PORTABLE CLASS-II LUBRICATION DEVICE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a portable Extra-Low Voltage (ELV) class-II lubrication device comprising: at least one class-II power supply; at least one electric motor controller powered by the at least one power supply; at least one electric motor controlled by the at least one motor controller; at least one pump activated by the at least one electric motor and connected to at least one lubricant container, the pump configured to pump a lubricant from the at least one container to at least one target to be lubricated, wherein an output voltage of the at least one power supply and an output voltage of the at least one motor controller and an operating voltage of the at least one motor is equal to or less than 50 Volts AC or 120 Volts DC.

Claims

1. A portable class-II lubrication device, comprising: at least one class-II power supply; at least one electric motor controller powered by the at least one power supply; at least one electric motor controlled by the at least one motor controller; at least one pump activated by the at least one electric motor and connected to at least one lubricant container, the pump configured to pump a lubricant from the at least one container to at least one target to be lubricated, wherein an output voltage of the at least one power supply and an output voltage of the at least one motor controller and an operating voltage of the at least one motor is equal to or less than 50 Volts AC or 120 Volts DC.

2. The lubrication device according to claim 1, wherein an electrical mains connection of the device is not provided with an earth wire, and wherein the mains connection is single phase and provided with two wires, the two wires comprising an active and a neutral wire.

3. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, not comprising a frequency converter or a high voltage frequency converter or a frequency inverter.

4. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor controller comprises a relay.

5. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is independent on the target to be lubricated.

6. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a power cable and a plug or a power inlet connector for a cable with a plug.

7. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant is oil or grease or a viscous lubricant or similar.

8. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container, such as a grease cartridge, is removable and/or detachable.

9. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply is removable and/or detachable.

10. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device weight does not exceed 25 Kg, or preferably 15 Kg, or more preferably 10 Kg, or even more preferably 5 Kg, or most preferably 3 Kg.

11. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of the device may not exceed 850 mm, or preferably 500 mm, or more preferably 420 mm, or even more preferably 350 mm, or most preferably 300 mm.

12. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a width of the disclosed device may not exceed 650 mm, or preferably 400 mm, or more preferably 325 mm, or even more preferably 300 mm, or most preferably 250 mm.

13. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a height of the disclosed device may not exceed 450 mm, or preferably 200 mm, or more preferably 180 mm, or even more preferably 150 mm, or most preferably 100 mm.

14. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device dimensions do not exceed 850650450 mm.

15. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container contains a maximum of 15 l, or preferably 5 l, or more preferably 3l, or even more preferably 2 l, or most preferably 1 l in volume, of the lubricant.

16. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an output flow of the device is between 10 ml/min and 4000 ml/min, or preferably between 10 ml/min and 2500 ml/min, or more preferably between 10 ml/min and 1800 g/min, or most preferably between 10 ml/min and 1400 ml/min.

17. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an operating pressure is between 5 BAR and 400 BAR, or preferably between 5 BAR and 300 BAR, or more preferably between 5 BAR and 250 BAR, or even more preferably between 5 BAR and 150 BAR, or most preferably between 5 BAR and 100 BAR.

18. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a built-in dosing counter configured to stop the motor and the pump when a pre-set amount of lubricant has been reached.

19. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a gear pump or a piston pump.

20. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor controller and the power supply are separated.

21. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an input voltage of the power supply is comprised between 90 Volts AC and 250 Volts AC.

22. The lubrication device according to any one of claims 1-20, wherein an input voltage of the power supply is comprised between 100 Volts AC and 120 Volts AC.

23. The lubrication device according to any one of claims 1-20, wherein an input voltage of the power supply is comprised between 200 Volts AC and 240 Volts AC.

24. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor controller is a BLDC motor controller or a PMDC motor controller and/or wherein the motor is a BLDC motor or a PMDC motor.

25. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor controller is a PMAC motor controller and/or wherein the motor is a PMAC motor.

26. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor controller is a step motor controller and/or wherein the motor is a step motor.

27. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an output voltage of the at least one power supply and an output voltage of the at least one motor controller and an operating voltage of the at least one motor is equal to or less than 25 Volts AC or 60 Volts DC, preferably 48 Volts DC.

28. The lubrication device according to claim 27, comprising a grounding clump on a metal part of the device, such as a metal cabinet or metal frame, wherein such grounding clump may be connected to an electrical earth of a working area of the target, and wherein one of a low voltage output wires of the power supply of the device is connected to the metal part.

29. The lubrication device according to any one of claims 27-28, wherein touch parts of the device, that is parts that are exposed to a user of the device, have a voltage of no more than, or equal to 60 Volts DC or 25 Volts AC.

30. The lubrication device according to any one of claims 27-29, comprising a safety relay configured to terminate electrical supply to the device if a difference between an electric current flowing through a supply line active wire and an electric current flowing through a neutral wire is more than a threshold.

31. The lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one metal part, such as a cabinet, exposed to an user of the device.

32. The lubrication device according to any one of claims 27-31, wherein the device is a Protected Extra-Low Voltage (PELV) device.

33. The lubrication device according to claim 1-26, wherein the device is Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) and comprises an external ground clump connected to a metal frame or a cabinet of the device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention will in the following be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are exemplary and not limiting to the presently disclosed lubrication device:

[0044] FIG. 1 a schematic view of the main components of an embodiment of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device;

[0045] FIG. 2 a schematic view of one embodiment of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device;

[0046] FIG. 3 an external view of an embodiment of the presently disclosed portable lubrication device;

[0047] FIG. 4 an example of a prior art class I lubrication device with compulsory PE (protective earth) connection (504) in the mains cord or inlet. The prior art class I lubrication device comprises a high voltage frequency inverter (501) with an operating voltage up to 340 Volts DC, that must be grounded (506), that is electrically connected to the metal frame. In this configuration a fuse is going to interrupt power flow if a dangerous voltage potential is detected between the mains PE wire and the earth of the building;

[0048] FIG. 5 a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device with maximum operating voltage of 120 Volts DC or 50 Volts AC. The device may or may not have an optional external earth connection (106), the earth connection not present in the mains cord or inlet (107), wherein the cord or inlet only has two wires, such as active wire (L) and neutral (N) and no third PE wire. In this embodiment the external earth connection is electrically insulated from the Class II power supply input-and output connections. In this embodiment the device is SELV (Separated Extra-Low Voltage);

[0049] FIG. 6 a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device with maximum operating voltage 60 Volts DC or 25 Volts AC with one output connection of the power supply (108) grounded, that is electrically connected to the metal frame or cabinet of the lubrication device. The device may or may not have an optional external earth connection (106) which may be external to the mains power cord or inlet (107). In this embodiment the device is PELV (Protected Extra-Low Voltage); and

[0050] FIG. 7 a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device with maximum operating voltage 60 Volts DC or 25 Volts AC with one output connection of the power supply (108) grounded and the motor also having a ground connection (109), that is one metal part of the motor is connected to the metal frame or cabinet of the lubrication device. The device may or may not have an optional external earth connection (106) which may be external to the mains power cord or inlet (107).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General

[0051] The present disclosure relates to a portable class-II, in particular Extra-Low Voltage (ELV), lubrication device comprising: [0052] a. at least one class-II power supply; [0053] b. at least one electric motor controller powered by the at least one power supply; [0054] c. at least one electric motor controlled by the at least one motor controller; [0055] d. at least one pump activated by the at least one electric motor and connected to at least one lubricant container, the pump configured to pump a lubricant from the at least one container to at least one target to be lubricated,

[0056] wherein an output voltage of the at least one power supply and an output voltage of the at least one motor controller and an operating voltage of the at least one motor is equal to or less than 50 Volts AC or 120 Volts DC.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the main components of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device (100). The lubrication device comprises a power supply (101), a motor controller (102), an electric motor (103), a pump (104) and a detachable grease/oil container (105). The pump, which may comprise a piston pump or a gear pump, transfers the oil/grease from the detachable container to a target to be lubricated. The pump is activated by the electrical motor, which is controlled by the motor controller. The power supply supplies the needed power. All operating voltages of all electrical components respect the Extra-Low Voltage (ELV) standard, that is all voltages are equal or less than 50 Volts AC or 120 Volts DC, preferably 25 Volts AC or 60 Volts DC.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the presently disclosed class II lubrication device. The PE (protective earth) connection (106) shown in FIG. 2 is optional and may be external to the mains power cord or inlet (107). FIG. 2 also shows the class II power supply (101), the motor controller (102), the motor (103), the pump (104), the grease/oil container (105). The target to be lubricated (200) is also shown in FIG. 2, which is independent on the lubrication device. The frame or cabinet (300) of the device is also shown.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device (400) with a cabinet or external frame (300) and a grease/oil container (105).

[0060] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device. The lubrication device in this embodiment has a mains power cord or inlet (107) with only two wires, an active wire (L) and a neutral wire (N). In this embodiment the mains power cord or inlet does not comprise a PE (protective earth) connection. Nevertheless, in this embodiment the device may or may not have an optional separate earth connection (106) connected to the metal frame or cabinet (300) of the device. In this embodiment the output voltage of the power supply may not exceed 120 Volts DC or 50 Volts AC. In this embodiment the mains power cord or power inlet (107) of the device may not have a PE connection. In this embodiment the device is a class II device respecting all requirements on insulation. In this embodiment the device may be classified as a SELV device, that is a Safety Extra-Low Voltage device.

[0061] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device. The lubrication device in this embodiment has a mains power cord or inlet (107) with only two wires, an active wire (L) and a neutral wire (N). In this embodiment the mains power cord or inlet (107) does not comprise a PE (protective earth) connection. Nevertheless, in this embodiment the device may or may not have an optional separate earth connection (106) connected to the metal frame or cabinet (300) of the device. In this embodiment the output voltage of the power supply may not exceed 60 Volts DC or 25 Volts AC. In this embodiment a low voltage output wire (108) of the power supply, may be connected to ground, that is to the cabinet or metal frame of the lubrication device or any exposed metal part of the device. The metal frame or cabinet of the lubrication device may have a separate connection (106) to earth of the working area via an external clump or wire. In this embodiment the device is a class II device respecting all requirements on insulation. In this embodiment the device may be classified as a PELV device, that is a Protected Extra-Low Voltage device.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device. The lubrication device in this embodiment has a mains power cord or inlet (107) with only two wires, an active wire and a neutral wire. In this embodiment the mains power cord or inlet does not comprise a PE (protective earth) connection. Nevertheless, in this embodiment the device may or may not have an optional separate earth connection (106) connected to the metal frame or cabinet (300) of the device. In this embodiment the output voltage of the power supply may not exceed 60Volts DC or 25 Volts AC. In this embodiment an output wire of the power supply (108) may be connected to ground, that is to the cabinet or metal frame of the lubrication device. The metal frame or cabinet of the lubrication device may have a separate connection (106) to earth of the working area via an external clump or wire. In this embodiment, the motor may have an earth connection (109), that is a connection to the metal frame or cabinet of the lubrication device. In this embodiment the lubrication device is a class II device respecting all requirements on insulation. In this embodiment the device may be classified as a PELV device, that is a Protected Extra-Low Voltage device.

[0063] In one embodiment of the present disclosure an electrical mains connection of the device is not provided with an earth wire, and the mains connection is single phase and provided with two wires, the two wires comprising an active and a neutral wire.

[0064] In another embodiment of the present disclosure the maximum output voltage of the power supply and the voltages of all other electrical parts do not exceed 60 Volts DC or 25 Volts AC and an electrical mains connection of the device is optionally provided with an earth wire, which may be a wire external to a mains power cord or inlet (127) of the device or may be within the power cord (127).

[0065] Frequency converters or high voltage frequency converters or frequency inverters found by the inventors on the market are class-I appliances and they require an earth connection.

[0066] The presently disclosed lubrication device is not comprising a frequency converter or a high voltage frequency converter or a frequency inverter or a high voltage frequency inverter. In the presently disclosed lubrication device, the present inventors have substituted the typically used frequency converter by a class-II power supply and a motor controller.

[0067] The motor controller of the presently disclosed lubrication device may be implemented in various ways, for example it may comprise a relay.

[0068] The disclosed lubrication device may be independent on the target to be lubricated, that is it could be separated from the target, portable and attachable to/detachable from the target.

[0069] The disclosed lubrication device may comprise a power cable and a plug or a power inlet connector for a cable with a plug. The power cable and plug or the power inlet may be insulated, preferably double insulated, with an insulated material such as plastic.

[0070] The lubricant used by the disclosed lubrication device may be oil or grease or a viscous lubricant or similar.

[0071] The disclosed lubrication device may comprise a container, such as a grease cartridge, the container being removable and/or detachable. The detachable container is very practical as an empty container may be easily substituted with a full container.

[0072] The power supply of the disclosed lubrication device may be removable and/or detachable. The power supply may not comprise or may comprise an earth connection and may be class II. The power supply may be double insulated, or the insulation may be reinforced. A reinforced insulation is an improved basic insulation with such mechanical and electrical properties that, in itself, the insulation provides the same degree of protection against electrical shock as double insulation. The reinforced insulation provides the same level of insulation like a double insulation.

[0073] The disclosed lubrication device may have physical specifications such to make it portable.

[0074] In one embodiment the weight of the device may not exceed 25 Kg, or preferably 15 Kg, or more preferably 10 Kg, or even more preferably 5 Kg, or most preferably 3 Kg.

[0075] In one embodiment a length of the disclosed device may not exceed 850 mm, or preferably 500 mm, or more preferably 420 mm, or even more preferably 350 mm, or most preferably 300 mm.

[0076] In one embodiment a width of the disclosed device may not exceed 650 mm, or preferably 400 mm, or more preferably 325 mm, or even more preferably 300 mm, or most preferably 250 mm.

[0077] In one embodiment a height of the disclosed device may not exceed 450 mm, or preferably 200 mm, or more preferably 180 mm, or even more preferably 150 mm, or most preferably 100 mm.

[0078] In one embodiment the physical dimensions of the disclosed device may not exceed 850650450 mm.

[0079] In a further embodiment the container of the disclosed device may contain a maximum of 15 l, or preferably 5 l, or more preferably 3 l, or even more preferably 2 l, or most preferably 1 l in volume, of the lubricant.

[0080] In one embodiment of the disclosed lubrication device an output flow may be between 10 ml/min and 4000 ml/min, or preferably between 10 ml/min and 2500 ml/min, or more preferably between 10 ml/min and 1800 ml/min, or most preferably 10 ml/min and 1400 ml/min.

[0081] In one embodiment of the disclosed lubrication device an operating pressure of the presently disclosed lubrication device may be between 5 BAR and 400 BAR, or preferably between 5 BAR and 300 BAR, or more preferably 5 BAR and 250 BAR. or most preferably 5 BAR and 150 BAR.

[0082] For convenience of the user it is advantageous to set a pre-determined amount of lubricant to be transferred from the lubricant container to the target. The disclosed lubrication device may comprise a built-in dosing counter configured to stop the motor and the pump when a pre-set amount of lubricant has been reached. The device may, in addition, comprise a touchable display or other control mechanism, connected to the motor controller, that may be used by the user to configure the dose.

[0083] The pump of the disclosed lubrication device may be a piston pump or a gear pump or another type of pump meeting the specification of light weight and that may be activated by a motor. Piston pumps are widely used for moving liquids and are based on a piston, a piston cup and a pump chamber. The piston oscillates in the piston cup and downwards oscillations cause pressure differentials filling the pump chamber, and upwards oscillations forces the fluid to be pumped out of the chamber. Gear pumps are also widely known and they typically comprise rotating wheels, wherein the movement of at least one of the rotating wheels is such that liquid is forced in one direction. In the present invention, a piston pump or a gear pump may be activated by an electrical motor.

[0084] In order to have a detachable power supply, the power supply of the disclosed lubrication device may be separated from the motor controller. In one embodiment of the present invention, the detachable power supply may be a battery.

[0085] In one embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device an input voltage of the power supply may be comprised between 100 Volts AC and 120 Volts AC.

[0086] In another embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device an input voltage of the power supply may be comprised between 200 Volts AC and 240 Volts AC.

[0087] In another embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device an input voltage of the power supply may be comprised between 90 Volts AC and 250 Volts AC.

[0088] The motor controller and the motor of the presently disclosed lubrication device may be a BLDC motor controller or a PMDC motor controller and/or a BLDC motor or a PMDC motor.

