BE1020552A5 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND VALIDING MANUAL LUBRICATION. - Google Patents

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND VALIDATION

MANUAL LUBRICATION

Object of the invention [00001] The present invention relates to a device. control and validation of the greasing operation ... manual. ,,. in _______ a. installation comprising dice.

many points of lubrication. This device allows to increase the; reliability of 1 greasing operation, to restrict the failures due to a lack of lubrication and perform predictive maintenance. The present invention also relates to the method of control and validationmeasured -, to -. using the above mentioned device .................. .................... '..... . ..... -.

State of the art -------------- ---------

[0002] It is well known that a lack, an absence or even an excess of. Lubrication can have heavy consequences on the proper functioning of a bearing and therefore more generally on all the industrial installations concerned. In fact, this can result in a stop of the production tool, thus generating production losses, but also requiring an increase in the need for storage of spare parts. Therefore, it is essential to deliver the ideal amount of grease at a periodicity, defined to maximize the service life of the production tool, reduce the rate of failure and reduce the stock of spare parts.

[0003] • At present, for manual greasing operations of one. production tool . With several lubrication points, the operator in charge of the lubrication has a document showing for each greasing point the location, the type of grease, the quantity of grease. grais.se, ·, ^ .... inject and. the periodicity at which the injection is to be carried out. The quality of the greasing head is, therefore, validated by the intermediate of experience and ..... of ... vigilance ...... of ...... the operator during his tour · · greasing.

It is quite easy to notice that an error present in the document provided to the operator or a! >; misinterpretation of data can lead to a critical situation for production. ;

[0005] Other. On the other hand, even if the lubrication operation is carried out according to the required criteria in the support document, it may happen that the lubrication is ineffective - inter alia following a misdirection of the new grease. in the body to be greased. It is possible that a plug or a leak in the conduit: routing prevents the grease; to get to the organ, to lubricate. Only the vigilance of an experienced operator who is familiar with the installation can detect this type of problem. ;

In addition, because several operators -v different can-: achieve: · lubrication on a same instairati'öny ..... it erst "'-' ~ i'f ± c ± 1 "© -de *" "maintain a uniform control on the quality of lubrication achieved by human experience alone. -------------------------------------: ............ . ---- ........

[0007] There is therefore a need to provide a system of. control and. validation of these operations to solve these problems so as to minimize the downtime of the production tool for'what reason that'as well as. : storage of parts, spare parts. [000.8]. . ........The. EP patent. 1 192 ... 387. Bl 'of. ASSALUB AB tries to bring one. solution to this problem by proposing a device; Manual lubrication enabling the association of a unique identifier, and information associated with each lubrication point of an installation, the information associated with each greasing point being co-coded: ; the quantity of fat to be injected and the quantity of injections calculated according to the temporal and quantitative indications recorded during previous greasing operations.

However, this solution is based only on the aspect ... quantitative. of. lubrication and. does not propose any element, de-answer to the qualitative aspect, of the operation, to know if the greased has been well conveyed up to the organ to be greased. Moreover, based solely on quantitative data, the standardization of the lubrication validation can not be carried out safely and effectively.

Goals of T1 invention

[0010]; The· . The present invention aims to provide a device 'allows-n-t-to-make-reliability - the lubrication operations, manuel. for quantitative and qualitative control. of. these. operations ...________ ______ ..... ..........

[0011] Eli® also aims to provide a device enabling a history of these operations to be recorded in order to detect the possible problems on the various organs that are greased. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · deduce a degradation leading, g., a predictive maintenance solution.

Main characteristic features of the invention

[0012] The present invention relates to a

device for controlling and validating manual greasing for a plant fitted with at least one greasing point./: --said device comprising: ·> J

- means. identification of said point, lubrication; means: to measure the quantity of. injected fat and, · ''. . ___ '___ ·.

- means; ^ .for idéterminer; if the injected grease is well, fed to the lubrication point.

