FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
AND
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A grease collector apparatus
APPLICANTS :
Crompton Greaves Limited, CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company
INVENTOR (S):
Wadbude Sahebrao, of Crompton Greaves Ltd, Machine (M7) Division, D-5, Industrial Area, MPAKVN, Mandideep - 462046, Madhya Pradesh, India; an Indian National.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to the field of motors with greased bearing assembly.
Particularly, this invention relates to a grease collector apparatus.
Background of the Invention:
A ball bearing is a rotating element which maintains separation between moving / rotating parts and provides minimal friction which allows the movement / rotation with ease. Bearing assemblies which include ball bearings are typically lubricated with grease. There is a random quantity of grease, generously disposed over the bearings of the bearing assembly to ensure frictionless motion and to avoid wear and tear.
Lubrication can be done with grease, which has advantages that grease sticks to the bearing and protects bearing metal from environment.
There are various factors upon which the type of grease is chosen in relation to the payload, the ball bearing dimensions, the bearing assembly and the like. On many occasions, the release of grease, as mentioned, is generous (uncontrolled). The movement of bearings causes the excess grease to flow out.
In existing practice, no grease collector is used. Grease outlet is completely open on motor bed which is very problematic for equipments and humans, too.

Some of the manufacturers use a loose tray for grease which may rest on the motor bed and may be misplaced due to motor vibration, thereby causing a pool of grease or spill.
For some applications, the excess grease may be channeled directly to a sump placed appropriately, said channeling done via a chute. But there is no visible indicator of the level of grease in the sump. In cases of a full condition, the grease may occupy the chute itself, and in a worse situation result in ingress, again, into the bearing. This grease typically contains contaminants and may be harmful for the bearings.
Prior Art:
GB1369859 discloses BEARING-AND-HOUSING ASSEMBLIES. It A bearing and housing assembly has a bearing cover located on one side of the bearing in which is a chamber to which spent grease may be forced by the introduction of fresh grease into the bearing, the assembly being such that it may be arranged so that some of the grease in the chamber may flow back into the bearing.
JP52027941 discloses a bearing device for vertical rotary machine in which a discharge of grease from the bearing device may easily be carried out by a simple construction.
However, there is no indication of the amount of spent grease being collected. Also, there is no prevention mechanism for preventing excess / spend grease to reenter the bearing.

Objects of the Invention:
An object of the invention it to provide a grease collector apparatus which is very easily removable and collects grease from a grease outlet (Grease chute).
Another object of the invention is to design a grease collector apparatus having a tank with handle for lifting and mounting provision; also for ease of emptying.
Another object of the invention is to provide a grease collector apparatus with indicator capability to indicate overflow of grease without harming associated assembly.
Summary of the Invention:
According to this invention, there is provided a grease collector apparatus adapted to collect grease from a bearing assembly, said apparatus comprises:
a. a chute being an elongate hollow element with an operative top end adapted
to mate with said bearing assembly for channeling excess grease which
moves out of said bearing assembly through the chute to its operative
bottom;
b. sump located at the operative bottom of said chute for collecting said grease,
said sump having a slit at the operative top of said sump, said sump adapted
to surround said chute with the outer periphery of the chute spaced apart
from the inner perimeter of the slit, thereby providing a passage for the
collected grease to overflow from the sump, thereby preventing ingress of
grease into said bearing assembly; and

c. arc-shaped element at operative top of said chute, said arc-shaped element adapted to provide a mating means for mating said chute with said bearing assembly and further adapted to collect excess grease from the defined arc portion of said bearing assembly with which it mates.
Typically, said chute is a rectangular columned hollow chute.
Typically, said sump includes a handle for handling said sump.
Preferably, said sump includes a handle for handling said sump, said handle including a tightening means for gripping said sump to said chute.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a bearing assembly of the prior art;
Figure 2 illustrates a grease chute for directing excess grease out of the bearing assembly of Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the bearing assembly in an equipment (motor) along with the grease chute of Figure 2;
The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 4 illustrates a front view of a bearing assembly;

Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the bearing assembly in an equipment (motor) of Figure 4;
Figure 6 illustrates a partial front view and partial side view of the grease collector apparatus of Figures 4 and 5;
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an isometric view of the grease collector apparatus;
Figure 9 illustrates a front view of the grease collector apparatus;
Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the grease collector apparatus; and
Figure 11 illustrates an isometric view of the grease chute of the grease collector apparatus of Figure 10.
Detailed Description of the Accompanying Drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a bearing assembly of the prior art.
A motor bearing end shield (1) includes a bearing assembly which is greased. The excess of grease needs top be channeled out of the bearing assembly. This channeling is done via a chute (6). Although, the chute directs the grease operatively outwards, there does not necessarily exist a collection mechanism. The grease (11) is, therefore, allowed to just flow away. Some of the manufacturers use loose trays for grease collection which may rest on a bed and may be misplaced due to motor vibration.

