US2594320A - Lubrication system - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1952 c. c. s. LE CLAIR 2594320 LUBRICATION SYSTEM A Homey April 29, 1952 c. c. s. LE CLAIR LUBRICATION SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1947 April 29, 1952 c. c. s. Lr: CLAIR LUBRICATION SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. l2, 1947 Inventor www.

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 LUBRICATIGN SYSTEM Camille Clare Sprankling LeClair, Acton, London,

England, assigner to TecalemitLimited, Brentford, England, acorporation of Great Britain.

Application .February 12, 1947,Serial.No..7278,082,

In Great Britain February 2Q, 19461 zo claims. (ci. 13T-69);

This invention relates to lubrication systems of the kind in which lubricant is dischargedV at high pressure by means of a grease gun or other high-pressure lubricant-discharging device l'nto a nipple or lubricant-receiving device which is usually attached or connected permanently tothe part to be lubricated. The invention also relates to lubrication systems in which the grease gun or equivalent is provided with, or is connectedrto, a. nozzle which is provided with jaws or other device whereby the nozzle may be detachably applied or attached by direct thrust, or by pull-on, or lateral or other method of engagement-to the nipple, which latter may be formed -with a flange or head or other means adaptedtobe engaged by the nipple-engaging jaws or otherde- Vice of the nozzle body.

The invention thus relates for example` to lubrication systems in which the nozzle isadapted to form a lubricant-tightjoint.with thev nipple by thrust applied to the nozzle,.or in'which the nozzle comprises a number of movable jawsfwhich when operated manually, mechanically,V or `bythe pressure of the lubricant forced into the nozzle-ahy the grease gun or equivalent, are adaptedto. form a detachable connection with the nipple,crin

which the nozzle is. provided with fixed. jawsV in the form ofa channel adapted 4toformfa detachable connection with a. iiangevon the nipple.

Known nipples used in the above, mentioned lubricant systems arev frequently provided withv non-return valves adapted to close the lubricant passages in the nipples but whether or vnot'they are provided with such valves the inletsfofothe said passages form lodgements. in whichdirt can collect. y

One object of the, presentinvention is tot provide nipples or lubricant receiving deviceslihereinafter called nipples) which are sov constructed that dirt cannot collectfin the saidinlets.. ,Y

According tothe presentinventionthe inlet end of the lubricant passage4 i-nthe nipple is provided with Aa closurejmember, which is, made of iiexible lubricant-impervious. material. andpis formed with alubricant'passage of small size, the

arrangement being such that eitherfdue` tjol'the manner-in which the member ,ismou'nted inthe nipple and (or) the mannerin which theflubricant passage is formed throughy thesaid material, the lubricant. passage is normally Closed a non-return valveto prevent the back flow and escape of lubricant whenthe pressure on the latter is relieved andthe nozzle is removed from the nipple.

A further objectoftheLinvention is to provide a combination of nipples constructed as briefly described above with nozzles which may form part. of, or may be attached-to, grease gunsor equivalent .and are provided with hollow conduit means which are adapted to open the lubricant passages, in the said closure members and thus allow-lubricant to be injected throughthose p assages into the lubricant Vreceiving passages in the nipples and thence tothe place of use of the lubricant.

Such a.V nozzle may, for example, comprise a hollow body, a lubricant inlet conduit through which lubricant from agrease gun or equivalent is forced into the body under pressure, a hollow conduit means which isy slidable in the body and which, when the nozzle is in its working position upon the nipple, isl forced under the lubricant pressure into, and opens, the lubricant passage inthe said closure member and thus allows lubricant 'to beY injected through the said passage into the lubricant receiving passage in the nipple .and thence to the place of use.

The said hollow lconduit means may form part of a piston assembly which is slidably arranged within. the said hollow body, and it may include a, needle-like stem which is adapted to be forced Vforwards, towards the Vnipple into the lubricant but can be opened to allowllubricantfto.,beiorced through'it under pressure imposed;v upon. the lubricant by Va grease .gun .or equivalent device. The closure member thus not only acts to prevent the access of dirt to the interior of the nipple, but also, as will be ,explainedA later,A may-act as passage in the closure member under the pressure of the lubricant acting upon the piston assembly.

Asv analternative, however, the nozzle may comprise a hollow body adapted to be connected to the outlet conduit of a grease gun or equivalent, ahollow conduit means which is attached to orv forms part of, the hollow bodyand which, under manual pressure applied to the nozzle, is

forced into, and opens, the said lubricant passage vin the closure member and thus allows lubricant to be injected through the said passage into the lubricant receiving passage in the nipple and thence to the place of use.

The said closure member conveniently consists of a. flexible, lubricant-impervious teat which isl formed with a head, adapted to be fitted in a housing formed at the inlet end of the lubricant passage. in the nipple, and a shank which is arranged -in that passage, and the teat may be formed with an axial lubricant passage which` passes rightlthrough the teat.

On the other hand, theteat may be formed with-.an axial lubricanty passage which passes lpartly through the teat and the shank may then be provided with one or more slits which provide communication between that passage and lubricant-receiving passage in the nipple. The outer surface of the head of the teat is preferably flush with the outer surface of the nipple, and in certain constructions the said shank is tapered although this is not essential. The lubricant passage in the teat may be formed by merely piercing the teat or by drilling the teat or by moulding the passage in the teat.

The teat may be provided with a tapered head which is fitted in a correspondingly shaped housing at the inlet end of the lubricant passage in the nipple.

On the other hand, the head of the teat may be so shaped that part only of the head is tightly gripped in the housing at the inlet end of the lubricant-passage in the nipple to close the inlet end of the lubricant passage in the teat, While an emptly space is provided in the housing around the rest of the head of the teat.

The nipples may comprise heads shaped for engagement by the nipple-engaging fixed` jaws or parts or by the lubricant pressure or manually or mechanically operated movable jaws or parts of the nozzles, Spanner or wrench engaging parts and shanks which are adapted, by threading or otherwise, to be xed in the bearings or other parts to be lubricated.

The teat may be made of rubber, synthetic rubber .or other mouldable material, or lubricantimpervious exible material.

Various constructional forms of nipples and also of nozzles adapted to be used in association therewith will now be described, by Wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in the descriptions it will be assumed that the nipple and nozzle are lboth arranged in a `vertical position, `with the nozzle uppermost delivering downwards into the nipple. On the `drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a nozzle and :nipple combination, the nozzle being engaged'in its working position on the flanged head of a nipple. In this ligure,A the nozzle is of the type which comprises fixed jaws for engagement upon and 'around the flanged head of 'the nipple by pull-on motion and in which the hollow slidable conduit which engages in the lubricant passage in the teat is in the form of a needle-like stem and is carried by a grease-operated piston slidable in the nozzle body;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a second 'nozzle and nipple combination, the nozzle being engaged in its working position Aon the head of the nipple. In this figure, the nozzle comprises movable nipple-engaging jaws which are adapted to engage with a part-spherical portion of the nipple head, the jaws being carried -by an outer piston,

assem-bly which is slidable in the annular space between outer and inner body parts of the nozzle;

Figure 3 is a sectional View of a third nozzle and nipple combination, the nozzle being engaged in its working position on the head of the nipple. In this ligure, the nozzle comprises an outer piston assembly which is formed upon an inner body part of Vthe nozzle and is slidable in the'outer body part of the nozzle and which also carries nipple-engaging jaws adapted to engage the circular head or flange of a nipple of the type shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of nipple which comprises a head formed with which corresponding projections formed on the 4 locking jaws of a nozzle of the type described with reference to Figure 3 are adapted to engage;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a fourth nozzle and nipple combination, in which the nozzle is of the type shown in Figure 3, but diers therefrom in that its locking jaws are formed with projections adapted to engage in the annular grooves or serrations formed in the head of the modified nipple shown in the ligure;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a fth nozzle and nipple combination. The nozzle shown in this gure is not adapted to be attached or gripped to the nipple and part of the head of the latter is shaped to' provide a guide for a spring-urged sleeve which is slidable upon the nozzle body and is adapted to ensure that the needle-like stem of the nozzle is in correct alignment with the lubricant passage in the nipple teat;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are all sectional views showing how nipples as illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 4 and 5, may be used with nozzles as shown in Figure 6;

Figures 10 to 13 are sectional views of modified forms of teats for use in nipple heads;

Figure 14 is a half-sectional View of a nozzle and nipple combination in which the nozzle is provided with manually operated nipple-engaging jaws; and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of a inodication of the nozzle and nipple combination shown in Figure 14.

Referring rst to Figure 1:

In this constructional form of the invention, the nipple comprises a shank l, which is threaded or otherwise formed for attachment to the place of use of the lubricant, an enlarged intermediate or Spanner-engaging part 2, and a circular flange v3 which is separated from the intermediate or Spanner-engaging part by an annular recess 4, which thus provides a neck between the latter and the flange 3 around which the jaws of the nozzle may be engaged as described hereinafter.

The nipple is provided with an axial grease outlet passage 5 which extends from the bottom end 4of lthe shank to a position spaced slightly above the lower fiat .face of the Spanner-engaging part 2 of the nipple where it joins a coaxial enlarged bore 6. The upper end of the latter is counterbored so as to provide a shoulder 1 spaced from the upper face of the flange and a tapered side wall 8 which is inclined outwardly from the flat top face of the nipple flange downwardly to the shoulder. The shoulder 1 and the tapered wall thus form a tapered housing for the head 9 of a rubber or like teat, which at its opposite end is formed with a tapered or pointed shank Ill projecting downwards into the enlarged bore B when the'teat is in position in the nipple. The teat is formed witha straight-through pieced axial passage l I normally of no measurable diameter.

As described hereinafter, however, the head of the teat may be larger in diameter than the upper and smaller end of the tapered housing, but smaller than the larger and lower end thereof, but being made of rubber or like material it can be distorted suiiiciently to allow it to be forced into place Without damage to itself. Once in place it will be firmly held in position by the tapered form of the housing.

In a modification the enlarged bore S in the upper part of the nipple may, as shown in broken lines, extend right down through the attachment shank I, if the latter is large enough to permit of it.

One constructional form of nozzle for use with the nipple isalso shown in Fig. 1'. It comprises a hollow body I2, which'l is integral with, or attached to, a hollow shank I3, the latter being integral with, or adapted to be attached to, the grease outlet conduit of the grease gun or equivalent (not shown). The bottom or nipple engaging end of the nozzle-is formed with a recess of known form of T-section comprising a straight portion which extends from the'side of the nozzle body nearest to the grease gun or equivalent to the centre ofthe body where it connects with a semi-circular portion which is spaced from the opposite side of the nozzle body. In known manner, this arrangement provides two jaws I5, `between which the-nipple neck can be slidably engaged, and a channel I4 above the jaws adapted to receive the nipple fiange 3. v

The bore I6 of the nozzle body extends from the upper face of the Abody to a position short of the channel I4, so that the body is provided with a base I1 separating the bore from the channel. A small hole I8 is formed centrally in the base and provides communication between the bore I6 and the channel I4. The grease inlet conduit I9 in the hollow shank I3 of the nozzle body communicates with the bore I6 at a position near the upper face of the nozzle body.

A piston assembly is slidably arranged in the bore of the nozzle body and comprises a central bodyY 26, having a flange 2l and a shank 22 which projects upwards from the upper face of the flange, a coaxial needle-like stern 23 which projects downwards from the lower face ofthe ange and a flexible sealing washer which is held between the upper face of the fiange 2l of the piston body and a nut 26 which is screwed upon a threaded part of the shank, the annular sealing lip of the washer being directed upwards. The piston assembly is constantly urged upwards by a coil spring 21, which reacts between the base I1 of the nozzle body and the ange 2l on the piston body. An axial passage 24 connects the upper end of the shank 22 to the lower end of the needle like stem 23.

The upper end of the bore I3 of the nozzle body is preferably closed by a cover plate-28 arranged in a recess in the nozzle body and held in position by a circlip 29 which is fitted in an annular groove formed in the nozzle body above the cover plate, and a flexible sealing ring or disc 3Ilis used below the cover to effect a pressure tight joint. l

Alternatively, the cover may be attached tothe nozzle body by screwing.

The coil spring 21 urges the complete piston assembly upwards and the upward movement is limited by the engagement of the upper end of the shank 22 with the cover. The arrangement is suchthat normally the lower end of the needle stem 23 of the piston body does not project beyond the lower face of the base I1 o1" the nozzle body but is either flush with it or is disposed slightly above it. The annular sealing lip of the sealing washer 25 is so disposed that it can never mask the inlet end of the grease conduit I9 in the hollow shank of the nozzle body.

In operation, the nipple-engaging jaws I of the nozzle body are hooked upon the Yneck of the nipple and the nipple flange 3 is engaged in the channel I4, the bottom face of the base I1 thenV engaging-with the upper face of the nipple flange. The nozzle is pulled across the nipple until the nipple flange is fully engaged in the semi-circular end of the channel I4 in the nozzle body. In this position, the needle-like stem23 of the piston assembly and thepassageV il in the rubber teat are in exact axial alignment. When the grease gun or equivalent is operated, grease under. pressure is forced through the conduit I9 in the hollow shank I3 of the nozzle body into theV bore I5 or" the latter, the piston assembly then being forced downwards against the pressure of the coil spring 21 and the-needle end of the piston stem 23 being forced into theA end of the passage II in the rubberY teat. -This` movement of the piston assembly maybe limited either by the closing of the coil spring 21 or by a shoulder or other step (not shown) and as soon as the piston assembly has reached the desired limit of its downward travel further discharge of grease by the grease gun-or equivalent will force grease through the straight-through passage 24 in the piston body and the needle stern, thence through the .passage II inthe rubber or like teat into the'nipple and thenceA to the place of use. When the operation of thefgrease gun or equivalent is discontinued the piston assembly Vis returned upwards to its original position by the action of the spring 21 and the nozzle can `then be removed from the nipple.

In a second constructional form shown in Figure 2, the nipple comprises a shank 3l adapted for attachment at a place of use of the lubricant, an intermediate or Spanner-engaging part 32, a head comprising an upper cylindrical' part 33 and a lower partly-hemispherical part 311 of larger diameter. As in the construction described above, the nipple is hollow being formed with a grease passage o varying diameter and is provided with a-teat 33 of flexible, lubricant-impervious material such as rubber or like material formed with a lubricant passage 33. The teat may be made and held in place in any of the ways referredtoabove and hereinafter.

This nipple is intended for use with a modified form of nozzle, having movable nipple-engaging jaws operated by the pressure of the lubricant and which, under the iniiuence of that pressure, moveV forward, i. e., downwards, and grip the partly-hemispherical part 34 of the nipple head.

Thel nozzle comprises two coaxial cylindrical bodies 31 and 38,*the outer .body 38 being integral with, or attached to, a hollow shank 39 integral with or adapted to be attached to the discharge shank or duct of a grease gun or equivalent, (not shown) VThe inner cylinder 31 is formed, like the nozzle body of the construction shown in Figure l, with an apertured base 40 and an open upper end closed by a cover member ill which in this case is preferably screwed into position. The walls of the cylinder 31 extend below the base, forming a recess 42 which ts'over the upper cylindrical part -33 ofthe nipple, forming a guide for alignment.

Within the'inner cylinder is a piston assembly comprising a flange d3, a sealing ring 43, an upwardly projecting shank l5 and a downwardly projecting needle-like stem 4S, all spring-urged upwardsaway fromV the nipple engaging end of the nozzle, the assembly being formed with an axialstraight-throughv bore t1 all as described in reference to Figure l.

Between the inner and outer cylinders is an annular space 458 in whichare arranged an annular pistonps and jaws 53. Y

The lower end of the outer cylinder is provided withan. inwardly turning ange 5I, and the jaws 50 are loosely hung from the annular piston 433 so that while relative lateral movement of the jaws is permitted, positive downward movement is enforced when the annular piston moves downwards.

The annular piston with its depending jaws is urged upwards by a spring 52 away from the nipple-engaging end of the nozzle, but the spring exerts a lower pressure per square inch on the annular piston than the spring 53 of the inner piston exerts upon the inner piston. The upper end of the annular space 48 is closed by a cover 54 which, in the preferred embodiment, is screwed into place, and may conveniently be formed integral with, and as a radial extension of, the cover 4| for the inner cylinder 31. A hole or holes 55 through the inner cylinder wall, a1'- ranged close under the cover, afford communication between the inner and outer cylinders.

In operation, the nozzle is first placed in position over the head of the nipple, with the recess 42 within the lower end of the inner cylinder walls registering over the cylindrical part 33 of the nipple. In this position the needle like stem of the inner piston assembly and the passage in the teat are in exact axial alignment. When the grease gun or equivalent is operated, grease under pressure is forced through the duct 56 in the hollow shank 39 of the nozzle body into the bore of the outer cylinder, and also through the hole or holes 55 into the inner cylinder. Since the outer spring 52 exerts a lower pressure upon the outer piston 49 than the inner spring 53 exerts upon the inner piston it follows that the outer piston will move rst. As it descends the outer piston forces the depending jaws 50 downwards, and as they encounter the inwardly turning flange l of the outer cylinder 38 they are also forced inwardly, thus collectively acting as a clutch to grip the partly-hemispherical part 34 of the nipple head. After this action further discharge of grease by the gun or equivalent results in the inner piston being forced down-V wards against the pressure of its spring 53 and in the forward end of the needle stem 4B being forced into the end of the passage 36 in the rubber teat. This movement of the piston assembly may be limited either by the closing of the inner coil spring 53 or by a shoulder or other stop (not shown) and as soon as the piston assembly has reached the desired limit of its downward travel further discharge of grease by the grease gun or equivalent will force grease through the straightthrough passage 41 in the piston body and needle stem, thence through the passage in the rubber teat into the nipple and thence to the place of use.

When the operation of the grease gun or equivalent is discontinued, the inner piston assembly is returned upwards to its original position by the action of the inner spring 53. Thereafter, the outer piston 49 with its depending jaws 50 will also return under the action of its spring 52. As soon as this has taken place the nozzle can be removed from the nipple.

As will be understood from the foregoing description a nozzle as described with reference to Figure 2 could be used in conjunction with a flanged nipple, as described with reference to Fig. 1, the hooked ends of the jaws 50 being shaped to flt around the nipple flange 3.

