Lubricant Distributor, Especially Sectional Distributor

Abstract

The invention relates to a lubricant distributor, in particular a sectional distributor, for distributing lubricant to at least one lubrication point, comprising a distributor body having an inlet opening for lubricant which is fluidically connected to at least one outlet passage, which opens into an outlet opening of the distributor body, a rotary valve which is rotatably mounted in the distributor body and which is adjustable between an open position of the rotary valve, in which the outlet passage is open in order to allow lubricant to pass through to the outlet opening, and a closed position of the rotary valve, in which the outlet passage is closed, a drive, in particular an electromotive drive, which is coupled to a control gear, comprising a control gearwheel having at least one control toothing section engageable with a toothing of the rotary valve to move the rotary valve between the open position and the closed position. In addition, the invention relates to a method for distributing lubricant to at least one lubrication point.

Claims

1. A lubricant distributor, in particular sectional distributor, for distributing lubricant to at least one lubrication point, comprising: a distributor body having an inlet opening for lubricant which is fluidically connected to at least one outlet passage which opens into an outlet opening of the distributor body, a rotary valve rotatably mounted in the distributor body and adjustable between an open position of the rotary valve in which the outlet passage is open to allow lubricant to pass to the outlet opening and a closed position of the rotary valve in which the outlet passage is closed, a drive, in particular an electromotive drive, coupled to a control gear comprising a control gearwheel having at least one control toothing section engageable with a toothing of the rotary valve to adjust the rotary valve between the open position and the closed position.

2. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive comprises a drive shaft driven by an electric motor and having a toothing that meshes with a drive toothing of the control gearwheel.

3. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of rotary valves are arranged around the control gearwheel, in particular at the same distance from the axis of rotation of the respective rotary valve to an axis of rotation of the control gearwheel.

4. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the control gearwheel comprises at least one toothed sector over which the control gear section extends and at least one toothless sector.

5. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothing of the rotary valve has different axial toothing regions, wherein a first axial toothing region has in particular fewer, preferably half as many, teeth as a second axial toothing region.

6. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that first teeth of a first axial toothing region and second teeth of a second axial toothing region have different tooth lengths, wherein preferably first teeth having a first tooth length and second teeth having a second tooth length are arranged alternately.

7. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the control gearwheel comprises in the toothless sector a first and a second axial region, wherein the first axial region has a circumferential recess.

8. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the first toothing region of the toothing of the rotary valve extends into the first axial region but not into the second axial region of the control gearwheel and the second toothing region of the toothing of the rotary valve extends into the first axial region and the second axial region of the control gearwheel.

9. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential area in the second axial region of the control gearwheel blocks a rotary movement of the rotary valve when the rotary valve is in a closed position, in particular by tooth flanks of the second teeth striking against the circumferential area in the second axial region of the control gearwheel during a rotation of the rotary valve.

10. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor body has a preferably radial inlet channel which originates from the inlet opening and is fluidically connected to the at least one preferably radial outlet passage via a preferably central distribution channel.

11. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the control gearwheel is seated on an axle which is mounted in the distributor body and is aligned in particular parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotary valve.

12. The lubricant distributor according to claim 11, characterized in that the distribution channel is formed as an annular channel, in particular as an annular groove in a circumferential area of the axle.

13. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary valve comprises a shut-off body, preferably a shut-off cylinder, having a through opening preferably perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

14. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet passage comprises an inner passage section opening into the distribution channel and an outer passage section, wherein the shut-off body of the rotary valve is arranged between the inner and outer passage sections.

15. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the control toothing section of the control gearwheel is matched to the toothing, in particular the first axial toothing section, of the rotary valve such that one revolution of the control gearwheel causes the rotary valve to rotate by 180.

16. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that a lubrication time interval during which a rotary valve is in the open position is variably adjustable, in particular for a plurality of rotary valves in succession.

17. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric motor is designed as a stepper motor, which is in particular designed to be controllable by a distributor control unit.

18. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that between 2 and 16, preferably between 4 and 12, more preferably between 6 and 10, particularly preferably 8, outlet passages are provided, each of which is assigned a rotary valve.

19. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricant distributor comprises a flow sensor, preferably an oval wheel meter or piston meter, which is fluidically connected to the inlet opening, in particular for detecting a lubricant flow in the outlet passage.

20. The lubricant distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricant distributor comprises a position detection device for detecting the position of the control gear, wherein the position detection device comprises in particular a position sensor, which is preferably designed as a Hall sensor or reed switch, and an exciter element which co-rotates with the control gearwheel.

