible hose.  
   
   
       19 . The grease pump of  claim 16 , further comprising a receiving reservoir in fluid communication with the discharge conduit.  
   
   
       20 . The grease pump of  claim 19 , wherein the receiving reservoir comprises a centralized lubrication system reservoir.  
   
   
       21 . In combination: 
 a grease pump comprising:    a housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage; and    a gerotor pump disposed in the housing and hydraulically interposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, having an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet passage and an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet passage;    a grease cylinder sealingly secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and    a rotary power tool, operably connected to the gerotor pump.    
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 21 , further comprising a discharge conduit in fluid communication with the outlet passage.  
   
   
       23 . The combination of  claim 21 , further comprising an air vent valve in fluid communication with the outlet passage.  
   
   
       24 . A method of pumping grease, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;    disposing a gerotor pump in the housing, hydraulically interposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, having an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet passage and an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet passage;    sealingly securing a source of grease to the housing in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and    operating the gerotor pump to pump the grease.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of providing an air vent valve in fluid communication with the inlet passage.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of providing a grease fitting in fluid communication with the inlet passage.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shaft operably connected to the gerotor pump and accessible external to the housing;    mounting a rotary tool to the shaft; and    actuating the rotary tool to turn the shaft and the gerotor pump, causing the gerotor pump to pump grease from the grease cylinder to the outlet passage.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of releasing air from the outlet passage, including: 
 providing an air vent valve in fluid communication with the outlet passage;    opening the air vent valve;    delivering grease into the housing through the grease fitting; and    closing the air vent valve once the air is discharged and fluid is present at the outlet of the air vent valve.