BACKGROUND ART A conventional lubricant supplying device is connected to a catapult device to periodically supply lubricant to a driving unit in the catapult device. The lubricant supplied to the driving unit of the catapult is collected to a collecting bucket separately installed out of the catapult device, so the lubricant cannot be recycled. This causes increase of lubricant consumption and thus increase of manufacturing cost.

In addition, since the lubricant is not recycled in the catapult device, a worker should supply lubricant to the lubricant supplying device continuously. This deteriorates work efficiency. Furthermore, if a worker fails to supply sufficient lubricant by mistake, the driving unit of the catapult device can be damaged and thus a life of the catapult device can be shortened.

Also, because the lubricant collecting bucket is separately installed in the conventional catapult device, the lubricant continuously discharged from the catapult device may cause environmental problems.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION To solve the problem, the present invention has an object to provide a apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil which may reduce consumption of lubricant and thereby decrease production cost and even prevent environmental pollution by filtering the lubricant supplied to a driving unit of the catapult device and the supplying the filtered lubricant to the driving unit of the catapult device again.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil which may improve work efficiency and extend the life of the catapult device in the fact that there is no need for a worker to check and supply lubricant frequently since the lubricant is filtered and then recycled and thus the lubricant is continuously supplied to the catapult device.

Still another object of the prevent invention is to provide a apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil which may keep agreeable surroundings in the fact that there is no need for a lubricant collecting bucket since the lubricant is filtered and recycled.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention

provides a apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil having a cover member detachably formed at an upper side and a storage device combined under the cover member for conducting several filtering processes and separating water contained in lubricant, wherein the storage device comprises a first chamber in which lubricant discharged from a catapult device is flowed; a second filtering member formed detachably by a guide member and filtering the lubricant flowed in the first chamber; a water separating unit for separating water from the lubricant filtered in the filtering member; a third chamber for storing lubricant which is filtered in a third filtering member after water is removed in the water separating unit; a fourth filtering member formed detachably by a guide member and filtering the lubricant stored in the third chamber again; a fourth chamber for filtering again the lubricant filtered in the fourth filtering member; a motor pump for supplying the lubricant, filtered in the fourth chamber, through a first supply conduit and a second supply conduit to a driving unit of the catapult device; and a central chamber having a cavity to mount the motor pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken accompanying drawings. In the

drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing overall configuration of a apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a storage device employed in the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a second filtering member employed in the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a water separating unit employed in the present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a vertical move member which is descended to block discharge of lubricant; Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the vertical move member which is ascended to discharge water outside; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the water separating unit of the present invention; and Fig. 10 is a plane view for showing that the lubricant is flowed through the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil according to the present invention and their relevant technologies will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing configuration of the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil of the present invention. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a common catapult device, reference numeral 105 denotes a common control panel for controlling the catapult device 101, and reference numeral 102 denotes a commonly used solenoid valve for outputting a control signal through oil pressure in order to control a driving unit mounted in the catapult device 101. There is also provided the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil 100 connected to a side of the catapult device 101 through a second supply conduit 154 for filtering lubricant discharged from the catapult device 101 and then supplying the lubricant to the driving unit of the catapult device 101.

The apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil 100 is configured as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 2, the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil 100 includes a cover member 110 detachably formed at an upper portion and a storage unit 180 combined to a lower portion of the cover member 110 through a plurality of bolts, commonly used for combination, for conducting

several filtering processes and also separating and storing water contained in the lubricant.

The cover member 110 is detachably combined by means of screwing common screws into bolt holes 137 formed to an upper side of the storage unit 180. The cover member 110 includes a first filtering member 114 for guiding the lubricant discharged from the catapult device 101 to be flowed in the storage unit 180, a control unit 112 for controlling an operating time of the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil 100 and a supply amount of the lubricant, a new lubricant supply inlet 118 formed at a side of the cover member 110 to supply new lubricant from outside, and a filter support plate 119 detachably formed to a lower portion of a guide 116 by a plurality of screws 1144 and having a plurality of through holes 1192 so that the lubricant is flowed downward therethrough.

The control unit 112 may set an operating time of the apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil 100, an amount of pumped lubricant and/or a pumping period of the lubricant depending on user selections or machine conditions. When the lubricant is short or not smoothly circulated since an alien material is stuck in filters, the control unit 112 may detect the fact and generate an alarm in order to inform the fact to workers. There also may be installed an alarm canceling switch 1122 for canceling the alarm.

The first filtering member 114 includes the guide 116 for guiding

the lubricant discharged from the catapult device 101 to be flowed into a first storage member 120, and a filter 1142 installed below the guide 116 for firstly filtering the lubricant, as shown in Fig. 8.

The new lubricant supply inlet 118 is closed by a common cap when not supplying new lubricant.

The storage unit 180 has a first storage member 120 and a second storage member 130, which are separately configured and combined each other by bolts, commonly used for combination. Thus, the storage unit 180 can be made into a small size for easy carriage.

When required for installation, the first and second storage members 120 and 130 can be installed in one piece, not separated.

The first and second storage member 120 and 130 includes a first chamber 122 formed at a lower portion of the first filtering member 114 and giving a space in which lubricant discharged from a catapult device 101 is flowed, a second filtering member 126 formed to a guide member 129 and having a filter 1266 so that the lubricant flowed in the first chamber 122 is secondarily filtered, a water separating unit 160 for separating water from the lubricant filtered in the filtering member 126, a third chamber 132 for storing lubricant which is filtered in a third filtering member 1242 after water is removed in the water separating unit 160, a fourth filtering member 136 formed detachably by a guide member 139 and filtering the lubricant stored in the third chamber 132 again, a fourth chamber 134 for filtering again the lubricant filtered in

the fourth filtering member 136, a motor pump 150 for supplying the lubricant, filtered in the fourth chamber 134, through first and second supply conduits 152 and 154 to the driving unit of the catapult device 101, and a central chamber 140 having a cavity to mount the motor pump 150 therein.

A plurality of commonly used support members 1202 are mounted at lower ends of the first and second storage members 120 and 130.

A concave hooking portion 1222 is formed at the lower surfaces of the first and second storage members 120 and 130 which configures the storage unit 180. To the concave hooking portion 1222, a water receiving tray 190 is additionally detachably formed so that the water drawn by the water separating unit 160 is stored.

The second filtering member 126 is slidably detachable by means of the guide member 129 formed to the first storage member 120. The second filtering member 126 is configured as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, the second filtering member 126 includes a filter guide 1262 protruded from a side of a lower portion of the second filtering member 126, a cut portion 1261 in which one side is cut, a filter 1266 inserted into the filter guide 1262 and conducting filtering, a plurality of through holes 1264 formed in the filter guide 1262 for giving a passage so that the filtered lubricant is moved to the second chamber 124, and a support plate 1267 having a concave groove 1269 at an

outer surface thereof so as to be detachably combined to the filter guide 1262 for easy exchange of the filter 1266.

The support plate 1267 can be mounted to an outer side of the filter 1266 and supported by several bolts so that the filter 1266 is not separated.

Thus, the filter 1266 is combined in the filter guide 1262 for filtering. When exchanging the filter 1266, the filtering member 126 is slidably moved upward and then the filter is exchanged with new one in a convenient way.

The water separating unit 160 for separating water from the lubricant is mounted in the second chamber 124. In addition, the third filtering member 1242 for filtering the water-removed lubricant again and guiding the lubricant to the third chamber 132 is combined to the second chamber 124 through several fixing means 1244, for example screws.

Many fixing means 1244 are used so that the first and second storage members 120 and 130 are integrally fixed. As the fixing means 1244, screws or adhesive can be used.

The water separating unit 160 is configured as shown in Figs. 5 to 7 and separates and discharges water outside in a way that water contained in the lubricant is sunk down since its specific weight is greater than the lubricant and then the water separating unit 160 moves upward as much as height of the sunk water. In order wards,

referring to Figs. 5 to 7, the water separating unit 160 includes a vertical move member 164 having a specific weight less than water so as to vertically move on the water, a water discharging member 166 detachably inserted to a central portion of the vertical move member 164, a lubricant blocking member 168 installed in the water discharging member 166 so as to block the lubricant not to be discharged outside from the second chamber 124 and guide the water to be discharged outside, and a water discharging conduit 169 detachably screw-combined with the water discharging member 166 and communicated with the water discharging member 166 so as to discharge the water outside.

The vertical move member 164 has a specific weight equal to the lubricant. The vertical move member 164 includes a cavity 1642 for giving an inner space in which lubricant is stored, a protruded portion 1641 protruded from an inner center of the vertical move member 164, a first concave groove 1646 formed at an inner side of the protruded portion 1641 so that the water discharging member 166 is detachable, a second concave groove 1648 formed to insert a front end of the lubricant blocking unit 168 so as to be operated together with the vertical move member 164, and a cap member 162 sealed by a screw 1622 at an upper portion so that the lubricant stored in the cavity 1642 is not discharged outside.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a plurality of minute through holes

1624 may be formed at an upper portion of the cap member 162.

