Methods of controlling a lubricator apparatus, methods of communication, and apparatuses and systems

• US 9,441,613 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephania Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stephania Holdings Inc.
• Inventors: Orlitzky, Stephan Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSE, MARK KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US14/342,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 11/08 with mechanical drive, other than directly by springs or weights lubricating-pumps F16N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2230/02 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/00 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/02 for influencing the supply of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A method of controlling a lubricator apparatus, according to one illustrative embodiment, comprises: receiving a signal representing rotation of a lubricant applicator in rotatable engagement with an object to be lubricated; and causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated in response to the signal. A method of communication, according to another illustrative embodiment, comprises: receiving, at a communication apparatus, a plurality of input operational property signals; transmitting an output operational property signal from the communication apparatus to a data collection apparatus, the output operational property signal representing at least one of the measurements; receiving, at the communication apparatus, an input control signal; and controlling at least one device of the system in response to the input control signal. Other illustrative embodiments include a computer-readable medium, a lubricator apparatus, a system, and a communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a lubricator apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a signal representing rotation of a lubricant applicator in rotatable engagement with an object to be lubricated;

determining whether the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least a first predefined period of time after a most recent dispense of lubricant; and

causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated in response to determining that the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least the first predefined period of time after the most recent dispense of lubricant,

wherein the signal represents detection proximate a reference point of at least one detectable element on the lubricant applicator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lubricant applicator comprises an idler gear.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the idler gear comprises a metallic idler gear.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lubricant applicator comprises a sponge.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the sponge comprises polyethylene.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the object to be lubricated comprises a gear.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the object to be lubricated comprises a chain.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing the signal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one detectable element comprises at least one magnetic element.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant in response to the signal comprises causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant in response to the signal representing a predefined number of detections of the at least one detectable element proximate the reference point.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant in response to a second predefined period of time passing since a most recent of

a most recent signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator, and

a most recent dispense of lubricant.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant in response to a second predefined period of time passing since a most recent of

a most recent signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator, and

a most recent dispense of lubricant

if the most recent signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator is within a third predefined period of time greater than the second predefined period of time.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to direct a processor circuit to implement a method comprising:

receiving a signal representing rotation of a lubricant applicator in rotatable engagement with an object to be lubricated;

determining whether the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least a first predefined period of time after a most recent dispense of lubricant; and

causing the lubricator apparatus to dispense lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated in response to determining that the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least the first predefined period of time after the most recent dispense of lubricant,

wherein the signal represents detection proximate a reference point of at least one detectable element on the lubricant applicator.

14. A lubricator apparatus comprising:

a lubricant applicator engageable for rotation about an axis of rotation with an object to be lubricated;

a means for generating a signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator about the axis of rotation;

a means for determining whether the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least a first predefined period of time after a most recent dispense of lubricant; and

a means for dispensing lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated in response to a determination, by the means for determining, that the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least the first predefined period of time after the most recent dispense of lubricant,

wherein the signal represents detection proximate a reference point of at least one detectable element on the lubricant applicator.

15. A lubricator apparatus comprising:

a lubricant applicator engageable for rotation about an axis of rotation with an object to be lubricated;

a detector configured to generate a signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator about the axis of rotation;

a lubricant dispenser in fluid communication with the lubricant applicator to dispense lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated; and

a processor circuit in communication with the detector to receive the signal, the processor circuit further in communication with the lubricant dispenser to control the lubricant dispenser;

wherein the processor circuit is configured to;

determine whether the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least a first predefined period of time after a most recent dispense of lubricant; and

cause the lubricant dispenser to dispense lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated in response to determining that the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least the first predefined period of time after the most recent dispense of lubricant,

and further comprising at least one detectable element positioned on the lubricant applicator to move proximate a reference point in response to rotation of the lubricant applicator about the axis of rotation,

wherein the detector is configured to detect the at least one detectable element proximate the reference point, and

wherein the detector is configured to generate the signal in response to detection proximate the reference point of the at least one detectable element on the lubricant applicator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lubricant applicator comprises an idler gear.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the idler gear comprises a metallic idler gear.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lubricant applicator comprises a sponge.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the sponge comprises polyethylene.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the object to be lubricated comprises a gear.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the object to be lubricated comprises a chain.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one detectable element comprises at least one magnetic element.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor circuit is configured to cause the lubricant dispenser to dispense lubricant in response to the signal representing a predefined number of detections of the at least one detectable element proximate the detector.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor circuit is configured to cause the lubricant dispenser to dispense lubricant in response to a second predefined period of time passing since a most recent of

a most recent signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator, and

a most recent dispense of lubricant.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor circuit is configured to cause the lubricant dispenser to dispense lubricant in response to a second predefined period of time passing since a most recent of

a most recent signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator, and

a most recent dispense of lubricant

if the most recent signal representing rotation of the lubricant applicator is within a third predefined period of time greater than the second predefined period of time.

26. A system comprising:

an object to be lubricated; and

a lubricator apparatus comprising;

a lubricant applicator engageable for rotation about an axis of rotation with the object to be lubricated;

a means for determining whether the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least a first predefined period of time after a most recent dispense of lubricant; and

a means for dispensing lubricant through the lubricant applicator to the object to be lubricated in response to a determination, by the means for determining, that the rotation of the lubricant applicator represented by the signal was at least the first predefined period of time after the most recent dispense of lubricant,

wherein the lubricator apparatus further comprises at least one detectable element positioned on the lubricant applicator to move proximate a reference point in response to rotation of the lubricant applicator about the axis of rotation; and

a means for detecting the at least one detectable element proximate the reference point,

wherein the means for detecting is configured to detect the at least one detectable element proximate the reference point, and

wherein the means for generating is configured to generate the signal in response to detection proximate the reference point of the at least one detectable element on the lubricant applicator.