In a third constructional form of the invention shown in Figure 3, the nipple may be constructed as previously described in connection with the nipple shown in Figure l, viz., having a shank 51 for attachment to a place of use, an intermediate or spanner engaging part 58, a neck 59 and a flange 6). The nozzle again comprises two coaxial inner and outer cylinder bodies 5I and 62, but in this construction the inner cylinder is slidable within the outer. The hollow shank B3 of the outer body 52 is integral with, or attached to, the shank or duct of a grease gun or equivalent (not shown). The inner cylinder is formed with a base 64 having a central hole 64A and within this inner cylinder is a piston assembly 65, Vcomprising a flange, a sealing ring, anl upwardly projecting shank and a downwardly projecting needle-like stem spring urged upwardly away from the nipple engaging end of the nozzle, all as described in reference to Figures 1 and 2. The upper end of the inner cylinder is provided with a cover member 66, but this is formed with holes 61 so that it does not serve as a closure for the cylinder, but only acts as a stop member, the shank 68 of the inner piston abutting against it, when the inner piston is in its uppermost position. The nozzle is also provided with movable jaws 69, but they are lonsow attached to the inner cylinder wall instead of to a sliding annular piston as in Figure 2. As in that case they have a limited free lateral movement but in this case they have no endwise movement relative to the inner cylinder. The lower ends of the jaws are formed with hooks 10 on their inner faces, and their outer faces 1l are bevelled for a reason to be explained hereinafter. Leaf springs 12 are arranged between the jaws and the cylinder in order to spread the jaws to their widest capacity.

The inner cylinder 6I is slidably arranged within the outer cylinder S2, and it is provided at the upper end with an outwardly turned flange 14 which in conjunction with a flexible sealing ring which is arranged in the annulus between the inner and outer cylinder walls and is gripped in place between the said flange 14 and a flange 15 formed upon the inner cylinder cover 66 forms a piston assembly by which the inner cylinder is caused to slide as will be explained hereinafter.

At its lower extremity the outer cylinder wall is formed with an inwardly turning flange, the inner upper edge 15 of which is bevelled for engagement with the bevels 1| on the movable jaws 69. Between the bevel on the flange and the outer cylinder wall the upper surface of the flange is flat, and a coil spring 11 is arranged between the flange and the flange 14 on the inner cylinder. The reactionof the spring 11 urges the inner cylinder, with its depending jaws, upwards in relation to the outer cylinder. This motion is limited by the inner cylinder cover 6-6 abutting against a boss 18 on the outer cylinder cover. In this position the jaws 69 are spaced outwards by their leaf springs 12. The outer coil spring 11 exerts a lower pressure per squarev inch on the whole area of the outer cylinder than the inner piston spring 19 exerts upon the inner piston.

When the nozzle is placed in its working position on the head of the nipple the jaws 49 are spread outwards by their springs 12, their hooked ends 10 can pass freely over the edge of the nipple flange 60 and the apertured base 64 of the inner cylinder can come into contact with the upper face of the nipple flange. When the grease gun or equivalent is operated, grease under pressure is forced through the duct 63A in the hollow shank S3 of the nozzle into the bore of the outer cylinder, and also through the holes 61 in the cover 68 of the inner cylinder into the latter.

Sincethe outer spring 1l exerts a lower pressure upon the whole innerfcylinder, which acts as a sliding piston, than the inner spring 19 Vexerts upon the inner piston, it follows that the inner cylinder as a whole will move relative to the outer cylinder before the inner piston moves lre1- ative to the inner cylinder. As the inner cylinder and its jaws move downwards, or more correctly, as the outer cylinder movesupwards, the `bevelled edge 'I6 of the inwardly turningrilangevof the outer cylinder engages the bevelled faces 1 I .ofthe jaws causing themto close radially inwards not only gripping the nipple ange but also centralising it so that the lubricant passage in the teat is in correct axial alignment with the needle like stem.

When this action is completed further dis charge of grease by the gun or equivalent results in the inner piston assembly 65 -being forced downwards against the pressure 4of its spring 19 and in the forward end of the needle stem 3i being forced through the hole V611A in the base 64 of the inner cylinder into the end of the passage e2 in the rubber teat 83. This movement of `the piston assembly may berlimited either by the closing of the inner coiled vspring 19, orV by a shoulder or other stop (not shown) As soon as the inner piston assembly has reached the desired limit of its downward travel further discharge of grease by the grease gun or equivalent will force grease through the straight-through passage 85 in the piston body and needle stem, thence through the .passage 82. in the rubber teat into the nipple and thence to vthe place of use. When the operation of `the grease gun or equivalent is discontinued, the inner .piston assembly 65 is returnedrupwards `to its original position by the use of the lubricant, an intermediate or span-v ner engaging part 92, `a lower cylindrical part $3 and an upper cylindrical part S4 of reduced diameter. As in the constructions described above, 'the nipple is provided with a. teat S5 of flexible, lubricant-impervious material formed with a lubricant passage S6, which teat may be made in any of the ways referred to above or hereinafter.

rfhis nipple is intended for use with a modified form of nozzle shown in Figure 6 which is not adapted to be gripped to the nipple during the lubricating operation. The nozzle comprises a holiow body S7 integral with, or adapted. to be attached to, the grease outlet conduit 98 of the grease gun or equivalent 99. The end cf the bore action of its spring 18, the inner cylinder Bl with its depending jaws 69 then` also returning under the action of the outer spring TI. this has taken place `the jaws will be freed, and will open outwards under the action of their springs 12, thereby freeing the nipple `flange ES and permitting the nozzle to be removed.

The modified nipple shown in Figure 4 Vis not provided with a head vin the` form of a single ange, as previously described with reference to Figures 1 and 3, but may have a cylindrical body S5, upon which are formed a number of circular grooves or serrations 8B.

As shown inFigure 5, a .nozzle for use with this modified type of nipple vmay be constructed like that shown in Figure 3 and thus, briefly, may comprise an outer body 52A provided with a hollow shank 63A,'an inner body 6 IA, an innerpiston assembly BA and spring-urged jaws 69A carried by the inner body 61A. struction of nozzle, however, the jaws are provided with projections or ridges 81 which engage in grooves or serrations 88 formed in the cylindrical body 89v of the nipple 90 when Vthe nozzle is fitted in its working position upon the nipple.

It will be noted that whereas the grooves or serrations in the cylindrical body of the nipple shown in Figure 4 are of square section those in the cylindrical body of the nipple shown in Figure 5 are of V-section. It is to be understood, however, that the grooves or serrations may be any `other convenient section.

The body of the nipple may also be of conical instead of cylindrical shape.

It will also be appreciated that a nozzle as described with reference to Figure l could be adapted for use `in conjunction. with the types of nipple described above with reference to Fig As soon asl In this modified con-v of the body el which is adjacent to the .nipple when the nozzle is in the working position is tapped to receive the threaded shank ISS vof a needle-like delivery stem |32 similar to the part 23 in Figure l, which is also formed with an intermediate flange I0! adapted to abut against the lower end of the body when the delivery nozzle is screwed into position. An axial bore H53 connects the upper end of the shank ille with the lower end of the said needle-like stem.

