JPH07208688A - Lubricating method using constant flow valve and lubricating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change both the intermittent time and the discharge quantity for each time of lubrication, and thereby cope with the lubricating condition of each lubricating place. CONSTITUTION:A constant flow valve V for discharging oil to a required place at the time of lubrication to lubricate the place, is provided with a piston for discharging the oil which corresponds to stroke S, a movable body 20 which is driven by a driving part to be advanced and retracted on a moving path of the piston to change the stroke S of the piston, and a driving part 23 for driving the movable body 20. Further, a control part 30 for operating the driving part 23 for each time of lubrication to position the movable body 20 at a required position, is provided. The control part 30 is provided with a discharge-information storage means 31 for storing the discharge- information of the constant flow valve V at the time of lubrication, a movable body position calculating means 32 for calculating the stopping position of the movable body 20 for every time of lubrication based on the discharge-information stored by the dischargeinformation storage means 31, and an operation commanding means 33 for generating an operation command to the driving part 23 in order for the movable body 20 to be drived to the stopping position calculated by the movable body position calculating means 32.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lubricating method and a lubricating device using a metering valve for supplying a constant amount of lubricating oil every time lubricating is performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lubrication method using a metering valve is
As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of metering valves V (V1 to Vn) having a discharge amount corresponding to the required amount of oil at the lubrication point are provided in a plurality of pipes, and oil is intermittently supplied from the pump 1 to these pipes to obtain a predetermined amount of oil. The oil is discharged every time it is lubricated. By the way, the required oil amount may change at the lubrication point. Therefore, as the metering valve V, one that can change the setting of the discharge amount is used so that the setting can be changed at the time of change. Some have been done.

The discharge amount variable type metering valve V is conventionally provided with, for example, a piston for discharging oil corresponding to a stroke, and a stroke of the piston is changed by manually advancing and retracting an adjusting rod in a movement path of the piston. The discharge amount can be adjusted (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-20994).

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional lubrication method using the metering valve, the metering valve is operated under the condition that it is desired to supply the oil at different time intervals for each lubrication point. Intermittent time of V
When it is desired to make it different for each, specifically, for example, the metering valve V1 has an intermittent time of 2 minutes, the metering valve V2 has an intermittent time of 3 minutes,
When it is desired to discharge the metering valve V3 with an intermittent time of 4 minutes, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to handle.

Further, when it is desired to change the discharge amount of the metering valve V for every lubrication under the condition that the required oil amount at the lubrication part differs for each lubrication, for example, the metering valve V
The discharge amount of 1 is 1cc for the first time, 3cc for the second time, and 3c for the third time.
When it is desired to discharge c, 4 cc for the second time, 2 cc for the fifth time, etc., it is difficult to manually adjust the adjusting rod for each lubrication, so there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to handle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to change both the intermittent time and the discharge amount of a metering valve for each lubrication, and thus the lubrication condition for each lubrication point. The point is to be able to deal with.

[0007]

The technical means of the present invention for solving such a problem is a lubrication method using a metering valve for discharging oil from the metering valve for lubrication to a required place for lubrication. In the above, the amount of oil discharged from the metering valve is made variable within a predetermined range including zero so that it can be set at a proper time, and the amount of oil is set after each lubrication and then the oil is discharged.

Further, in a lubrication device using a metering valve for discharging oil from a metering valve for lubrication to a required portion, the metering valve is driven by a piston for discharging oil corresponding to a stroke. A movable body that moves back and forth in the movement path of the piston to make the stroke of the piston variable, and a drive unit that drives the movable body,
It is provided with a control unit that operates the drive unit each time lubrication is performed to position the movable body at a desired position.

Then, if necessary, the control unit controls the discharge information storage means for storing discharge information of the metering valve at the time of lubrication, and the movable body for each lubrication time based on the discharge information stored by the discharge information storage means. The movable body position calculating means for calculating the stop position and the operation command means for issuing an operation command to the drive unit to drive the movable body to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculating means are provided.

Further, if necessary, a sensor for detecting whether or not the movable body is at the origin position is provided, and the operation command means drives the movable body toward the origin position based on the detection of the sensor. And a primary operation command means for issuing a primary operation command for stopping at a reference position having a predetermined relationship with the origin position, and movable from the reference position to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculation means based on the detection of the sensor. A secondary operation command means for issuing a secondary operation command for driving the body is provided.

Further, if necessary, the sensor also has a function of detecting whether or not the piston is present in the moving path of the piston, and the control section controls the operating state of the quantitative valve based on the detection of the sensor. It is configured to include an operation state quality determination means for determining quality of.

