Lubrication system for a mechanism, in particular for a rotary bearing in a spacecraft
First Claim
1. Lubrication system for a mechanism, comprising a non pressurized tank, containing a lubrication fluid, and a distribution channel for said fluid having a first port and a second port, opening through the first port into said tank and supplying through the second port said mechanism to be lubricated, wherein said lubrication system comprises:
- a piston reciprocating inside the tank in translation along its longitudinal axis, so as to provide two determined states, a first state in which said piston obturates said first port of the distribution channel, and a second state in which said piston is at a determined distance from said first port of the distribution channel, so as to create a pumping enclosure, of a determined volume, communicating by capillarity in said second state with the tank, and allow said lubricating fluid penetrating therein, andcontrol means for said piston causing a motion from said first state to said second state, so as to fill said pumping enclosure by capillarity effect, and a motion in the opposite direction from said second state to said first state, so as to expel via said distribution channel a determined volume of lubricating fluid towards said mechanism to be lubricated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a lubrication system for a mechanism (27), on-board a spacecraft. It comprises a non pressurized tank (20) communicating with the mechanism (27) via a tube (220). A piston (23) closes the tube (220) while the mechanism is at rest. The piston (23) is controlled by a first spring (5) and by a second, shape memory, spring (24) opposing the latter, which lengthen by thermal effect. A controller (25, 26) supplies this spring with a current (I) to actuate it. An annular element(7), pushed by a cylindrical spring (6), defines a capillarity filled pumping chamber (22). When the temperature of the shape memory alloy (24) falls back below a threshold, the spring (24) recovers its original shape, the first spring (5) pushes back the piston (23) and expels a dose of lubrication fluid (4).
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Lubrication system for a mechanism, comprising a non pressurized tank, containing a lubrication fluid, and a distribution channel for said fluid having a first port and a second port, opening through the first port into said tank and supplying through the second port said mechanism to be lubricated, wherein said lubrication system comprises:
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a piston reciprocating inside the tank in translation along its longitudinal axis, so as to provide two determined states, a first state in which said piston obturates said first port of the distribution channel, and a second state in which said piston is at a determined distance from said first port of the distribution channel, so as to create a pumping enclosure, of a determined volume, communicating by capillarity in said second state with the tank, and allow said lubricating fluid penetrating therein, and control means for said piston causing a motion from said first state to said second state, so as to fill said pumping enclosure by capillarity effect, and a motion in the opposite direction from said second state to said first state, so as to expel via said distribution channel a determined volume of lubricating fluid towards said mechanism to be lubricated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification