DE102021127604A1 - Grease nipple adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a grease nipple adapter (100) for connection to a grease nipple (10) arranged on a lubrication system, comprising: - an adapter housing (15) with a longitudinally axial bore (40) having an internal thread (21) for screwing to a threaded piece (13) a lubricant line (14), - a recess (37) made in the adapter housing (15) and into which a lubricating nipple head (24) engages, - and one between the threaded piece (13) and the lubricating nipple head (24) placed sealing ring (28).According to the invention, at least one passage opening (41, 41') running transversely to the bore (40) and outside of this bore (40) is worked into the adapter housing (15). A bolt-like securing element (38) is inserted into the through-opening (41, 41') to prevent the lubricating nipple (10) from rotating and/or axially shifting relative to the adapter housing (15), the inserted securing element (38) engaging behind the lubricating nipple head.

Description

• - ein Adaptergehäuse mit einer längsaxialen Bohrung aufweisend ein Innengewinde zum Verschrauben mit einem Gewindestück einer Schmiermittelleitung,
• - eine im Adaptergehäuse eingebrachte Ausnehmung, in welche ein Schmiernippel-Kopf eingreift,
• - sowie einen zwischen dem Gewindestück und dem Schmiernippel-Kopf platzierten Dichtring.

The invention relates to a lubricating nipple adapter for connection to a lubricating nipple arranged on a lubricating system, comprising:

• - an adapter housing with a longitudinally axial bore having an internal thread for screwing to a threaded piece of a lubricant line,
• - a recess made in the adapter housing, into which a grease nipple head engages,
• - and a sealing ring placed between the threaded piece and the grease nipple head.

A lubricating nipple is a small socket through which a bearing point can be supplied with lubricant using a grease gun or a lubricating system. This process is also referred to as smearing. In order to reduce the maintenance effort, it is known to connect several lubricating nipples by means of lubricating lines. Such a system of lubricating nipples connected to one another via lubricating lines is referred to as a lubricating system and frequently also as central lubrication.

Central lubrication is a device for supplying one or more lubrication points with lubricant. With central lubrication, the lubricant is pumped from a central reservoir, distributed and metered, and then pumped to the lubrication point. Lubrication systems reduce the maintenance effort, as the lubrication points no longer have to be supplied with lubricant manually.

As a rule, central lubrication can be retrofitted to machines that already have lubricating nipples that have to be lubricated manually. However, it can also be pre-installed by the vehicle or machine manufacturer. It can happen that the vehicle manufacturer uses components that already have grease nipples pre-installed. For example, the manufacturers of transport vehicles, such as trailers, usually use vehicle axles that they buy from an axle manufacturer and that are already equipped with grease nipples.

Both when central lubrication is retrofitted and when a manufacturer uses components with grease nipples already attached, there are grease nipples at the lubrication points. These lubricating nipples must be unscrewed to attach the central lubrication system and replaced with known screw-in fittings.

Lines that are connected to a central lubricant supply (pump) are then connected to the screw-in fittings.

Problems arise when the lubricating nipples cannot be removed, either because they have become stuck or because they have even been pressed in or glued in by the component supplier (e.g. the manufacturer of the vehicle axle). When trying to remove the grease nipples, for example, they can break off and then have to be removed or drilled out, which is a laborious process.

A grease nipple adapter of the type mentioned in the preamble is out DE 10 2020 119 197 A1 known to the applicant. The lubricating nipple adapter includes an adapter housing which can be temporarily elastically deformed when it engages on the lubricating nipple. For this purpose, at least one slot is provided on the grease nipple adapter, which allows the deformation. A sleeve-shaped blocking device secures the adapter housing against loosening from the grease nipple. This solution has worked well in the lubrication systems used on vehicles, but there is a need to simplify the design of the grease nipple adapter and its manufacture.

The object of the invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described and to propose a lubricating nipple adapter that enables simple conversion of lubricating points that are to be lubricated manually to central lubrication.

The aforementioned object is achieved with a grease nipple adapter according to claim 1.

Further technically advantageous developments are described in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, at least one through-opening running transversely to its longitudinal-axial bore and outside of this bore can be made on the adapter housing for receiving a bolt-like securing element which, after being inserted into the through-opening, engages behind the lubricating nipple head introduced into the adapter housing, whereby the lubricating nipple is prevented from twisting and/or or axial displacement can be secured.