According to particular embodiments of the invention, the device comprises at least one. or an appropriate combination of the following: -. ; means for measuring the amount of grease injected, comprise a flow sensor, the means for determining whether the injected grease is well-heated. . de-greasing comprise a pressure sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor; it comprises a nozzle intended, in use, to be connected to the lubrication point; the means for the de fi lification of the lubrication point comprise an identification system located on the end piece 7 and an identifying element placed next to the lubrication point; Average means being configured to -. In use, the identification system interacts with the identifying element to identify said fat point. - - -. V., '. ........ ...... he has a ...... .., ...... ........ system: .... of .af showing.

in format ions: revisions to the point. grease connected to v; / the tip '' - and. an input device for interfacing with the information provided by the display system; it comprises a controller, said controller being connected to means for measuring the quantity of fat.

.......................................... .. - - _ _ _ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

....... determine ..... if .......- 137 "çrrârsse-inj-ectée -'- Test ·; · .bi-en ;: routed.

to the point of lubrication; - he understands ..... ', a.station. ...of. base and means of communication between said base station and the controller; ..... it further comprises means for identifying the type of grease.

[0014]; · ;;; The "control system" also refers to a method for controlling and validating the manual greasing of the described "device"; above, said method comprising the steps of: - Connection. from the tip of said device to the point of / greasing; : - Idenrification of the lubrication point; - Display of ·· point information. identified lubrication; . ..

- Measurement of the amount of fat injected; - Evaluation of the injection stress of fat-in. the "point of lubrication; - Comparison. .of. : said injection constraint with: · ..... values - - ..... nominally ----------- clean ·, ....... at - ·. ........ point -..... of lubrication identified.

[0015] According to particular modes of, The invention.

the method comprises at least one or a combination of the following characteristics:. The evaluation of injection stress is carried out from measured pressure, flow and / or ultrasound levels. ....

it includes a step of identification of the type of grease-ready to be injected, in order to ensure that the latter corresponds to that displayed in the information relating to the identified greasing point; it also includes the steps of: - recording the measurements of the quantity of fat injected, pressure, and / or level ...........; d.'Ultrason; _________________________________ .................. _______'_ ....

. Setting .. to,. "Day .de: 1 / history of lubrication, ......................... piani-f-ica-t-ion --des - - next grading and detection of a drift in relation to the values: - - -:. ..of ... point., of., greasing. .

The present invention further relates to the manual lubrication device comprising the control device and validation as described above.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 is a front view of the portable device and your "sFat'Ibn ~ aébasé! TëTpn.l 'invëntïôn. -

FIG. 2 is a view of the interior of the housing comprising the controller, the measurement systems and the battery.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the system identifying a lubrication point in a unique manner.

. Legend: -,. · - · · (1) Housing (2) Grease circulation pipe (3) Grease nipple. ! (4): S "ystèraë" ", d'itit''''cit''''c'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''d''''''''''''''''''- '' '' '' '' '' (5), System: display.

(6) - Input Device 1 - · ····. - .......... 1: ·.; · · (7) Controller (8) measuring the quantity of grease injected • (9) Means for evaluating the quality of the lubrication (10) Tubes of link '·' ·. ,.

(11K Draining element -> Lubrication point (12) Lubrication point (13) Base station (14) Means for adapting the control and validation device to the manual greasing device

General description of the invention

The present invention relates to a control device: -and manual lubrication validation for an installation 'provided' with one or more points · greasing.

It can be ,, adapted; v.snr ... any device. manual manual greasing whether it is hand-held, electric, pneumatic ... or integrated with the manual greasing device.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the device according to the invention must comprise means for measuring the amount of fat injected into the body during the lubrication process. ....... means ..... means ..... to ... evaluate the quality of the lubrication that is performed on a given greasing point as well as means to identify the greasing point.

; These enable the lubrication point to be safely associated with quantitative and qualitative parameters of the lubrication to be performed, such as the type of grease and the grease. number of. fat ", to be injected P-

According to the invention, the invention is furthermore suitable.

include: - "a system of indications" necessary for the completion of the lubrication round by an operator familiar with the installation and operation of the device; .. a ... device .... input.-... allowing, to interact with the information '' '' 'on the display system; .

