DE3321732C2 - - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a lubrication device, in particular dere for machine elements such as bearings, gears or the like, according the preamble of claim 1. Such a lubricating device is known from DE-GM 79 16 118. Many machine elements lubrication and this applies in particular to bearings,  the meshing of gears and similar machine elements, where surfaces slide or roll relative to each other the.

In the normal case, the lubrication of such machine elements is un problematic and safe to perform. However, it happens that for whatever reason the lubrication suddenly stops sufficient or even fails. The friction quickly leads to one Temperature increase, which can increase so much that closing Lich eating of the rolling or sliding parts le des or the machine elements occurs. This ultimately leads destruction of the machine element and the latter can Ur thing for at least the failure of an entire machine or system be. There are control devices for monitoring the condition, for example, a bearing, usually the lubrication and their Control are combined. Such facilities are, however relatively complex and therefore only for expensive and / or larger orders were in use. On the other hand, there are definitely users cases where, despite the registration of a lubricant if intervention in the sense of relubrication or replacement lubrication is at least not possible at all times. this applies for example in combat helicopters and the like.  

A certain amount of relubrication if normal lubrication fails To ensure, various options are known and ge common. Essentially, these are so-called Dry lubrication films, in particular with solid lubricants Layered grid structure or around lubricating varnishes based on this Solid lubricants, which on the critical bearing parts or Parts of machine elements that require lubrication are applied will. The application of soft metal films is also known Silver, gold or lead, possibly in combination with solid lubricants with a layered grid structure. With all of these, Solid lubricants should act as a transfer film me take over the emergency lubrication. The latter is certainly true possible, but the effectiveness is only for a relatively short time Guaranteed time, which in most cases is not enough. So it finally comes to a failure of the no longer ord properly lubricated machine element.

The generic lubrication known from DE-GM 79 16 118 direction causes relubrication by means of a in a pre solid lubricant contained in the container Excess temperature in the bearing becomes liquid and in the bearing run train entry. It is proposed that the reservoir for the solid lubricant with a porous lid for example seal with a filter metal sheet. One hot Running bearings can get the liquefied oil through the filter metal leaked leaflets.

The object of the invention is a generic Lubrication device, in particular for machine elements such as bearings, Gears and the like. To develop so that the failure of the Nor paint lubrication an emergency lubrication over a longer period of time than is guaranteed so far.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes that the lubricating device according to the preamble of claim 1 ent trained according to the characterizing part of this claim is. The shell or the casing, its shape and size itself after the machine element (s) to be lubricated in an emergency is aligned on or near the machine element attached that the emerging lubricant to the the area to be lubricated or areas that are as loss-free as possible can. The latter is particularly guaranteed if the lubrication device near the machine element, for example as a camp to be lubricated in an emergency. The Lubricant can normally, i. H. if Nor works paint lubrication, do not come out of the lubrication device. If however, the predetermined temperature is reached at which the Lubricant from the then melting or tearing shell od. Like. Can emerge, and the slightly, for example 20 ° C. up to 40 ° C above the operating temperature of the machine element is located, it arrives at the one or those to be lubricated in an emergency Place the machine element (s). The wall or the wall part of the housing or the like, which or at least in part  the specified temperature melts or cracks, that is Use and installation purpose dimensioned and shaped according to.

The thermally conductive connection between the lubrication device and the machine element can be direct or indirect. Essential is that the cracking at a given temperature or melting wall or the wall part thermally conductive with the Ma machine element is connected. If the machine element at Man gel lubrication or no lubrication at all visibly unevenly heated, so the heat-conductive Ver bond between the most warming machine soul ment part and the wall part in question the lubricating device tion exist. If the entire housing or the like direction is good heat conductive, so the heat conductive connector of course to the permeable wall part also indirectly via the impermeable wall part of the sleeve le or the housing.

The housing or the like. The lubrication device has according to a preferred embodiment of the invention essentially the Ge form a hollow ring, half ring, cuboid, prism, plug  od. Like., With the side facing the lubrication point from egg melting or tearing at the specified temperature the material exists. Which form is chosen in detail depends, as has already been said, mainly on the form of the Machine element on the one hand and the possibility of installing the Lubricator on the other hand. For bearings, especially for axial and / or radial roller bearings, the housing becomes more appropriate chosen ring-shaped or semi-ring-shaped. This shape can also be suitable for gears or gears. The remaining be written housing shapes are suitable for attachment or Installation in fixed or moving components in the immediate Neighborhood of the machine element to be lubricated in an emergency or possibly a short distance from it, if this does not result in any Lubrication disadvantage is associated.

Another variant of the invention provides that in a front direction with an annular or semi-annular housing or the like. at least part of the ring or half ring inner peripheral surface from the melting at the given temperature or on tearing material is formed. This lubrication device is suitable for example, for use in conjunction with an Ra dial roller bearing with circumferential inner ring.  

If instead of the inner peripheral surface, the outer peripheral surface is cracked can become or melt, so again is the use in Connection with a radial sliding bearing advantageous, but at around running outer ring. For lubrication, for example Gear, but is also suitable for bearing lubrication Variant in which the ring or half-ring surface, the at Overtemperature the lubricant escapes from the device possible, the ring or half ring surface arranged transversely to the axis che is. Instead of a larger lubrication device in ring or Half-ring shape can also have several smaller lubrication devices in cuboid or stopper form or the like. Use, which are given if attaching along a ring or half ring line. this has the advantage that you have the predetermined temperature at which the Lubricant leaks from these devices, if necessary can choose differently, what in special cases, especially in Connection with different lubricants, be appropriate can. At this point it should be noted that under "Lubrication substance "understood all conventional flowable lubricants be irrelevant whether it is a lubricant mixture and whether the lubricant still contains additives, such as they are also used for normal lubrication tasks.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the housing se or the like. About a heat-conducting element and in particular one Lubrication channel or the like with the lubrication point of the machine is connected. In this case, the heat goes off  which is inadmissible if there is insufficient or no lubrication sig warming machine element not directly on the housing or at least the housing part that becomes permeable above, son indirectly via a heat-conducting element. The latter is the on the one hand with the machine element and on the other hand with the Lubrication device, but especially the becoming permeable Wall of the lubrication device mechanically and therefore thermally conductive connected. This heat-conducting element can be for example around a copper wire, a copper band or another band or wire-shaped element of good thermal conductivity han deln. The lubrication device must be opposite the machine or machines nenelemente be arranged so that when the pre Lubricant emerging temperature immediately and possible can reach the lubrication point with as little loss as possible. Given if there is a corresponding lubrication channel or another drain to provide for the lubricant.

A further development of the invention provides that the housing or the like. is divided into a front and rear housing part, the two housing parts through a flow-inhibiting wall be in flow communication. The front wall featured in the given temperature becomes cracked or melts, can in a short time relatively much lubricant at the endangered friction point submit. Then the Ge flows in the back lubricant located in the housing due to the flow-inhibiting Wall after and then continues the emergency lubrication, in  described cases with reduced per unit of time, but Longer lasting lubrication. This comes to importance Embodiment of course also when the Overtemperature melting or tearing wall of the housing or the case does not completely disappear, but single becomes porous, but its permeability should always be stronger be more than that of the flow-inhibiting wall. For the latter comes for example, a nonwoven material or the like. Or a wall with a Row of capillary columns in question. If the inside of the case or the like of the lubrication device with at least one fill level and / or pressure gauge is connected, so you can very in front partially display optically and / or acoustically if this Emergency lubrication device has started to operate. You can either a pressure inside the device and / or the fill stood, but also the temperature of the lubricant for the display exploit. In the former case, the display is based on a reducing or completely omitted pressure and at the latter mentioned variant made due to increasing temperature. In In this context, it is particularly useful if the Lubricant pressure is greater than the external pressure. This applies above all len things when the lubricant pressure increases with increasing storage temperature temperature exceeds the external pressure and thus to open the lubrication container and for faster distribution of the lubricant fes leads to the camp. Basically, this presupposes that the ge Entire wall of the housing or the like. The lubrication device, so also the cracked or melting wall part, this Pressure has grown.  

