Air gun for releasing “totally empty” follower plate from the empty drum

It is virtually impossible to empty a grease drum completely by means of a conventional pump and follower plate. Our pumping innovation is the “Totally Empty Concept”. It challenges conventional construction because the pump is supported on a floating follower plate. This follower plate/pump construction is designed as a completely closed grease handling system to empty a grease barrel. Only the grease remaining under the curved follower plate (circa 1.5-1.9 kg in a 180/200 kg drum) is left in the barrel. The pump and follower plate fall with grease level due to the weight and the vibration caused by the pump, in combination with the vacuum that arises under the follower plate preventing the plate from sticking in the drum. See fig. 1.
When the drum is empty, the follower plate rests hard against the bottom of the drum and must be released by means of compressed air via the airgun (Part Number 902947). See fig. 2.
In addition the pump when used with a centralised lubrication system is designed with a return line connection to return grease to the barrel below the follower plate.