As a rule, the lubricant lines only have threaded connections that cannot be coupled to the lubricating nipples. In order to couple a lubricant line to a grease nipple, an adapter is required which has a thread on one side and a grease nipple head receptacle on the other side thus creating a transition between the lubricant line and the grease nipple.

A great advantage of the invention is that the lubricating nipple adapter according to the invention consists only of the adapter housing and at least one bolt-like securing element, so that it is possible to dispense with the introduction of slots and the use of sleeve-shaped blocking devices.

It should also be noted that the existing lubricating nipple does not have to be removed when installing the central lubrication, but can be connected to the lubricating line using the new adapter, regardless of whether the lubricating nipple is unintentionally stuck or intentionally hammered in or glued in.

The adapter according to the invention is basically suitable for connection to all grease nipples, especially grease nipples with a rounded or beveled or conical head with a neck area.

Preferably, two mutually parallel passage openings are made on the solid body of the adapter housing, which allow the insertion of two security elements, preferably in the form of a U-bolt to form a form fit. The form fit is thus achieved by two U-legs of the U-bracket, which is inserted into the solid body in the transverse direction. The inserted U-legs touch the lubricating nipple head in its neck area and fix it while forming a loose fit.

The internal thread of the longitudinally axial bore encloses an interior space that can accommodate an external thread of the threaded piece and the sealing ring, with the sealing ring being clamped in a non-positive manner between the tightened threaded piece and the lubricating nipple head when the grease nipple adapter is screwed together.

It is advantageous here that the neck region of the grease nipple head inserted into the recess of the adapter housing can be used to fix it, in that the through-openings have a peripheral trough made in the solid body.

When the lubricating nipple adapter is in the assembled state, the U-legs of the U-bracket preferably touch both the trough and a neck area of the lubricating nipple head located behind the lubricating nipple head at certain points, forming a loose fit. This creates a form fit between the U-legs of the U-bracket and the neck area of the grease nipple head. The U-bracket thus fixes the adapter securely on the grease nipple head, but can also be easily dismantled if necessary.

The adapter housing is preferably designed as a solid body, which comprises two mutually plane-parallel and mirror-symmetrically arranged, outer, flat side surfaces and two opposite, partially cylindrical outer surfaces, which lie between said flat side surfaces. The solid body can comprise flat end faces arranged perpendicular to its longitudinal orientation.

Other external shapes of the adapter housing can also be considered. The adapter housing can be in the form of a body of revolution or a polygonal, straight or odd prism. in another embodiment, the side surfaces lying between the part-cylindrical outer surfaces can be concave.

In a preferred embodiment, the solid body of the lubricating nipple adapter comprises two mutually plane-parallel and mirror-symmetrically arranged, outer, flat side surfaces, which enclose two opposite, partially cylindrical, outer surfaces. A suitable tool for fixing the adapter, for example an open-end wrench, can be applied particularly easily to the flat side surfaces.

The through-openings for receiving the securing element preferably run out in the two flat side surfaces of the solid adapter body. In the production of the adapter according to the invention, the through-openings for the securing element can be introduced into the solid body more easily with a drill from a flat surface than from a cylindrical surface.

The adapter (solid body) can be made of a metal alloy, for example by machining, or as a cast part made of structural steel, stainless steel or brass.

Plastic compositions can also be used as materials for producing the adapter, for example from the groups: ABS, PC (polycarbonate), PSU (polysulfone), POM (thermo-stable, grease- and oil-resistant polyacetal) or duroplastic resins.

The adapter and/or the security element or U-bolt can have a refined, for example burnished or galvanized, inner and/or outer surface.

Furthermore, both the adapter and the U-bracket can be produced using 3D printing processes if they are made of plastic or a mixture of plastic and carbon fibers or metal.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

• 1 einen Schmiernippel-Adapter mit angeschlossenem Gewindestück und Schmiernippel, in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• 2 einen längsaxialen Halbschnitt des Schmiernippel-Adapters mit angeschlossenem Gewindestück und Schmiernippel;
• 3 den Schmiernippel-Adapter gemäß 1, in einer Stirnansicht, mit angedeuteten Tangentenpunkten (Berührungspunkten) des U-Bügels mit dem Schmiernippel-Kopf;
• 4 den Schmiernippel-Adapter mit anzuschließendem Gewindestück und Schmiernippel in einer Explosionsdarstellung;
• 5 einen längsaxialen Halbschnitt des Schmiernippel-Adapters mit angedeuteter Durchgangsöffnung und Mulde, in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;
• 6 einen schematischen Halbschnitt des Schmiernippel-Adapters gemäß 5 und
• 7 ein Schema einer Schmieranlage.

The figures show:

• 1 a grease nipple adapter with attached threaded piece and grease nipple, in a perspective view,
• 2 a longitudinal axial half section of the grease nipple adapter with attached threaded piece and grease nipple;
• 3 according to the grease nipple adapter 1 , in a front view, with indicated tangent points (points of contact) of the U-bracket with the grease nipple head;
• 4 the lubricating nipple adapter with the threaded piece to be connected and the lubricating nipple in an exploded view;
• 5 a longitudinal axial half section of the grease nipple adapter with indicated through opening and trough, in a perspective view;
• 6 according to a schematic half section of the grease nipple adapter 5 and
• 7 a scheme of a lubrication system.

The same or similar elements can be provided with the same or similar reference symbols in the following figures. Furthermore, the figures of the drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that these features can also be considered individually or that they can be combined to form further combinations that are not described in detail here.

• - einem Adaptergehäuse 15, welches im dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel als Massivkorpus 11 (vgl. 5) aus Edelstahl durch spanabhebende Bearbeitung ausgeführt ist,
• - und einem Sicherungselement 38, welches in Form eines U-Bügels 39 aufweisend zwei U-Schenkel 36, 36' vorliegt.

one in the 1 and 4 The lubricating nipple adapter 100 shown, hereinafter referred to as "adapter", consists of the following individual parts:

• - an adapter housing 15, which in the illustrated embodiment as a solid body 11 (cf. 5 ) is made of stainless steel by machining,
• - And a securing element 38, which is in the form of a U-bracket 39 having two U-legs 36, 36'.

The adapter also includes a standard sealing ring 28.

How out 3 until 5 As can be seen, the solid body 11 comprises two part-cylindrical, mirror-symmetrical outer surfaces 17,17' and two mutually plane-parallel and also mirror-symmetrically arranged outer, plane side surfaces 16,16' as well as two plane end faces 18, 18' lying perpendicular to the longitudinal alignment of the bore 40.

An interior space 33 surrounded by an internal thread 21 extends along the bore 40 and merges into an encircling, semicircular trough 44 via an encircling, narrowing inner projection 19 .

A special feature of the adapter housing 15 is the two through-openings 41, 41' made in the material of the solid body 11, which are made in the solid body 11 in the region of said trough 44 (cf. 6 ). Again 5 As can be seen, the through-opening 41 (or 41') assumes the shape of an elliptical contour 22 when penetrating the solid body 11, starting from the side surface 16 (only half of the ellipse is visible in the figure). The introduction of the through-opening 41, 41' on the flat side surface is more advantageous than it is on a curved, cylindrical outer surface for manufacturing reasons, since a drill can be applied more easily and accurately to a flat surface than to a curved surface.

In 7 the lubricant lines 14 leading to the lubrication points 43 of a central lubrication system 50 are shown schematically. The lubrication points 43 (bearing parts to be lubricated) are in 7 each represented by a small circle in the center (dot) of which a grease nipple 10 is indicated.

By integrating all lubrication points in a lubrication system, it is ruled out that a lubrication point 43 is inadvertently left out when lubricating. In addition, with an automatic lubricating system 50 no dirt adhering to the lubricating nipple or the grease gun can get into the bearing to be lubricated.

Furthermore, the 7 a main line 12 with known distributors 31 mounted thereon, a pressure switch 46, a control device 47 with which time-dependent control can be implemented, for example, and a pump unit 20 for the lubricant. The pump unit 20 is controlled in such a way that it switches on automatically when required and conveys the lubricant through the main line 12 to the distributor 31 and further via the lubricant line 14 to the lubrication points 43 .

How it works (in connection with Figures 1 to 6)

In order to securely connect the adapter housing 15 to a lubricating nipple 10 , it is pushed onto a lubricating nipple head 24 while exerting an axially aligned pressing force in such a way that the latter is positioned within a recess 37 .

