A relief unit that is attached to an attachment hole penetrating through a wall of a housing accommodating a power transmission mechanism of a robot together with lubricating oil in a sealed state, which includes a body that is provided with an attachment section attachable to the attachment hole and that forms a communication passage disposed at a position where an internal space of the housing and an external space are connected when the attachment section is attached to the attachment hole. An opening and closing mechanism that is provided in the communication passage, closes the communication passage in a sealed state when the opening and closing mechanism is closed, and that opens the communication passage when the opening and closing mechanism is opened. a catching part is disposed at an intermediate position of the communication passage that catches the lubricating oil.

A method of determining wear of a seal element includes rotating a seal plate relative to the seal element and such that the seal plate and the seal element form a rotational sealing interface. The seal element includes an insert embedded in the seal element. A portion of the seal element is worn with a sealing face of the seal plate. The insert is contacted with the sealing face of the seal plate. A portion of the insert is worn to create a wear particle of the insert. The presence of the wear particle in a lubrication oil is sensed with an oil monitoring system.

An autofill shutoff valve includes a valve body mounted to a lubricant reservoir and secured to a fill tube extending into the reservoir. The autofill shutoff valve has a valve stem extending through the valve body and into the lubricant reservoir. The valve stem is actuated by a plate disposed within the reservoir from a first position, wherein lubricant flows from a lubricant inlet to a lubricant outlet through the valve body, to a second position, wherein the valve stem blocks the flow of lubricant through the valve body. The autofill shutoff valve provides lubricant directly to the reservoir, thereby eliminating external plumbing and the autofill shutoff valve also prevents overfill of the reservoir by cutting off the flow when the reservoir is full.

A vehicle drive system includes a first prime mover, a transmission, a power take-off (PTO), a lubrication system for the transmission and the PTO, and a control system. The transmission is powered by the first prime mover. The transmission is configured to rotate a drive shaft of the vehicle. The PTO is connected to the transmission at a first interface. The PTO includes the first interface and a second interface. The control system is configured to control fluid flow through the lubrication system for at least one mode where the input section of the PTO is stationary and the output section rotates.

A vehicle drive system includes a first prime mover, a transmission, a power take-off (PTO), a lubrication system for the transmission and the PTO, and a control system. The transmission is powered by the first prime mover. The transmission is configured to rotate a drive shaft of the vehicle. The PTO is connected to the transmission at a first interface. The PTO includes the first interface and a second interface. The control system is configured to control fluid flow through the lubrication system for at least one mode where the input section of the PTO is stationary and the output section rotates.

A vent valve for an actuator disposed in a lubricant reservoir includes a bore extending through the plate, a seal disposed within the bore proximate a top surface of the plate, a retaining member extending about a lower opening of the bore, and a ball disposed within the bore between the seal and the retaining member. The vent valve is configured to allow air to pass from a lower portion of a lubricant reservoir as lubricant fills the lower portion. The vent valve also allows air to pass to the lower portion of the lubricant reservoir as lubricant is dispensed from the reservoir. The vent valve closes when the lubricant level reaches the vent valve, thereby preventing lubricant from flowing through the vent valve. The sealed vent valve allows the actuator to rise in response to a rising lubricant level.

A mechanical device includes a housing, a transparent spacer member, a magnet, and an image capturing device. The housing has an internal space in which a machine component immersed in oil is housed. The spacer member is disposed in an opening of the housing. The magnet is supported by the spacer member. The image capturing device captures the internal space of the housing via the spacer member.

A mechanical device includes a housing, a transparent spacer member, a magnet, and an image capturing device. The housing has an internal space in which a machine component immersed in oil is housed. The spacer member is disposed in an opening of the housing. The magnet is supported by the spacer member. The image capturing device captures the internal space of the housing via the spacer member.

According to one aspect, a lubricant level sensing system for an actuator is provided. The lubricant level sensing system includes a pressure port in an outer housing of the actuator, a pressure sensor, and a pathway from the pressure port to the pressure sensor. The pathway establishes fluid communication between the pressure sensor and a free volume of an internal cavity of the outer housing relative to a lubricant level in the internal cavity such that the pressure sensor detects a pressure of the free volume used to derive the lubricant level.

According to one aspect, a lubricant level sensing system for an actuator is provided. The lubricant level sensing system includes a pressure port in an outer housing of the actuator, a pressure sensor, and a pathway from the pressure port to the pressure sensor. The pathway establishes fluid communication between the pressure sensor and a free volume of an internal cavity of the outer housing relative to a lubricant level in the internal cavity such that the pressure sensor detects a pressure of the free volume used to derive the lubricant level.