A mechanical system comprising a sump and at least one component to be lubricated or cooled arranged in the sump, the mechanical system comprising a lubricating fluid system provided with a lubricating fluid and a tank arranged in the sump. The tank is a leaking tank and is situated above said at least one component to be lubricated or cooled, the lubricating fluid flowing out of the tank by force of gravity, so as to reach said at least one component to be lubricated or cooled. The lubricating fluid system has at least one lift flow generator connected by at least one filling line to the tank and to at least one suction point present in a bottom of the sump. The lift flow generator fills the tank with the lubricating fluid present in said bottom at least during a starting phase.

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 machine lubrication system includes a bellows-type container filled with lubricant that connects to a support base of a pump of the lubrication system. The container includes a neck extending from a convex bottom surface of the container. The support base includes a concave mounting surface and a passageway in communication with an inlet of the pump. The neck sealingly attaches the container to the passageway with the bottom surface of the container on the mounting surface the support base.

A machine lubrication system includes a bellows-type container filled with lubricant that connects to a support base of a pump of the lubrication system. The container includes a neck extending from a convex bottom surface of the container. The support base includes a concave mounting surface and a passageway in communication with an inlet of the pump. The neck sealingly attaches the container to the passageway with the bottom surface of the container on the mounting surface the support base.

A quality diagnostics system for lubricant/coolant fluid includes a lubricant supported electric motor including a stator and a rotor defining a gap therebetween, with the lubricant/coolant fluid disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor while allowing the rotor to rotate relative to the stator. An inverter includes a plurality of power switches configured to supply an alternating current (AC) power to the motor for driving the rotor to rotate. A passageway conveys the lubricant/coolant fluid between the motor and the inverter. A lubricant quality sensor includes a set of sensor plates disposed along the passageway, an excitation source configured to apply an AC excitation voltage to a first sensor plate, and an electrical sensor configured to measure a response to the AC excitation voltage. A controller determines, based on a sensor signal from the electrical sensor, at least one of metal contamination and water contamination in the lubricant/coolant fluid.

A quality diagnostics system for lubricant/coolant fluid includes a lubricant supported electric motor including a stator and a rotor defining a gap therebetween, with the lubricant/coolant fluid disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor while allowing the rotor to rotate relative to the stator. An inverter includes a plurality of power switches configured to supply an alternating current (AC) power to the motor for driving the rotor to rotate. A passageway conveys the lubricant/coolant fluid between the motor and the inverter. A lubricant quality sensor includes a set of sensor plates disposed along the passageway, an excitation source configured to apply an AC excitation voltage to a first sensor plate, and an electrical sensor configured to measure a response to the AC excitation voltage. A controller determines, based on a sensor signal from the electrical sensor, at least one of metal contamination and water contamination in the lubricant/coolant fluid.

Provided is an oil feed type air compressor which can increase the determination accuracy regarding a deterioration state of oil. An oil feed type air compressor 1 includes a compressor main body 3, a separator 6 that separates oil from compressed air discharged from the compressor main body 3, and an oil feeding system 8 that feeds the oil separated by the separator 6 into a compression chamber of the compressor main body 3. The oil feeding system 8 includes a temperature control valve 20 that adjusts a diversion ratio for an oil cooler 18 and a diversion ratio for a bypass pipe 19 according to a temperature of the oil. The oil feed type air compressor 1 includes pressure sensors 22A and 22B located in the oil feeding system 8, a discharge temperature sensor 11 located on the discharge side of the compressor main body 3, and a controller 9 that computes, when it is estimated that the diversion ratio for the oil cooler 18 is 100% from the temperature sensed by the discharge temperature sensor 11 exceeding a predetermined value Td1, a difference ΔP between the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 22A and the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 22B and determines a deterioration state of the oil in reference to the difference ΔP.

Provided is an oil feed type air compressor which can increase the determination accuracy regarding a deterioration state of oil. An oil feed type air compressor 1 includes a compressor main body 3, a separator 6 that separates oil from compressed air discharged from the compressor main body 3, and an oil feeding system 8 that feeds the oil separated by the separator 6 into a compression chamber of the compressor main body 3. The oil feeding system 8 includes a temperature control valve 20 that adjusts a diversion ratio for an oil cooler 18 and a diversion ratio for a bypass pipe 19 according to a temperature of the oil. The oil feed type air compressor 1 includes pressure sensors 22A and 22B located in the oil feeding system 8, a discharge temperature sensor 11 located on the discharge side of the compressor main body 3, and a controller 9 that computes, when it is estimated that the diversion ratio for the oil cooler 18 is 100% from the temperature sensed by the discharge temperature sensor 11 exceeding a predetermined value Td1, a difference ΔP between the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 22A and the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 22B and determines a deterioration state of the oil in reference to the difference ΔP.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for determining oil leakage of a gearbox and an associated robot. The apparatus comprises a swellable ring arranged surrounding an output shaft of a motor coupled to the gearbox, the swellable ring, when contacting oil, swells to apply a radial force to the output shaft; and a controller configured to detect the oil leakage by detecting at least one of the following caused by the applied radial force: a torque change on the output shaft, or a change in a current for driving the motor. With the apparatus, before oil leaks into the motor, the user already knows or the motor has already been stopped. In this case, the robot using the apparatus can be operated more safely.