Lubricating system

A control device for a lubrication system,

• wherein the lubrication system includes:
• a progressive distributor configured to dispense lubricant to a consumer,
• a pressure sensor configured to determine a lubricant pressure inside the lubrication system at a plurality of times and to produce a plurality of pressure signals each indicative of the lubricant pressure at one of the plurality of times, and
• a temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the lubricant in the lubrication system and to produce a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the lubricant, and
• wherein the control device is configured to:
• receive the plurality of pressure signals and to recognize a lubrication cycle from the plurality of pressure signals and to determine an average pressure of the lubrication cycle,
• read from a database a normal pressure associated with each of a plurality of temperature windows,
• compare the average pressure of the lubrication cycle to the normal pressure of a temperature window selected based on the signal indicative of the temperature of the lubricant, and
• determine a state of the lubrication system based on a result of the comparing.

A method for determining a state of a lubrication system including a progressive distributor that is configured to dispense lubricant to a consumer, the method comprising:

• determining a lubricant pressure inside the lubrication system at a plurality of times and producing a plurality of pressure signals each indicative of the lubricant pressure at one of the plurality of times,
• determining a temperature of the lubricant in the lubrication system and producing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the lubricant,
• recognizing a lubrication cycle from the plurality of pressure signals,
• determining an average pressure of the lubrication cycle,
• reading from a database containing a normal pressure associated with each of a plurality of temperature windows a normal pressure associated with the temperature indicated by the temperature signal,
• comparing the average pressure of the lubrication cycle to the normal pressure associated with the temperature indicated by the temperature signal, and
• determining a state of the lubrication system based on a result of the comparing.