JPH05636Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) This invention relates to a greasing device, and particularly relates to a greasing device that supplies lubricant such as grease to lubricated parts of working machines and the like.

(Prior Art) Generally, a lubricating device has a tank containing a lubricant, and is configured to supply a fixed amount of the lubricant in the tank by a pump action. However, since the tank stores a finite amount of lubricant, the lubricant will be used up as the lubricant continues to be refilled, and the lubricant will not be refilled even if the pump is operated. Therefore, for example, if the lubricant in the tank cannot be seen from the outside and the parts to be lubricated are in places that are difficult for workers to see, the workers will have to monitor whether or not that part is being lubricated. The problem arises that it is not possible to do so.

As a conventional device to solve such problems,
A device like the one shown in Fig. 6 (for example,
-Refer to Publication No. 19898). In the figure, 45 is a tank containing lubricant, and a floating body 46 is placed above the oil surface of the lubricant contained in this tank 45. This floating body 46 will descend as the lubricant level decreases. A level bar 47 is attached to this floating body 46, and this level bar 47 is connected to the tank 4.
The tank 4 is inserted through the through hole 48 formed in the upper wall of the tank 5.
5, and a protrusion 4 on the upper side thereof.
9 is formed. On the other hand, a limit switch 50 is arranged on the outer surface of the upper wall of the tank 45, and when the level bar 47 moves downward, the protrusion 49 comes into contact with the limit switch 50, turning it on. That is, tank 45
When the oil level of the lubricant inside decreases as the lubricant is refilled and the remaining amount of lubricant becomes less than a predetermined value, the protrusion 49 of the level bar 47 comes into contact with the limit switch 50, and the limit switch 50 is turned on. Based on the ON signal from the limit switch 50, a separately provided display means, such as a display lamp, flashes to indicate that no lubricant remains in the tank 45.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the case of the device with the above configuration, the tank 4
A space is required above the level bar 47 to allow free vertical movement of the level bar 47, and therefore, depending on the installation location of the device, it may be difficult to secure such space.

Recently, in order to eliminate the trouble of replenishing the tank 45 with lubricant, cartridge-type tanks have come into use. This cartridge type tank is used by attaching a new tank prepared separately when the lubricant runs out. However, configuring the above-mentioned detection mechanism in each such disposable tank poses problems in terms of cost and other factors, and is extremely difficult to put into practical use.

This invention was made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and its purpose was to eliminate the need for special space and without adding any special configuration to cartridge-type tanks.
To provide a lubricating device capable of displaying when a predetermined amount of lubricant remains in a tank.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the lubricating device of this invention supplies the lubricant from a pump body 1 to which a tank 3 containing a predetermined amount of lubricant is attached. A lubricating device comprising a lubricating mechanism 15 that replenishes lubricant in a fixed amount at a time, and a setting means for setting a reference number of times of lubricating required for the lubricant in the tank 3 to reach a predetermined remaining amount. 42, a counting means 40 for counting the number of times of lubrication from the pump body 1, a determining means 41 for determining whether the number of times of lubrication has reached the reference number of times, and a counting means 40 for counting the number of times of lubrication from the pump body 1; It has a display means 43 for displaying that the number of times of greasing has reached the reference number in response to a signal.

(Function) In the lubrication device having the above configuration, the lubricant in the tank 3 reaches a predetermined remaining amount based on the capacity of the lubricant contained in the tank 3 and the amount of lubricant supplied per time. Since the number of times of lubrication required to achieve this can be calculated, this number of times of lubrication is first set as the reference number of times. Then, along with the greasing operation, the number of times the greasing has been performed is counted. When the number of times the lubricant is refilled reaches the reference number, it is determined that the lubricant in the tank 3 has reached the predetermined remaining amount, and a display to that effect is displayed.

(Example) Next, a specific example of the greasing device of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a greasing device according to an embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 2, the pump body 1 has a greasing mechanism section 2 on the right side in the same figure.
Further, a bottomed cylindrical bellows-shaped tank 3 made of soft resin is attached to the upper part of each tank. Inside the pump body 1, there is a pump chamber 4 horizontally in the figure.
is drilled. A suction passage 5 communicating with the pump chamber 4 from the upper surface of the pump body 1 is perpendicularly formed, and a lubricant outlet 6 of the tank 3 is screwed into the upper threaded portion of the suction passage 5. Further, a check valve chamber 7 is provided at the end of the pump chamber 4 opposite to the attachment portion of the greasing mechanism section 2. A check valve 9 biased so as to come into contact with the end face of the pump chamber 4 is arranged. A discharge passage 10 communicating with the check valve chamber 7 is bored at the lower end of the pump body 1, and a nipple 11 is attached to the lower opening of the discharge passage 10 by a nut 12. ing. This greasing device is attached to a part to be lubricated by screwing the nipple 11 to the part to be lubricated, such as a working machine. A plunger 13 is inserted into the pump chamber 4 from the greasing mechanism section 2 side so as to be slidable in the axial direction within the pump chamber 4 . This plunger 13 has a pump body 1
An O-ring 14 is provided around the opening end of the pump chamber 4 to provide a shaft seal.

