Plug-in mounting type single-line quantitative distributor and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a plug-in mounting type single-line quantitative distributor and a method. A middle main body valve block comprises a middle fixing block and a quantitative sleeve; a cartridge valve main body is fixedly mounted in the quantitative sleeve, and the lower part of the cartridge valve main body is in sealing contact with the inner wall of the middle fixing block at the same time; a mounting nut is fixed to the top of the cartridge valve body, a plunger is movably arranged in an inner cavity of the cartridge valve body, an indicating rod is connected to the upper portion of the plunger and sleeved with a spring, one end of the spring abuts against the mounting nut through a Y-shaped sealing ring, and the other end of the spring abuts against the indicating rod. A servo sleeve is arranged outside the plunger in a sliding mode, and the servo sleeve is arranged in the middle fixing block in a sliding mode at the same time. A quantitative cavity is formed between the plunger in the middle fixing block and the servo sleeve, the quantitative cavity is communicated with the oil outlet of the middle fixing block when moving upwards, and the quantitative cavity is communicated with the oil inlet through an axial gap between the plunger and the servo sleeve when moving downwards. According to the invention, an optimized quantitative lubrication solution which is high in precision, high in reliability, easy to maintain and easy to expand is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a dispenser, and more particularly to a plug-in type single-line quantitative dispenser and method. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of centralized lubrication of mechanical equipment, single-line lubrication systems are widely used due to their simple piping and controllable cost. The performance of its core component, the single-line metering distributor, directly determines whether the entire lubrication system can provide a continuous, stable, and precise supply of lubricant to each friction pair, thereby affecting the operating efficiency and lifespan of the equipment.

[0003] While traditional single-line metering dispensers can perform basic functions, they have significant bottlenecks in achieving optimized metered lubrication, specifically: Traditional structures rely on the precise coordination of multiple parts and complex internal oil circuits to achieve the reciprocating motion of the plunger and the switching of oil circuits. Under long-term operation, wear of parts, aging of seals, or intrusion of impurities in the grease can easily change the internal clearance and flow resistance, causing the volume of grease discharged each time (i.e., the metering accuracy) to drift. This makes it impossible to guarantee a stable long-term lubrication dosage output, making it difficult to achieve both metering accuracy and stability. To achieve the functions of oil inlet, metering, oil outlet, and reset, traditional distributors have intersecting oil circuits and numerous chambers. This complexity not only increases the risk of leakage but also makes the pressure balance of each chamber complex when the grease pressure changes. In particular, if the spring chamber that drives the plunger to reset is not properly sealed and grease seeps in, it will cause changes in the spring characteristics or the plunger to fail to reset properly, directly leading to malfunction or inaccurate metering. The long-term reliability of the system is low, and the structural complexity restricts reliability. To achieve multi-point lubrication, multiple independent distributors often need to be installed and connected to complex pipelines, which takes up a lot of space and has many leakage points. Moreover, adjusting the output of a single distributor usually requires replacing multiple internal parts or replacing the entire distributor, which limits the adjustment range and is cumbersome, making system expansion and adjustment inconvenient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a single-line quantitative dispenser that can maintain high quantitative accuracy throughout its entire life cycle, has a simple and reliable structure, and is easy to expand and adjust. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of the aforementioned technologies, this invention provides a plug-in single-line quantitative dispenser and method.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a cartridge-type single-line quantitative dispenser, including an intermediate main valve block; The intermediate main valve block includes an intermediate fixed block and a metering sleeve fitted inside the intermediate fixed block; The cartridge valve body is fixedly installed inside the metering sleeve, and the lower part of the cartridge valve body is in sealed contact with the inner wall of the intermediate fixed block. A mounting nut is fixed to the top of the cartridge valve body. A plunger is movably installed in the internal cavity of the cartridge valve body. An indicator rod is connected above the plunger. A spring is fitted around the indicator rod. One end of the spring abuts against the mounting nut through a Y-shaped sealing ring, and the other end of the spring abuts against the indicator rod. A servo sleeve is slidably mounted on the outside of the plunger, and the servo sleeve is also slidably mounted inside the intermediate fixed block; a metering cavity is formed between the plunger and the servo sleeve inside the intermediate fixed block. When the metering cavity moves upward, it connects to the oil outlet of the intermediate fixed block, and when it moves downward, it connects to the oil inlet through the axial gap between the plunger and the servo sleeve.

[0006] Furthermore, a first sealing ring is provided on the outer cylindrical surface of the cartridge valve body, and the first sealing ring is in sealing contact with the inner wall of the intermediate fixing block.

[0007] Furthermore, a protective cap is screwed onto the upper opening of the cartridge valve body, and the lower end of the protective cap abuts against the top of the mounting nut.

[0008] Furthermore, a second sealing ring is provided on the outer cylindrical surface of the plunger, which makes dynamic contact with the intermediate fixed block.

