DE202023104377U1 - Device for pumping lubricants - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for pumping a lubricant, comprising a housing (5) which accommodates a reservoir (2) of the lubricant, so that the lubricant is in communication with an inlet of at least one pump (3), the pump (3) of the housing (5), a control unit (100) which controls the pump (3), and at least one outlet (6) of the pressurized lubricant, which is connected via a pressure line (8) to an outlet (3A) of the pump is connected, characterized in that the control unit (100) is connected to a pressure sensor (7) which is connected to the pressure line (8) in order to measure the value of the pressure of the lubricant within the line, the pressure line (8). Has branch line (9) which leads into the container and is interrupted by a valve element (11), the valve element (11) between a closed position in which it closes the branch line and isolates it from the pressure line (8), and one open position in which it connects the pressure line (8) and the branch line (9), the valve element (11) being connected to a movable part (15A) of an actuator (15) controlled by the control unit (100). is.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lubricant pumping device.

In particular, it is a device for pumping a lubricant such as oil or grease.

STATE OF THE ART

The known lubricant pumping devices, which contain a storage reservoir, are connected to a lubricant distribution network.

The distribution network is usually a pipeline that distributes a specific volumetric amount of lubricant to each point where lubrication is required through several automatic valves (or metering valves) (one for each metering valve).

Automatic valves provide filling and dispensing cylinders that are essentially controlled by the pressure of the lubricant in the network, which is cyclical.

Basically, the pump device cyclically increases the line pressure (by driving the pump) up to a threshold pressure (e.g. 20 bar, which is detected by a pressure switch).

In this state, the automatic valves have completed their dispensing cycle.

The pump runs for a short, preset time (e.g. 5-10 seconds) after reaching pressure, and after this preset time the pump stops running.

A drawer valve (controlled by the delivery pressure on the pump side) moves and thus relieves the line pressure to lower values (e.g. 1 bar).

To prevent the system from breaking down during short-term operation of the pump after the threshold pressure is reached, there is a safety valve, set to a value slightly above the threshold pressure, which returns the lubricant to the reservoir.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved lubricant pumping device compared to the known technology.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified pumping device.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a lubricant pumping device that can be used to diagnose correct delivery through the lubricant distribution network to which it may be connected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pumping device which makes it possible to check the integrity of a lubricant distribution network.

These and other purposes are achieved by a lubricant pumping device which conforms to the technical teachings of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• 1 ist ein schematischer Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung;
• 2 ist eine schematische Frontalansicht und ein Teilschnitt der Vorrichtung in 1;
• 3 ist eine weitere Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung in 1, schematisch und teilweise geschnitten;
• 4 ist eine Vergrößerung des in 3 eingekreisten Teils;
• 5 zeigt eine mögliche Variante des vergrößerten Details in 4; und
• 6 ist eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung in 1 in Verbindung mit einem ebenfalls schematisch dargestellten Schmiernetz.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the device, which is shown by way of example and therefore in a non-restrictive manner in the accompanying figures

• 1 is a schematic cross section through a device according to the invention;
• 2 is a schematic front view and a partial section of the device in 1 ;
• 3 is another side view of the device in 1 , schematic and partially sectioned;
• 4 is an enlargement of the in 3 circled part;
• 5 shows a possible variant of the enlarged detail in 4 ; and
• 6 is a schematic representation of the device in 1 in conjunction with a lubrication network, also shown schematically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A lubricant pumping device is shown with reference numeral 1.

Lubricant pumping device (1), which comprises a housing (5) which directly or indirectly carries a reservoir (2) which receives the lubricant, so that the lubricant is connected to a suction of at least one pump (3) or a pump element, wherein the pump (3) is carried directly or indirectly by the housing (5).

The pump 3 is preferably an electric pump, normally driven by a gearbox to ensure a continuous flow. The systems generally operate at a pressure of 10-80 bar, so the pump 3 can deliver this pressure.

The device also comprises a control unit 100, which controls the pump 3, and at least one outlet 6 for the pressurized lubricant, which is connected to an outlet 3A of the pump 3 via a pressure line 8.

Preferably, the control unit 100 is integrated directly into the device, which in turn is supported by the frame. The control unit can preferably be programmed via a touchscreen integrated into the device. However, it is of course also possible for the control unit 100 to be external (i.e. remote) to the device 1.

According to the invention, the control unit 100 is connected to a pressure sensor 7 which is connected to the pressure line 8 in order to read the (absolute or relative) pressure value of the lubricant in the line.

The pressure sensor 7 can be, for example, a strain gauge, a piezoelectric sensor, etc.

The pressure sensor 7 is preferably integrated directly into the device 1.

In addition, the pressure line 8 contains a branch line 9, which opens into the reservoir 2 and is interrupted by a valve element 11.