. a time. non-volatile allowing. store all the information needed for lubrication and record the physical parameters measured during lubrication; a .module of. a community for the exchange of data; a "live" station located on a computer;

A controller managing all the above mentioned functionalities in order to control the operation of.

lubrication and. to realize a validation of the quality of the operation; • - a. base station installed on a computer allowing. to realize a reliable history of the data concerning the greasing operations carried out, a detection of the organs which make. 1. Object :. of a defect:. grease, a detection of a drift of the nominal lubrication parameters for a point; annihilating, the presence of an anomaly on the: organ.iët - a .-. generation. ". ass.is.té.té.té.e. .. of ..... turn, lubrication following a periodicity determined 'to 1'avance; means for identifying the fat located inside. :;of. Tank car · .. a. In the majority of cases, the greasing organs require a specific grease which can differ from one organ to the other (the means are therefore necessary in order to warn the operator of a non-correspondence between the type of grease in the reservoir and the information stored in the base station for the identifier of the grease point to which the device is connected.

Detailed description of the invention

[0023]; As shown in FIG. 1, the device according to the invention comprises a housing 1 connected at one end to r. a grease nipple 3 via a hose 2 in which the grease is circulated and at the other end means. adaptation to the '' device '' '' GrowingTripee '' '' XpTsiol''V7 tank, the latter being not shownIn use, the tip 3 is connected "" to '~ a "point ..... of ~ 'lubrication'12 -.represented at -.

figure 3. - ··

[0024] .... The housing 1 has on one outside a system 5 -'j d'fichage 5 on which are indicated the information relating to the point of greasing connected to the tip and an input device 6 to introduce _ - data. Inside the casing 1 shown in Fig. 27 are found; the means 8 for measuring 1a. quantity: of injected fat, the. Means 9 to evaluate - there -: - quality · · · age - and - a controller 7. The latter is connected to the means 8 to measure the quantity. injected grease, means 9 for evaluating the quality of the lubrication ·,., to -sidentification system 4 of the greasing point .situé on the grease nozzle 3, the .system display; 5, and to the input device 6.

The. means 8 for measuring the amount of fluid injected comprise a flow sensor and the means .9 for evaluating the quality of the lubrication comprise one or more sensors. These are preferentially arranged on; the connecting tube 10 arranged: upstream of the. hose 2. ... .. ..sensors ....... qualitative .9. may include a 'pressure sensor' and / or an ultrasound sensor.

The flow sensor allows to ensure that the amount of fluid injected is the required quantity. This sensor alone is generally insufficient because it does not identify a leak or a large plug that would divert the grease from another location (eg, a leak in a vacuum). It is therefore preferable to add a pressure sensor to evaluate the quality of the lubrication.

'pressure' "..... too" low "indicates that ..... there is a .....- fat, leakage 'in, device A upstream of the body to be lubricated, by . ex. a. • rolling, so .. a level of. much too much pressure; cap 1 or any other obstacle prevents "grease" from reaching the bearing. There are. case of; ' figures; intermediates.- where J-lé -bouchon and the. leaked. are, moderately important and. where, therefore, no anomaly is detected, based on the only flow and pressure sensors. In œ. In this case, an ultrasonic sensor is used to know if the grease has reached the level of the bearing at the grease-free level. but also quantitative by the decrease in decibel, ultrasonic noise produced by the bearing.

[0026]; -; Measurements from. different sensors make it possible to evaluate the constraint of injection into the point. ··· lubrication.:: Then, comparison of the injection stress with nominal values for a given lubricator 12 loaded into the memory of the controller 7 makes it possible to evaluate the quality of the lubrication. A constraint of inj ection outside of the limited range of permissible variations around the nominal values is thus the sign of a lack of grating or of over-raking. ..............-- 'V -'V ............. ..