In order not only to serve as aguide but also to protect the needle stein 52 against damage and to protect anser against injury by the stein, a sleeve les is sli-:iably arranged upon the grease outlet conduit E8 and the body Bl'. This sleeve is normally pressed downwardly by means of a coilrspiing lei surrounding the conduit so that the stem is entirely enclosed in the sleeve.

,In order to inject grease into the nipple and thence to the place of use, the lower end of the sleeve les is applied to the nipple and fitted around the upper cylindrical part 94, which part thus acting in cooperation with the sleeve and serves to ensure that the needle stern H22 and lthe lubricant passage g5 in the nipple teat are in correct alignment. Thus, when the grease gun or equivalent is thrust forwards towards the nipple to discharge grease into the nipple, the needle-lilac stem H32 is first Yforced into the lubricant passage Se in the teat. The amount of this `motion being limited either by the flange iili ont-he delivery nozzle engaging with the upper cylindrical part ed of the nipple or by an abutment (not shown) in the sleeve, engaging the body 9?, the sleeve sliding backwards along the grease outlet conduit $3 and compressing the spring E95. Further thrust on the gun 99 results in grease being forced through the bore of the hollow conduit 93, through the passages in the head. t? and the needle ieg into the passage B in the teat and thence to the place of use. When the grease discharging operation is completed and the nozzle is removed from the nipple, the sleeve iat is forced forwards again into its original position by the spring IE5 thus again acting as a protection to the needle stem.

t will be understood that a nozzle of the type shown in Figure 6 can also be used in conjunction with ples of the type shown in Figures l., 2, e and rfhis is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 wherein the nipple engaging end of the slidable 11 sleeve |04 of the nozzle is shown in, broken lines fitted over the head or flange of the nipple head.

Figure 14 shows by way of example a modified nozzle having manually operable jaws. The nipple used with this nozzle may be of any of the types mentioned above which are adapted to be gripped by movable jaws, and the nozzle is prefer ably of the same general type as in the third construction described above with reference to Figure 3, wherein the jaws have lateral movement but do not advance and recede as in the second construction shown in Figure 2.

Thus, the nozzle comprises a cylinder body IIlt` with a hollow inlet shank |01 and a hollow bore in which slides a piston assembly similar to that described in reference to Figure 1 and comprising a flange |08, an upwardly extending shank |09, a sealing ring and holding nut II I, and a downwardly projecting needle stem ||2.

On the outside of the cylinder wall, at or near the nipple-engaging end, a number of jaws II3 are suspended in similar fashion to the jaws 69 described with reference to Figure 3, and above these jaws the wall is formed with an external thread, upon which an internally threaded shell I I4 is screwed. lI'he outside of the shell is knurled so that it can be gripped and rotated by'hand, and the lower end is made conical at I I5 to engage with the bevelled ends IIB of the jaws, so that when the shell is screwed upwards on the thread the jaws are moved radially inwards.

As shown in Figure 15, in a modification of the above construction, the jaws II'I may be formed with a reversed bevel such that the jaws are moved inwards by a downward movement of the threaded hollow shell I I9.

In a sixth construction, the nozzle has mechanically operated jaws, and may be constructed internally as in the case of the fth construction shown in Figure 14, and it may lbe provided externally with a hollow shell capable of axial movement like the shell IIA. Instead of thisv axial movement being provided by rotating the shell by hand upon a screw thread, however, the shell is mounted slidably upon the cylinder body of the nozzle and is provided externally with two parallel circumferential collars, between which are engaged the jaws of a fork-ended lever.

The nozzle body as a whole is slidably mounted in a housing so that it can be advanced and retracted, for example, by cam action. After the nozzle body has thus been brought forward into contact with the nipple, the jaws can then be automatically closed by moving the said hollow shell axially upon the nozzle body by means of the said fork ended lever which may also be hand or cam operated.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the constructional forms of nipples described above, but is applicable to nipples of any practicable shape in which a flexible, lubricant-impervious teat can be housed as described, whether or not the nipples are adapted to be detachably held by nipple-engaging jaws.

As previously stated, in any of the nipple constructions the lubricant passage in the teat may be made by merely piercing the material; that is to say, without the removal of any substantial amount of material as would occur if it were drilled with a rotating drill, so that normally the passage will have no measurable diameter and there will be no exposed aperture or space in the teat in which dirt can collect.

On the other hand, the lubricant passage in the teat may be drilled, thus removing material,

or it may be moulded. Referring to Figures l0 to 13, in either of these cases the passage |36 through the teat will have a measureable diameter and will thus offer a lodgement for dirt. To prevent this the upper part of the head |31 is made an interference fit in its housing in the nipple, the material of the teat surrounding the passage being thereby forced radially inwards when the teat is fitted in the housing so that the open inlet end |38 of the passage is closed, and thus no space for the collection of dirt will remain.

In the cases in which the passage is drilled or moulded, however, it is preferred that the drilled or moulded teat passage |36 (Figures l0 to 13) small not pass right through the teat, but shall stop short at, say, three quarters of the depth of the teat, the remainder of the lower tapered shank |39, being formed into two or more ilexible lips by a slit or slits |40. This slit, or these slits, may be formed by splitting with a knife, thus removing no material or they may be cut with an exceedingly fine saw or they may be moulded or similarly fine fins. Even although a narrow space is left between the lips, nevertheless, owing to the tapered shape of the shank of the teat, any back ow of the grease will be stopped by the pressure of the grease causing the tapered sides of the shank of the teat to collapse and the lips to close inwardly. The teat therefore acts as a non-return valve, and the inclusion of a ball and spring, or other conventional type of non-return valve, in the nipple, becomes unnecessary.

It will also be appreciated that when the forward end of the nozzle piston needle stem enters the closed lubricant passage in the teat there must be some lateral displacement of rubber. If the head, as shown in Figure 1, of the teat is a t in the correspondingly shaped housing in the nipple there will be no contiguous lateral space into which the displaced rubber can go and displacement must take place longitudinally. While this is not impossible, it may cause difliculty in operation.

