JP2015183774A - grease supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grease supply device facilitating feeding of grease into a grease tank and capable of restricting against accumulation of old grease within the grease tank.SOLUTION: A grease supply device 10 comprises a grease tank 12 arranged along a vertical direction so as to cause grease 40 to be filled; and a piston 14 arranged in the grease tank 12 in such a way that it may be slid in a vertical direction. A rod 16 extending below the piston 14 is provided with a grease feeding passage 16A for feeding the grease 40 to the upper side of the piston 14 within the grease tank 12. The upper part of the grease tank 12 is provided with a grease discharging port 18 for supplying the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 to the outside.

Description

  The present invention relates to a grease supply device.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a grease supply device in which a slide plate that is slidable in the horizontal direction is provided on a lower surface of a grease tank at a position facing a holder that holds the grease tank. A space for holding a predetermined amount of grease is provided on the upper surface of the slide plate. In this grease supply apparatus, a substantially constant amount of grease can be supplied to the gap by the weight of the grease in the grease tank and the squeegee effect of the holder provided on the upper surface when the slide plate is moved.

JP 2006-221503 A

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, an opening is provided in the upper part of the grease tank, and when the remaining amount of grease in the grease tank decreases, it is considered that the grease is supplied into the grease tank from the opening. . For example, when a user manually replenishes grease into the grease tank from the opening using a spatula, etc., it takes time to replenish the grease, and it is easy for air to enter the grease, resulting in a decrease in discharge performance. There is. Moreover, if new grease is replenished before the old grease in the grease tank is used up, the old grease may stay in the grease tank, and there is room for improvement.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a grease supply device that is capable of easily replenishing grease into the grease tank and suppressing old grease from staying in the grease tank. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, a grease supply device according to the invention described in claim 1 is arranged along the vertical direction and is filled with grease, and slides in the vertical direction in the grease tank. A piston provided in a possible manner, a rod extending on the lower side of the piston, a grease replenishing passage for replenishing the grease on the upper side of the piston in the grease tank, and an upper portion of the grease tank, A grease discharge port for supplying the grease in the grease tank to the outside.

  According to invention of Claim 1, the grease tank with which grease is filled is arrange | positioned along the up-down direction, and the piston is provided in the grease tank so that sliding is possible in the up-down direction. The rod extending to the lower side of the piston is provided with a grease supply path, and grease is supplied to the upper side of the piston from the grease supply path. As a result, the grease is filled on the upper side of the piston in the grease tank, and the piston moves downward in accordance with the amount of grease in the grease tank. Further, a grease discharge port is provided in the upper portion of the grease tank, and the grease in the grease tank is supplied to the outside from the grease discharge port by moving the piston upward.

  In such a configuration, when new grease is supplied to the upper side of the piston in the grease tank from the grease supply path, the piston moves downward and the new grease is supplied to the lower side of the grease filling region. The old grease is pushed up by simple grease. That is, since grease is supplied from the lower side to the grease filling region in the grease tank and grease is supplied to the outside from the grease discharge port at the upper part of the grease tank, it is suppressed that old grease stays in the grease tank. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the grease supply device according to the first aspect, compressed air for moving the piston upward is provided below the sliding range of the piston of the grease tank. An air supply port for supplying the grease tank is provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the air supply port is provided below the sliding range of the piston of the grease tank, and the compressed air is supplied into the grease tank from the air supply port. Thus, the piston moves upward. Due to the upward movement of the piston, the grease in the grease tank is supplied to the outside from the grease discharge port. For this reason, the supply amount of grease from the grease discharge port can be adjusted by the pressure of the compressed air.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the grease supply device according to the first or second aspect, a check valve that opens and closes the grease supply path is provided at a lower portion of the rod.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, a check valve that opens and closes the grease supply path is provided at the lower portion of the rod, and grease is supplied into the grease tank from the grease supply path without causing the grease to flow backward. can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the grease supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the grease supply device is provided at a position facing the rod outside the grease tank, and above the rod. A sensor for detecting the amount of movement to the side, and control means for determining a timing for replenishing the grease into the grease tank based on the amount of movement of the rod to the upper side detected by the sensor.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the sensor is provided at a position facing the rod outside the grease tank, and the amount of movement of the rod upward is detected by the sensor. The remaining amount of grease in the grease tank can be detected from the amount of movement of the rod upward. A control means determines the timing which replenishes grease in a grease tank based on the moving amount | distance to the upper side of a rod. Thereby, according to the residual amount of grease in a grease tank, grease can be replenished smoothly in a grease tank.