As shown in the figure, the greasing mechanism section 2 for reciprocating the plunger 13 has an electric motor 16 disposed therein. The rotation of the electric motor 16 is controlled by a transmission mechanism 17 consisting of a gear train.
As a result, the rotation of the disc-shaped crank 20 attached to the output shaft 18 is transmitted around the output shaft 18 . Although not shown in the figure, a power source consisting of a dry battery is disposed inside the greasing mechanism section 2, and the electric motor 16 is rotationally driven by the power supplied from this power source.

Further, a circuit board (not shown) is disposed inside the greasing mechanism section 2, and an IC and other electrical components are attached to it, and the electric motor 16 is connected to the power supply.
A control section is formed to control the supply of electric power to and the like. The functions of the control section will be explained later.

At the eccentric position of the crank 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one end of the connecting member 21 has a pin 2.
2, and the end of the plunger 13 is pin-coupled to the other end of the connecting member 21. Therefore, when the output shaft 18 rotates, this rotational movement is converted into a reciprocating movement of the plunger 13 via the connecting member 21. The plunger 13 in FIG. 2 shows the forward movement start position, and as shown in the figure, the tip of the plunger 13 is positioned approximately at the center of the suction passage 5.
At the forward movement end position, the tip of the plunger 13 crosses the opening of the suction passage 5 into the pump chamber 4 and approaches the check valve 9. Due to the reciprocating movement of the plunger 13 and the check valve 9 at the end of the pump chamber 4, the pump chamber 4
A so-called pumping action occurs in the space, and when the plunger 13 moves back, it sucks the lubricant from the suction passage 5, and when it moves forward, it sucks the lubricant from the discharge passage 10 through the check valve 9.
The sucked lubricant is then discharged to the side. Therefore, the electric motor 16 and
Mechanism parts 17, 20, and 21 for transmitting operation between the electric motor 16 and the plunger 13 constitute a plunger drive mechanism 23 of this device. A greasing mechanism 15 is constructed.

On the other hand, a limit switch 25 is disposed at a position adjacent to the coupling portion of the crank 20 of the connecting member 21. This limit switch 25 is turned on when the side end of the connecting member 21 comes into contact with it when the plunger 13 is at the end position of the backward movement.
The plunger 13 is positioned so that it is turned OFF when it is located at a position other than the return end position (see FIG. 3). That is, when the output shaft 18 rotates, the plunger 13 starts to move forward, reaches the forward end position, then moves backward, and when the plunger 13 reaches the backward end position, the limit switch 25 is turned on. . This limit switch 25 is connected to the control section of the circuit board, and its ON signal is outputted to the control section as a detection signal. In Fig. 2, 27 is a tank cover, and 28 is a bellows-shaped tank 3.
This is a piston member for pressing the upper part of the tank cover 27 downward, and this pressing force is provided by the biasing force of a spring 29 interposed between the tank cover 27 and the piston member 28.

The operation of the greasing device having the above configuration will be described next. When the electric motor 16 is rotated, this rotational motion is transmitted as a reciprocating motion of the plunger 13 as described above. When the plunger 13 moves back, one end of the pump chamber 4 is sealed by a check valve 9.
The space volume increases and negative pressure is created there. The tip of the plunger 13 is the pump chamber 4 in the suction passage 5.
When the lubricant moves backward from the opening, the negative pressure acts as a suction force for the lubricant in the tank 3, and the lubricant is sucked into the pump chamber 4 from the suction passage 5. Thereafter, when the plunger 13 moves forward, when the tip of the plunger 13 advances beyond the opening of the suction passage 5 into the pump chamber 4, the lubricant sealed between the check valve 9 and the opening With the forward movement of the plunger 13, the check valve 9 is opened,
It will be pushed out from the check valve chamber 7 to the discharge path 10.

The control system of the greasing device that performs the greasing operation as described above will be explained based on the functional block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, 31 is a power control section, and a timer 32 is connected to this power control section 31. A down time setting section 35 is further connected to this power control section 31, and this down time setting section 35 performs greasing at predetermined time intervals of several hours according to the timing of the timer 32. A pause time is set so that the process is performed. After the first pause time has elapsed, the power control unit 31 outputs a power supply start signal, and based on this signal, the power supply 33 starts supplying power to the plunger drive mechanism 23, and the plunger 13 starts. After greasing, when the plunger 13 is located at the backward movement end position, the limit switch 25 is turned on and a detection signal is emitted from the limit switch 25. This detection signal is output to the power control unit 31, and based on the power supply stop signal generated by the power control unit 31, the power supply from the power source 33 to the plunger drive mechanism 23 is stopped, and the plunger drive mechanism 23 is stopped.
operation will stop. When the next pause time has elapsed, the plunger 13 starts to move forward from the end position of the backward movement, and performs the same operation as described above. On the other hand, 40 is a counter for counting the number of times of greasing, and the power supply start signal from the power control unit 31 is inputted to this counting unit 40, and by counting the number of times of the signal, the number of times of greasing is calculated. The number of times is counted. Each time counting is performed, the counting section 40 outputs a counting signal to the determining section 41. Further, 42 is a setting unit for setting a reference number of times. The standard number of times is when the lubricant in tank 3 is at a specified level,
For example, it is the number of times tank 3 is refilled until it becomes empty.
Letting L be the volume of lubricant in the container and q be the amount of lubricant supplied per time, the reference number of times N is given by N=L/q. Therefore, the value of the reference number N is calculated according to the capacity of the tank 3, and the value is set in the setting section 42. This reference number of times is outputted as a setting signal to the determination section 41, where it is compared with the above-mentioned count signal, and it is determined whether the number of times of greasing has reached the reference number of times. When the reference number of times is reached, a determination signal is output from the determination section 41 to the display section 43, and the display section 43 displays this fact. As a display method of the display section 43, for example,
Examples include the blinking operation of an LED. Note that in the above, the power control section 31, the counting section 40, and the determining section 4
1 constitutes a control section 44.

Next, the control method in the control section 44 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. After installing this greasing device on the part to be lubricated such as a working machine, the supply time interval (stop time) HO is set to 1 hour,
In addition to selecting and setting 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, etc. (step S1),
In step S2, a refueling counter n is initialized to zero. Furthermore, in step S3, a reference number of times N is set. Then, the timer H for measuring the pause time starts counting, and continues counting the pause time H (step S4). During this time, electric motor 16 is not energized. The above downtime H is HO
When this is reached, the process moves to step S5, where the electric motor 16 is energized and a lubricant supply operation (lubricating) is started. Then, in step S6, it is determined whether the plunger 13 has reached the backward movement end position during its operation process, that is, whether the connecting member 21 has come into contact with the limit switch 25 and the limit switch 25 has been turned on. If it is not ON, the greasing operation continues; if it is ON, the process moves to step S7 and the greasing operation is stopped. and step
In S8, 1 is added to the refueling counter n. Next, it is determined in step S9 whether the value of n has reached the reference number of times N. If the reference number of times N has not been reached, the process moves to step S4 and the counting of the downtime until the next greasing is restarted. If the standard number of times N has been reached, the process moves to step S10, where the LED
The flashing operation continues, and the new tank 3
Operations will be halted until replacement work is carried out. In the above explanation, step S8
constitutes a counting means, and step S9 constitutes a determining means.

As explained above, in the above embodiment,
A standard number of times calculated from the volume of lubricant in the tank 3 and the amount of lubrication per lubrication is set, and when the actual number of times of lubrication reaches this standard number, the tank 3 is replaced. Since the lubricant in tank 3 is configured to display a display indicating that the lubricant is It is possible to display the remaining amount. Moreover, in the greasing device with the above configuration,
Since the plunger 13 always stops at the return stroke end position after the lubrication operation, it can always maintain a constant amount of movement, and therefore the amount of lubricant supplied from the pump body 1 is always constant. It is possible to maintain the lubricant at a substantially constant level, and as a result, the remaining amount of lubricant in the tank 3 after lubricating the standard number of times also remains substantially constant, making it possible to manage the remaining amount with high precision.

Although specific embodiments of the greasing device of this invention have been described above, this invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented with various changes within the scope of this invention. For example, in the statement that the lubricant in the tank 3 has a predetermined remaining amount, the predetermined remaining amount means that the lubricant in the tank 3 has a capacity of 0.
Alternatively, it may mean an amount sufficient to replenish the oil several times thereafter, but the amount may be determined as appropriate.

(Effects of the invention) As mentioned above, in the greasing device of this invention, the standard number of times calculated from the volume of lubricant in the tank and the volume of lubricant per lubrication is set, and the number of times of actual lubrication is Since the display is configured to display when the number of fats reaches this reference number, no special space is required, and even for cartridge-type tanks, there is no need to add any special configuration to the tank. It becomes possible to display when the lubricant level reaches a predetermined level.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a view corresponding to the claims of the greasing device of this invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the greasing device of this invention, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the main part showing the operating state of the limit switch, FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the above embodiment, FIG. 5 is a control flowchart in the control section shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the tank structure of a conventional greasing device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Pump body, 3... Tank, 15... Greasing mechanism, 40... Counting part (counting means), 41...
Judgment section (judgment means), 42... Setting section (setting means), 43... Display section (display means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The lubricating device includes a lubricating mechanism 15 that supplies a predetermined amount of lubricant from a pump body 1 to which a tank 3 containing a predetermined amount of lubricant is attached, a setting means 42 for setting a standard number of times of refueling required for the lubricant to reach a predetermined level; a counting means 40 for counting the number of times the lubricant is refilled from the pump body 1; It has a determining means 41 for determining whether the reference number of times has been reached, and a display means 43 for displaying that the number of greasing times has reached the reference number in response to a signal from the determining means 41. A greasing device featuring: