US5080195A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of supplying lubricant and apparatus for the same
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1989-12-21
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Granted: 1992-01-14
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Expires: 2009-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A lubricant supply source is disposed in the vicinity of a sliding or rotary portion of a machine element, and an electrical power source is intermittently driven by a controller, so as to intermittently supply lubricant from the lubricant supply source to the machine element. When required, a sensor for monitoring the operating state of the machine element, and/or a remote controller is used, so that the supply of lubricant is controlled on the basis of the signal of the sensor and/or by means of the remote controller. Consequently, lubricant can be supplied or supplemented to the machine element in accordance with necessity. Therefore, the machine element will be able to stably operate for a long time, even in relative inaccessible places which people cannot inadvertently access.
Inventors
- 👤 Muneo Mizumoto
- 👤 Koji Kato
- 👤 Hiroshi Inoue
- 👤 Nobuo Tsumaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:02
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16N; F16N29/00; F16N29/02; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/66; F16C33/6603; F16C33/6622; F16C33/6637; F16C33/6659; F16C33/667; F16C33/6674; F16C33/6696; F16N17/00; F16N17/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of supplying lubricant, the method comprising the steps of: providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to t least one element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a solid lubricant, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling aid electrical power source, and a sensor for detcting a state of the at least one element of the machine; causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the mchine is required; causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and coating the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of supplying lubricant, the method comprising the steps of: providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to t least one element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a solid lubricant, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling aid electrical power source, and a sensor for detcting a state of the at least one element of the machine; causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the mchine is required; causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and coating the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of supplying lubricant the method comprising the steps of: providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to at least one element of a machine, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling said electrical power source, and a sensor for detecting a state of the at least one element of the machine; causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the machine is reqired; causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and caoting the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evapoating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means, wherein said controllwer communicates through a communication means with a remote controller, monitors the state of the at least one machine element, and determines that lubricant should be supplied to the at least one machine element when the supply of lubricant is required.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of supplying lubricant the method comprising the steps of: providing a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to at least one element of a machine, an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means, a controller for controlling said electrical power source, and a sensor for detecting a state of the at least one element of the machine; causing said controller to determine, in dependence upon a detected value of said sensor, whether a supply of lubricant to the at least one element of the machine is reqired; causing said controller to drive said electrical power source upon a determination of a required lubrication; and caoting the lubricant on the at least one machine element by evapoating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means, wherein said controllwer communicates through a communication means with a remote controller, monitors the state of the at least one machine element, and determines that lubricant should be supplied to the at least one machine element when the supply of lubricant is required.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of supplying lubricant to a machine component part in motion comprising the steps of: monitoring the condition of the machine element by means of a sensor; and supplying lubricant in accordance with the state of the machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of supplying lubricant to a machine component part in motion comprising the steps of: monitoring the condition of the machine element by means of a sensor; and supplying lubricant in accordance with the state of the machine element by evaporating a solid lubricant by a tribo-coating means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant comprising: a tribo-coating means for supplying a solid lubricant to an element of a hamchine; an electrical power source for operating said tribo-coating means so as to cause an evaporation of the solid lubricant and coating of the element of the machine; nd a controller for driving said electrical power source at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant comprising: a tribo-coating means for supplying a solid lubricant to an element of a hamchine; an electrical power source for operating said tribo-coating means so as to cause an evaporation of the solid lubricant and coating of the element of the machine; nd a controller for driving said electrical power source at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant according to claim 4, wherein said controller change, at arbitrarily determined intervals of time, the electrical power supplied by said electrical power source to said tribo-coating means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for supplyng lubricant comprising: a tribo-coating means for supplying a solid lubricant to an element of a machine; `an electrical power source for opeating said tribo-coating means so aso to cuase an evaporation of the solid lubricant and coating of the element of the machine; a controller for driving and controlling said power source; and a sensor for monitoring an operating state of the machine element and for generating signals forming an input to said cntroller.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for supplyng lubricant comprising: a tribo-coating means for supplying a solid lubricant to an element of a machine; `an electrical power source for opeating said tribo-coating means so aso to cuase an evaporation of the solid lubricant and coating of the element of the machine; a controller for driving and controlling said power source; and a sensor for monitoring an operating state of the machine element and for generating signals forming an input to said cntroller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant according to claim 6, further comprising a switching device disposed in a circiut connecting said controller and said sensor for turning on and off said circiut.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant according to claim 6, wherein said controller is a remote controller capable of performing remote contro.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
Appartus for supplying lubricant, the apparatus comprising: a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to an element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a slid lubricant, and aheating means for heating and evaporating said lubricant so as to effect vacuum deposition, said heating means including at least one of a laser beam, and electron beam and a heater; an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means; a controller for driving and controlling said power source; and a sensor for moniotoring an operating state of the machine element and for generating signals forming an input to said controller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
Appartus for supplying lubricant, the apparatus comprising: a lubricant supply means for supplying lubricant to an element of a machine, the lubricant supply means comprising a vacuum deposition source formed of a slid lubricant, and aheating means for heating and evaporating said lubricant so as to effect vacuum deposition, said heating means including at least one of a laser beam, and electron beam and a heater; an electrical power source for operating said lubricant supply means; a controller for driving and controlling said power source; and a sensor for moniotoring an operating state of the machine element and for generating signals forming an input to said controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant accrding to claim 9, wherein the machine element incudes a ball bearing, and wherein said solid lubricant is disposed on at least one of an inner ring and an outer ring of said ball bearing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant according to claim 6, wherein said lubricant supply means comprises an ion gun.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant according to claim 6, wherein said sensor for minotiring the operating state of the machine element comprises a temperature sensor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus for supplying lubricant according to claim 6, wherein said sensor for minotiring the operting state of the machine element comprises a vibration detector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-13 | 1995-07-15 | 1996-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-13 | 1999-07-15 | 2000-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-13 | 2003-07-15 | 2004-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |