# US 2024/0200719 A1 · Lubrication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200719 A1 - Document ID: US20240200719A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/286,860 - Filed: 2022-04-25 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-06 - Assignees: Skf Lubrication Systems Germany GmbH - Applicants: Skf Lubrication Systems Germany GmbH - Inventors: Juergen Kreutzkaemper; Dieter Hess; Markus Mandera; Andreas Schoenfeld; Stefan Schuermann; Dennis Zahn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200719A1 ## CPC - F16N 7/385: {Central lubrication systems} - F16N 25/00: Distributing equipment {with or without proportioning devices} - F16N 29/00: Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems - F16N 2250/04: Pressure - F16N 2260/00: Fail safe - F16N: LUBRICATING ## Abstract A lubrication system includes a progressive distributor and at least one pressure sensor. The progressive distributor includes a housing block having a lubricant inlet, a plurality of lubricant outlets, a plurality of piston bores fluidically connected to the lubricant inlet, each of the plurality of piston bores having a first outlet bore and a second outlet bore, and a metering piston in each of the plurality of piston bores. Each of the metering pistons is displaceable in a respective one of the plurality of outlet bores to uncover either the first outlet bore or the second outlet bore. The pressure sensor is disposed at an inlet of the progressive distributor upstream of the metering pistons with respect to a lubricant flow direction and configured to determine a lubricant pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 (depends on 12) The lubrication system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated into the lubricant inlet bore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 12) The lubrication system according to claim 12, wherein the lubricant inlet bore is connectable to a lubricant source via an inlet line, and the pressure sensor is integrated into the inlet line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 12) The lubrication system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensor is a separate element that is connected to the lubricant inlet bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 12) The lubrication system according to claim 12, wherein the lubricant inlet bore is connectable to a lubricant source via an inlet line, and wherein the pressure sensor is a separate element that is connected to the inlet line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 12) The lubrication system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated into the housing block of the progressive distributor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 12) The lubrication system according to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to a control device, and wherein the control device is configured to determine, based on the lubricant pressure determined by the pressure sensor, a pressure level at the first outlet bore and/or at a lubricant outlet associated with the first outlet bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lubrication system according to claim 7, wherein the lubrication system includes at least one downstream progressive distributor that is disposed downstream from the first progressive distributor with respect to the lubricant flow direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The lubrication system according to claim 7, wherein at least one consumer is connected to the first outlet bore via an associated lubricant outlet line, and wherein the control device is configured to determine an operating state of the lubricant outlet line based on the determined lubricant pressure and based on at least one predetermined parameter of the lubricant outlet line and/or of a consumer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lubrication system according to claim 9, including at least one pressure-limiting valve disposed upstream from the at least one consumer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The lubrication system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one predetermined parameter is selected from the group consisting of: consumer type, type of a lubricant point, type of the lubricant, length of the lubricant outlet line, and/or a temperature of the lubricant. ### Claim 12 A lubrication system including: a progressive distributor; and at least one pressure sensor, wherein the progressive distributor includes a housing block having a lubricant inlet, a plurality of lubricant outlets, a plurality of piston bores fluidically connected to the lubricant inlet, each of the plurality of piston bores having a first outlet bore and a second outlet bore, and a metering piston in each of the plurality of piston bores, wherein each of the metering pistons is displaceable in a respective one of the plurality of piston bores to uncover either the first outlet bore or the second outlet bore, wherein a first one of the plurality of piston bores is fluidically connected to at least a second one of the plurality of piston bores by a first connecting bore and the second one of the plurality of piston bores is fluidically connected to at least a third one of the plurality of piston bores by a second connecting bore, and wherein the pressure sensor is disposed at an inlet of the progressive distributor upstream of the plurality of metering pistons with respect to a lubricant flow direction and configured to determine a lubricant pressure. ### Claim 13 A lubrication system including: a progressive lubricant distributor including a plurality of metering pistons; and at least one pressure sensor disposed at an inlet of the progressive lubricant distributor upstream of the metering pistons with respect to a lubricant flow direction and configured to determine a pressure of the lubricant at the inlet of the progressive lubricant distributor.