Figure 2a illustrates a side view of the grease chute for directing excess grease out of the bearing assembly of Figure 1. Figure 2b illustrates a front view of the grease chute for directing excess grease out of the bearing assembly of Figure 1. It represents an elongate channel.
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the bearing assembly in an equipment (motor) along with the grease chute of Figure 2.
A part of the motor is shown, wherein reference numeral 2 refers to a motor shaft extension, and reference numeral 3 refers to a motor body frame. A motor bearing assembly (8) contains grease for its functioning. There is provided a grease outlet path (9) of the prior art, here. This grease (11), upon being channeled out, finds its way to the motor foundation (motor bed) (10), and is not conducive to a clean, effective motor functioning.
According to this invention, there is provided a grease collector apparatus (100).
Figure 4 illustrates a front view of a bearing assembly with the grease collector apparatus.
Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the bearing assembly in an equipment (motor) of Figure 4.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, there is provided a chute. (6) which is an elongate hollow element. Typically, it has a rectangular top cross section. An operative top end of the chute mates with the motor bearing end shield (1) having bearing assembly. Excess or used grease with contaminants moves out

of the end shield into the chute (6) and by effect of gravity finds its way down the chute to its operative bottom.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an isometric view of the grease collector apparatus (100).
Figure 9 illustrates a front view of the grease collector apparatus (100).
Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the grease collector apparatus (100).
Figure 11 illustrates an isometric view of the grease chute of the grease collector apparatus (100) of Figure 10.
In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a sump (4) or a grease collector located at the operative bottom of said chute. The operative bottom portion of the chute enters the sump through a slit at the operative top of the sump. The sump is adapted to surround said chute (6). The outer periphery of the chute is spaced apart from the inner perimeter of the slit, thereby providing a passage for the collected grease to overflow from the sump. The overflowing grease does not ingress of grease into the bearing assembly. Figure 6 illustrates a partial front view and partial side view of the grease collector apparatus of Figures 4 and 5.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided an arc-shaped element (12) adapted to provide a mating means for mating the chute with a bearing assembly. The arc shaped element works as a collecting element, too, for collecting excess grease from the defined arc portion of a bearing assembly with which it mates or engages or couples.

In accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention, there is provided a handle (5) for handling said sump (4). The handle may include tightening means for gripping the sump (4) to the chute (6). Typically, the handle provides leverage for handling the sump away from the chute, for emptying purposes, or putting it back in place, after emptying.
At particular intervals a user removes this sump from the grease chute and removes all the grease from it. This grease may use for coarse applications. This invention renders the motor bed free of grease and hence the assembly or motor is clean and safe for human use.
While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We claim,
1. A grease collector apparatus adapted to collect grease from a bearing assembly, said apparatus comprising:
a. a chute being an elongate hollow element with an operative top end
adapted to mate with said bearing assembly for channeling excess grease
which moves out of said bearing assembly through the chute to its
operative bottom;
b. sump located at the operative bottom of said chute for collecting said
grease, said sump having a slit at the operative top of said sump, said
sump adapted to surround said chute with the outer periphery of the
chute spaced apart from the inner perimeter of the slit, thereby providing
a passage for the collected grease to overflow from the sump, thereby
preventing ingress of grease into said bearing assembly; and
c. arc-shaped element at operative top of said chute, said arc-shaped
element adapted to provide a mating means for mating said chute with
said bearing assembly and further adapted to collect excess grease from
the defined arc portion of said bearing assembly with which it mates.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said chute is a rectangular columned hollow chute.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said sump includes a handle for handling said sump.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said sump includes a handle for handling said sump, said handle including a tightening means for gripping said sump to said chute.