DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUPPLY OF LUBRICANT AT A WORK VEHICLE

• US 20100243070A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epiroc Rock Drills AB (Epiroc AB)
• Original Assignee: Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Andersson, Christer, Algulin, Ulrik
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2270/70 Supply
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/02 for influencing the supply of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/38 with a separate pump; Central lubrication systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/385 Central lubrication systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for lubrication of a work vehicle, which device includes: a tank (1) for storage of lubricant; a number of delivery points (8a-g) at which lubricant is supplied to the tools of the work vehicle or other parts that need to be lubricated; a distribution block (5) including a number of branching points (6a-g) that all are connected to a delivery point (8a-g); a pump (2) for delivering lubricant from the tank (1) to the distribution block (5) and further on to the delivery points (8a-g); a control system (3), for regulating the supply of lubricant. Further the device includes: a detector (4) that detects when a volume of lubricant that corresponds to a pump cycle has been delivered from the pump and sends a signal with this information to the control system (3), a timer (11) that measures time intervals that corresponds to a certain duration of time and is adjusted to, for each time interval, send a signal to the control system (3) that indicates that a time interval has elapsed, wherein the control system by means of the signals from the detector (4) and the timer (11) regulates the pump to deliver a certain number of pump cycles per time interval to the delivery points (8a-g). The invention also relates to a method.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the lubrication of a work vehicle, which device includes:

a tank (1) for storing a lubricant (12);

a number of delivery points (8a-g), at which lubricant is supplied to the tools of the work vehicle or other parts that need to be lubricated;

a distribution block (5) including a number of branching points (6a-g) that are all connected to a delivery point (8a-g);

a pump (2) for pumping lubricant from the tank (1) to the distribution block (5) and on to the delivery points (8a-g);

a control system (3), for controlling the supply of lubricant,

wherein the device also includes;

a detector (4) that detects when a volume of lubricant that corresponds to a pump cycle is delivered from the pump and sends a signal with this information to the control system (3),

a timer (11) that measures time intervals that correspond to a certain duration of time and is adjusted to, for each time interval, send a signal to the control system (3) that indicates that a time interval has elapsed, wherein the control system, based on the signals from the detector (4) and the timer (11), regulates the pump to deliver a certain number of pump cycles per time interval to the delivery points (8a-g).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the distribution block (5) is such arranged that lubricant is supplied in portions, sequentially or simultaneously, at the different branching points (6a-g), wherein a pump cycle relates to the lapse during which a portion is distributed at each branching point (6a-g), and the detector is arranged to detect when lubricant has been distributed at each branching point.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein each branching point include a plunger, which plungers are moved sequentially in order to portion a certain quantity of lubricant during each pump cycle and that the detector is arranged to detect accomplished movement for one of these plungers, wherein the control system regulates the pump such that it is deactivated when it has delivered the predetermined number of pump cycles within a time interval, and is activated when the control system (3) has received the signal from the timer (11) that a new time interval has started.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein a user interface (9) is connected to the control system (3), wherein an error indication is sent from the control system (3) to the user interface (9) in case the detector (4) has not sent a signal that the pump (2) has delivered the predetermined quantity of lubricant during a time interval.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein a pressure control valve at the pump is opened if a stop arises at or up stream of any of the branching points, wherein the detector in such cases will not detect any signal for accomplished pump cycle, and wherein an error indication is sent from the control system (3) to the user interface (9) when a time interval has elapsed.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein a second detector is arranged at the gear box of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect if it is in gear and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the gear box is not in gear, regulates the pump (2) to pump less lubricant per unit of time, either by reducing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by prolonging the duration of the time intervals, until the second detector detects that the engine is running and in gear.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein a third detector is arranged at the tools of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect alterations of the tools'"'"' position and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the tools'"'"' position is altered more often than a nominal factor of utilisation, regulates the pump (2) to deliver more lubricant per unit of time, either by increasing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by shortening the length of the time intervals.

11. Device according to claim 2, wherein a user interface (9) is connected to the control system (3), wherein an error indication is sent from the control system (3) to the user interface (9) in case the detector (4) has not sent a signal that the pump (2) has delivered the predetermined quantity of lubricant during a time interval.

12. Device according to claim 3, wherein a user interface (9) is connected to the control system (3), wherein an error indication is sent from the control system (3) to the user interface (9) in case the detector (4) has not sent a signal that the pump (2) has delivered the predetermined quantity of lubricant during a time interval.

