PUMP HAVING DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

• US 20150345701A1
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation (Lincoln Holdings Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation (Lincoln Holdings Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Conley, Paul G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,851,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 13/02 with reciprocating piston pumps with distributing equipment F16N13/22
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2270/70 Supply
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/02 for influencing the supply of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/04 enabling a warning to be given; enabling moving parts to be stopped
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/14 the lubricant being conveyed from the reservoir by mechanical means by pumping devices F16N7/36, F16N7/38; adaptations for lubrication of machines or engines in general, of internal-combustion engines F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/38 with a separate pump; Central lubrication systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86035 Combined with fluid receiver

Abstract

Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A system for supplying lubricant, comprising:

a reservoir for holding lubricant, said reservoir having a reservoir outlet;

a pump comprising a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a cylinder inlet in communication with said reservoir outlet for flow of lubricant from the reservoir into the cylinder bore, and a cylinder outlet supplying lubricant, a piston movable in the cylinder bore;

a lubricant delivery system in communication with said cylinder outlet for delivering lubricant;

a drive mechanism including a stepper motor for moving the piston in the cylinder bore;

a sensor for sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal;

a controller for controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to move the piston, said controller responsive to the condition signal to modify system operation; and

an alarm;

wherein the sensor comprises a sensor monitoring a lubricant pressure of the lubricant delivery system, wherein the condition signal is a pressure signal and wherein the controller is responsive to the pressure signal to energize the alarm when the pressure signal indicates that the lubricant pressure is less than a minimum pressure after a given period of time of operating the stepper motor has elapsed; and

said controller controlling pulses applied to the stepper motor, wherein the controller is responsive to the condition signal to vary the speed and/or torque of the stepper motor depending on a value of the condition signal.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the controller comprises a processor and further comprising a tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling the operation of the processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions, and wherein the instructions comprise instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting and for energizing the alarm when a vent test indicates that the injector is not venting.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

determining whether an end-of-line PT reading is below a vent pressure setting; and

,

operating the pump stepper motor to perform a vent test in the event that the end-of-line PT reading is not below a vent pressure setting;

wherein the instructions for energizing the alarm further comprise instructions for timing the alarm in the event that the end-of-line PT reading is below a vent pressure setting.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

determining a yield stress value of the lubricant;

comparing the determined value to a preset level value;

providing an indication of positive (passing) vent test results in the event that the determined value is less than the preset level value; and

,

providing an indication of negative (failing) vent test results in the event that the determined value is greater than the preset level value.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

providing an indication of a failure to vent at the end of the lube supply line; and

,

discontinuing additional timed lube events;

wherein the instructions for energizing the alarm further comprise instructions for activating the alarm after providing the indication of the vent test results.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a display, and wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

instructions for showing the provided positive (passing) vent test results and the provided indication of a failure to vent in the event that the determined value is less than the preset level value; and

,

instructions for showing the provided negative (failing) vent test results and the provided indication of a failure to vent in the event that the determined value is greater than the preset level value.

41. A system for supplying lubricant, comprising:

a reservoir for holding lubricant, said reservoir having a reservoir outlet;

a pump comprising a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a cylinder inlet in communication with said reservoir outlet for flow of lubricant from the reservoir into the cylinder bore, and a cylinder outlet supplying lubricant, a piston movable in the cylinder bore;

a lubricant delivery system in communication with said cylinder outlet for delivering lubricant;

a drive mechanism including a stepper motor for moving the piston in the cylinder bore;

a sensor for sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal; and

,

a controller for controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to move the piston, said controller responsive to the condition signal to modify system operation; and

an alarm;

a stirrer in the reservoir and a stirrer motor driving the stirrer, said controller selectively energizing the stirrer motor, wherein the sensor comprises a current sensor monitoring a current applied to the stirrer motor, wherein the condition signal is a current signal and wherein the controller is responsive to the current signal to energize the alarm when the current signal indicates that the current applied to the stirrer motor is greater than a maximum current; and

said controller controlling pulses applied to the stepper motor, wherein the controller is responsive to the condition signal to vary the speed and/or torque of the stepper motor depending on a value of the condition signal.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller comprises a processor and further comprising a tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling the operation of the processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions, and wherein the instructions comprise instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting and for energizing the alarm when a vent test indicates that the injector is not venting.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

determining whether an end-of-line PT reading is below a vent pressure setting; and

,

operating the pump stepper motor to perform a vent test in the event that the end-of-line PT reading is not below a vent pressure setting;

wherein the instructions for energizing the alarm further comprise instructions for timing the alarm in the event that the end-of-line PT reading is below a vent pressure setting.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

determining a yield stress value of the lubricant;

comparing the determined value to a preset level value;

providing an indication of positive (passing) vent test results in the event that the determined value is less than the preset level value; and

,

providing an indication of negative (failing) vent test results in the event that the determined value is greater than the preset level value.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

providing an indication of a failure to vent at the end of the lube supply line; and

,

discontinuing additional timed lube events;

wherein the instructions for energizing the alarm further comprise instructions for activating the alarm after providing the indication of the vent test results.

46. The system of claim 45, further comprising a display, and wherein the instructions for determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

instructions for showing the provided positive (passing) vent test results and the provided indication of a failure to vent in the event that the determined value is less than the preset level value; and

,

instructions for showing the provided negative (failing) vent test results and the provided indication of a failure to vent in the event that the determined value is greater than the preset level value.

