An improved method and apparatus for determining the amount of lubricant dispensed to a rail, adjusting the amount of available lubricant for dispensing based on the amount of lubricant remaining, and advising the operator of same. The apparatus includes a reservoir of lubricant suspended from a load beam having load cells communicating with a microprocessor and a controller to determine the amount of lubricant remaining within the reservoir on a real-time basis as lubricant is dispersed. The method includes the determination of the amount of lubricant remaining and, following dispensing additional lubricant, re-determining the amount of lubricant remaining. In this manner, an operator may prepare a schedule for replenishment of the reservoirs of various lubricating stations based on feedback of the remaining amount of lubricant remaining. Thus, an operator may predict track downtime for refilling of a plurality of lubricating stations and schedule such to minimized track downtime.

A lubricant fitting unit is for supplying lubricant to an item of equipment and includes a housing connectable with the item of equipment and providing a lubricant flow path fluidly coupleable with the item of equipment. A lubricant flowmeter is connected to the lubricant flow path and measures lubricant flow through the flow path. The fitting unit preferably includes an integrated condition monitoring system coupled to the housing, which preferably includes a temperature sensor and/or a vibration sensor. Further, the fitting unit also preferably includes a wireless data transmission device for transmitting signals received from the integrated condition monitoring system to a controller device. Also, the fitting unit may include an energy harvester mounted within the lubricant flow path for converting a portion of the kinematic energy of the lubricant flowing through the lubricant flow path into power for recharging a power unit of the monitoring device.

There is provided a bearing lubrication application control system which comprises a digital controller device operably coupled to a lubrication meter and a computer readable medium reader. As such, during lubrication application, the digital controller device is configured for reading bearing data from bearing computer readable media associated with each bearing and also recording an applied lubrication volume for each of the bearings. As such, for a subsequent lubrication application, the digital controller device is configured for calculating a dynamic lubrication schedule for each of the bearings wherein the schedule comprises at least an appropriate lubrication volume to be applied calculated at least according to the stored apply lubrication volume for each of the plurality of bearings.

A drill including a drill spindle capable of driving a cutting tool in movement. The drill has at least one channel for distributing a lubricant to the cutting tool, a pump to supply the channel with lubricant and control element(s) for controlling the flow rate of the pump. Such a drill further has mechanical element(s) for determining at least one piece of information representing the torque exerted on the spindle along its axis during drilling. The control element(s) act on the flow rate of the pump as a function of the torque exerted on the spindle along its axis during drilling.

In a method of greasing a decanter centrifuge, each beating of the decanter centrifuge is located in a bearing housing and at least one bearing housing has a grease flow meter. The grease flow meter is connected to a control unit. The method includes generating a greasing operation when the operating time of the decanter centrifuge is equal to or exceeds a specific time interval between greasing operations. The greasing operation includes generating a start signal in the control unit, measuring an amount of grease injected into the bearing housing by using the flow meter, and generating a stop signal in the control unit when the amount of grease injected into the bearing housing is equal to or exceeds a specific amount of grease to be injected at each greasing operation.

A method for determining lubricant consumption by a transmission mechanism disposed on a machine tool includes steps of: a) estimating, based on an operational speed and a predetermined first predictive model, a total operational physical quantity; b) estimating, based on an individual operational physical quantity and the total operational physical quantity, a total operational count; c) receiving actuation information from the machine tool, and calculating a partial operational count based on the actuation information; and d) calculating, based on the partial operational count and the total operational count, a ratio between an amount of lubricant consumption within a time period and a total amount of lubricant.

A device and method for dispensing a friction-coefficient-optimizing mixture of at least one lubricant and at least one grit into the gap between a rail wheel of a rail vehicle and a rail. The device includes a reservoir for the lubricant, a reservoir for the grit, a metering unit for metering the lubricant, a metering unit for metering the grit, a delivery apparatus for delivering the lubricant, a delivery apparatus for delivering the grit, and a common dispensing nozzle. The apparatus for delivering the lubricant and the apparatus for delivering the grit are separate from each other and end in the common dispensing nozzle, the friction-coefficient-optimizing mixture therefore not being formed until the dispensing, and an additional compressed air line is provided, which ends in the common dispensing nozzle.

System, apparatus, and method for delivering grease to process valve(s). The system generally includes a grease cylinder to which grease is delivered, a piston, an actuator, and a first process valve. The piston extends at least partially within the grease cylinder. The actuator strokes the piston within the grease cylinder to meter a first amount of the delivered grease to the first process valve. The actuator comprises a power cylinder within which the piston extends. The piston comprises a head portion slidably disposed in the power cylinder and dividing the power cylinder into first and second chambers. The head portion has a first cross-sectional area. The piston includes another portion contacting the grease in the grease cylinder and having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The actuator may also meter a second amount of the delivered grease to a second process valve.

A dispensing device for maintaining the operating condition of a machine is provided. The dispensing device includes an interchangeable control module, the interchangeable control module including control hardware that provides at least one of a data storage memory, a central processing unit, interface hardware for condition monitoring sensors, an intermediary computing device, a display device, and communication modules. The dispensing device is configured to dispense lubricant in order to maintain the operating condition of the machine. The interchangeable control module is configured to interchangeably control and interchangeably reside in both a fixed and a portable dispensing device. Also, various related systems including the dispensing device are provided.

A system for maintaining the operating condition of a machine is provided. The system includes a dispensing device having: an interchangeable control module, the interchangeable control module including control hardware that provides a central processing unit, a data storage memory, and communication modules. The dispensing device is configured to dispense lubricant in order to maintain the operating condition of the machine. The interchangeable control module is configured to interchangeably control and interchangeably reside in either a fixed or a portable dispensing device. The interchangeable control module communicates to an external or internal intermediary computing device. The interchangeable control module includes interface hardware for facilitating with at least one condition monitoring sensors, and based on measurements received from the at least one condition monitoring sensor, the interchangeable control module determines the amount or type of lubricant required, and creates a maintenance action to be completed.