Method of supplying lubricant and apparatus for the same
First Claim
1. A method of supplying lubricant, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to t least one element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a solid lubricant, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling aid electrical power source, and a sensor for detcting a state of the at least one element of the machine;
causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the mchine is required;
causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and
coating the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lubricant supply source is disposed in the vicinity of a sliding or rotary portion of a machine element, and an electrical power source is intermittently driven by a controller, so as to intermittently supply lubricant from the lubricant supply source to the machine element. When required, a sensor for monitoring the operating state of the machine element, and/or a remote controller is used, so that the supply of lubricant is controlled on the basis of the signal of the sensor and/or by means of the remote controller. Consequently, lubricant can be supplied or supplemented to the machine element in accordance with necessity. Therefore, the machine element will be able to stably operate for a long time, even in relative inaccessible places which people cannot inadvertently access.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of supplying lubricant, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to t least one element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a solid lubricant, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling aid electrical power source, and a sensor for detcting a state of the at least one element of the machine; causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the mchine is required; causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and coating the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
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2. A method of supplying lubricant the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to at least one element of a machine, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling said electrical power source, and a sensor for detecting a state of the at least one element of the machine; causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the machine is reqired; causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and caoting the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evapoating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means, wherein said controllwer communicates through a communication means with a remote controller, monitors the state of the at least one machine element, and determines that lubricant should be supplied to the at least one machine element when the supply of lubricant is required.
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3. A method of supplying lubricant to a machine component part in motion comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the condition of the machine element by means of a sensor; and supplying lubricant in accordance with the state of the machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
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4. An apparatus for supplying lubricant comprising:
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a tribo-coating means for supplying a solid lubricant to an element of a hamchine; an electrical power source for operating said tribo-coating means so as to cause an evaporation of the solid lubricant and coating of the element of the machine;
nda controller for driving said electrical power source at predetermined intervals of time. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. An apparatus for supplyng lubricant comprising:
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a tribo-coating means for supplying a solid lubricant to an element of a machine;
`an electrical power source for opeating said tribo-coating means so aso to cuase an evaporation of the solid lubricant and coating of the element of the machine;a controller for driving and controlling said power source; and a sensor for monitoring an operating state of the machine element and for generating signals forming an input to said cntroller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 11, 12, 13)
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9. Appartus for supplying lubricant, the apparatus comprising:
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a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to an element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a slid lubricant, and aheating means for heating and evaporating said lubricant so as to effect vacuum deposition, said heating means including at least one of a laser beam, and electron beam and a heater; an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means; a controller for driving and controlling said power source; and a sensor for moniotoring an operating state of the machine element and for generating signals forming an input to said controller. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification