CA1152904A - Lubricating system - Google Patents

Lubricating system

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Publication number
CA1152904A
CA1152904A CA000366797A CA366797A CA1152904A CA 1152904 A CA1152904 A CA 1152904A CA 000366797 A CA000366797 A CA 000366797A CA 366797 A CA366797 A CA 366797A CA 1152904 A CA1152904 A CA 1152904A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
duct
oil
air
distributor
inlet duct
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000366797A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Horst Schnell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000366797A priority Critical patent/CA1152904A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1152904A publication Critical patent/CA1152904A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT

A distribution system for conducting a mixture of oil droplets and air to surfaces to be lubricated, comprising a main inward flow duct (1) connected to a source of oil droplets dispersed in air, and at least one distributor unit (2) connect-ed to said inlet duct; said distributor unit including a baffle means containing at least two alternately and symmetrically spaced groups of conduits connecting with said inlet duct; each said groups of conduits leading to a separate outlet channel.

Description

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This invention relates to a distribution system utilizing oil droplets dispersed in air for lubricating bearing surfaces as for example roller bearings, sliding surfaces, gears, slideways, chains or similar mechanisms. In particular it rclates to a distributor system which is not dependent on gravity and reduces oil omissions into the atmosphere.
The prior art on lubrication systems is primarily concerned with conveying oil in the form of a mist and precipitating the oil from the mist near the bearing to be lubricated. Although oil mist lubricators reduce the amount of oil consumption there is a loss through the bearing seals to the atmosphere. Gothberg, et al, U.S. 2,959,249 places local constrictors so as to change the oil mist to a mixture of fluid oil and air by precipitation. A precipitating nipple is used so that the amounts of oil precipitated can be changed as required by the bearings. ~ substantially high flow of the oil mist is directed against a transverse stationary surface to accomplish precipitation.
White, U.S. 3,665,684 is concerned with reclassi~ying micro particles of oil from an oil mist to substantially eliminate air pollution by such particles by use of a vacuum tank and pump and filter unit.
Malone, U.S. 2,334,942 is basically concerned with generating a continuous flow of oil mist, preferable bubbling air or other gas through a body of the lubricant.
The surface tension of atomized microfine oil particles is larger than the attraction force of the oil particles, so that the microfine atomized oil is in a state which is comparable to a ~, gaseous condition of aggregation. The microfine atomized oil is bm~
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in that state when conducted from the central atomizing appliance to the different friction points and is recondensed in corresponding nozzles in a manner as to form the droplet oil liquid.
One drawback of this oil spray system is that it is not possible to bring the oil spray completely back to the drop-like state.
T'ne remaining oil sprav can thus cause an environmental pollution !~ith environmental damages. Furthermore, atomized oil spray can be transported only at very small distances, since the microfine atomized aggregation condition of oil is maintained only as long as the streaming remains laminary. When the streaming becomes turbulent, the oil particles are propelled against each other to unite and form big oil drops. In such a state no distribution is possible and the oil flows back to the container tank. The necessary small streaming velocity should be smaller than the critical streaming velocity corresponding to the Reynold's number, which necessitates relatively important cross-sections of conduits.
In oil dispersed in a turbulent air stream, the action of gravity provokes accumulation of the major part of the lubricant at the lowest points of the distributing apparatus so that distribution becomes dependent on location, which, for example in the case of vehicles lubricating systems can have negative consequences. Distributing devices with movable parts have proven impractical. Separate air cyclones are likewise impractical since the viscosity of lubricants varies within wide limits. Lubricants, because of their widely variable viscosities, ~, are not compatible and the ratio between the air and the oil .
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quantity varies depending on necessity. Location plays a corresponding part. Thus it is accepted practice in a lubricating system of a mixture of oil and air to add oil to the air stream in a quantity corresponding to the location of each separate friction point.
One object of the present invention is to provide a novel distributor system for oil-air lubrication free of oil mist and having improved efficiency.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a system which is essentially independent of gravity so as to be effective regardless of the spacial orientation of the distributor mechanism.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow taken together with the appended drawings.
Summary of Invention The lubricating system of the present invention com-prises essentially utilizing lubricant held in the form of droplets in a carrier medium and dividing such lubricant into at least two separate outlet streams. The inward stream is broken up into a plurality of intermediate currents with one group of intermediate currents discharging into each of the outlet streams. Each group of intermediate currents is alternated or interlaced with the other group to compensate for the gravitational force. In a preferred form the inward stream is received by two groups of intermediate current ducts radially arranged with every second intermediate duct discharging into one outward stream, the other ducts into a second outward stream.

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One feature of this invention is subdivision Gf the lubricant between the inlet stream and the outlet streams in a plurality of intermediate streams. With subdivision of an inlet stream into two outlet streams the inlet stream can, for examp].e, be first subdivided into eight intermediate streams, ~our of which are recombined into one outlet and the other four into a second outlet stream. Thus, each time two of the intermediate streams penetrate at the hottom of the inlet channel, two other pairs of intermediate streams penetrate at two opposite side walls of the inlet channel, and the fourth two intermediate streams penetrate at the top side of the same.
The intermediate streams branch off therefore in four different directions namely, in the bottorn, at the two opposite side walls and at the top. Then an intermediate stream from the bottom, from the opposite sides and from the top are conducted together into one outlet stream, while the four remaining intermediate streams are conducted to another outlet stream. In this manner each outlet stream is connected to four intermediate streams, wlth different spatial directions of preference, at the passage points from the inlet stream and the intermediate streams.
Distribution becomes independent of position, because the gravity acts on the oil drops in the same manner in each position.
The invention is not limited to the above described example; a subdivision with more than two outlet channels is possible, and a substantially larger number of intermediate streams can be used than has been described.
Movable parts are unnecessary. A further advantage in this system is that the ratio between the carrier and the lubricant remains constant. Moreover, the invention is ~, ,.

dm~ 4 -' ,' independent of the viscosit~ of the lubricant. It can be used throughout the wide span from the thinnest to the highly viscous lubricants.
Further, the lubricant, for example, the oil remains ll.quLd, when sprayed onto the bearings. There is thus no oil mist and the process is therefore envlronmentally clean. More-over, the ratio of carrier-lubricant can be adjusted according to the necessities at the central lubricating station. In comparison with the mist oil system, higher transportation velocities, can be used which result in smaller cross-sections of conduits~ As compared with distribution systems including movable parts, the procedure according to the invention operates without wear.
Another characteristic of the invention is provision that the outlet channels have different cross-sections. Still another feature of the invention is that the openings of the lntermediate channels in the inlet channel are uniformly distributed in a radial manner about an imaginary middle axis of the channel, ard that adjacent intermediate channels are connected to different outlets. The fact that the outflow ducts may be provided with throttle adjustments may be regarded as a further distinguishing characteristic of the invention. By means of these throttle adjustments, various different arrangements may be made for the distribution of flow. If, for example, the throttle is in the form of a diaphragm and the diaphragm openings are of equal siæe, the flow is divided equally. However, if the openlngs are of different sizes, the proportional division of the flow varies directly as the ratios of the cross-sectional areas of the openings to one another.

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~52904 It may be regarded as a further distinguishing characteristic of the invention that the inflow duct has internal denticulation, ~he intermediate ducts being formed by the insertion into the inf]ow duct of toothed wheels with a number of teeth different from that of the internal denticulation. The gaps thus formed and distributed around the entire circumference of the denticulate area create the intermediate ducts, which then are linked in groups with the outflow ducts.
In summary of the above, therefore, the present-invention may be broadly described as providing a distribution system for conducting a mixture of oil droplets and air to surfaces to be lubricated, comprising a main inward flow duct connected to a source of oil droplets dispersed in air, and at least one distributor unit connected to the inlet duct;
the distributor unit including a baffle means containing at least two alternately and symmetrically spaced groups of conduits connectlng with the inlet duct; each groups of conduits leading to a separate outlet channel.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic description of a number of distributors connected together.
Fig. 2 is a large-scale cross section of a distributor corresponding to Iine II-II in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional drawing corresponding to line III-III in Fig. 2.
Specific Examples of Invention Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated therein a distributor system made in accordance with this dm~ - 6 -` '- :.

~ : '~ ,' . . : ': ' ' ' ' ' ~ ~' . . ' . : ' -1~5~904 invention. From a central mechanism (not shown), an air-oil mix in which the oil is held in the form of droplets rather than in a fine mist is introduced in a turbulent air current throuyh duct 1 in the direction of arrow A. Duct 1 has severa]. dis~ributors (2, 3, 4...) attached, to which branch duets 5, 6 and 7 are connected. Further distributors (8, 16, 9, 10, 11) are connected to the branch ducts. From these distributors, the air-oi.l mix, designated as 12, is conveyed to frietion and lubrieation points, which may be roller beds, .
slideways, sliding surfaces, gears, chains or similar mechanisms, and which same are shown schematically on Figure 1. The branch duets leading to frietion points are designated with No. 13, as to those leading from distributor 8; and Nos. 14 and 15, as to those leading from distributor 16.
Distributor 16 is shown sehematieally on an enlarged seale on Figures 2 and 3, and deseribed ln detail below. Duet 5 forms lnternally an inflow ehannel, designated 17, for inflow of oil droplets in a turbulent air eurrent in the direetion of arrow B. Inward f].ow stream duet 17 is elosed off by gear 18.
Around the internal eireumferenee of duet 17, a total of 10 intermediate duets are distributed radially; these are numbered 19-28. Duets 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 lead together into outflow duet 29, through whieh the air-oil mixture is eonveyed to the frietion point in the direetion of arrow C. The duets interspersed between those identified above, namely 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28, lead into a ring-shaped duet numbered 30, whieh subsequently leads into duet 31, from whieh the air-oil mixture exits in the direetion of arrow D. Even in the event that beeause of gravitational foree a majority of the oil droplets dm~

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in inflow B concentrate in the lower part of the inward flow stream duct, the flow is nevertheless divided equally between outward flow streams C and D, since both streams are fed by the same number of intermediate ducts having equivalent positional advantages. A change in the spatial orientation of the distributor does not affect this distribution. Thus, the influence of gravity on distribution in the event of a change in spatial orientation is more effectively precluded as the number of intermediate ducts is increased. Outward flow stream ducts 29 and 31 are provided with throttle adjustments 32 and 33, respectively, which adjustments allow changes to be made in the cross-sectional area of the outflow ducts.
This makes possible a wide range of variations in the distribution arrangement. If, for example, a throttle opening has a radius of 0.1 mm, the equivalent cross-sectional area is 0.0314 mm2.
If the throttle opening ln another outward flow stream channel measures 0.2 mm, the equivalent cross-sectional area is 0.1256 mm2 or 4 tlmes the cross-sectional area of the other channel (assuming that, unlike those shown on the drawings, the cross-sectional areas of the outflow ducts are of equal size). An aperture radius of 1 mm gives 100 times the cross-sectional area of a radius of 0.1 mm.
Naturally, it is also possible to use the carrier medium simultaneously as a working medium.

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Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A distribution system for conducting a mixture of oil droplets and air to surfaces to be lubricated, comprising a main inward flow duct (1) connected to a source of oil droplets dispersed in air, and at least one distributor unit (2) connected to said inlet duct; said distributor unit including a baffle means containing at least two alternately and symmetrically spaced groups of conduits connecting with said inlet duct; each said groups of conduits leading to a separate outlet channel.
2. The distributor unit of Claim 1 wherein said groups of conduits are radially arranged transversely across said in-let duct.
3. The distributor unit of Claim 1 wherein means are provided for reducing the effective cross-section of the outlet ducts.
4. The distributor unit of Claim 2 wherein one outlet duct is aligned with said inlet duct and one outlet duct is perpendicular to said inlet duct.
5. The distributor system of Claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of distributor units along the inlet duct and each distributor unit has a transverse outlet duct, with the result that the air-oil mixture flows through the main duct and also through the perpendicular ducts.
6. The distribution system of Claim 5 wherein at least one transverse outlet duct is the inlet duct for another distri-butor unit.
CA000366797A 1980-12-15 1980-12-15 Lubricating system Expired CA1152904A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000366797A CA1152904A (en) 1980-12-15 1980-12-15 Lubricating system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000366797A CA1152904A (en) 1980-12-15 1980-12-15 Lubricating system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1152904A true CA1152904A (en) 1983-08-30

Family

ID=4118700

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000366797A Expired CA1152904A (en) 1980-12-15 1980-12-15 Lubricating system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1152904A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108506706A (en) * 2018-05-24 2018-09-07 宣化钢铁集团有限责任公司 A kind of adjustable multichannel oil-gas mixer of oil mass tolerance

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108506706A (en) * 2018-05-24 2018-09-07 宣化钢铁集团有限责任公司 A kind of adjustable multichannel oil-gas mixer of oil mass tolerance
CN108506706B (en) * 2018-05-24 2024-03-22 宣化钢铁集团有限责任公司 Multi-path oil-gas mixer with adjustable oil quantity and gas quantity

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