47. A system for supplying lubricant, comprising:

a reservoir for holding lubricant, said reservoir having a reservoir outlet;

a pump comprising a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a cylinder inlet in communication with said reservoir outlet for flow of lubricant from the reservoir into the cylinder bore, and a cylinder outlet supplying lubricant, a piston movable in the cylinder bore;

a lubricant delivery system in communication with said cylinder outlet for delivering lubricant;

a drive mechanism including a stepper motor for moving the piston in the cylinder bore;

a sensor for sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal; and

,

a controller for controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to move the piston, said controller responsive to the condition signal to modify system operation; and

an alarm;

wherein the lubricant delivery system includes an injector and wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured for sensing a lubricant pressure supplied the injector and configured to provide a pressure signal corresponding thereto and wherein the controller selectively energizes the stepper motor in response to the pressure signal to activate the injector to dispense lubricant;

said controller controlling pulses applied to the stepper motor, wherein the controller is responsive to the condition signal to vary the speed and/or torque of the stepper motor depending on a value of the condition signal.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the controller comprises a processor and further comprising a tangible, computer readable non-transitory storage medium including processor executable instructions for controlling the operation of the processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions, and wherein the instructions comprise instructions for determining whether the lubricant injector connected to the system is venting and for energizing the alarm when a vent test indicates that the injector is not venting.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the instructions for determining whether the lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

determining whether an end-of-line PT reading is below a vent pressure setting; and

,

operating the pump stepper motor to perform a vent test in the event that the end-of-line PT reading is not below a vent pressure setting;

wherein the instructions for energizing the alarm further comprise instructions for timing the alarm in the event that the end-of-line PT reading is below a vent pressure setting.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the instructions for determining whether the lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

determining a yield stress value of the lubricant;

comparing the determined value to a preset level value;

providing an indication of positive (passing) vent test results in the event that the determined value is less than the preset level value; and

,

providing an indication of negative (failing) vent test results in the event that the determined value is greater than the preset level value.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the instructions for determining whether the lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

providing an indication of a failure to vent at the end of the lube supply line; and

,

discontinuing additional timed lube events;

wherein the instructions for energizing the alarm further comprise instructions for activating the alarm after providing the indication of the vent test results.

52. The system of claim 51, further comprising a display, and wherein the instructions for determining whether the lubricant injector connected to the system is venting further comprise:

instructions for showing the provided positive (passing) vent test results and the provided indication of a failure to vent in the event that the determined value is less than the preset level value; and

,

instructions for showing the provided negative (failing) vent test results and the provided indication of a failure to vent in the event that the determined value is greater than the preset level value.

53. A method for supplying lubricant, comprising:

providing a pump;

providing a stepper motor which, when energized, actuates a pump to deliver lubricant from a reservoir;

sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal; and

,

controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to actuate the pump in response to the condition signal to selectively modify system operation;

wherein the sensing includes determining whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting and energizing an alarm when a vent test indicates that the injector is not venting.

54. A system for supplying lubricant, comprising:

a pump;

a stepper motor which, when energized, actuates a pump to deliver lubricant from a reservoir;

a sensor for sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal; and

,

a controller for controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to actuate the pump in response to the condition signal to selectively modify system operation;

wherein the sensor comprises a sensor configured to determine whether a lubricant injector connected to the system is venting and energizing an alarm when a vent test indicates that the injector is not venting.

55. A system for supplying lubricant, comprising:

a reservoir for holding lubricant, said reservoir having a reservoir outlet;

a pump comprising a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a cylinder inlet in communication with said reservoir outlet for flow of lubricant from the reservoir into the cylinder bore, and a cylinder outlet supplying lubricant, a piston movable in the cylinder bore;

a lubricant delivery system in communication with said cylinder outlet for delivering lubricant;

a drive mechanism including a stepper motor for moving the piston in the cylinder bore;

a sensor for sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal; and

,

a controller for controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to move the piston, said controller responsive to the condition signal to modify system operation;

wherein the sensor comprises a sensor sensing at least one of a temperature of a bearing, an acoustic output of a bearing, or a vibration of a bearing such that the condition signal is indicative of a bearing temperature, a bearing acoustic output, or a bearing vibration, respectively, and wherein the controller is responsive to the condition signal to energize the stepper motor to move the piston to dispense lubricant at the lubrication point when the condition signal is indicative of a need for lubrication at a lubrication point of the bearing whereby the system provides lubrication on demand to the bearing in response to a signal indicative of the need for lubrication.

56. A method for supplying lubricant, comprising:

providing a pump;

providing a stepper motor which, when energized, actuates a pump to deliver lubricant from a reservoir;

sensing a condition of the system and providing a condition signal;

controlling the operation of the stepper motor by selectively energizing the stepper motor to actuate the pump in response to the condition signal to selectively modify system operation; and

controlling voltage and/or current applied to the stepper motor and said controlling is responsive to the condition signal to control the speed and/or torque of the stepper motor;

wherein the sensing comprises sensing at least one of a temperature of a bearing, an acoustic output of a bearing, or a vibration of a bearing such that the condition signal is indicative of a bearing temperature, a bearing acoustic output, or a bearing vibration, respectively, and further comprising energizing the stepper motor in response to the condition signal to actuate the pump to dispense lubricant at the lubrication point when the condition signal is indicative of a need for lubrication at a lubrication point of the bearing whereby the lubrication is provided on demand to the bearing in response to a signal indicative of the need for lubrication.