A fitting for a lubrication point of a device to be lubricated and a connector for removably connecting to such fitting to provide a lubricant from a lubrication device via the fitting to the device to be lubricated are disclosed. The fitting comprises an integrated circuit for providing an identification code to identify the fitting, and a first electrical contact for establishing an electrical path between the integrated circuit and a processor of the connector when a connection between the fitting and the connector is established. The connector comprises the processor and a second electrical contact for establishing the electrical path. The integrated circuit is adapted for transmitting data, including the identification code, via the first electrical contact to the processor.

A fitting for a lubrication point of a device to be lubricated and a connector for removably connecting to such fitting to provide a lubricant from a lubrication device via the fitting to the device to be lubricated are disclosed. The fitting comprises an integrated circuit for providing an identification code to identify the fitting, and a first electrical contact for establishing an electrical path between the integrated circuit and a processor of the connector when a connection between the fitting and the connector is established. The connector comprises the processor and a second electrical contact for establishing the electrical path. The integrated circuit is adapted for transmitting data, including the identification code, via the first electrical contact to the processor.

According to the method of the invention, a lubricant is supplied incrementally to a rotary bearing while the bearing is in operation rotating at a rotational speed. The lubricant is supplied in consecutive steps so that at each step a portion of a prescribed amount of lubricant is supplied, followed each time by an ultrasound measurement. A first ultrasound measurement is performed before the first supply step, and starting from the second supply step, each measurement result is compared at least to the previous result, in order to evaluate the bearing condition and decide on that basis whether to continue the sequence or not. Stopping the sequence is decided when the lubrication of the bearing is assessed as successful, a lubrication failure or over-lubrication. The invention is equally related to a system for lubricating one or more bearings, applying the method of the invention to each of said bearings.

Systems and methods are provided for remotely monitoring liquid lubricant levels for pump equipment. A system includes a reservoir to store lubricant and a lubrication gland to expose a shaft seal of the pump equipment to the lubricant. A feed line and a return line circulate the lubricant between the reservoir and the lubrication gland. A level sensor is configured to measure a fluid level in the reservoir. The level sensor uses a communication interface to transmit fluid level data a monitoring device mounted to the pump equipment. The monitoring device is configured to compare the fluid level data against stored alert thresholds and send, to a provider network, an alert signal when the fluid level data is below an alert threshold. If the fluid level data is not below an alert threshold, the monitoring device stores the fluid level data for periodic reporting.

Systems and methods are provided for remotely monitoring liquid lubricant levels for pump equipment. A system includes a reservoir to store lubricant and a lubrication gland to expose a shaft seal of the pump equipment to the lubricant. A feed line and a return line circulate the lubricant between the reservoir and the lubrication gland. A level sensor is configured to measure a fluid level in the reservoir. The level sensor uses a communication interface to transmit fluid level data a monitoring device mounted to the pump equipment. The monitoring device is configured to compare the fluid level data against stored alert thresholds and send, to a provider network, an alert signal when the fluid level data is below an alert threshold. If the fluid level data is not below an alert threshold, the monitoring device stores the fluid level data for periodic reporting.

An example lubricant coating device includes a rotatable applicator to apply lubricant from a solid lubricant source to a member to be coated, and a supporting device to support the solid lubricant source in a contact state with the rotatable applicator. The supporting device changes a supporting angle of the solid lubricant source relative to the rotatable applicator when a consumption of the solid lubricant source reaches a consumption threshold.

An example lubricant coating device includes a rotatable applicator to apply lubricant from a solid lubricant source to a member to be coated, and a supporting device to support the solid lubricant source in a contact state with the rotatable applicator. The supporting device changes a supporting angle of the solid lubricant source relative to the rotatable applicator when a consumption of the solid lubricant source reaches a consumption threshold.

A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft in a shaft opening, filling the free volume with the lubricant, providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state and a release state, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.

A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft in a shaft opening, filling the free volume with the lubricant, providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state and a release state, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.

A bearing lubricator for lubricating a lubricated bearing is provided. The bearing lubricator includes a reservoir configured to contain lubricant, a bearing lubricator for lubricating a lubricated bearing, a conduit connected to the reservoir and to the bearing; and mechanism and a controller. The mechanism is operably connected to at least one of reservoir and the conduit. The mechanism is adapted to advance the lubricant from the reservoir to the conduit when actuated. The controller stores a triggering value of a parameter. The controller is further adapted to actuate the mechanism when a signal indicative of the triggering value is advanced toward the controller. The bearing lubricator also includes a sensor operably connected to the controller. The sensor is adapted to measure a parameter of a measured bearing and to send a signal to the controller indicative of the value of the parameter.