Patent ID: 12215777

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed that it basically includes a dispenser assembly20, a pressure supply assembly40, a gearbox assembly60, and an electronic assembly80. It should be understood there are modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

Best illustrated inFIG.2dispenser assembly20may include a dispenser26. The dispenser26may be an enclosure that serves as a housing for the reservoir24and the pressure supply assembly40. The dispenser26may be a cylindrical housing with opposing flat distal ends. It should be understood the shape of the dispenser26may vary as deemed suitable for the environment said dispenser26is placed in. The dispenser26may include a threaded portion22extending downwardly from a top end. Wherein the threaded portion22may allow for the dispenser26to be mounted within the gearbox housing66of the gearbox assembly60. The gearbox assembly60may have various iterations depending on the machinery it is located within. The threaded portion22provides a securing means to maintain the dispenser26in place. Due to the possible movement and vibrations while the machinery is in operation, the threaded portion22helps avoid the positional displacement of the dispenser26. Secure placement of the dispenser26is important due to the directional operation of said dispenser26. The dispenser26may further include a hollow interior. Wherein the hollow interior of the dispenser26defines a reservoir24. The reservoir24may span from a middle portion to the bottom portion of the dispenser26. The reservoir24may facilitate the storage of lubrication fluids such as oil therein. In communication with the reservoir24is channel23. Wherein the channel23may provide an outlet for the oil or other lubrication fluids to be expelled therefrom. In one embodiment the reservoir24may be filled with oil via an opening or port located on the dispenser26. In an alternate embodiment the channel23may be bi-directional to facilitate refilling the reservoir24after being emptied. It may also be suitable to incorporate multiple channel23to the dispenser26. Wherein the multiple channels23may allow a user to gain easier access to be able to refill the reservoir24from multiple angles. Located at a reservoir top end may be the pressure supply assembly40.

As shown inFIG.2-3the pressure supply assembly40may be contained within a top interior portion of the dispenser26. The pressure supply assembly40may include a spring42and a plunger44. The spring42pushing from the interior top end of the dispenser26may force the plunger44towards the channel23. It may be suitable for the interior of the dispenser26to create an air tight environment when the electric valve84is closed. The air tight environment does not allow the oil or lubrication fluid within the reservoir to be expelled and thus maintains a constant stored pressure with the spring42and the plunger44in place. The opening of the electric valve84releases the stored pressure and allows for the plunger44to be pushed downward toward said channel23. The oil or lubrication fluid thereby contained within the reservoir24is forced out of the dispenser26in the direction of the channel23. As demonstrated inFIG.1the channel23may allow for the precise directional release of lubrication fluids such as oils within a gearbox housing66. The pressure supply assembly40may allow for a pressure system that is independent from the rest of the machinery. This has the added benefit of dispensing oil or lubricating fluid directly onto gears64, bearing, or seals located within the gearbox housing66in the event of an emergency or loss of lubrication. Thereby extending the life of machinery and gears64contained therein.

Depicted inFIG.3-4the dispenser26may include several sensors disclosed in electronic assembly80that are mounted thereon to meter, dispense, and/or measure oil or lubrication fluid stored within the reservoir24. The electronic assembly80may include a microphone81, a flow meter82, an oil quality sensor83, an electric valve84, a camera85, and a microcontroller unit86. In the embodiment shown inFIG.3the flow meter82may be located at a bottom portion of the dispenser26above the channel23. The flow meter82may be mounted within the reservoir24or, in an alternate embodiment, along an exterior surface of the dispenser26. The flow meter82may allow for precise metering measurements to be taken of the oil or lubrication fluid as it is expelled from the reservoir24. Wherein the flow meter82may measure units of volume over a period of time such as ml/s or milliliters per second. The flow meter82may generate an electrical signal calibrated to transduce the measured electrical signal to a user's predetermined flow rate. It may be suitable for the flow meter82to function within an analog embodiment of the electronic assembly80. Wherein the flow meter82outputs a voltage or a current. In multiple embodiments the flow meter82may take the form of turbines, pressure based flow meters, or ultrasonic flow meters. The oil quality sensor83may also be mounted within the reservoir24or along an exterior surface of the dispenser26. The oil quality sensor83may provide characteristic data on the state of the oil or lubrication fluid being stored within the reservoir24. The characteristic data measured by the oil quality sensor83may include but is not limited to viscosity, density, dielectric constant, fluid temperature. Furthermore, the oil quality sensor83may detect contaminants such as metal shavings or chips that can have debilitating effects on bearings and gears as the oil circulates therethrough.

It may be suitable for the electric valve84to be actuated by the microcontroller unit86. Upon actuation, the electric valve84may allow for oil or lubrication fluid to flow to the exterior of the dispenser26via the valve23. The microcontroller unit86may detect the state of the electric valve84to define the state of activation. The camera85and the microphone81may also function as sensors that provide feedback to the microcontroller unit86. It should be understood that the electric valve84may include features capable of limiting the flow rate of oil as is exits the reservoir24of the dispenser26via the channel23. In one embodiment the electric valve84may be a solenoid valve. In an alternate iteration the electric valve84may be a proportional flow valve. The proportional flow valve allows for varying degrees of actuation by the microcontroller unit86to increase or decrease the amount of oil being dispensed from the reservoir24located within the dispenser26. In one embodiment the camera85may include thermal imaging capabilities to relay temperature readings of specific areas within a gearbox housing66. A predetermined range of temperature may allow for a signal to be generated by the microcontroller unit86to actuate the electric valve84should the measured temperature readings fall outside of the predetermined range. The microphone81may be placed adjacent to the contact points of gears64to record sound signatures that may fall out of an audible human range. The recorded sound signatures may help the microcontroller unit86determine the state of lubrication for said gears64. The recorded sound signatures may be compared to the sound signature of optimally lubricated gears by the microcontroller unit86.

Further included within the electronic assembly80may be an oil quantity sensor, a laser, an accelerometer, a proximity probe, and a power source. In one embodiment the power source may take the form of a battery. Alternatively, the powersource may be a wireless power supply implemented to provide power to the electronicassembly80via induction. The power source used for the electronic assembly80may also include a wired connection between the power supply used to drive the machinery to the electronic assembly80that is placed within said machinery. The power source may also be implemented in the form of stored mechanical energy or a pressurized gas. Alternate iterations for the power source used to power the microcontroller unit86may include a thermoelectric power unit that converts environmental thermal energy into electricity or an electrical generator capable of converting the rotational energy of the tower shaft62into electricity. The proximity probe may serve as a means of measuringdisplacement over a period of time. Wherein the displacement measured by the proximity probe may allow for the determination of potentially damaging resonances of the gears64while said gears64rotate. The oil quantity sensor may be mounted within the dispenser26or along an exterior surface of said dispenser26. The oil quantity sensor may take positional measurements of plunger44for the microcontrollerunit86to calculate the amount of oil or lubrication fluid left within the reservoir24. A laser may also be mounted to the exterior of dispenser26and adjacent to the channel23. It may be suitable for the laser to be pointed toward the gears64to measure a predetermined range of vibrational displacement. The laser measuring vibrationaldisplacement that falls outside of the predetermined range of vibrational displacement may be detected by the microcontroller unit86to actuate the electric valve84. In an alternate embodiment, the microcontroller unit86may wirelessly communicate with a plurality of additional microcontroller units integrally mounted to additional dispensers. The microcontroller unit86may also include an embodiment wherein a wired connection is used for communication between said microcontroller unit86and other nearby sensors of the electronic assembly80. Thereby creating a network of dispensers in communication with each other. This has the added benefit of creating redundancies within the network of dispensers should an emergency take place within a gearbox housing66. It should be understood the position or location of the sensors disclosed within electronic assembly80may be dependent on the application of the dispenser assembly20within various size and dimensions for the gearbox assembly60.

An alternate embodiment may further be implemented for the electronic assembly80wherein analog components are used. The analog components may include a proportional feedback implemented through the use of passive components such as operational amplifiers and resistors. For example, a thermistor may be coupled to a proportional flow valve attached to the dispenser26. A signal may be captured by the thermistor and amplified to be used as an input signal for the proportional flow valve, thereby controlling the flow of oil out of the oil reservoir24.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.