These through holes 1624 are used so that the lubricant stored in the vertical move member 164 is connected with outside and thus the vertical move member 164 is always filled. Preferably, at least one through hole 1624 is formed.

As described above, lubricant is stored in the cavity 1642 of the vertical move member 164. Thus, the whole vertical move member 164 is operated with the same specific weight as the outside lubricant. If water and lubricant are flowed in from outside and an amount of water with a specific weight greater than the lubricant is increase, the vertical move member 164 with a specific weight same as the lubricant is moved upward as much as the amount of flowed-in water.

In order to adjust a specific weight of an outer case of the vertical move member 164 in case the outer case of the vertical move member 164 has a specific weight different from the lubricant, there can be additionally formed a protruded portion 1649 protruded in the vertical move member 164. At this time, a steel core 1645 can be inserted around the protruded portion 1649 to adjust the specific weight of the vertical move member 164. A size of the steel core 1645 can be changed depending on the specific weight.

Since the cavity 1642 stores lubricant, the material cost of the vertical move member 164 can be reduced.

The water discharging member 166 is connected to the water

discharging conduit 169 fixed to a bottom of the second chamber 124.

Thus, if an amount of water contained in lubricant in the second chamber 124 is increased, the vertical move member 164 installed to an outer side of the water discharging member 166 is moved upward as shown in Fig. 7. If an amount of the water is decreased and only lubricant is remained, the vertical move member 164 is moved downward as shown in Fig. 6.

The water discharging member 166 includes a plurality of through holes 1662 formed so that water contained in lubricant in the second chamber 124 may be discharged outside through the water discharging conduit 169, a plurality of screws 1664 formed for combination of the water discharging conduit 169, and a through hole 1666 perforated so that a connecting rod 1681 of the lubricant blocking member 168 can be protruded upward.

The lubricant blocking member 168 includes a connecting rod 1681 fixedly combined so that a front end thereof is inserted into the second concave groove 1648 of the vertical move member 164 through the through hole 1666 of the water discharging member 166 so as to be operated integrally, a water blocking body 1687 for fixing the connecting rod 1681, a water blocking protruded portion 1683 formed at the other side of the water blocking body 1687, and a packing member 1684 inserted to an outer side of the water blocking protruded portion 1683 for blocking the lubricant not to be flowed outside.

When inserted into the second concave groove 1648 of the vertical move member 164, the connecting rod 1681 is fit by force so that it is not naturally separated. Thus, the vertical move member 164 and the lubricant blocking member 168 are operated integrally. When required, an adhesive can be used instead of the fitting way so that the connecting rod 1681 is inserted into the second concave groove 1648 and operated together when moving vertically.

Thus, if the vertical move member 164 moves upward, the lubricant blocking member 168 is also moved upward together. On the while, if the vertical move member 164 moves downward, the lubricant blocking member 168 is also moved downward together.

The water discharging conduit 169 is fixed to the second chamber 124 as described above. The water discharging conduit 169 includes a screw 1693 combined with the screw 1664 of the vertical move member 164, and a tapered portion 1691 formed at an inner side of an upper end of the water discharging conduit 169 and sealed by the packing member 1684 of the lubricant blocking member 168.

The fourth filtering member 136 has a configuration same as the second filtering member 126 shown in Fig. 4 for filtering. But, the fourth filtering member 136 is different from the second filtering member 126 in the point that the cut portion 1261 is formed at a right portion due to the central chamber 140 and the filter guide 1262 and the filter 1266 are formed at a left portion.

The fourth chamber 134 has a sensor 194 for detecting that an amount of lubricant is insufficient. The sensor 194 is connected to the alarm canceling switch 1122 through an electric wire 196 guided by a guide unit 1347 protruded in the fourth chamber 134. Thus, if an amount of lubricant is insufficient and the sensor 194 thus is moved downward, the sensor 194 detects this fact and then transmits a detect signal to the alarm canceling switch 1122 through the electric wire 196 so that an alarm is generated. The sensor 194 can be positioned in another chamber, if required.

In the present invention, it is described that lubricant is flowed through the first, second, third and fourth chambers 122,124, 132 and 134. The number of chambers is not limited to that case, and may be increased or decreased. Though the number of chambers is increased, the technique that a basic filter is formed for filtering out alien materials is also included in the scope of the invention.

In addition, in case of the filters installed in the first, second, third and fourth chambers 122,124, 132 and 134, several filters can be installed in a specific chamber though it is described that only one filter is installed in one chamber. The filter can be selected from those commonly used in the art.

At both sides of the central chamber 140, there are mounted covers 145 each of which is combined to a plurality of combination holes 147 and has many cut holes.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention also includes the case that the vertical move member 164 is solidly formed, without forming an inner space as shown in Fig. 9.

In addition, the catapult device 101 above mentioned means not only a mechanical device for catapulting but also other various kinds of machine tools which may spray lubricant to a driving unit.

Unexplained reference numeral 1268 denotes a bolt combination hole.

The apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil of the present invention is operated as follows.

First, a user manipulates the control panel 105 to operate the catapult device 101. Then, the solenoid valve 102 receives a signal transmitted from the control panel through a signal line 103 and operates several driving units in the catapult device 101.

The lubricant sprayed to the several driving units in the catapult device 101 is flowed in the guide 116 formed at the upper portion of the cover member 110, firstly filtered in the first filter 1142 mounted in the first filtering member 114, and then flowed in the first chamber 122 formed in the first storage member 120 through a plurality of the through holes 1192 formed to the filter support plate 119.

The lubricant flowed in the first chamber 122 is filtered again by the filter 1266 mounted at the lower portion of the second filtering

member 126 and then moved into the second chamber 124.

The lubricant moved into the second chamber 124 substantially contains water during passing through several processes from the catapult device 101. This water deteriorates an ability of the lubricant, and thus the water is eliminated in the second chamber 124.

If the lubricant moved into the second chamber 124 contains water, the vertical move member 164 moves upward as shown in Fig. 7 since the vertical move member 164 has a specific weight smaller than water.

If the vertical move member 164 moves upward as described above, there is formed a space at the first concave groove 1646 as much as the distance that the vertical move member 164 moves since the water discharging member 166 inserted in the first concave groove 1646 of the vertical move member 164 is combined with the water discharging conduit 169 to be operated together.

In addition, the connecting rod 1681 inserted and combined with the second concave groove 1648 of the vertical move member 164 is also moved upward together with the vertical move member 164. Thus, a plurality of the water discharging holes 1662 formed in the water discharging member 166 are opened and then the water contained in the lubricant in the second chamber 124 is moved into the water discharging conduit 169 through a plurality of the water discharging holes 1662 formed in the water discharging member 166 and then

discharged outside.

On the other hand, if the water in the second chamber 124 is discharged outside, the vertical move member 164 is slowly moved downward. And then, the lubricant blocking member 168 combined in the vertical move member 164 is also moved downward together with the vertical move member 164.

While the vertical move member 164 and the lubricant blocking member 168 move downward, the packing member 1684 of the lubricant blocking member 168 blocks a passage communicated to outside as shown in Fig. 6. This means that the lubricant does not contain water.

In other words, as the water discharging member 166 becomes inserted into the first concave groove 1646 formed on the vertical move member 164, a plurality of the water discharging holes 1662 formed in the water discharging member 166 are blocked from the space so that the lubricant is not discharged outside. And then, the packing member 1684 of the lubricant blocking member 168 also becomes contacted with the tapered portion 1691 formed at the upper portion of the water discharging conduit 169. Resultantly, the pure lubricant remaining in the second chamber 124 is not discharged outside but recycled for repeated use.

The lubricant in which water is removed in the water separating unit 160 of the second chamber 124 is then filtered in the third filtering

member 1242 mounted at the upper side of the second chamber 124 and then moved into the third chamber 132.

The lubricant flowed in the third chamber 132 is filtered again through the fourth filtering member 136 and then moved into the fourth chamber 134.

The lubricant moved into the fourth chamber 134 is then filtered again by the filter 1342 and then flowed in the motor pump 150 through the first supply conduit 152 connected to the lower end of the filter 1342. Then, the motor pump 150 supplies the lubricant to each driving unit mounted in the catapult device 101 through the second supply conduit 154 so that the lubricant is continuously circulated.

However, the present invention described above uses lubricant not permanently but for a certain period. Thus, a user should check an ability of the lubricant and supply new lubricant when required.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The apparatus for recycling and supplying lubricating oil configured as above is installed to a side of the catapult device and supplies used lubricant after several filtering and water removing processes, so reducing a consumption amount of lubricant. Thus, a production cost is decreased and an environmental pollution is prevented. In addition, since the lubricant is filtered and recycled for a significant time, a worker need not check and supply lubricant

frequently, so improving work efficiency. Furthermore, because the lubricant is continuously supplied to the catapult device without stop, the present invention may prevent damage of the catapult device, so extending the life of the catapult device. In addition, since the present invention does not need a conventional lubricant collecting bucket, the work condition can be kept agreeable.