In modifications, therefore, as shown in Figures 10 to 13, space is provided laterally round the head of the teat between the head and the housing in the nipple into which the displaced rubber can readily flow. Thus, the head of the teat may be cylindrical While its housing is conical as shown in Figure 11, the upper edge of the conical housing |42 gripping the head IM to hold it in place, and also distorting the m-aterial radially inwards so that the otherwise open end |38 of the passage is closed.

Again, while the teat head IIII may be cylindrical, its housing may either be of larger diameter and/or barrel shaped as shown in Figure 10, and in either case may have an upper shoul der |42 which grips the upper edge of the head and distorts it radially inwards whether it is formed with an annular recess or not. The upper edge of the head of the teat may have an annular recess into which the shoulder engages.

As shown in Figure 13, the head I 4I of the teat may be made waisted, that is, narrower at the middle than at the ends, and its housing may be cylindrical, having an upper shoulder |42 which grips the head of the teat as previously described. Again, the head of the teat and/or its housing may be formed with circular grooves or serrations for the same purpose, as shown in Figure 12.

As mentioned above in connection with Figling its discharge stroke.

Vor their upper stop or stops.

`ure l, when `the operation of the grease gun or influence of the coil spring. This return movement of the piston assembly causes a back ow of grease out of the bore of the nozzle body back through the conduit in the hollow shank of the nozzletowards the grease gun or equivalent. It is therefore necessary that the outlet conduit of `the grease gun or equivalent shall not have Va non-return valve.

Dierent types of grease guns or other grease dispensers may be used. The grease gun may, for example, be of the known type in which a plunger overruns and closes an inlet port dur- As soon as the inlet port is overrun and closed, further movement of the 4plunger discharges grease through the conduit in the hollow shank of the nozzle into the bore of the latter, the nozzle piston assembly then being operated -as previously described, and some of the grease being discharged through the nipple to the place of use.

When the gun plunger makes its return stroke the grease column in the bore of 'the nozzle body and the said conduit will follow it until the nozzle piston assembly or assemblies reaches its Y Thereafter, the gun plunger, continuing its return motion, will create a void in the gun barrel, which void, when the inlet Vport is again uncovered, will be equal in volume to the grease discharged. As soon as the inlet port is uncovered, the gun will be recharged by the inux of new grease.

The `teat in the nipple, the sealing washer in the nozzle body cover and the sealing rings inthe pistons may be made of rubber, synthetic rubber or other mouldable material, or lubricant-impervious flexible material.

The nipple-engaging jaws forming part of the nozzle body in Athe first construction shown in Figure 1 may be arranged for push-on attachment or for lateral attachment instead of for pull-on attachment as described above.

The hollow grease inlet shank of the nozzle may be arranged at any desired angle to the axis of the nozzle body. t may also be connected to the latter by means of a hinge joint or a knuckle point or a universal joint and/or it may be connected to the discharge conduit of the grease gun or equivalent by any of such joints.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 4, 5 and 14, it is convenient to form the needle-like stem of the nozzle piston as a separate member adapted to be detachably attached to the piston as by screwing. The same arrangement is shown in Figure 6.

It will be understood that the nipples, and nozzles may be used in systems for dispensing grease or thixotropic solids or oil.

I claim:

l. A A nipple tting comprising a rigid, generally tubular body member having a shank adapted to be xedly secured to Va part -to -be lubricated and an outer end, said Ybody member having a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter -at said outer end than immediately inwardly of the same and including a shoulder intermediate the 'ends of said bore, and a compressible closure member adapted to be received in said bore and having lan opening extending therethrough, said closure member having a diameter adjacent its outer end suiliciently .in excess 'of the diameter of the router end of said bore to cause said closure member A.to be compressively maintained in said lbolre' '-a'gainst" removal outwardly and said opening to be maintained resiliently closed, and having a `shoulder intermediate its ends adapted to seat upon the shoulder in said bore for maintaining said closure member against axial movement inwardly of said bore.

2. A nipple fitting comprising a rigid, generally tubular body member having a shank adapted yto be fixedly secured to a part .toV bel lubricated and an outer end, said body member having a variable diameter bore extending therethrough vof less diameter vat said outer end than immediately inwardly of the same and including a shoulderlintermediate the ends of said bore, and

a compressible closure member having an opening extending therethrough and including an end part adapted to be compressively received in the portion of said bore between said shoulder and the Vouter end of the fitting, said end part vbeing of larger'diameter than the outer end of said bore for compressively maintaining said closure member against axial movement and for r'esiliently maintaining said opening closed.

3.A nipple tting as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer end of said tubular body member is of variable diameter to form a shouldered head under which said end part engages.

4.A nipple fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein the `outer end ofA said tubular body member -is formed with one or more annular lips of a diameter greater than the diameter of said bore at its outer end.

5. A nipple vittingA comprising arigid, generally tubularI bodymember having a shank adapted to be xedly secured to a part to be lubricated and an outer end, said body member having a varia-ble diameter bore extending therethrough `of less `diameter at said Y'outer end than immediately inwardly of the same and including a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bore, and

'acompressible closure Amember adapted to be received i-n` said bore and having an opening extending therethrough, said compressiblemem- -ber having an outer end enlarged relative to thediameter of the outer end of said bore and adapted to be received in the portion of .said bore between said shoulder and the outer end of the Viitting lfor compressively `maintaining said closure member against axial movement in the bore and resiliently maintaining said opening closed, said head having a dat outer face and beingof axial length'substantially equal to the distance from saidshoulder to the outer end of said bore soy that said 'outer face is maintained Asubstantially flush with the outer end of the tubular Vbody member.

6. A nipple tting comprising a rigid, generally tubular bodyk member having a shank adapted to be flxedly secured toa part to be lubricated and "an `outer end, said body member having a variable --diarneter passageway extending therethrough including 'a `substantially irusto-conical portion forming the outerY end thereof, and a compressible closure member adapted to be received in said passageway and having an opening extending axially therethrough and anv enlarged head of larger diameter than the small end of the frusto-c-onical .adjacent the smallend of the frusto-conical por- "ti'onfof the passageway.

3l. vA nippleiitting comprising .a rigid, generally .tubular body :member :having a shank adapted to be ixedly secured to` a part to be lubricated and an outer end, said body member having a variable diameter passageway extending therethrough including a substantially frusto-conical portion having its minor diameter in the outer end of said body member and a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the end of said frustoconical portion of major diameter to form a shoulder with said end, and a compressible member for closing said passageway having an opening extending axially therethrough and an enlarged head terminating in a shoulder intermediate the ends of said compressible member, said head being of larger diameter than the minor diameter of said frusto-conical portion to cause said member to be maintained against outward axial movement and said opening to be resiliently closed by the compressive force thereon adjacent said end of minor diameter, and said shoulder on said compressible member and the shoulder in said.

passageway cooperating to prevent axial movement of said compressible member inwardly.