  According to the grease supply device according to the present invention, it is easy to replenish the grease into the grease tank and it is possible to suppress the old grease from staying in the grease tank.

It is a front view which shows the grease supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. In the grease supply apparatus shown in FIG. 1, it is sectional drawing which shows the old grease in a grease tank, and the grease newly replenished. It is a front view which shows the grease supply apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the grease supply apparatus of a comparative example. In the grease supply apparatus shown in FIG. 4, it is sectional drawing which shows the old grease in a grease tank, and the grease newly replenished.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that an arrow UP appropriately shown in these drawings indicates the upper side of the apparatus.

[First Embodiment]
The grease supply apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown by the front view by FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the grease supply device shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the grease supply device 10 includes a grease tank (cylinder) 12 that is disposed substantially along the vertical direction and is filled with grease 40 (see FIG. 2), and the grease tank 12. And a piston 14 slidably provided in a substantially vertical direction.

  The grease tank 12 includes a side wall portion (side wall) 12A formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, an upper wall portion 12B that closes an upper end portion in the vertical direction of the side wall portion 12A, and a lower wall that closes a lower end portion in the vertical direction of the side wall portion 12A. 12C. The inside of the grease tank 12 is almost sealed by being surrounded by the side wall portion 12A, the upper wall portion 12B, and the lower wall portion 12C. The grease tank 12 is disposed so that the axial direction of the side wall portion 12A is substantially vertical, and is fixedly supported by a support member (not shown).

  The piston 14 is provided with a rod 16 extending downward in the vertical direction. An opening 12D that is slightly larger than the outer shape of the rod 16 is formed in the lower wall portion 12C of the grease tank 12, and the rod 16 is inserted into the opening 12D so as to be slidable substantially vertically. That is, the rod 16 protrudes downward from the lower wall portion 12 </ b> C of the grease tank 12. A seal member (not shown) is provided around the opening 12D of the lower wall portion 12C to prevent the air in the grease tank 12 from leaking outside in a state where the rod 16 is inserted.

  A grease discharge port 18 through which the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 is discharged (supplied) to the outside is provided at the upper portion of the side wall portion 12A of the grease tank 12. The grease discharge port 18 is connected so that the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 is discharged in the lateral direction. The position of the grease discharge port 18 may be the upper wall portion (upper surface) 12B of the grease tank 12.

  An air supply port 20 that supplies compressed air into the grease tank 12 is provided at a lower portion of the side wall portion 12 </ b> A of the grease tank 12. The air supply port 20 is provided below the sliding range in the vertical direction of the piston 14 in the grease tank 12. Although not shown, the air supply port 20 is connected to compressed air supply means for supplying compressed air. The position of the air supply port 20 may be the lower wall portion (bottom surface) 12C of the grease tank 12.

  The rod 16 is provided with a grease replenishment path 16A composed of a through hole formed along the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the rod 16 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inside of the rod 16 is a grease supply path 16A. The grease supply path 16 </ b> A is formed so as to penetrate the piston 14 (plate-like body 14 </ b> A) on the upper side of the rod 16. In the grease supply device 10, the grease 40 is supplied to the upper side of the piston 14 in the grease tank 12 through the grease supply path 16 </ b> A of the rod 16. In the present embodiment, the upper side of the piston 14 in the grease tank 12 is a grease filling chamber 13.

  A check valve 22 that opens and closes the grease supply path 16A is provided at the lower portion of the rod 16. A hose 24 is connected to the lower side of the rod 16 via a check valve 22. Although not shown, the hose 24 is provided with grease replenishing means such as a pump for replenishing the grease 40 and a grease storage container. As a result, grease 40 is replenished from the hose 24 to the rod 16 via the check valve 22, and further, the grease 40 is replenished from the rod 16 to the upper side of the piston 14 (grease filling chamber 13) in the grease tank 12. It has become. At that time, the check valve 22 replenishes the grease 40 from the hose 24 to the rod 16 side, but prevents the grease 40 in the rod 16 from flowing back to the hose 24 below the check valve 22. It has become.

