Measuring arrangement for lubricant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566700-B2
Application number	US-201917280198-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2019
Priority date	Sep 27, 2018
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A system includes a bearing, a lubricant line, a vessel and a sensor. The lubricant line is designed to introduce lubricant from a bearing gap of the bearing into the vessel. The sensor is designed to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the vessel. The vessel includes an outlet or overflow. The system includes a lubricant sump and a device for introducing lubricant from the sump into the bearing gap of the bearing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a bearing;
a lubricant line configured to introduce lubricant from a bearing gap of the bearing into a vessel;
a sensor arranged in the vessel and configured to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated within the vessel;
a lubricant sump; and
a device for introducing lubricant from the lubricant sump into the bearing gap of the bearing,
wherein the vessel comprises an outlet or overflow.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet or overflow is arranged in such a way that lubricant exiting the vessel via the outlet or overflow enters the lubricant sump.

3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a planetary carrier and a planetary gear; wherein the planetary gear is rotatably supported in the planetary carrier by means of the bearing;
wherein the planetary carrier forms at least part of the lubricant line, or at least part of the lubricant line is fixed to the planetary carrier.

4. The system according to claim 3 , further comprising a collecting device and a lubricant-conducting connection from the collecting device to the vessel; wherein the collecting device is arranged in such a way that it collects lubricant exiting the lubricant line at at least one rotational angle position of the planetary carrier.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the lubricant line comprises a thermally insulating material.

6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a further lubricant line, a further vessel and a further sensor; wherein the further lubricant line is designed to introduce lubricant from the bearing gap of the bearing into the further vessel; wherein the further sensor is designed to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the further vessel.

7. A system comprising:
a bearing;
a lubricant line configured to introduce lubricant from a bearing gap of the bearing into a vessel;
a sensor configured to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the vessel;
a planetary carrier, wherein the planetary carrier forms at least part of the lubricant line or at least part of the lubricant line is fixed to the planetary carrier; and
a planetary gear, wherein the planetary gear is rotatably supported in the planetary carrier by means of the bearing.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the vessel comprises an outlet or overflow.

9. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a lubricant sump and a device for introducing lubricant from the lubricant sump into the bearing gap of the bearing.

10. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising a collecting device and a lubricant-conducting connection from the collecting device to the vessel; wherein the collecting device is arranged in such a way that it collects lubricant exiting the lubricant line at at least one rotational angle position of the planetary carrier.

11. The system according to claim 7 , wherein at least a part of the lubricant line comprises a thermally insulating material.

12. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising a further lubricant line, a further vessel and a further sensor; wherein the further lubricant line is designed to introduce lubricant from the bearing gap of the bearing into the further vessel; wherein the further sensor is designed to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the further vessel.

13. A system comprising:
a bearing;
a lubricant line configured to introduce lubricant from a bearing gap of the bearing into a vessel; and
a sensor configured to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the vessel,
wherein at least a part of the lubricant line comprises a thermally insulating material.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the vessel comprises an outlet or overflow.

15. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising a lubricant sump and a device for introducing lubricant from the lubricant sump into the bearing gap of the bearing.

16. The system according to claim 13 , further comprising a planetary carrier and a planetary gear;
wherein the planetary gear is rotatably supported in the planetary carrier by means of the bearing; and
wherein the planetary carrier forms at least part of the lubricant line, or at least part of the lubricant line is fixed to the planetary carrier.

17. The system according to claim 16 , further comprising a collecting device and a lubricant-conducting connection from the collecting device to the vessel; wherein the collecting device is arranged in such a way that it collects lubricant exiting the lubricant line at at least one rotational angle position of the planetary carrier.

18. The system according to claim 13 , further comprising a further lubricant line, a further vessel and a further sensor; wherein the further lubricant line is designed to introduce lubricant from the bearing gap of the bearing into the further vessel; wherein the further sensor is designed to measure at least one physical variable of lubricant that is situated in the further vessel.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Wolf Daniel
• Riess Christian
• Kutluay Umit
• Vath Andreas

Classifications

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title

• F16C2233/00

  Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration · CPC title

• F16C2361/61

  Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts · CPC title

• F16H57/045

  Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case · CPC title

• F16H57/0471

  Bearing · CPC title