AU2008100389B4

AU2008100389B4 - Lubrication fluid sampling station

Info

Publication number: AU2008100389B4
Application number: AU2008100389A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Refalo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-14
Filing date: 2008-04-30
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-11
Also published as: AU2008100389A4

Description

00 LUBRICATION FLUID SAMPLING STATION FIELD OF INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a lubrication fluid sampling station. The invention relates particularly to a sampling station for sampling lubrication fluid from a lubrication system for which C 5 a preventative maintenance protocol is established in which analysis of lubrication fluid is used as a 00 Mc, preventative maintenance tool. However, the invention is not limited to this field of use.

BACKGROUND ART 00 SPreventative maintenance is an established protocol in which monitoring of plant and equipment is used in order to keep the plant or equipment in good repair by undertaking routine maintenance before breakdown or failure of the plant or equipment. In the case of lubrication fluids, laboratory analysis of the lubrication fluid can be used to determine which parts of a plant require attention. Sometimes the overall quality of the oil is assessed, and sometimes, indicator materials are manufactured into some parts in such a way as to emerge in the lubrication fluid when such parts are dur for repair or replacement. Plant and equipment is sometimes sited in unfavourable environments, resulting in possible contamination of the lubrication fluid. Such contamination can give false readings which can lead to unnecessary maintenance scheduling and/or replacement of unworn parts.

Additionally, the sample can be required to be kept in an agitated state and/or at an elevated or depressed temperature.

The present invention aims to provide a lubrication fluid sampling station which eases or alleviates one or more of the abovementioned problems, or to at least provide an alternative to existing sampling stations. Other aims and advantages of the invention may become apparent from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, the present invention resides broadly in a lubrication fluid sampling station including: a header portion interposable in a conduit and providing fluid connection between the conduit and the interior of the header portion; 00 O fluid flow control means operably associated with or forming part of the header portion for controlling the flow of fluid to and/or from conduit to the interior of the header portion; Sa closure portion detachable attachable to the header portion to substantially close the interior of the header portion; a" 5 a sampling container detachably attachable to the header portion alternatively to the closure 00 MC, portion for substantially closing the interior of the header portion and having a sampling chamber 0 therewithin in fluid connection with the interior of the header portion for receiving some of the 00 lubrication fluid; containment means for containing the header portion and the closure portion, when attached to the header portion and the sampling container when attached to the header portion, said containment means having an access opening for accessing the header portion and fluid flow control means; and the fluid control means including an extension tube extending into the interior ofd the header portion such that, when the sampling chamber is operatively attached to the header portion, the extension tube extends into the internal chamber of the sampling chamber.

In such form, the sampling container includes a chamber therewithin in fluid connection with the interior of the header portion for receiving some of the lubrication fluid; and/or sampling container when attached to the header portion.

The containment means is suitably formed to substantially prevent contaminants from entering the sampling container when it is being attached and detached from the header portion.

Preferably, the closure portion and the sampling container are attachable to the header portion by screw threads. More preferably, the header portion includes two separate internal screw threads, one for the closure portion and the other for the sampling container. In such form, it is further preferred that threaded fitting for the closure portion be larger than the threaded fitting for the sampling container. It is also preferred that the capacity of the closure portion be sufficient to substantially 00 -3- O enclose the sampling container. Preferably, the extension tube is arranged to provide agitation of the lubrication fluid by virtue of its flow velocity as the sampling container is being filled or partly filled by the lubrication fluid. Preferably, the sampling chamber includes sight means for observing the S level of lubrication fluid in the sampling chamber. It is also preferred that the sampling container includes a fill line externally observable of the container. Preferably, the containment means is in the form of a cabinet inside which the header portion is mounted, and having the conduits for receiving 00 and returning the lubrication fluid penetrating the wall or walls of the cabinet to provide the fluid communication of the lubrication fluid with the header portion. In such form, the access means is 00 preferably provided by a door opening substantially one side of the cabinet. The cabinet is preferably 10 of a rectilinear form. The interior of the cabinet is suitably sized to accommodate the other components of the sampling station as well as having sufficient clearance therein to enable the operative attachment and detachment of the detachable parts from the header portion. Of course, where the fluid flow control means is externally operable, external connection to a control means is provided through a wall of the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of lubrication fluid of a lubrication fluid sampling station according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a pictorial view of the lubrication fluid sampling station of Fig. 1 with the closure portion detached and a sampling container ready to attach to the header; Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of the lubrication fluid sampling station of Figs. 1 and 2 with the sampling container attached to the header portion; Fig. 4 is a pictorial view of the header portion and sampling container of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional front view of the header portion, flow control means and closure portion of the lubrication fluid sampling station of Figs. 1 to 4; 00 O Fig. 6 is a detailed view of fluid flow control means of the header portion shown in SFig. SFig. 7 is a sectional side view of the header portion, flow control means and closure ¢€3 portion of Fig. a 5 Fig. 8 is a sectional front view of an alternative view arrangement for the header 00 3 portion, fluid flow control means and closure portion of Fig. 5; and 0Fig. 9 is another alternative header portion, flow control means and closure portion 00 Sof the lubrication fluid sampling station of Fig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The lubrication fluid sampling station 10 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 includes a manifold assembly 11 interposed in fluid connection with a conduit, thereby providing an inflow conduit 18 and an outflow conduit 19 connected in substantial axial alignment with the inflow conduit, and providing fluid connection from the inflow conduit to the manifold assembly and fluid connection from the manifold assembly to the outflow conduit. The manifold assembly includes a header portion 12 into which the aforesaid inflow and outflow conduits are connected, and to which a closure vessel 13 is detachably attached. The closure vessel is attached to the lower part of the header portion and provides sealing enclosure of the internal workings of the header portion described hereunder. Referring to Fig. 1, the closure container is attached to the header portion, but in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the closure vessel is removed so that a sampling container 14 is attached in much the same location as the closure portion. The manifold assembly is surrounded by a containment cabinet 15 having a back wall 16 to which the manifold assembly is mounted by way of a mounting bracket 21. The front face of the containment cabinet is open, but can be closed by a door 17 sized to fit the opening of the containment cabinet. The containment cabinet is substantially rectilinear in form and sized to provide a clear and surrounding the manifold assembly, closure portion and/or sampling container for access by personnel as shown. As shown in particular in Fig. 4, the sample container may be filled with a fluid sample 22 up to a fill line 23 provided on the sampling container. In such form, the sampling container is of a light transmissible material such as glass or plastics.