  The piston 14 includes a substantially circular plate-like body 14A disposed in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the grease tank 12, and a seal member 14B attached to the peripheral surface of the plate-like body 14A. In the present embodiment, the seal member 14B is composed of a rubber O-ring. The piston 14 slides in the vertical direction with the seal member 14 </ b> B in contact with the inner surface of the side wall portion 12 </ b> A of the grease tank 12. When compressed air is supplied from the air supply port 20 of the grease tank 12, the piston 14 moves upward, and the grease 40 is discharged (supplied) from the grease discharge port 18. At that time, the grease supply amount can be adjusted by the pressure of the compressed air.

  The grease 40 is applied to, for example, a bearing that supports a rotating body such as a drive shaft of a motor, so that the rotating body rotates smoothly.

  Next, the operation and effect of the grease supply device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the grease supply device 10, the grease tank 12 filled with the grease 40 is disposed substantially in the vertical direction, and the piston 14 is substantially vertically moved in the grease tank 12. It is slidable in the direction. The rod 16 extending to the lower side of the piston 14 is provided with a grease supply path 16 </ b> A for supplying the grease 40 on the upper side of the piston 14 in the grease tank 12. In such a grease supply device 10, the grease 40 is supplied from the hose 24 to the grease supply path 16 </ b> A of the rod 16 through the check valve 22 by a grease supply means (not shown), so that the grease 40 is supplied from the grease supply path 16 </ b> A. Is replenished to the upper side of the piston 14. As a result, the grease 40 is filled into the upper side (the grease filling chamber 13) of the piston 14 in the grease tank 12. At that time, the piston 14 moves downward according to the amount of grease in the grease tank 12, and the rod 16 moves downward as the piston 14 moves.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the grease filling chamber 13 in the grease tank 12 is filled with old grease 40A, new grease 40B is placed on the upper side of the piston 14 in the grease tank 12 from the grease supply path 16A. To be replenished. At that time, the new grease 40B is supplied to the lower side of the grease filling chamber 13 by the dead weight of the grease 40B, and the old grease 40A is pushed up by the new grease 40B.

  When supplying grease from the grease supply device 10, compressed air is supplied from an air supply port 20 provided below the sliding range of the piston 14 of the side wall portion 12 </ b> A of the grease tank 12. As a result, the piston 14 moves upward, and the old grease 40A is discharged (supplied) from the grease discharge port 18 provided in the upper portion of the side wall portion 12A of the grease tank 12.

  In such a grease supply device 10, new grease 40B is supplied to the grease filling chamber 13 in the grease tank 12 through the grease supply path 16A from the lower side to the upper side of the piston 14, thereby the new grease 40B. The old grease 40A is pushed up. Further, since the old grease 40A is discharged (supplied) to the outside from the grease discharge port 18 at the upper part of the grease tank 12, it is possible to prevent the old grease 40A from staying in the grease filling chamber 13 in the grease tank 12. Can do.

  Further, an air supply port 20 is provided below the sliding range of the piston 14 of the grease tank 12, and compressed air is supplied from the air supply port 20 into the grease tank 12, whereby the piston 14. Moves upward. As the piston 14 moves upward, the grease 40A in the grease tank 12 is discharged (supplied) from the grease discharge port 18 to the outside, so that the supply amount of the grease 40A is adjusted by the pressure of the compressed air. Can do.

  Further, a check valve 22 that opens and closes the grease supply path 16A is provided at the lower portion of the rod 16. Thereby, the grease 40B can be replenished into the grease tank 12 from the grease replenishment path 16A without causing the newly supplied grease 40B to flow backward.

  4 and 5 are sectional views of a grease supply device 100 of a comparative example. 4 and 5, the grease supply device 100 includes a grease tank 102 filled with the grease 40, a plate-like body 104 that is disposed in the grease tank 102 and presses the grease 40 from above, and a plate. And a spring 106 that presses the shape body 104 toward the upper surface side of the grease 40. The grease tank 102 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section, and includes a substantially hemispherical curved portion 102B on the upper side of the substantially cylindrical side wall portion 102A. The plate-like body 104 includes a substantially circular main body 104A and a seal member 104B attached to the peripheral surface of the main body 104A.

  A large-diameter portion 102C whose outer shape is enlarged is provided at the lower portion of the side wall portion 102A, and a grease supply port 108 for supplying grease 40 is provided on the side surface of the large-diameter portion 102C. Although not shown, the grease replenishing port 108 is provided with grease replenishing means such as a pump and a grease storage container for replenishing the grease 40 via a hose. The bottom surface 102D of the large-diameter portion 102C is provided with a grease discharge port 110 through which the grease 40 in the grease tank 102 is discharged to the outside.

  In such a grease supply apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 4, the grease tank 102 is filled with old grease 40A. As shown in FIG. 5, before the old grease 40A in the grease tank 102 is used up, if new grease 40B is supplied into the grease tank 102 from the grease supply port 108, the remaining grease 40A is replaced with new grease 40A. It is pushed up by 40B. Since the grease discharge port 110 is provided on the bottom surface 102D of the grease tank 102, new grease 40B is discharged (supplied) from the grease discharge port 110 to the outside. For this reason, old grease 40A may stay on the upper side in the grease tank 102, and the oil content of the grease 40 may gradually be separated.

  In contrast, in the grease supply device 10 of the present embodiment, new grease 40B is supplied to the upper side of the piston 14 through the grease supply path 16A, and the old grease 40A is pushed upward by the new grease 40B. Since the old grease 40A is discharged (supplied) from the grease discharge port 18 at the upper part of the grease tank 12, the old grease 40A can be prevented from staying in the grease tank 12.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a grease supply apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the grease supply device 50 has a mark 52 as a mark attached to the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the rod 16 (above the check valve 22). A sensor 54 that detects the mark 52 is provided at a position facing the rod 16. The remaining amount of the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 can be detected by the amount of movement of the rod 16 from the lower wall portion 12C of the grease tank 12 to the upper side, that is, the protrusion amount (protrusion length) of the rod 16. . For this reason, in the grease supply device 50, the mark 52 of the rod 16 is detected by the sensor 54 at a position where the remaining amount of the grease 40 decreases and the grease 40 needs to be replenished in the grease tank 12 (grease filling chamber 13). Is set to be.

  The sensor 54 is electrically connected to a control unit 56 as control means. The control unit 56 determines the timing for replenishing the grease 40 into the grease tank 12 based on the detection signal of the mark 52 by the sensor 54. The controller 56 replenishes the grease tank 12 with the grease 40 by driving a grease replenishing means such as a pump (not shown).

  In such a grease supply device 50, as the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 decreases, the piston 14 and the rod 16 rise upward. When the remaining amount of the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 is reduced, the mark 52 of the rod 16 is detected by the sensor 54. Based on the detection signal of the mark 52 by the sensor 54, the control unit 56 determines the replenishment timing of the grease 40. The controller 56 replenishes the grease tank 12 with the grease 40 by driving grease replenishing means such as a pump based on the detection signal from the sensor 54. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the grease 40 in the grease tank 12 from being insufficient.

  In the second embodiment, the position of the sensor 54 is a position facing the rod 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a magnet is mounted in the vicinity of the seal member 14B of the piston 14 and the replenishment timing of the grease 40 is determined by detecting the vertical position of the magnet with a sensor mounted on the side wall portion 12A of the grease tank 12. Good.

  In the first or second embodiment, the check valve 22 is provided below the rod 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the check valve 22, a nipple may be provided.

  In the first or second embodiment, the air supply port 20 for supplying compressed air to the grease tank 12 is provided, and the piston 14 is moved upward by the pressure of the compressed air so that the piston 14 is moved outward from the grease discharge port 18. The supplied grease supply amount is adjusted, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of compressed air, the rod 16 may be moved upward by mechanical means such as an actuator.

10 Grease supply device 12 Grease tank 12A Side wall (side wall)
14 Piston 16 Rod 16A Grease supply path 18 Grease discharge port 20 Air supply port 22 Check valve 40 Grease 40A Old grease 40B New grease 50 Grease supply device 52 Mark (to detect the amount of movement of the rod)
54 Sensor 56 Control unit (control means)

Claims (4)

A grease tank disposed along the vertical direction and filled with grease;
A piston provided slidably in the vertical direction in the grease tank;
A grease replenishment path provided on a rod extending to the lower side of the piston and replenishing the grease on the upper side of the piston in the grease tank;
A grease discharge port provided at an upper portion of the grease tank and supplying the grease in the grease tank to the outside;
A grease supply device having   The air supply port which supplies the compressed air for moving the said piston to the upper side below the sliding range of the said piston of the said grease tank in the said grease tank is provided. Grease supply device.   The grease supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a check valve that opens and closes the grease supply path is provided at a lower portion of the rod. A sensor that is provided at a position facing the rod outside the grease tank and detects the amount of movement of the rod upward;
Control means for determining the timing of replenishing the grease in the grease tank based on the amount of upward movement of the rod detected by the sensor;
The grease supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

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