ADVANCED LUBRICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130015019A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Vehmaa, Rauno, Moilanen, Teuvo, Kuvaja, Jarno, Krkkinen, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 9,353,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 184/26
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2230/00 Signal processing
• 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

Abstract

The present application relates to a lubrication system (S) comprising dosing means (1-1) for feeding lubricant to a lubrication point. The invention is based on the idea that computerized control means (1-5, 1-6) are arranged to control the operation of the lubrication system (S). The dosing means (1-1) are configured to operate responsive to a control signal provided by the control means (1-5, 1-6) to adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means (1-1, 1-2) to a lubrication point as required by the control means, wherein the amount of lubricant can be adjusted lubrication-point-specifically.

Claims

1. A lubrication system (S) comprising:

dosing means for feeding lubricant to a lubrication point, and wherein

the dosing means are configured to operate responsive to a control signal provided by computerized control means to adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means to the lubrication point as required by the control means, wherein the amount of lubricant is adjustable to be specific to the lubrication point.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means by adjusting the dosing time.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means by adjusting the dosing rate.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means by adjusting the dosing interval.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are configured to control the dosing means to dose lubricant to a specific lubrication point continuously or when needed.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a monitoring unit for monitoring the lubrication of the respective lubrication point.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are configured to receive a signal input from conditioning monitoring of the apparatus to be lubricated, the input including information on the condition of the apparatus to be lubricated, wherein

the control means are configured to adjust the amount of lubricant fed by the dosing means to the lubrication point on the basis of the condition of the apparatus.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises means for receiving an input provided by a user of the system, the input including information on at least one lubrication parameter, wherein

the control means are configured to adjust the amount of lubricant fed by the dosing means to the lubrication point on the basis of said input provided by the user.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are configured to adjust the amount of lubricant fed by the dosing means to the lubrication point on the basis of information on at least one production parameter of the apparatus to be lubricated.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to recognise a predetermined lubrication-related event related to a lubrication point, and adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means to the respective lubrication point on the basis of said event.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises means for adjusting the lubrication parameters of an individual lubrication point and/or of a group of lubrication points.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises means for adjusting the lubrication parameters of an individual doser and/or of a group of dosers.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises means for operatively connecting the lubrication system (S) to a large-scale lubrication system capable of performing a centralized monitoring and/or control of lubrication of several apparatuses to be lubricated.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lubrication point further comprises a bearing, a sliding surface and/or a gearwheel and/or some other object of lubrication of the apparatus.

15. Dosing means for feeding lubricant to a lubrication point,

wherein the dosing means are configured to operate responsive to a control signal provided by computerized control means to adjust the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means to the lubrication point as required by the control means, and wherein

the amount of lubricant is adjustable to be specific to the lubrication point.

16. Computerized control means for a lubrication system (S), wherein the control means are configured to control the operation of the lubrication system (S) by providing dosing means with a control signal for adjusting the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means to a lubrication point as required by the control means, wherein the amount of lubricant is adjustable to be specific to the lubrication point.

17. A lubrication method for a system (S) having dosing means for feeding lubricant to a lubrication point, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, in the dosing means, a control signal provided by computerized control means, for controlling the operation of the lubrication system (S); and

in response to receiving the control signal, adjusting the amount of lubricant to be fed by the dosing means to the lubrication point as required by the control means, wherein the amount of lubricant is adjustable to be specific to the lubrication point.