Further, if necessary, the control section calculates the drive timing of the pump for supplying oil to the metering valve based on the discharge information stored in the discharge information storage means, and pump drive timing calculating means. The pump driving command signal sending means for sending the pump driving command signal for driving the pump at the driving timing calculated by the timing calculating means is provided.

[0013]

According to the lubrication method using the metering valve having the above structure, the amount of oil discharged from the metering valve is set within a predetermined range including zero each time lubrication is performed, and then the oil is discharged. This makes it possible to take measures under the condition that the required oil amount at the lubrication point is different for each lubrication time, or under the condition that the oil is required to be supplied at different time intervals for each lubrication point.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A lubrication method and device using a metering valve according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The lubrication method according to the embodiment is realized in the lubrication device according to the embodiment, and will be described in the description of the lubrication device. The same components as those described above will be designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lubrication apparatus according to the embodiment is provided with a plurality of metering valves V (V1 to Vn) having a discharge amount corresponding to the lubrication point as shown in FIG. The oil is intermittently supplied from No. 1 so that the oil is discharged at every lubrication.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the metering valve V is provided with a block-shaped main body 2, and an oil supply port 3 from the pump 1 is formed in the main body 2. Further, the main body 2 is provided with a discharge port portion 5 having an oil discharge port 4 and formed with an internally threaded portion for piping. The outlet 3a side passage of the supply port 3 and the inlet 4a side passage of the discharge port 4 are located coaxially. A cylinder 6 is formed in the main body 2, and a valve chamber 7 is formed in which the upper portion of the cylinder 6, the supply port 3 and the discharge port 4 are communicated with each other, and a check valve 10 is housed so as to be axially movable. Has been done. Reference numeral 8 is a communication passage between the cylinder 6 and the valve chamber 7.

The check valve 10 is a cap-shaped valve integrally formed of rubber, which closes the inlet 4a of the discharge port 4 at the time of supplying oil and passes through the communication passage 8 of the cylinder 6 from the outside of the cap-shaped lip 11. Allow the oil to flow into 6,
When the oil is not supplied, the outlet 3a of the supply port 3 is closed to allow the oil to flow from the cylinder 6 to the discharge port 4 through the communication passage 8.

Reference numeral 12 is a piston, which slides on the inner wall of the cylinder 6 and is located on the upper side of the cylinder 6.
And a sliding body 13 fixed to the lower side of the cylinder 6 and having a piston rod 14 coaxial with the cylinder 6 and storing oil flowing in through the communication passage 8 of the cylinder 6 when moving to the lower side. While forming the chamber 15, the oil stored in the cylinder chamber 15 is discharged through the communication passage 8 of the cylinder 6 when moving to the upper side. Reference numeral 16 denotes a lower wall of the cylinder 6, through which the piston rod 14 penetrates. A coil spring 17 is interposed between the sliding body 13 and the lower wall 16 and constantly biases the sliding body 13 and the piston rod 14 to the upper side. Reference numeral 18 denotes a moving chamber which is provided in the main body 2 and in which the end of the piston rod 14 protruding from the lower wall 16 can move.

Numeral 20 is driven to advance and retreat to the movement path of the end portion 14a of the piston rod 14 of the piston 12, and the piston 1
It is a movable body that makes the stroke S of 2 variable. Movable body 2
0 is formed by a male screw coaxial with the piston rod 14,
It is supported by a holder 21 that is engaged with a spline so as to slide forward and backward in the axial direction. And this movable body 20 is
The position of the end portion 14a of the piston rod 14 is regulated by the tip 20a depending on the stop position in the moving chamber 18, and the stroke S of the piston 12 is made variable in the range from the maximum value to the minimum value (zero).

Reference numeral 23 is a drive unit for driving the movable body 20. The drive unit 23 has a female screw portion that is provided inside the main body 2 and that is screwed into the movable body 20, has a gear formed on the outside, and is driven at a fixed position to drive the movable body 20 to move forward and backward.
And a drive gear 25 that meshes with the driven gear 24 to rotate the driven gear 24, and a drive gear 25 attached to the outside of the main body 2.
And a well-known step motor 26 for rotating the. 27 is a cover for covering the step motor 26.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a photoelectric sensor, for example, provided in the moving chamber 18 for detecting the tip 20a of the movable body 20 at the origin position P and detecting whether or not the movable body 20 is at the origin position P. . The origin position P is, for example, the piston 1
When 2 is at the top dead center, the movable body 20 is advanced to bring the end portion 14a of the piston rod 14 into contact with the tip 20a of the movable body 20, and the contact point is set to the origin position P. The origin position P is not limited to this, and may be provided anywhere in the movement path of the movable body 20. The sensor 28 also has a function of detecting the end portion 14a of the piston rod 14 and detecting whether or not the piston 12 is present in the moving path of the piston 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 is a control unit for activating the drive unit 23 for each lubrication to position the movable body 20 at a required position. In the control unit 30, 31 is a discharge information storage means for storing discharge information of the metering valve V at the time of lubrication. As the discharge information, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a time table that defines a discharge amount (unit cc) including zero for each elapsed time of each metering valve V is stored. In this example, the constant quantity valve V1 discharges 1 cc for 2 minutes, and the constant quantity valve V2 discharges 3 cc for 3 minutes.
The metering valve V3 discharges different discharge amounts at intervals of 4 minutes, and the metering valve Vn discharges different discharge amounts at different intervals.

Reference numeral 32 is a movable body position calculating means for calculating the stop position of the movable body 20 at each lubrication time based on the discharge information stored in the discharge information storage means 31. The movable body position calculation means 32 calculates the number of rotation steps for moving the movable body 20, for example, from a reference position Q described later. Reference numeral 33 is operation command means for issuing an operation command to the drive section 23 so as to drive the movable body 20 to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculation means 32. Based on the detection of the sensor 28, the operation command means 33 drives the movable body 20 toward the origin position P and also has a reference position Q having a predetermined relationship with the origin position P.
(In the embodiment, the position is the origin position P.) The primary operation command means 34 for issuing a primary operation command to stop the movable body 20 from the reference position Q to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculation means 32. And a secondary operation command means 35 for issuing a next operation command. Primary operation command means 34
Issues a command to drive the movable body 20 toward the origin position P when the sensor 28 detects that the movable body 20 is absent after power-on, and issues a command to move the movable body 20 backward when the sensor 28 detects the presence. After that, when the sensor 28 detects the absence, it has a function of issuing a command to drive the movable body 20 toward the origin position P.

Reference numeral 36 is an operation state quality determination means 36 for determining the quality of the operation state of the metering valve V based on the detection of the sensor 28. After the primary operation instructing means 34 detects the presence of the sensor 28, the operating state quality determining means 36 issues an instruction to retract the movable body 20, and then the sensor 2
When the presence of 8 is detected, it is determined that the movable body 20 has not retracted or the piston rod 14 remains, and an abnormality signal is transmitted. Further, in the metering valve V having a stroke S other than zero, when the sensor 28 detects the absence after the driving of the pump 1, it is determined that the piston rod 14 does not move and oil is not stored, and an abnormality signal is sent. Furthermore, after the pump 1 is stopped, when the sensor 28 detects the presence, it is determined that the piston rod 14 does not move and the oil is not discharged, and an abnormality signal is sent. A display unit 37 has a function of receiving an abnormality signal and displaying the abnormality.

Reference numeral 40 denotes pump drive timing calculation means for calculating the drive timing of the pump 1 for supplying oil to the metering valve V based on the discharge information stored in the discharge information storage means 31. That is, according to the timetable shown in FIG. 4, the pump 1 is driven during the time when any one of the quantitative valves V discharges, and the pump 1 is not driven when all the quantitative valves V do not discharge. Is. Reference numeral 41 is a pump drive command signal transmission means for transmitting a pump drive command signal for driving the pump 1 at the drive timing calculated by the pump drive timing calculation means 40. The control unit 30 also includes a pump stop command signal sending means 42 for sending a pump stop command signal for stopping the pump 1 when a predetermined time has elapsed after sending the pump drive command signal. The function of the control unit 30 is realized by the function of a CPU or the like of a microcomputer or the like.

Next, the operation of the lubricating device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power is turned on (5-1), the sensor 28 always detects the primary operation command means 34 of the operation command means 33.
Gives a command to drive the movable body 20 toward the origin position P when the sensor 28 detects the absence (5-2N) (5-3). When the sensor 28 detects the presence (5-2Y), a command for retracting the movable body 20 is issued (5-4), and thereafter, when the sensor 28 detects the absence (5-5N), the movable body 20 is moved. A command for driving toward the origin position P is given (5-3). That is, the movable body 20 is returned once and then moved to the origin position P. Then, after issuing a command to drive the movable body 20 toward the origin position P, the sensor 2
When the presence of 8 is detected (5-7), the movable body 20 is stopped at the reference position Q (origin position P in the embodiment) because it is located at the origin position P (5-8).

When the sensor 28 detects the presence (5-5Y) after issuing a command to retract the movable body 20 in order to return the movable body 20 once (5-5Y), the operation state pass / fail judgment means 36 moves. When it is determined that the body 20 has not retracted or the piston rod 14 remains, an abnormality signal is output and displayed on the display unit 37.

Next, the movable body position calculation means 32 calculates the stop position of the movable body 20 at each lubrication time based on the discharge information stored in the discharge information storage means 31 (5-9). That is, the discharge amount of each metering valve V at the corresponding time is searched from the time table shown in FIG. 4, and the number of rotation steps of the step motor 26 corresponding to this discharge amount is calculated. Further, the pump drive timing calculation means 40 is used by the discharge information storage means 31.
The drive timing of the pump 1 that supplies oil to the metering valve V is calculated based on the discharge information stored in (5-
9). That is, from the time table shown in FIG. 4, when any one of the fixed quantity valves V discharges, the pump 1 is driven (driving is executed), and when the discharge quantity of all the fixed quantity valves V is zero, the pump 1 is driven. Suppose not to drive.

Then, the secondary operation command means 35 of the operation command means 33 issues a secondary operation command, and the movable body 20 is moved from the reference position Q to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculation means 32.
Is driven (5-10). As a result, the movable body 20 is positioned at a corresponding position that determines the stroke S of the piston 12. After that, the pump drive command signal sending means 41
From the above, a pump drive command signal is transmitted, and the pump 1 is driven at the drive timing calculated by the pump drive timing calculation means 40 (5-11).

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, oil is supplied from the supply port 3, the check valve 10 is moved by the pressure of the supplied oil, the discharge port 4 is closed, and the lip 11 is contracted inward. Diameter and allow oil to pass through. The oil passed through the communication passage 8 and the piston 12 to the spring 1
It is pressed against the biasing force of 7 and is stored in the cylinder chamber 15 formed by this pressing. When the piston 12 moves to the lower side and the piston rod 14 comes into contact with the movable body 20, the piston 12 stops and the oil for the stroke S of the piston 12 is stored.

At this time, the operating condition pass / fail judgment means 36
After driving the pump 1, the presence or absence of detection by the sensor 28 is checked,
When the absence is detected (5-12N), it is determined that the piston 12 does not move and the oil is not stored, and an abnormality signal is sent and displayed on the display unit 37 (5-13).

When a predetermined time has elapsed after the drive command signal was sent, a pump stop command signal for stopping the pump 1 is sent and the pump 1 is stopped (5-14). When the pump 1 is stopped, as shown in FIG. 2, the urging force of the spring 17 pushes the oil stored in the piston 12, and the check valve 10 moves due to the pressure of the oil to block the supply port 3, whereby the oil continues. Discharge from the discharge port 4 through the passage 8,
Oil corresponding to the stroke S of the piston 12 is discharged from the discharge port 4.

At this time, the operating condition quality determining means 36 is
Checking whether or not the sensor 28 is detected after the pump 1 is stopped,
When the presence is detected (5-15Y), the piston rod 14
Is determined not to move and oil is not discharged, an abnormal signal is sent and displayed on the display unit 37 (5-16). When the sensor 28 detects the absence (5-15N), it is determined that the discharge is completed (5-17), and the primary operation command means 34
Issues a command to drive the movable body 20 toward the origin position P, and performs the same control as above.

In this way, the above operation is repeated. Accordingly, when the condition is such that oil is to be supplied at different time intervals for each lubrication point, that is, when the intermittent time of the metering valve V is to be different for each metering valve V, it is possible to easily cope with the situation. Further, when it is desired to change the discharge amount of the metering valve V for each lubrication under the condition that the required oil amount at the lubrication point is different for each lubrication, it is possible to easily cope with the situation.

In the above embodiment, the movable body 20
Is formed by a male screw, but is not necessarily limited to this, and another form such as a cam may be used. Further, the drive unit 23 is not limited to the one described above, and may be appropriately changed, for example, by using a so-called linear solenoid whose advancing / retreating position can be freely changed. Further, the form of the metering valve is not limited to the one described above, and may be any form.

[0036]

As described above, according to the lubrication method and the lubrication apparatus using the metering valve of the present invention, the amount of oil discharged from the metering valve can be varied and set appropriately, and the amount of oil discharged at each lubrication time can be changed. Since the oil is discharged after setting the amount, it is possible to cope with the condition that the required oil amount at the lubrication point is different for each lubrication. In addition, under conditions where it is desired to supply oil at different time intervals for each lubrication point, the intermittent time can be substantially extended by setting the amount of oil discharged from the metering valve to zero. The intermittent time can be different for each metering valve. As a result, both the intermittent time of the metering valve and the discharge amount can be changed for each lubrication, and the lubrication conditions for each lubrication point can be dealt with, and proper lubrication with less waste can be performed.

