Continuous provision of a valid lubricant sample

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11906107-B2
Application number	US-201917257321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2019
Priority date	Jul 6, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

An arrangement forming a lubricant circuit includes at least one lubricant line, at least one line branching that branches the lubricant line into a first branch and a second branch. The arrangement further includes at least one lubricant reservoir integrated into the first branch, and at least one line junction where the first branch and the second branch merge. The first branch is lockable and releasable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An arrangement forming a lubricant circuit, comprising:
at least one lubricant line,
at least one line branching that branches the lubricant line into a first branch and a second branch,
at least one lubricant reservoir integrated into the first branch;
at least one valve integrated into the first branch, wherein the valve is temperature controlled; and
at least one line junction where the first branch and the second branch merge,
wherein the first branch is lockable and releasable.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a valve integrated into the line branching or into the line junction, the valve being designed as a switching valve.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional valve integrated into the second branch.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a pump arranged upstream of the line branching or downstream of the line junction with respect to a lubricant flow running through the lubricant circuit.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a first pump integrated into the first branch and a second pump integrated into the second branch.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the first pump further comprises a check valve, wherein the check valve of the pump is arranged between the line branching and the lubricant reservoir with respect to a lubricant flow running through the first branch, wherein the check valve of the pump is passable in the direction of the lubricant reservoir and locks in the direction of the line branching.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one lubricant filter, wherein the lubricant filter is arranged downstream of the line junction with respect to the lubricant flow running through the lubricant circuit.

8. A method for continuous provision of a valid lubricant sample using an arrangement according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
measuring one or more physical variables of the lubricant, and
controlling, as a function of the measured physical variables, a valve integrated into the first branch, a valve embodied as a switching valve, a valve integrated into the second branch, and a first pump and/or a second pump.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one controller configured to:
measure one or more physical variables of the lubricant, and
control, as a function of the measured physical variables, a valve integrated into the first branch, a valve embodied as a switching valve, a valve integrated into the second branch, and a first pump and/or a second pump.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve actuates based on a temperature of the lubricant.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Vath Andreas
• Berger Guenter
• Tenckhoff Georg

Classifications

• F16N29/02 Primary

  for influencing the supply of lubricant · CPC title

• F16N7/38

  with a separate pump; Central lubrication systems · CPC title

• F16N39/06

  by filtration (filters in general B01D; magnetic separators B03C1/00; {centrifugal separators or filters B04B5/005}) · CPC title

• G01N1/2035

  by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping · CPC title

• G01N33/2888

  Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration (lubricating properties G01N33/30) · CPC title