Lubricant delivery system and method
AssigneeUnist, Inc.
InventorsZachary E. Talen, Timothy J. Bangma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lubricant delivery system includes a valve manifold, an electronic controller, and a pressure sensor for determining whether there is adequate lubricant flow in the system. The valve manifold receives lubricant from a pressurized source. The valve manifold includes a plurality of valves configured to control the flow of lubricant to respective applicators. The electronic controller controls the opening and closing of the valves. The pressure sensor measures lubricant pressure in the valve manifold, and outputs a signal to the electronic controller. The signal correlates to a lubricant pressure value in the valve manifold. The electronic controller uses the lubricant pressure values to derive an indication of lubricant flow (via the valves) to the applicators.
Claims12
A lubricant delivery system comprising:
- a valve manifold configured to receive lubricant from a pressurized source, wherein the valve manifold comprises a plurality of valves, each valve configured to control the flow of lubricant to a respective applicator;
- an electronic controller configured to control the opening and closing of the plurality of valves;
- and
- a pressure sensor configured to measure lubricant pressure in the valve manifold, and further configured to output a signal to the electronic controller, wherein the signal correlates to a lubricant pressure value in the valve manifold;
- wherein the electronic controller is operable to derive an indication of lubricant flow to the applicators based upon lubricant pressure values received from the pressure sensor;
- wherein the electronic controller is configured to record a first lubricant pressure value when a first valve of the plurality of valves is closed and to record a second lubricant pressure value when the first valve is opened, wherein a difference between the first lubricant pressure value and the second lubricant pressure value is a first pressure drop value for the first valve, and wherein the electronic controller is further configured to use the first pressure drop value to derive an indication of lubricant flow from the first valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.