A check valve 80 can be provided between the pump outlet 3A and the branch line 9.

The branch line 9 may also contain an additional outlet 6B which leads directly into the reservoir 2.

The valve element 11 is movable between a closed position in which it closes the branch line by separating it from the pressure line 8 and an open position in which it connects the pressure line 8 to the branch line 9.

The valve element 11 is preferably a small ball, e.g. B. made of metal, which is designed to seal on a special seat 11A.

The valve element 11 is connected to a movable part 15A of an actuator 15 which is controlled by the control unit 100.

As in 4 As can be seen, the valve element 11 can be connected to the movable part 15A of the actuator 15 via an elastic element 12, which loads the valve element 11.

In a possible embodiment, the valve element can be attached directly to the movable part 15A of the actuator 15.

In particular, the elastic element 12 can be additionally loaded by a slider 14, the axial position of which is determined by the movable part 15A.

Out of 4 It appears that the movable part 15A can be the (movable, ie rotating, axially displacing) spindle of a geared motor 15 or generally of an actuator (also only displacing).

Due to the (axial) movement of the movable part 15A and thus of the slide 14, the elastic element 12 can advantageously be loaded with a desired force.

Advantageously, the slide 14 is guided in its movement in a special groove (or seat) of a bushing 14A screwed into the frame 5. The slider 14 can slide firmly in the groove of the bushing 14A, advantageously via an O-ring.

The slide 14 can also have a centering projection of the elastic element 12.

During normal operation of the pump, the force acting on the elastic element (which may be a spring) may be such that the valve element 11 can only open when a maximum nominal pressure (or threshold pressure) relating to the lubricant distribution network 20 is exceeded that the device 1 is connected, e.g. B. 20 bar in the pressure line 8.

The pressure threshold is highly dependent on the configuration of the lubricant distribution network 20 and essentially depends on the length, the pressure drops caused by the network 20, the number of automatic valves 40 present in the network, etc. This value is normally determined empirically after the network has been configured in the area of an initial optimization of the pumping device/network system.

An example of a lubricant distribution network 20 is shown in FIG 5 shown. The outlet 6 is connected to a line T (e.g. a single line) which converges in a manifold T1. Several lines branch off from the distributor, each of which can be assigned to a user.

At the end of each pipeline, e.g. B. near the consumer U, automatic metering valves 40 can be installed, similar in function to the v33 valves marketed by the current applicant Dropsa SpA.

As already mentioned, valves use pressure fluctuations in the supply line (from the maximum nominal pressure to a lower pressure, e.g. 1 bar) to deliver a predetermined amount of lubricant in a known manner. They are known and will therefore not be described further.

The exact position of the movable part 15A (and hence the slide 14), useful for obtaining a threshold pressure value at which the opening of the valve element 11 occurs, can be determined using a position detector 30, e.g. B. an encoder assigned to the control unit, which can read the position of a magnetic element 30A assigned to the movable part 15A.

The actual pressure value in the supply line (during the setup tests) can be detected via the pressure sensor 7, so that the determination of the threshold pressure is essentially automatic and is carried out autonomously by the control unit 100.

It is also possible to communicate a desired pressure threshold value (e.g. 20 bar) to the control unit 100, and it is precisely because of the pressure sensor 7 that the control unit 100 is able to control the actuator 15 so that the valve element opens at exactly the desired pressure.

4 shows that the detector 30 detects the exact position of the movable part 15A, but it is possible that the detector is configured to directly detect the position of the slider 14.

The control unit 100, which controls the movement of the geared motor 15 (or another actuator), can thus increase or decrease the opening pressure of the valve element 11 at will and thus close and open the valve element 11 also depending on the pressure of the pressure line 8.

By relieving the load on the elastic element (i.e. moving the slide 14 upwards in 4 ), the control unit 100 can open the valve element 11 in order to release even a very low pressure (eg 1 bar) from the pressure line 8 and thus switch from the threshold pressure to the minimum system pressure, which makes sense in order to avoid emptying the system.

In this system, the control unit 100 can be configured to check the integrity of the network 20 by keeping the valve element 11 closed when the network is under pressure and the pump is off (so that the pressure threshold or a value close to it of which is maintained), and by reading the pressure value in the pressure line 8 via the pressure sensor 7 for a predetermined period of time, for example 5-20 seconds, depending on the type of lubricant pumped.

If the pressure sensor 7 detects a drop in pressure, it is possible that there is a leak (or other defect) in the network 20, in which case the control unit may trigger an alarm.

If, on the other hand, the pressure sensor detects a substantially constant pressure during the entire detection time, this means that the network 20 is intact.

A simplified version of the device can provide a simple magnetic drive 15' instead of the geared motor 15.

In this case, the process is quite similar to that described above.

First, the position of the movable part of the actuator 15A is adjusted (e.g. manually) when the magnetic drive is at rest, so that the elastic element 12 is loaded with a force required to move the valve element 11 only above the threshold pressure (or at the threshold pressure).

When the control unit 100 energizes the magnet, the actuator generates a negative force on the elastic element (thereby unloading the spring) to reduce the trigger pressure of the valve element 11 (e.g. to 1 bar) and the subsequent opening of the valve make possible.

Of course, the magnetic drive can also work in reverse, i.e. that is, when energized, it closes the valve element 11 (so that it opens when the pressure exceeds the threshold), and when not energized, it opens the valve element to prevent any pressure above a preset or adjustable minimum value ( e.g. 1 bar).

As seen, the invention therefore also relates to a method for checking the integrity of a lubricant distribution network 20 connected to a device described herein, comprising the steps of pressurizing the pressure line 8 and closing (or closed) the valve element 11 to hold) and then read the sensor 7 to determine whether a pressure drop occurs in the pressure line 8 or whether the pressure remains constant for a predetermined period of time.

If a drop in pressure occurs, an alarm can be triggered.

The pressure sensor 7 is very useful in the network integrity method described.

However, such a sensor can also be used to constantly monitor the pressure in the pressure line 8 in order to signal any malfunctions in the device itself, e.g. B. a malfunction in the pump or the presence of air bubbles in the lubricant circuit, etc.

With the help of the sensor 7, the pressure ramp (or curve) can then be checked up or down (by the control unit 100) to determine whether there are deviations from standard ramps, e.g. B. were achieved under new or definitely error-free conditions.

Such differences could indicate defects in the system, e.g. B. due to a leaky pipe or valve or a defect in pump 3 (which cannot increase the pressure as desired).

The defect could also be due to a lack of lubricant at the pump inlet (empty reservoir or air bubbles).

To complete the description, it is noted that the control unit 100 may provide a data transmission system 101 connected to an IOT system to remotely control all operating parameters of the device, including activating the network integrity verification method or generating alarms or others Data related to the operation of the device, such as: B. the above-mentioned ramps detected by sensor 7.

The device described also allows another operating mode.

In this mode of operation, the pump 3 can be controlled intermittently by the control unit (based on the reading of the sensor 7) to maintain a line pressure close to (slightly below) the threshold pressure.

Different forms of implementing innovations have been described, but others can also be designed using the same innovative concept.

Reference symbol list

1

Lubricant pumping device

2

reservoir

3

Pump or pump element

3A

outlet

5

Housing

6

outlet

6B

outlet

7

Pressure sensor

8th

pressure line

9

branch line

11

Valve element

11A

Seat

12

Elastic element

14

Slider

14A

Rifle

15

actuator

15

Gear motor

15'

Magnetic drive

15A

moving part of the actuator

20

Lubricant distribution network

30

Position detector

30A

magnetic element

40

automatic valves

80

check valve

100

Control unit

101

Data transmission system

T

Line

T1

Distributor

U

consumer

Claims (6)

Device (1) for pumping a lubricant, comprising a housing (5) which accommodates a reservoir (2) of the lubricant so that the lubricant is in communication with an inlet of at least one pump (3), the pump (3) of the housing (5), a control unit (100) which controls the pump (3), and at least one outlet (6) of the pressurized lubricant, which is connected via a pressure line (8) to an outlet (3A) of the pump is connected, characterized in that the control unit (100) is connected to a pressure sensor (7), which is connected to the pressure line (8) in order to measure the value of the pressure of the lubricant within the line, the pressure line (8) has a branch line (9) which leads into the container and is interrupted by a valve element (11), wherein the valve element (11) moves between a closed position in which it closes the branch line and isolates it from the pressure line (8), and an open position in which it brings the pressure line (8) and the branch line (9) into communication, is movable, wherein the valve element (11) is connected to a movable part (15A) of an actuator (15) controlled by the control unit (100). Device according to Claim 1 , in which the valve element (11) is connected to the movable part (15A) of the actuator (15) via an elastic element (12) which loads the valve element (11). Device according to the preceding claim, in which the elastic element (12) is additionally loaded by a slide (14), the axial position of which is determined by the movable part (15A). Device according to Claim 1 , wherein the control unit (100) is coupled to a position sensor of the movable part (15A) and / or the slide (14). Device according to Claim 1 , wherein the movable part (15A) is the spindle of a geared motor (15) or the spindle of a magnetic drive (15 '). Device according to Claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet (6) is connected to a lubricant distribution network (20) and the control unit (100) is designed to check the integrity of the network (20) by closing the valve element (11) when the pressure line ( 8) is under pressure and reads the pressure value in the pressure line (8) via the pressure sensor (7) for a predetermined period of time.

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