If there is an inert in addition to the lubricant in the housing organic solvent, especially a fluorinated chlorine hydrocarbon is located on physical Ways of generating pressure in the housing. The pressurized Lubricant passes through of course much faster the melted or cracked spots of the permeable through a wall as a non-pressurized lubricant. Preferred lubricants are alloyed and unalloyed oils on Ba sis of mineral oils as well as synthetic liquids, possibly with solid lubricant parts (suspensions) or greases Base of the above oils thickened with organic consistency agents and possibly provided with solid lubricants.

Another variant of the invention is characterized in that those that crack or melt at the specified temperature zende wall or the wall part of the housing, shell or the like. From egg ner thermoplastic film or a film-like, organic or inorganic compound is formed. You put in one Bearings have a normal operating temperature of 60 ° C to 65 ° C, so you can, for example, from the wall part in question Polyamide 6.6. or manufacture polyethylene. Both of these substances melt at approx. 80 ° C to 90 ° C.

It is particularly useful if the film by Glasfa is reinforced or reinforced with metal mesh or the like. The Ver strengthening ensures especially when there is internal pressure in the  This lubrication device has good dimensional stability. Besides, will ensures that sliding friction or the rolling process disruptive or hindering components of the casing material be held back.

If the melting at the specified temperature or on tearing wall part or the corresponding wall of the housing, the Shell or the like. By a film-like organic or inorganic a further connection is formed the invention that the film-like connection by means of a especially small proportion of binder is reinforced.

The invention is illustrated below with the aid of several embodiments games explained. The drawing shows this example games. Here represent:

Figs. 1 to 4, four different embodiments of the lubricating apparatus, schematically,

Fig. 5 to 7 also schematically, three installation examples of the lubricating apparatus.

One version of the lubrication device consists of a shell or a housing 1 , which is made of dimensionally stable material, for example plastic or metal, and is hollow. In the cavity there is a lubricant 2 , which is matched at least in terms of its properties to the machine element to be lubricated in an emergency. In addition to the mentioned solid part of the housing, the lubrication device also has a shell or housing seteil, which consists of a material 3 melting or tearing at a predetermined temperature. When this temperature is reached, this material 3 melts or becomes cracked or at least partially dissolves under the influence of heat. This gives the lubricant 2 the possibility of exiting the housing through the passage opening or openings and lubricating the associated machine element (s). It follows that this lubrication device the machine element, for example a roller bearing, must always be assigned so that the lubricant due to the natural slope and / or other forces acting on it in the shortest possible way and as completely as possible to the machine nenelement. In the case of an axial bearing, the lubrication device is therefore located above the latter. In the case of radial bearings, a lateral arrangement is recommended, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but is not absolutely necessary, as the embodiment according to FIG. 7 shows. In the case of gear lubrication, an attachment, for example in the manner of FIGS. 5 and 6, is recommended, while assembly in analogy to FIG. 7 is technically more difficult. Here, however, the use of a lubricating device in the form of a stopper also offers itself, for example in the type or in a similar embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

According to Figs. 1 to 3, the housing has substantially the shape of a hollow ring, while Fig. 4 shows a cuboid or plug-like lubricating device. It is expressly noted that the representation scale of FIGS. 1 to 3 on the one hand and FIG. 4 on the other hand is not necessarily the same. In addition, the size of the lubrication device in the built-in play, especially in Fig. 7, with respect to the Maschinenele element or bearing not necessarily to scale, rather, especially in Fig. 7, a much larger lubrication device comes into consideration than it shows the drawing. The cross-section of the hollow rings according to FIGS. 1 to 3 does not necessarily have to be quite angular, rather other cross-sectional shapes, for example the circular shape, the semicircular shape and the like, are possible and possibly appropriate. The same applies to Fig. 4, where just if the cylindrical shape, the hemisphere shape, the cone shape, the pyramid shape and the like. Advantageous and expedient shapes can be. In addition, you can provide a half hollow ring instead of a full ring egg, if this is more advantageous for assembly purposes.

The main difference of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is that in the former, the housing wall made of melting or tearing material 3 is a ring side surface perpendicular to the ring axis. In contrast, the melting or tearing wall 3 in FIG. 2 is the inner circumferential surface of the hollow ring and in FIG. 3 the outer circumferential surface of the hollow ring is made of material which melts or tears open at temperature. The latter is, for example, a film made of thermoplastic, possibly with other incorporated substances to increase strength or temperature resistance.

In the exemplary embodiments, the entire surface mentioned is made in each case from material melting or tearing at the predetermined temperature. Of course, this does not necessarily have to be the case, rather it is sufficient if only a part of this area consists of such material. This means that a part, for example the outer ring surface of FIG. 3, can consist of solid material or of the same material as the other three walls of the rectangular cross section. These can be lateral edge strips or the outer ring surface can consist entirely of solid material which has openings distributed around the circumference, the openings then being closed with material melting or cracking at the intended temperature.

From the above it follows that there are basically no limits to the shape of both the entire device and the partial surface of its housing or its shell, and the total surface and the partial surface 3 can be dimensioned and shaped in accordance with the respective needs.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, two lubrication devices, for example of the type according to FIG. 1, are built on both sides of the roller bearing 4 . This results in a doubling of the emergency lubrication materials compared to equipment with only a single lubrication device. In this figure, the shaft 6 and the inner ring 7 of the roller bearing 4 rotate. Accordingly, the outer ring 8 and the two lubrication devices 9 and 10 are fixed.

In contrast, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, the axis 11 is fixed, and this then also applies to the inner rings 12 as well as the two lubricating devices 13 and 14 . Furthermore, in this variant, the outer rings of the roller bearings 4 and 5 and also the sleeve-like or hub-like component 15 surrounding them are umlau fend as symbolized by the arrow 16 .

The lubricating device 14 shows a special embodiment of such lubricating devices, which consists in that the housing 1 of this device is divided by a flow-inhibiting wall 17 into a front housing part 18 and a rear housing part 19 . The terms "front" and "rear" refer to the outflow of the lubricant 2 from this device via the outlet opening, which is formed after the melting or tearing material 3 is torn or melted when the predetermined temperature is reached. It first empties the lubricant contained in the front housing part 18 relatively quickly in order to be able to act quickly the emergency lubrication. Subsequently, the lubricant contained in the rear housing part 19 is emptied, which can only escape after a delay because the flow-inhibiting wall 17 prevents the flow from escaping too quickly. In this way, a time-rela tively long emergency lubrication is guaranteed by this lubrication device, and this generally also leads to a better utilization of the amount of lubricant. The two housing parts 18 and 19 do not necessarily have to be the same size and also do not necessarily contain the same lubricant, although in most cases the same lubricant will be preferred. The Ma material and the formation of the flow-inhibiting wall depends not only on the temperature occurring, but also on the lubricant in the device or in the rear housing part 19 be sensitive. Both together determine the outflow speed when the excessive operating temperature that triggers the emergency lubrication is reached.