r 00 O Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the manifold assembly and closure portion 11 and 13 include a valve assembly 24, the valve being shown in the form of a needle valve. A valve handle 25, bonnet 26, needle point 27 and valve seat 28 are provided as shown to provide selective fluid connection S through a lumen 31 through a spigot 32 which depends downwardly from the header portion to provide a clearance 33 between the lower end of the spigot and the lower wall of the sample container. The sampling container is substantially cylindrical in form, as are the closure vessel and 00 header portion. The closure vessel is attachable to the header portion by way of a threaded connection 34, and in similar fashion the sampling container is attachable to the header portion by 00 way of another threaded portion 35. A hex head 36 is provided on the outside of the lower wall of I 10 the closure vessel to enable tools to be used by tightening of the closure vessel into sealing engagement with the header portion. The view shown in Fig. 7 shows the conduits 18 and 19 of Figs.

1 to 3 connectable to the header portion at respective threaded connections 37 to provide an inlet passageway 38 and an outlet passageway 39 for the lubrication fluid.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the manifold and closure vessel are shown with an alternative valve arrangement, that shown in Fig. 4 having a plastic moulded handle instead of the T-form handle shown in Fig. 7, and in Fig. 9, a solenoid actuator 30 is provided for actuation of the needle valve.

In use, a lubrication fluid sampling station according to the invention may be installed in operative connection with a lubrication fluid recirculation system used for lubricating, for example, a standing diesel engine powering a generating set. Forward maintenance scheduling of the generating set and its engine would require lubrication fluid to be tested on a regular basis. In that regard, a sample of lubrication fluid may be collected from the recirculation system by first checking that the lubrication system recirculation is operating, and then opening the cabinet door. In order to mop up spillage, an absorbent towel or the like may be spread out on the floor of the cabinet. The closure vessel is then removed, inverted and placed on the towel. The lid may then be removed from a sample jar and the sample jar attached to the header, working substantially within the cabinet to avoid contamination of the sample jar. The lid may be placed open end down on the towel. The attachment of the sample jar to the header is made suitably loose to allow air to escape as the jar is filled with the sample. The needle valve is opened slowly to allow the lubrication fluid to enter the samplejar. Because the lubrication fluid is recirculating through the header during normal operation of the diesel engine, it is not required to flush the sample station prior to collecting the sample. The sample jar is filled to the level of the filling line, whereupon the needle valve is closed. The sample 00-6- 0 O jar may then be removed from the header and the lid attached to the jar, again working inside the Scabinet to avoid contamination. The closure vessel is cleaned out before being re-attached to the header. The sample jar, towel and any other equipment is removed from the cabinet and the door 0 closed.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be 00 appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms within Sthe broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

00

Claims

1. A lubrication fluid sampling station including: a header portion interposable in a conduit and providing fluid connection between the conduit and the interior of the header portion; 00 c 5 fluid flow control means operably associated with or forming part of the header portion for controlling the flow of fluid to and/or from the conduit to the interior of the header portion; 00 Sa closure portion detachably attachable to the header portion to substantially close the interior S of the header portion; a sampling container detachable attachable to the header portion alternatively to the closure portion for substantially closing the interior of the header portion and having a sampling chamber therewithin in fluid connection with .the interior of the header portion for receiving some of the lubrication fluid; containment means for containing the header portion and the closure portion when attached to the header portion and the sampling container when attached to the header portion, said containment means having an access opening for accessing the header portion and fluid flow control means; and the fluid flow control means including an extension tube extending into the interior of the header portion such that, when the sampling chamber is operatively attached to the header portion, the extension tube extends into the internal chamber of the sampling chamber.

2. A lubrication fluid sampling station according to Claim 1, wherein, the closure portion and the sampling container are attachable to the header portion by screw threads, there being two separate internal screw threads, one for the closure portion and the other for the sampling container, the threaded fitting for the closure portion being larger than the threaded fitting for the sampling container.

3. A lubrication fluid sampling station according to Claim 2, wherein closure portion encloses a capacity sufficient to substantially enclose the sampling container. r 00 -8- O

4. A lubrication fluid sampling station according to Claim 3, wherein the parts are so formed Sthat closure portion and sampling may be simultaneously attached to the header portion.

5. A lubrication fluid sampling station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extension tube be arranged so as to agitate lubrication fluid by virtue of its flow velocity as the 0 5 sampling container is being filled or partly filled by the lubrication fluid. 00 0',