[0027] . Itioÿens identification of the point of. .

greasing:. include the system of identi fi cation. 4 above and an identifying element 11 placed next to the point of degreasing 12 on which the grease nipple .., 3 ~ -connects (see Figure 3). When connecting, the system. Identification 4 interacts with the element, identifying it, thus realizing, a secure identification. This is the only one of the "grease point 12 in question." This item of information makes it easier to obtain information contained in the controller's memory. to the identifier 11 of the · grease-·· 'point and, consequently, to display the information' necessary to the operator. ' poar perform a correct greasing_ ___; f '...

[0028] "There" memory ..... the controller 7 must; so be preloaded with the necessary data. the realization; greasing of the different points of the installation to be greased; To do this, the controller must communicate with a base station 13 installed on a computer, and which contains the information relating to.

all 'points' of' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' " . ; [Q.Q29] .... Thanks to the instructions loaded in the memory of the Chernobyl, the operator can thus see . real time ; _points_ which require lubrication so that you do not forget points during a lubrication tour. ·

During the lubrication of a point, the controller 7 records: eh'memoires-not-only The-data relating to .. ^ ........ point ', ..... but also the information from qualitative sensors 9. This data 'is' repatriated '' in ........ the ......... base station 13 located - / on the computer. in order to update. History, Lubrication, Planning, and Lubrication Quality Data.

Advantages of the device according to the invention [Ó031]; The device according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate the risk present as a result of. a grease fault by controlling.that.the manual greasing operations are optimally performed while allowing the. outfit' ·. a history. reliable ...., lubrication operations · real-al-c-haque: ~ -point ---- of - qr-ais.sage authenticated in the system. "It also allows to compare the evolution.

: in. the .... time :, of ... the. quality ...... of ..... grease.s.age ..on ... each greasing point of the installation.

Claims (13)

1. Device for controlling and validating manual greasing for an installation provided with at least one greasing point (12), said device comprising: means (4, 11) for identifying said greasing point (12), means (8) for measuring the amount of grease injected, said means (8) having a flow sensor and means (9) for determining whether the injected grease is properly conveyed to the greasing point (12), said means having a pressure sensor. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means (9) for determining whether the injected grease is properly conveyed to the greasing point (12) comprise a. ultrasonic sensor. 3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a nozzle (3) intended, in use, to be connected to the lubrication point (12). 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said means for identifying the lubrication point comprise an identification system (4) located on the tip (3) and an identifying element (11) placed next to the lubrication point. (12), said means being configured so that in use the identification system (4) interacts with the identifying element (11) to identify said lubrication point (12). 5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, comprising a display system (5) indicating the information relating to the lubrication point (12) connected to the tip (3) and an input device (6) for interact with the information provided on the display system (5). 6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, comprising a controller (7), said controller (7) being connected to the means (8) for measuring the quantity of fat injected, to the identification system (4), to the display system (5), the input device (6) and the means (9) to determine whether the injected grease is routed to the lubrication point (12). 7. Device according to claim 6, comprising a base station (13) and communication means between said base station (13) and the controller (7). 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for identifying the type of grease. 9. A method for controlling and validating manual greasing using the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said method comprising the steps of: - Connecting the tip (3) of said device to the point of greasing (12); - Identification of the lubrication point (12); - Display information about the lubrication point (12) identified; - Measurement of injected grease flow and pressure; - Evaluation of the injection stress of the grease in the greasing point (12), - Comparison of said injection stress with nominal values specific to the identified greasing point (12). The method of claim 9, wherein the evaluation of the injection stress is made from measurements of pressure, flow rate and / or ultrasound level. 11. The method of claim 9 or 10, comprising a step of identifying the type of fat ready to be injected to ensure that the latter corresponds to that displayed in the information relating to the lubrication point (12) identified. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising the steps of: - recording flow rate, pressure, and / or ultrasound level measurements; - Update of the lubrication history, planning of the next lubrication and detection of a drift with respect to the lubrication point lubrication ratings (12). 13. Manual greasing device comprising the control and validation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.