When the control unit of the lubrication apparatus calculates the stop position of the movable body at each lubrication time based on the ejection information stored in the ejection information storage means, the lubrication condition for each lubrication point is set in advance. Because it is possible, correspondence becomes certain.

Further, when the movable body is stopped at the reference position having a predetermined relationship with the origin position based on the detection of the sensor and then the movable body is driven to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculating means. Since the movable body is positioned after performing the origin alignment, the stroke of the piston can be reliably set and the accuracy of the discharge amount can be improved.

Furthermore, in the case where the sensor also serves as the piston detection function and determines the quality of the operation state of the metering valve, only one sensor can be provided, so that it can be easily incorporated into the apparatus. Therefore, space saving and cost reduction can be achieved. Further, since it is possible to judge whether the operating states of both the piston and the movable body are good or bad, it is possible to surely confirm the lubrication and to make the safety extremely high.

When the control unit calculates the drive timing of the pump for supplying oil to the metering valve based on the discharge information stored in the discharge information storage means,
Since the pump can be driven only when the metering piston discharges, compared to a pump or the like that drives at fixed time intervals, there is less waste of driving the pump and labor saving can be achieved. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a lubricating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a metering valve of the lubricating device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B show a metering valve of a lubricating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A is a side view, and FIG. 3B is a bottom view.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of discharge information of a metering valve stored in a discharge information storage unit of the lubricating device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lubricating device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a piping example of a metering valve to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 V (V1 to Vn) Metering valve 1 Pump 2 Main body 3 Supply port 4 Discharge port 6 Cylinder 7 Valve chamber 8 Communication passage 10 Check valve 12 Piston 13 Sliding body 14 Piston rod 16 Lower wall 17 Spring 18 Moving chamber 20 Moving body S Stroke 23 Drive part 26 Step motor 28 Sensor 30 Control part 31 Discharge information storage means 32 Movable body position calculation means 33 Operation command means 34 Primary operation command means P Origin position Q Reference position 35 Secondary operation command means 36 Operating condition pass / fail judgment means 37 display section 40 pump drive timing calculation means 41 pump drive command signal transmission means 42 pump stop command signal transmission means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In a lubrication method using a metering valve for discharging oil from a metering valve to lubricate a required portion, the amount of oil discharged from the metering valve is variable within a predetermined range including zero. A lubrication method using a metering valve, which enables timely setting and discharges oil after setting the discharge amount for each lubrication. 2. A lubricating device using a metering valve for discharging oil from a metering valve for lubrication to a required portion for lubrication, wherein the metering valve is driven by a piston for discharging oil corresponding to a stroke. It comprises a movable body that moves back and forth in the movement path of the piston to make the stroke of the piston variable, and a drive unit that drives the movable body, and operates the drive unit every lubrication to move the movable body to a required position. A lubricating device comprising a control unit for positioning. 3. The control unit calculates the stop position of the movable body for each lubrication based on the ejection information storage unit that stores the ejection information of the metering valve at the time of lubrication and the ejection information stored by the ejection information storage unit. 3. The movable body position calculating means, and the operation command means for issuing an operation command to the drive unit so as to drive the movable body to the stop position calculated by the movable body position calculating means. Lubrication device. 4. A sensor for detecting whether or not the movable body is located at an origin position, and the operation command means drives the movable body toward the origin position based on the detection of the sensor, and the origin position. And a primary operation command means for issuing a primary operation command to stop at a reference position having a predetermined relationship with the movable body, and a movable body driven to a stop position calculated by the movable body position calculation means from the reference position based on the detection of the sensor. 4. The lubricating device according to claim 3, further comprising secondary operation command means for issuing a next operation command. 5. The sensor also has a function of detecting whether or not the piston is present in the movement path of the piston, and the controller determines whether the operation state of the metering valve is good or not based on the detection of the sensor. 5. The lubricating device according to claim 4, further comprising: an operating state quality determining unit that operates. 6. The control section includes a pump drive timing calculation means for calculating a drive timing of a pump for supplying oil to the metering valve based on the discharge information stored in the discharge information storage means, and a pump drive timing calculation means. 6. A lubricating device according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, further comprising pump drive command signal transmitting means for transmitting a pump drive command signal for driving the pump at the calculated drive timing.