8. A nipple fitting comprising a rigid, generally tubular body member having a shank adapted to be fixedly secured to a part to be lubricated and an outer end, said body member having a cylindrical bore of variable diameter extending therethrough including a cylindrical portion of enlarged diameter inwardly of the cuter end of said body member defining outer and inner shoulders in the bore, and a compressible member for closing said bore having an opening eX- tending therethrough and an enlarged head adapted to be received in the portion of said bore of enlarged diameter and dening a shoulder intermediate the ends of said member cooperating with the inner shoulder in said bore to prevent axial movement of said member inwardly of said bore, said head being of greater diameter than the outer end of said bore, and of axial length substantially equal to the distance from said inner shoulder to the outer end of said bore to cause-said member to be held against axial movement outwardly of said bore and the opening therein to be resiliently closed bythe compressive engagement of said outer shoulder with the upper end of said head.

9. A nipple tting comprising a rigid, generally tubular body member having a shank adapted to be xed secured to a part to be lubricated and an outer end adapted to be engaged by the coupler of a source of lubricant supply, said body member having a variable diameter bore extendingtherethrough of less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly thereof, and a compressible member having an enlarged outer end with an opening extending therethrough and adapted to be compressively received in the outer end of said bore for maintaining the compressible member against axial movement in the bore and an inner end portion extending inwardly in said bore from said enlarged outer end, said inner end portion being severed along an axial plane to adapt said severed end portions for functioning as a check valve to prevent backlow of lubricant from said tting.

10. A nipple fitting comprising a rigid, generally tubular body member having a shank adapted to be xedly secured to a part to be lubricated and an outer end adapted to be engaged by the coupler of a source of lubricant supply, said body member having a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter at its outer end thanimmediately inwardly thereof, and a compressible member having an enlarged outer end with an opening extending therethroughv and adapted to be compressively received in the outer end of said bore for maintaining the compressible member against axial movement in the bore and a tapered inner end portion extending inwardly in said bore from said enlarged outer end, said tapered end being severed along an axial plane to forni a one-way flap valve for preventing backrlow of lubricant from said tting.

1l. In a lubricating system, the combination with a nipple tting including a body member having a shank adapted to be rlxedly secured to a part to be lubricated, and an outer end forming a head with a seat thereon, which body member has a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly of the same with a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bore and which tting has a compressible closure member in the bore with an opening extending therethrough and including an end part adapted to be compressively received in the portion of said bore between said shoulder and the outer end of the fitting, the said end part being of larger diameter than the outer end of said bore for compressively maintaining said closure member against axial movement and for resiliently maintaining said opening closed; of a nozzle for making detachable fluidtight connection with the fitting, said nozzle including a tubular body member having structure forming an apertured contact surface adapted for cooperative engagement with said seat, means for detachably securing said body member to said head with said contact surface in rm engagement with said seat and the aperture therein in axial alignment with the opening in the closure member, means forming an inlet to said body member adapted to be supplied with fluid under pressure, a hollow injector nozzle in said body member having an inlet adjacent one end and terminating at the other end in a reduced tip adapted to be projected through the aperture in said contact surface and into the opening in said closure member, means operatively connected to said injector nozzle and responsive to the presence of iluid under pressure in said tubular body member for advancing said injector nozzle to lubricant delivering position, resilient means normally urging said injector nozzle to retracted position, and means in said tubular body member limiting movement of said injector nozzle under the influence of said resilient means including a part adapted to close the inlet thereto.

12. A lubrication system as defined in claim 11I wherein the bore in the tting includes a substantially frusto-conical portion forming the outer end thereof, and the compressible closure member adapted to be received in the bore has a head seated in the said frusto-conical portion, which head is of larger diameter than the small end of the frusto-conical portion so that the opening therein is maintained resiliently closed by the compressive force exerted thereon adjacent the said small end.

13. A lubrication system as dened in claim 11, wherein the bore in the tting is cylindrical and includes a cylindrical portion of enlarged diameter inwardly of the outer end of the body member deiining outer and inner shoulders in the bore, and in which the compressible closure member has an enlarged head adapted to be received in the portion of the bore of enlarged diameter and the closure member is maintained against axial movement with the outer end of the opening maintained resiliently closed by the compres- 17 siveengagement Vo'f the outer shoulder with the upp'erend of said head.

i4." Inv a lubricating system, the combina-tion with 'anipple fitting including a body member havingia shank adapted to be fixedly secured to a part to .be lubricated, Iand an outer end forming a head with a seat thereon, which body member Ahas a variable diameter bore extending therethroughjof less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly of the same with a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bore and which fitting 'has a compressible Vclosure member in the bore with an opening extending therethrough fand "including an end part adapted to be compressively received in the portion of said bore between said shoulder and `the outer end of the iitting, the said end part being of larger diameter than the Vouter end of said bore for compressiv'ely maintaining said `closure member against axial movementand for resiliently maintaining said opening closed; of a'nozzle for 'making detachable fiuidtight connection with the fitting, said nozzle including a tubular body member having an apertured contact surface adapted .for

cooperative engagement with said seat, fixed means on said body member for detachably connecting said nozzle to said tting and cooperating with said head to hold said seat and contact surface in firm abutting engagement and said aperture Vand the opening in said closure mornber in axial alignment, a hollow injector nozzle having a reduced tip adapted to be projected through the aperture in said contact surface and into said opening, "piston Aforming means operatively connected to said injector nozzle, 'meansi Yforming "an inletvto said tubular body member adapted to be connected to a source of iiuid under pressure for supplying fluid for operating said piston to move said injector nozzle to projected position and for discharge through said injector.-

nozzle into said fitting.