Then the U-bracket 39 is inserted with its U-legs 36, 36' into the two passage openings 41, 41'. Here, the U-legs 36, 36' pass a neck area 42 of the grease nipple head 24 and press against the grease nipple head 24 at tangent points 32, 32' (cf. 3 ). The adapter 15 is thus fixed on the lubricating nipple head 24 .

The U-legs 36, 36' protrude with their free ends 48, 48' beyond the side surface 16 of the adapter housing 15.

Preferably, before the adapter housing 15 is installed, a connecting part (standard screw-in fitting) is connected to the adapter housing 15 . Such a standard fitting, which in 4 is shown in outline, has a threaded piece 13 with an external thread 45 . The external thread 45 can be screwed into the internal thread 21 mentioned. On the side facing away from the threaded piece 13, the standard screw-in fitting is, for example, equipped with an in 7 Lubricant line 14 shown connected.

In order to seal the connection part against the grease nipple head 24, the sealing ring 28 is inserted into the bore 40 (interior 33) during assembly and finally positioned by screwing in the threaded piece 13. The sealing ring 28 makes contact with the threaded piece 28 on one side and with the lubricating nipple head 24 on the other side and thus ensures the tightness of the entire lubricating nipple adapter 100.

Reference List

10

grease nipple

11

solid body (=15)

12

main line

13

threaded piece

14

lubricant line (s. 7 )

15

adapter housing

16,16'

side face (v. 15/11)

17,17'

outer surface

18,18'

face

19

inner protrusion

20

pump unit

21

inner thread

22

ellipse contour

23

-

24

Grease Nipple Head

25

-

26

-

27

-

28

sealing ring

31

distributor ( 7 )

32, 32'

tangent point

33

Interior (v. 15)

36, 36'

U leg

37

recess

38

fuse element

39

U-bracket

40

drilling

41, 41'

passage opening

42

neck area (v. 24)

43

lubrication point

44

trough

45

external thread

46

pressure switch

47

control unit

48, 48'

free end (v. 36)

50

lubrication system

100

Grease nipple adapter

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102020119197 A1 [0008]

Claims (10)

Lubricating nipple adapter (100) for connection to a lubricating nipple (10) arranged on a lubricating system (50), comprising: - an adapter housing (15) with a longitudinally axial bore (40) having an internal thread (21) for screwing to a threaded piece ( 13) a lubricant line (14), - a recess (37) in the adapter housing (15) into which a lubricating nipple head (24) engages, - and one placed between the threaded piece (13) and the lubricating nipple head (24). Sealing ring (28), characterized in that - at least one through-opening (41; 41') running transversely to the bore (40) and outside of this bore (40) is machined into the adapter housing (15), - in the through-opening (41; 41' ) a bolt-like securing element (38) is inserted or can be inserted to prevent the lubricating nipple (10) from twisting and/or axial displacement relative to the adapter housing (15) and - the inserted securing element (38) engages behind the lubricating nipple head (24). Grease nipple adapter (100). claim 1 , characterized in that the securing element (38) is present as a U-bracket (39), each U-leg (36, 36') of which is inserted or can be inserted into a respective through-opening (41, 41'). Grease nipple adapter (100). claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the internal thread (21) of the adapter housing (15) encloses an interior (33) in which - in the screwed together state of the grease nipple adapter (100) - an external thread (45) of the threaded piece (13) and the sealing ring ( 28) are located. Grease nipple adapter (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the interior (33) of the adapter housing (15) merges via the recess (37) into at least one inwardly open, peripheral trough (44). Grease nipple adapter (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the U-legs (36, 36 ') of the U-bracket (39) in the assembled state of the grease nipple adapter (100) both the trough (44) and one located behind the grease nipple head (24). Touch the neck area (42) of the lubricating nipple head (24) at certain points, forming a loose fit. Grease nipple adapter (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the adapter housing (15) is a solid body (11) made from one piece of material. Grease nipple adapter (100). claim 6 , characterized in that the solid body (11) is prismatic, for example cuboid. Grease nipple adapter (100). claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the solid body (11) comprises two mutually plane-parallel and mirror-symmetrically arranged, outer, flat side surfaces (16, 16'), which also include two opposing part-cylindrical outer surfaces (17, 17'). Grease nipple adapter (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the through-openings (41) terminate in both planar side faces (16, 16'). Grease nipple adapter (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that at least the solid body (11) is made of metal, such as steel or brass, or of grease and oil-resistant plastic, such as polycarbonate.

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