21. A lubricating device comprising a lubricant distributor according to claim 1 and a lubricant pump which is connected to the inlet opening of the lubricant distributor in order to provide lubricant, in particular lubricant which is subjected to a delivery pressure.

22. A method for distributing lubricant to at least one lubrication point by a lubricant distributor which has at least one rotary valve rotatably mounted in a distributor body for opening and closing an outlet passage of the distributor body for lubricant, wherein a drive, in particular an electromotive drive, of the lubricant distributor is coupled to a control gear for adjusting the rotary valve, in particular by a lubricant distributor or a lubricating device, comprising the following steps: d) adjusting the rotary valve from a closed position, in which the outlet passage is closed, into an open position, in which the outlet passage is open, by actuating the drive, e) setting, preferably variably, a lubrication time interval by actuating the drive, wherein the rotary valve is in the open position during a lubrication time interval, f) adjusting the rotary valve from the open position to the closed position by actuating the drive.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that one or more rotary valves are opened and closed successively by repeating steps a) to c), the lubrication time interval being set differently in each case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Embodiment examples of the invention are described below which are explained in more detail using the drawings, wherein:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a lubricant distributor according to the invention in a perspective sectional view;

[0047] FIG. 2A shows parts of the lubricant distributor according to FIG. 1 in a longitudinal sectional view along the section line A-A in FIG. 2B;

[0048] FIG. 2B shows parts of the lubricant distributor according to FIG. 2A in a cross-sectional view through the first axial region of the control gearwheel;

[0049] FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of a lubricant distributor according to the invention in a cross-sectional view along the section line B-B in FIG. 3B;

[0050] FIG. 3B shows the lubricant distributor according to FIG. 3A in a side view;

[0051] FIG. 4A shows the lubricant distributor according to FIGS. 3A and 3B in a cross-sectional view along the section line C-C in FIG. 4B;

[0052] FIG. 4B shows the lubricant distributor according to FIG. 4A in a side view;

[0053] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a lubricant distributor according to the invention in a cross-sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] In the following description of the invention, the same reference numerals are used for identical and identically acting elements.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a lubricant distributor 1, or a sectional distributor, which has a distributor body 10, preferably made of a metallic material, having an inlet opening 11, and a plurality of outlet openings 12 for lubricant. A housing cover 15 is mounted on the distributor body 10, both of which have a cylindrical basic shape. Through inlet opening 11, lubricant supplied by a lubricant pump at a delivery pressure is introduced into inlet passage 13, from where the lubricant is distributed through distribution channel 45 to the various star-shaped outlet passages 14, which open into the respective outlet openings 12. Distribution channel 45 is designed as an annular groove in the circumferential area 440 of axle 44. Lubricant lines for supplying lubrication points or lubrication sections can be connected to the outlet opening 12 via distribution connections 51 (not shown). Each outlet passage 14 is assigned a rotary valve 20, which is mounted in the distributor body 10 so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation D. The rotary valve 20 is mounted in the distributor body 10 so that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation D. The rotary valves 20 have a shut-off body 21, which divides the outlet passage 14 into an inner passage section 14a and an outer passage section 14b. The shut-off body 21 has a through opening 23 which is formed as a through-bore and continues the outlet passage 14 if it is aligned in the direction of the outlet passage 14, here radially to the distributor body 10. Seals 60 (see FIG. 2A) are used in sealing grooves 25 to axially seal the rotary valves 20. FIG. 1 shows the illustrated rotary valve 20 in an open position P1, where lubricant can escape from the lubricant distributor 1 through the outlet passage 14 and the through opening 23.

[0056] The lubricant distributor 1 is driven by the drive 30, which comprises an electric motor 31, in particular a stepper motor, via a drive shaft 32, which is connected to a toothing 33, in this case a drive gearwheel. A control gear 40 comprises a control gearwheel 41 and the rotary valves 20 with their toothing 22. The control gearwheel 41 is driven by the drive gearwheel 33. The control gearwheel 41 is designed in two parts and consists of a drive sprocket 414 with a drive toothing 43 designed as external toothing, with which the drive gearwheel 33 meshes, and a control sprocket 415, which forms the control toothing section 42. The control gearwheel 41 is fixed on an axle 44, which is centrally mounted in the distributor body 10 so that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation S. The rotary valves 20 have a toothing 22, which can be intermittently meshed with a toothing section 42 of the control gearwheel 41.

[0057] FIGS. 2A and 2B show how lubricant distributor 1 works. A total of eight rotary valves 20 are arranged at equal intervals circumferentially around the control gearwheel 41. The control gearwheel 41 has a toothed sector 41a, which here extends over an angular range of approximately 60, and a toothless sector 41b. In the toothed sector 41a, the control gearwheel 41 forms a control toothing section 42 comprising four control teeth 46. In the toothless sector 41b, a circumferential recess 413 is provided instead of a toothing, the circumferential line of which corresponds to the root circle of the control teeth 46. In this respect, the control gearwheel 41 is partially toothed. Several control toothing sections 42 distributed over the circumference could be provided. The rotary valves 20 are arranged radially at a distance from the control gearwheel 41 so that the toothing 22, consisting of the teeth 24a, 25b, can engage with the control toothing section 42. Teeth 24a, 25b do not touch control gearwheel 41 in toothless sector 41b. When the control gearwheel 41 is rotated the control toothing section 42 meshes successively with the toothing 22 of the respective rotary valve 20. This allows the rotary valves 20 to be adjusted or controlled via the control gearwheel 41. The rotary valves 20 are adjustable between an open position P1 and a closed position P0. In the embodiment shown, each rotary valve 20 rotates 180 around the axis of rotation D during one revolution of the control gearwheel 41. This brings a valve 20 from an initial closed position P0 via an open position P1 back to a closed position P0.

[0058] By controlling the rotary motion of the control gearwheel 41, a lubrication time interval can be set variably and independently for each rotary valve 20 or each associated outlet passage 14. Preferably, the drive 30 is actuated in such a way that the control gearwheel 41 continues to rotate by a predetermined angle. The control gearwheel 41 is stopped in the open position P1 of the currently engaged rotary valve 20 for as long as a flow of lubricant through the outlet passage 14 is to be permitted to provide a desired amount of lubricant to a lubrication point. In principle, a continuous rotation of the control gearwheel 41 is also conceivable, optionally with a temporary deceleration or acceleration of the rotational speed. A change of direction of the control gearwheel 41 can also be provided in principle in order to achieve a certain lubricant distribution, for example in order to not actuate individual adjacent rotary valves 20.

[0059] The toothing 22 of a rotary valve 20 has the first axial toothing region 221 with first teeth 24a and a second axial toothing region 222 with second teeth 24b. First and second teeth 24a, 24b have different tooth lengths L1, L2. First teeth 24a of the first tooth length L1 extend over a part of the larger second tooth length L2 of the second teeth 24b. In this respect, the toothing 22 is graduated, namely two-stage. Of a total of eight teeth 24a, 24b, four first teeth 24a and four second teeth 24b are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the rotary valve 20. The two-stage toothing 22 in conjunction with the control gearwheel 41 described below (see FIGS. 3A to 4B) prevents the rotary valves 20 from twisting unintentionally, which could occur, for example, due to vibrations of the lubricant distributor 1 during operation.

[0060] A comparison of FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B shows that the control gearwheel 41 has a first axial region 411 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B), a second axial region 412 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), wherein the control gearwheel 41 has a circumferential recess 413 in the form of a circular ring segment in the toothless sector 41b. The circumferential area 440 is graded in the toothless sector 41b. In the first axial region 411, the circumferential area 440 springs back from the second axial region 412. Conversely, the second axial region 412 protrudes from the first axial region 411. As a result, the tooth flanks of the second, longer teeth 24b in the closed position P0 of a rotary valve 20 strike the circumferential area 440 in the second axial region 412 of the control gearwheel 41 already at a minimum twist (see FIG. 4A). This blocks significant rotation of the rotary valve 20 while the control gearwheel 41 rotates past the rotary valve 20, but without engaging with it. The control gearwheel 41 can turn over the first, shorter teeth 24a in that the control gearwheel 41 jumps back in the first axial region 411 or forms the circumferential recess 413, while the second teeth 24b prevent an unintentional adjustment of the rotary valves 20 in the closed position P0.

[0061] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3A to 4B, the lubricant distributor 1 is connected to a connecting plate 50 with a total of eight distribution connections 51. Outlet passages between the distributor body 10 and the distribution connections 51 are illustrated with dashed lines, wherein corresponding axial connecting passage sections connect the distributor body 10 to the connecting plate 50. Three centering pins are shown in a sectional view. The lubricant distributor 1 according to FIGS. 3A to 4B functions in the same way as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 2B.

[0062] In the method according to the invention, drive 30 is actuated or operated to turn a rotary valve 20 from the closed position P0 to the open position P1. For example, actuation occurs by a distributor control unit which is connected to the lubricant distributor or drive 30. A lubrication time interval of the respective rotary valve 20 is then set or suitably selected by stopping the control gearwheel 41 for as long as a lubricant flow through the outlet passage 14 is desired for the allocation of a desired quantity of lubricant to a lubrication point. Drive 30 is then actuated or operated again to move this rotary valve 20 from the open position P1 to the closed position P0. This procedure is repeated in turn for each rotary valve 20, wherein the lubrication time intervals can be set differently in each case and, in particular, variably per revolution of the control gearwheel 41.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a lubricant distributor 1 according to the invention with a flow sensor 70 and a position detection device 80, which otherwise functions in the same way as the embodiments described above. The toothing 33 of the drive shaft 32 is designed as a drive worm. The drive shaft 32 in this embodiment extends perpendicularly to the axis of rotation S of the control gearwheel 41.

[0064] The flow sensor 70 is arranged between a lubricant supply line 3 and the distributor body 10 in such a way that it is fluidically connected to the inlet opening 11. The flow sensor is connected to the central distributor control unit 2 via a signal line 71. The position detection device 80 comprises an exciter element 47 and a position sensor 81, which here is designed as a reed switch (reed contact) and is connected to the distribution control unit 2 via signal line 82. The position sensor 81 could also be designed as a Hall sensor or Hall switch (Hall contact). The exciter element 47 is made of a soft magnetic material, e.g. metal, and is firmly connected to the control gearwheel 41, e.g. screwed in. With each rotation of the control gearwheel 41, the co-rotating exciter element 47 passes the position sensor 81 and generates a sensor signal, in particular by disturbing the magnetic field of the position sensor 81. The distributor control unit 2 is also connected to the drive 30 or the drive motor 31, in particular to measure the speed of the drive motor 31. Based on the detected passage position or zero position of the control gearwheel 41 via the exciter element 47 and based on a transmitted speed of the drive motor 31, the distributor control unit 2 can determine or calculate the current position of the rotary valves 20. The distributor control unit 2 comprises a processor or microcontroller and performs a signal evaluation. The position detection device 80 enables the determination of the currently opened rotary valve 20 or via which of the distribution connections 51 the lubricant is currently distributed.

[0065] A lubricant distributor 1 in accordance with the invention and a corresponding method have the advantage that they are easy to set up and carry out.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] 1 Lubricant distributor [0067] 2 Distributor control unit [0068] 3 Lubricant supply line [0069] 10 Distributor body [0070] 11 Inlet opening [0071] 12 Outlet opening [0072] 13 Inlet passage [0073] 14 Outlet passage [0074] 14a Inner passage section [0075] 14b Outer passage section [0076] 15 Housing cover [0077] 20 Rotary valve [0078] 21 Shut-off body [0079] 22 Toothing [0080] 221 First axial toothing region [0081] 222 Second axial toothing region [0082] 23 Through opening [0083] 24a First teeth [0084] 24b Second teeth [0085] 25 Sealing groove [0086] 30 Drive [0087] 31 Electric motor, in particular stepping motor [0088] 32 Drive shaft [0089] 33 Drive gearwheel [0090] 34 Signal line [0091] 40 Control gear [0092] 41 Control gearwheel [0093] 41a Toothed sector [0094] 41b Toothless sector [0095] 42 Control toothing section [0096] 43 Drive toothing [0097] 44 Axle [0098] 440 Circumferential area of the axle [0099] 45 Distribution channel, in particular annular groove [0100] 46 Control tooth [0101] 47 Exciter element [0102] 410 Circumferential area of the control gearwheel [0103] 411 First axial region [0104] 412 Second axial region [0105] 413 Circumferential recess [0106] 414 Drive sprocket [0107] 415 Control sprocket [0108] 50 Connecting plate [0109] 51 Distribution connection [0110] 60 Seal [0111] 70 Flow sensor [0112] 71 Signal line [0113] 80 Position detection device [0114] 81 Position sensor [0115] 82 Signal line [0116] 100 Lubricating device [0117] P0 Closed position [0118] P1 Open position [0119] D Axis of rotation of the rotary valve [0120] S Axis of rotation of the control gearwheel [0121] L1 First tooth length [0122] L2 Second tooth length