, 15.` A vlubrication system, as defined in claim 14,

'wherein the bore in the fitting includes a substantially frusto-conical portion forming the outer end thereof, and the compressible closure member adapted to be received in the bore has a head seated in the said truste-conical portion which head is of larger diameter than the small end ofthe truste-conical portion so that the opening therein is maintained resiliently closedu having a shank adapted to be fixedly secured toi:

a part to be lubricated, and an outer end forming a head with a seat thereon, which body member has a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly of the same with a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bore and which tting has a compressibie closure member in the bore with an opening extending therethrough and including an end part adapted to `be compressively received in thel portion of said bore between said shoulder and the outer end of the fitting, the said end part being of larger diameter thanthe outer end of said bore for compressively maintaining said closure member against axial movement and for resiliently maintaining said opening closed; of a nozzle for making detachable fluidtight connection with the tting, said nozzle including outer and inner tubular body members, said inner body member having an apertured contact surface Vadapted for abutting engagement with said seat, a plurality of jaws movablv mounted within said outer body member and formed to engage the head of said fitting .for holding the aperture in said ycontact surface and the opening in said tting in axial alignment, iiuid pressure operated means effective to move said jaws to engaged position, resilient means opposing movement of said nuid pressure operated means for eiecting return of said jaws to disengaged position, a hollow injector nozzle in said inner body member having a reduced tip adapted to be projected through the aperture in said contact surface and into the opening in said closure member, fluid pressure operated means for moving said injector nozzle to projected position, inlet forming means on the outer tubular body member adapted to be confnected to a source of fluid under pressure for `.sup-

plying fluid for moving said jaws to engaged position and said injector nozzle to projected position, and resilient means effective to inhibit movement of said injector nozzle until said jaws have been `moved to engaged position.

17. A lubrication system as defined in claim 16, wherein the bore -in the fitting includes -asubstan-tially frusto-concal portion forming the outer end thereof, and the compressible closure member adapted to be received in the bore has a head seated in the said frusto-conical por-tion, which `head is of Va larger diameter than the small end of the frusto-conicai portion so that the opening therein is maintained resiliently closed by the compressive force exerted 'thereon adjacent the .said small end.

18. In Va lubricating system, the `combination with a nipple t-ting including a body member having a shank adapted to be xedly secured to a part to be lubricated, and an `outer end forming a head with a seat thereon, vwhich body member has a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly of the same with ashoulder intermediate the ends of said bore .and which tting has a compressible closure member .in lthe bore with an opening extending therethrough Vand including an end part .adapted to lbe compressively received fin the portion of said bore between said shoulder and the outer end of the fitting, the said end part being of larger diameter than the outer end of said bore for comlpressively maintaining said closure member against axial movement and for resilientiy maintaining said opening closed; of a nozzle for making detachable iluidtight connection with the tting said nozzle including Youter and inner tubular body members relatively movable in reponse to the presence of fluid under pressure in said outer body member, said inner body member having an apertured contact surface adapted for abutting engagement with said seat, a plurality of jaws hingedly suspended with respect to said inner body member and formed to engage said fitting, said jaws being adapted to be moved to engaged position for holding the aperture in said contact surface and the opening in said closure member in axial alignment upon movement of said body members resp-onsive to the presence of fluid under pressure in the outer body member. a hollow injector nozzle in said inner body member having a reduced tip adapted to be projected through the aperture in said contact surface and into said opening, means operatively connected to said injector nozzle and movable in response to the presence of iiuid under pressure in said body members, to advance said injector nozzle to projected position, resilient 19 means opposing movement of said body members under the inuence of uid under pressure, and second resilient means effective to inhibit movement of said injector nozzle toward projected position until said jaws have been moved to engaged position.

19. In a lubricating system, the combination with a nipple tting including a body member having a shank adapted to be xedly secured to a part to be lubricated, and an outer end forming a head with a seat thereon, which body member has a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly of the same with a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bore and which ttinghas a compressible closure member in the bore with an opening extending therethrough and `including an end ,part adapted to be compressively received in the portion of said bore between said shoulder and the outer end of the fitting, the said end part being of larger diameter than the outer end of said bore for compressively maintaining said closure member against axial movement and for resiliently maintaining said opening closed; of a nozzle for making detachable uidtight connection with the tting, said nozzle including axially aligned tubular body members defining an annular space therebetween, one of said members having a contact surface formed thereon complementary to said seat, a plurality of jaws movably mounted between said body members and formed to engage the head of said fitting for holding said contact surface in firm abutting engagement therewith, fluid pressure operated means for moving said jaws relative to said body members into locking engagement With the head of the fitting, a hollow injector nozzle having a reduced tip projectable through said contact surface and into the opening in said closure member, second uid pressure operated means operatively connected to said injector nozzle for moving said injector nozzle to projected Iposition, a rst resilient means for returning said jaw` to disengaged position when the fluid pressure is relieved, and second resilient means for inhibiting movement of said injector nozzle toward projected position until said jaws have been vmoved to engaged position.

20. In ra lubricating system, the combination with a nipple fitting including a body member having a shank adapted to be flxedly secured to a part to be lubricated, and an outer end forming a head with a seat thereon, which body member has a variable diameter bore extending therethrough of less diameter at its outer end than immediately inwardly of the same with a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bore and which fitting has a compressible closure member in the bore with an opening extending therethrough and including an end part adapted to be compressively received in the portion of said bore between said shoulder and the outer end of the fitting, the said end part being of larger diameter than the outer end of said bore for compressively maintaining said closure member against axial movement and for resilient maintaining said opening closed; ofV a nozzle for making detachable fluidtight connection with the fitting, said nozzle including axially aligned tubular body members relatively movable upon the application of iuid Lpressure thereto, one of 'said members having a contact surface formed thereon complementary to said seat, a plurality of jaws movably mounted between said body members and formed to engage the head of said fitting for holding said contact surface in firm abutting engagement therewith, fluid pressure operated means effective to move said jaws to engaged position, a rst resilient means opposing movement of said jaws to engaged position, a second resilient means opposing movement of said fluid pressure operated means, a hollow injector nozzle having a reduced tip projectable through said contact surface into the opening in said closure member, second fluid pressure operated means operatively connected to said injector nozzle for moving said injector nozzle to projected position, and means for inhibitinz movement of said injector nozzle toward projected position until said jaws have been moved to engaged position.

CAMILLE CLARE SPRANKLING LE CLAIR.'

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 120,693 Wood Nov. 7, 1871 660,894 Ernst Oct. 30, i900 1,951,565 Sonnett Mar. 20, 1934i 2,047,132 Williams July 7, 19343 2,234,238 Forsberg Mar. 11, 1941 2,259,977 Kelly Oct. 21, 194.1 2,328,327 Cobb Aug. 31, 1943 2,337,454 Davis Dec. 21, 1943

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