13. Device according to claim 2, wherein a second detector is arranged at the gear box of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect if it is in gear and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the gear box is not in gear, regulates the pump (2) to pump less lubricant per unit of time, either by reducing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by prolonging the duration of the time intervals, until the second detector detects that the engine is running and in gear.

14. Device according to claim 3, wherein a second detector is arranged at the gear box of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect if it is in gear and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the gear box is not in gear, regulates the pump (2) to pump less lubricant per unit of time, either by reducing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by prolonging the duration of the time intervals, until the second detector detects that the engine is running and in gear.

15. Device according to claim 4, wherein a second detector is arranged at the gear box of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect if it is in gear and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the gear box is not in gear, regulates the pump (2) to pump less lubricant per unit of time, either by reducing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by prolonging the duration of the time intervals, until the second detector detects that the engine is running and in gear.

16. Device according to claim 2, wherein a third detector is arranged at the tools of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect alterations of the tools'"'"' position and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the tools'"'"' position is altered more often than a nominal factor of utilisation, regulates the pump (2) to deliver more lubricant per unit of time, either by increasing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by shortening the length of the time intervals.

17. Device according to claim 3, wherein a third detector is arranged at the tools of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect alterations of the tools'"'"' position and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the tools'"'"' position is altered more often than a nominal factor of utilisation, regulates the pump (2) to deliver more lubricant per unit of time, either by increasing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by shortening the length of the time intervals.

18. Device according to claim 4, wherein a third detector is arranged at the tools of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect alterations of the tools'"'"' position and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the tools'"'"' position is altered more often than a nominal factor of utilisation, regulates the pump (2) to deliver more lubricant per unit of time, either by increasing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by shortening the length of the time intervals.

19. Device according to claim 5, wherein a third detector is arranged at the tools of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect alterations of the tools'"'"' position and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the tools'"'"' position is altered more often than a nominal factor of utilisation, regulates the pump (2) to deliver more lubricant per unit of time, either by increasing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by shortening the length of the time intervals.

20. Device according to claim 6, wherein a third detector is arranged at the tools of the work vehicle, which is arranged to detect alterations of the tools'"'"' position and signal this to the control system, wherein the control system, when the tools'"'"' position is altered more often than a nominal factor of utilisation, regulates the pump (2) to deliver more lubricant per unit of time, either by increasing the number of pump cycles per time interval, or by shortening the length of the time intervals.

8. Method on a work vehicle for controlling the supply of lubricant to the tools of a work vehicle or other parts that need to be lubricated, wherein said method includes the following steps:

a) pumping lubricant from a tank to a distribution block with a number of branching points, from which lubricant is transmitted to a number of delivery points at the tools of the work vehicle or other parts that need to be lubricated,

b) at the distribution block, detecting a pulse that indicates that a certain volume of lubricant has been transmitted to all branching points,

c) sending a signal to a control system that indicates that lubricant has been transmitted to all branching points,

d) measuring a duration of time that constitutes a time interval,

e) sending a signal to the control system when a time interval has elapsed and the next one starts,

f) defining a desired number of pulses that shall be detected within a time interval, and

g1) deactivation of the pump if a desired number of pulses are detected within a time interval, or until an operator aborts the lubrication,

g2) sending an error indication to a user interface if the desired number of pulses is not detected within a time interval, and

h) repeating the method when the next time interval starts, wherein the method is repeated as long as the work vehicle is in operation or until the lubrication is aborted via the control system.

9. Method according to claim 8, including the step of controlling which operational condition of a number of predetermined operational conditions the work vehicle is in, which operational conditions include:

a first operational condition in which ignition is on, but the engine is not running,

a second operational condition when the engine is running, but not in gear,

and a third operational condition in which the engine is running and in gear, wherein no or only a small quantity of lubricant is supplied when the work vehicle is in any of the two first operational conditions, and wherein more lubricant is supplied per unit of time when the work vehicle is in the third operational condition.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein a detector is arranged on the tools of the work vehicle such that a fourth operational condition may be defined, in which the engine is running and in gear, and in which the tool is being used more often than a certain guideline value, wherein more lubricant is supplied per unit of time when the work vehicle is in the fourth operational condition than when it is in the third operational condition, by means of that the number of desired cycles in a certain time interval is greater, or by means of that the number of desired cycles in a the time interval is kept constant while the duration of the time interval is shortened.