Automatic lubrication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041627-B2
Application number	US-201615196457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

An automatic lubrication device includes a lubricant container configured to receive a lubricant, a lubricant delivery device for delivering the lubricant, a pump configured to pump the lubricant from the lubricant container to the lubricant delivery device, a drive configured to drive the pumping device, the drive being coupled to the pump via a force-transmission device, an internal control device for controlling the drive, and a control panel configured to enter control commands for the internal control device as an interface for an operator. Components of the automatic lubrication device that include potential electrical or non-electrical ignition sources each include at least one suitable type of protection, which makes the potential ignition sources ineffective, so that a potential fire- or explosion-risk emanating from the automatic lubrication device is eliminated when the automatic lubrication device is used in a fire- and/or explosion-endangered environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic lubrication device comprising a plurality of components, the components including:
a lubricant container configured to receive a lubricant;
a lubricant delivery device for delivering the lubricant;
a pump configured to pump the lubricant from the lubricant container to the lubricant delivery device;
a drive configured to drive the pump, wherein the drive is coupled to the pump via a force-transmission device;
an internal control device for controlling the drive; and a control panel configured to enter control commands for the internal control device as an interface for an operator; wherein
a first set of the components comprising components that include potential electrical or non-electrical ignition sources, wherein the first set of components each include at least one suitable type of protection, which makes the potential ignition sources ineffective, so that a potential fire- or explosion-risk emanating from the automatic lubrication device is eliminated when the automatic lubrication device is used in a fire- and/or explosion-endangered environment.

2. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive and the internal control device include a first encapsulation that satisfies standards IEC 60079-1 and IEC 60079-0 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

3. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 2 , wherein for monitoring a lubrication function the internal control device is equipped with an interface for internal sensor signals that are sensed inside the first encapsulation and for external sensor signals that are sensed outside the first encapsulation.

4. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 2 , further including a radio module that is configured for connecting the automatic lubrication device to an external control device, wherein the radio module includes a second encapsulation that satisfies one of the standards IEC 60079-1, IEC 60079-5, or IEC 60079-18 in addition to IEC 60079-0 of the IEC.

5. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 2 , wherein the pump is not included in the first encapsulation.

6. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , wherein the control panel satisfies the standards IEC 60079-11 and IEC 60079-0 of the IEC.

7. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises an electric motor and/or a fluid pump.

8. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first temperature sensor that is configured for recording at least one first temperature, and/or a first temperature protection switch that is configured for interrupting a power supply of the control panel in an event of a recording of a defined first maximum temperature.

9. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 8 , further including a second sensor that is configured for recording at least one second temperature and/or a second temperature protection switch that is configured for interrupting the power supply of the drive in an event of a recording of a defined second maximum temperature.

10. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , further including a corded signal interface that is configured for connecting the automatic lubrication device to an external control device, wherein the signal interface is operated in a mode of intrinsic safety.

11. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 10 , wherein the signal interface is operated according to standard IEC 60079-11, IEC 60079-25, and/or IEC 60079-27 in addition to standard IEC 60079-0 of the IEC.

12. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , further including a further signal interface that is configured for coupling the automatic lubrication device to one or more external sensors for monitoring a lubrication function, and
wherein the further signal interface is operated in a mode of intrinsic safety, in particular according to the standard IEC 60079-11 and/or IEC 60079-25 in addition to IEC 60079-0 of the IEC.

13. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , wherein the lubricant delivery device comprises a lubricant line and wherein the components comprise the drive comprises a member of the first set of components.

14. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , wherein the pump is not enclosed by the at least one suitable type of protection.

15. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the drive and the internal control device include a first encapsulation that satisfies standards IEC 60079-1 and standard IEC 60079-0 of the IEC,
wherein the control panel satisfies standards IEC 60079-11 and IEC 60079-0 of the IEC,
wherein the drive comprises an electric motor and a fluid pump,
wherein the internal control device is equipped with an interface for internal sensor signals that are sensed inside the first encapsulation and for external sensor signals that are sensed outside the first encapsulation,
further comprising a first temperature sensor configured to record at least one first temperature, or a first temperature protection switch configured to interrupt a power supply of the control panel in an event of a recording of a defined first maximum temperature,
further including a second sensor configured to record at least one second temperature or a second temperature protection switch configured to interrupt a power supply of the drive in an event of a recording of a defined second maximum temperature,
further including a corded signal interface configured to connect the automatic lubrication device to an external control device, wherein the signal interface is operated according to standards IEC 60079-11, IEC 60079-25, and/or IEC 60079-27 in addition to standard IEC 60079-0 of the IEC, and
further including a radio module configured to connect the automatic lubrication device to an external control device, wherein the radio module includes a second encapsulation that satisfies one of the standards IEC 60079-1, IEC 60079-5, or IEC 60079-18 in addition to IEC 60079-0 of the IEC.

16. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 1 , wherein a second set of the components comprising components that do not include potential electrical or non-electrical ignition sources do not include at least one suitable type of protection for making the potential ignition sources ineffective.

17. An automatic lubrication device comprising a plurality of components, the components comprising:
a lubricant container configured to receive a lubricant;
a lubricant delivery line for delivering the lubricant;
a pump configured to pump the lubricant from the lubricant container to the lubricant delivery line;
a drive configured to drive the pump and being operably coupled to the pump, the drive including an electric motor; and
a microprocessor for controlling the drive; and a control panel configured to enter control commands for the microprocessor; wherein
the electric motor is encapsulated in a manner such that sparks produced by the electric motor cannot ignite combustible materials in an environment of the automatic lubrication device and the pump is not encapsulated in a manner such that sparks produced by the pump cannot ignite combustible materials in the environment of the automatic lubrication device.

18. The automatic lubrication device according to claim 17 , wherein the microprocessor is encapsulated in a manner such that sparks produced by the microprocessor cannot ignite combustible materials in the environment of the automat

Assignees

• Thjunjoto
• Hoppe Peter
• Manhica Antonio
• Schmidt Holger
• Skf Lubrication Systems Germany

Inventors

• Thjunjoto
• Hoppe Peter
• Manhica Antonio
• Schmidt Holger

Classifications

• F16N2260/20

  Emergency · CPC title

• F16N25/02

  with reciprocating distributing slide valve · CPC title

• F16N29/04 Primary

  enabling a warning to be given; enabling moving parts to be stopped · CPC title

• F16N2250/08

  Temperature · CPC title

• F16N7/38

  with a separate pump; Central lubrication systems · CPC title