In contrast to the other illustrated exemplary embodiments, the lubricating device 20 of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 7 is not mounted in the immediate vicinity of the machine element, but rather somewhat further away. As a result, care must be taken to ensure that the lubricant can flow to the machine element or roller bearing 4 in the shortest possible way via a corresponding flow channel 21 , 22 . If it is not guaranteed with certainty that the temperature of the rolling bearing 4 up to the lubricating device 20 increases when there is insufficient lubrication, at least within a sufficiently short period of time, it is recommended that a direct heat-conducting connection between the machine element or rolling bearing 4 and of the lubricating device 20 , for example in the form of a connector element 23 which is preferably made of copper. In order to avoid heat loss during transmission, this connecting element can either run in a high channel and / or it can be heat-insulated. The advantage of this configuration is that, for example, due to a larger diameter, a larger lubrication device can be accommodated and thus more lubricant is available in an emergency. This embodiment too, like all the others, can have a front and rear housing part in a manner not shown.

Furthermore, it is possible, also in a not shown Way, the emptying or partial emptying of the lubrication device in a suitable acoustic and / or visual manner for display bring to.

Claims (15)

1. Lubrication device, in particular for machine elements such as bearings, gears and the like., Which has a storage container for an additional lubricant, characterized in that the storage container ( 1 ) for the additional lubricant ( 2 ) consists of a shell or a housing which or . which is in a thermally conductive connection with the machine element and is at least partially formed from a material which melts or tears open at a given temperature and thus the lubricant to the bearing of the machine element ( 4 , 5 ) directly or via a lubrication channel ( 21 , 22 ) or the like. The predetermined temperature at which a part ( 3 ) of the casing or casing wall melts or tears open slightly, for example 10 ° C to 40 ° C above the operating temperature of the machine element ( 4 , 5 ) lies. 2. Lubricating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) or the sheath essentially has the shape of a hollow ring, half ring, cuboid, prism, stopper or the like. 3. Lubricating device according to claim 2 with an annular or semi-ring-shaped housing or a shell, characterized in that at least part of the ring or semi-ring inner peripheral surface is formed from the material which becomes permeable at the predetermined temperature ( 3 ). 4. Lubricating device according to claim 2 with an annular or semi-ring-shaped housing or a shell, characterized in that at least part of the ring or semi-ring outer circumferential surface is formed from the material which becomes permeable at the predetermined temperature ( 3 ). 5. Lubricating device according to claim 2 with an annular or semi-ring-shaped housing or a shell, characterized in that at least part of the transverse to the axis arranged ring or half-ring side surface is formed from the material which becomes permeable at the predetermined temperature ( 3 ) . 6. Lubricating device according to claim 2 with a cuboid, prism-shaped or stopper-shaped housing or casing, characterized in that at least part of the cuboid surface or the like. From the material which becomes permeable at the predetermined temperature ( 3 ) is formed. 7. Lubricating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) is essentially formed by an edge-open Ausneh tion of the machine element ( 4 , 5 ), the opening of which by means of a plug, a film or the like given temperature permeable material ( 3 ) is closed ver. 8. Lubrication device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) or the casing via a heat-conducting element ( 23 ) and preferably a lubrication channel ( 21 , 22 ) or the like. With the lubrication point of the or Machine elements ( 4 , 5 ) is connected. 9. Lubricating device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) or the like. Is divided into a front ( 18 ) and rear housing part ( 19 ), the two housing parts being connected to one another by a flow-inhibiting wall ( 17 ) be in flow communication. 10. Lubricating device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior of the housing ( 1 ) or the like. At least with a fill level and / or pressure measuring device is advised. 11. Lubrication device according to at least one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the lubricant pressure is large is greater than the external pressure.   12. Lubricating device according to claim 11, characterized in that in the housing ( 1 ) in addition to the lubricant ( 2 ) is an inert, organic solvent, in particular a fluorinated chlorinated hydrocarbon. 13. Lubricating device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall ( 3 ) or the wall part of the housing ( 1 ) or the shell made of a thermoplastic film or a film-like, organic and / or inorganic permeable at the predetermined temperature Material is formed. 14. Lubricating device according to claim 13, characterized net that the film by glass fibers, metal mesh or the like. ar is lubricated or reinforced. 15. Lubricating device according to claim 13, characterized net that the film-like connection by means of a binder is partly reinforced.