[0089] A PMDC motor, or Permanent Magnet DC motor, is a widely known type of DC motor that uses permanent magnets, in addition to optional first windings, generally placed in the inner part of a cylindrical stator, to generate a first magnetic field. As in most of DC motors, a rotor with second windings rotates inside the magnetic field, pushed by magnetic forces. The rotor is often equipped with commutator segments and brushes to continuously keep misalignment between the rotor magnetic field and the stator magnetic field. These motors have simple construction and can effectively be used in a lubrication device. They may operate on a 6 V, 12 V, 24 V or higher DC voltage, obtained from a battery or a rectifier or a controller. The driving force that is rotating the rotor generates from the interaction between the permanent magnetic field generated by the radially magnetized permanent magnets and the axial current on the rotor conductors. Speed of PMDC motors may be controlled by controlling the armature voltage, that is the voltage applied to the windings of the rotor, or by controlling the series resistance between the voltage source and the motor (rheostat control).

[0090] A BLDC motor is a brushless DC motor. It is an electronically commutated motor using a DC power supply. It uses an electronically commutated controller to switch DC currents in the rotor and produce magnetic fields which effectively rotate in space, producing a rotation of the motor. A BLDC motor controller adjusts phase and amplitude of DC current pulses to control speed and torque of the motor. BLDC motors find applications in many fields and, in this disclosure, are effectively used to drive pumps in lubrication devices. An advantage of BLDC motors is that they are not affected by brush consumption as they are brushless. Another advantage of BLDC motor is the lack of friction due to the lack of brushes and the lack of voltage drop on the brushes, brush drop. Therefore a BLDC motor often has a higher efficiency.

[0091] In another embodiment, the motor may be a PMAC motor and the motor controller a PMAC motor controller.

[0092] A PMAC motor is a Permanent Magnet AC Motor. A PMAC is an AC (Alternate Current) Motor with a permanent magnet typically attached to the rotor, preferably instead of or in addition to electromagnets in the rotor. Typically these motors have good efficiency.

[0093] In a further embodiment, the motor may be a step motor and the motor controller may be a step motor controller.

[0094] Step motors are also known as stepper motors or stepping motors. Step motors are brushless DC (Direct Current) electric motors, that divide a full rotation into a number of equal steps, where the motor position can be commanded to move and hold at one of the steps.

[0095] In a further embodiment, the motor may be an electric motor other than BLDC, PMAC, step or PMDC.

PELV

[0096] In one embodiment of the presently disclosed lubrication device, an output voltage of the at least one power supply and an output voltage of the at least one motor controller and an operating voltage of the at least one motor is equal to or less than 25 Volts AC or 60 Volts DC, preferably 48 Volts DC. In this embodiment the lubrication device is a Protected Extra-Low Voltage (PELV) device which may or may not be provided with an earth or protective earth (PE) connection in the device mains plug or inlet, and which may or may not be provided by an external ground clump connected to a metal cabinet or a metal frame or a metal touch part that an user may be in contact to. This ground clump may be fully optional and not fully required for safe functioning of the lubrication device, given the low operating voltage of the lubrication device and the isolation, but the ground clump may be conveniently connected to an earth of the working area of the target for extra safety, based on a choice of the user, for example the user may connect this extra ground to an earth part of a wind-turbine providing an earth connection in the working area of the user.

[0097] In this embodiment, the disclosed lubrication device may therefore comprise a grounding clump on a metal part of the device, such as a metal cabinet or a metal frame of the device, wherein such grounding clump may be connected to an electrical earth of a working area of the target, and wherein a neutral or minus wire of a power supply of the device is connected to the metal part of the device, such as the cabinet or the metal frame.

[0098] In this embodiment, any touch parts of the disclosed lubrication device, that is parts that are exposed to a user of the device, have a voltage of no more than, or equal to 60 Volts DC or 25 Volts AC.

[0099] In this embodiment, the disclosed lubrication device may comprise a safety relay configured to terminate electrical supply to the device if a difference between an electric current flowing through a supply line active wire and an electric current flowing through a neutral wire is more than a threshold, such as the threshold being equal or less than 30 mA, or equal or less than 5 mA.

[0100] In this embodiment, the disclosed lubrication device comprises at least one metal part, such as a cabinet, exposed to an user of the device.

[0101] In a separate configuration of this embodiment, the ground clump is not present and, instead, a PE wire is present in the mains power cord or inlet of the lubrication device.

SELV

[0102] In another embodiment, the presently disclosed lubrication device may be a Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) device, with operating voltage of all parts of maximum 50 Volts AC or 120 Volts DC, without a earth connection or protective earth connection (PE) in the mains plug or the mains inlet of the device.