Lubrication system with quick-change supply reservoir

Claim 1

In a reservoir-type pump structure for liquid and viscous materials, particularly lubricating materials such as lubricating oils and greases, the combination of a pump structure having an inlet port, and an outlet port at which material may be discharged, a removable supply reservoir adapted to contain, under pressure, material to be pumped, said reservoir comprising a container providing a chamber closed at both ends, a piston reciprocably movable in said chamber, means for applying force to said piston continuously urging the latter toward one end portion of the chamber to provide a predetermined pressure preloading of material contained therein, such end portion having a material discharge port therein, and a spring-urged slidable locking sleeve coupling of the self-sealing, quick-change type comprising a pair of cooperable mating coupling members each including valve means, which valve means respectively unseat each other when mated and seat themselves when separated from one another, one of said coupling members being operatively connected to the pump structure at said inlet port, said valve means thereof forming a closure member therefor when separated from its mating member, and the other coupling member being connected to the supply reservoir at said discharge port, said valve means thereof forming a closure member therefor when separated from its mating member, said coupling members, when mated, operatively unseating said valve means and directly connecting said reservoir with said pump structure, whereby material at said predetermined pressure may be supplied thereto.