[0009] Furthermore, the outer periphery of the servo sleeve is a stepped surface, which matches the limiting step of the intermediate fixed block. When the servo sleeve moves upward, the gap between the stepped surface of the servo sleeve and the limiting step of the intermediate fixed block communicates with the external breathing port.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer cylindrical surface of the servo sleeve is provided with two sets of third sealing rings that are in dynamic contact with the intermediate fixed block, and the vent is connected to the space sealed by the two sets of third sealing rings.

[0011] Furthermore, left-side fixing blocks and right-side fixing blocks are attached and installed on both sides of the central main valve block.

[0012] Furthermore, there is at least one intermediate main valve block, and multiple intermediate main valve blocks are connected in series between the left fixed block and the right fixed block, with each intermediate main valve block forming an independent lubrication point.

[0013] A metering lubrication method using a cartridge-type single-line metering dispenser includes the following cyclic steps: S1, the lubrication pump supplies oil. Grease enters from the oil inlet, passes through the axial gap between the plunger and the servo sleeve, and fills the metering chamber formed by the plunger, the servo sleeve, and the intermediate fixed block. The grease pressure pushes the plunger compression spring to move upward. When the plunger moves to its side wall, it connects the metering chamber with the oil outlet to complete the preparation for oil discharge. S2, the pressure on the oil inlet side of the oil inlet passage increases, pushing the servo sleeve to slide upward relative to the intermediate fixed block; the movement of the servo sleeve squeezes the metering chamber, discharging the metered grease inside from the connected oil outlet;

[0014] S3, the lubrication pump stops supplying oil and releases pressure, and the restoring force of the spring pushes the plunger downward to reset; when the plunger moves to the point where its side wall blocks the passage between the metering chamber and the oil outlet, and at the same time reopens the connection between the metering chamber and the oil inlet through the axial clearance, the oil circuit switching is completed. S4, the grease enters through the reopened connection path, pushing the servo sleeve downward to reset until its step surface contacts the limit step, and the system returns to its initial state, ready for the next working cycle.

[0015] Furthermore, the gap between the stepped surface of the servo sleeve and the limiting step of the intermediate fixing block forms a vent to balance the back pressure of the servo sleeve.

[0016] This invention discloses a cartridge-type single-line metering dispenser and method. By pre-integrating core moving components such as the plunger, cartridge valve body, and servo sleeve into an integral cartridge module, precision assembly is completed under controlled conditions, ensuring the consistency of the metering standard. A unique breather design effectively balances the back pressure of the servo sleeve, and with multiple sealing guarantees, the plunger and servo sleeve operate sensitively and accurately, achieving long-term stable and highly repeatable metering output. The core functional module supports integral plug-and-play replacement. When maintenance is required, there is no need to disassemble the pipeline or valve body; only the module needs to be replaced. This process does not change the metering chamber volume determined by the metering sleeve, and no recalibration is required after maintenance, maintaining the original accuracy. Simultaneously, a standardized module series design is adopted, which can be freely combined and expanded according to the number of lubrication points, resulting in a compact structure and significantly simplifying the system piping. By replacing metering sleeves with different inner diameters, the single-point oil discharge can be linearly adjusted, achieving optimized lubrication with single-line drive and multi-point independent adjustment. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the central main valve block.

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the working principle of the distributor during the oil inlet preparation stage.

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the working principle of the distributor during the quantitative oil discharge stage.

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the working principle of the distributor during the pressure relief and reset phase.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the multi-point lubrication system of the present invention, which consists of multiple intermediate main valve blocks connected in series.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Protective cap; 2. Mounting nut; 3. Cartridge valve body; 4. Y-type sealing ring; 5. Spring; 6. Indicator rod; 7. Left side fixing block; 8. Middle fixing block; 9. Plunger; 10. Servo sleeve; 11. Right side fixing block; 12. Metering sleeve; 13. First sealing ring; 14. Metering chamber; 15. Breather port; 16. Second sealing ring; 17. Third sealing ring; 18. Oil inlet; 19. Oil outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] This invention discloses a cartridge-type single-line quantitative distributor, the core objective of which is to solve the problems mentioned in the background art, such as complex assembly, difficult maintenance, and poor operational reliability of traditional distributors. This invention integrates the core moving parts into an independent cartridge-type functional module and optimizes the oil circuit and cavity structure, achieving rapid installation, online maintenance, and highly reliable quantitative lubrication of the distributor.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the basic unit of this invention is the intermediate main valve block, which includes an intermediate fixing block 8, a metering sleeve 12, and a cartridge-type functional module integrated therein. The cartridge-type functional module is a pre-assembled independent component that integrates a cartridge valve body 3, a plunger 9, an indicator rod 6, a spring 5, a Y-shaped sealing ring 4, a mounting nut 2, and a servo sleeve 10 that slides outside the plunger 9. This module is directly pressed into and fixed within the metering sleeve 12 by the lower part of the cartridge valve body 3, and the metering sleeve 12 is fitted into the intermediate fixing block 8. This modular cartridge design is one of the key innovations of this invention. During installation, simply insert this pre-assembled module into the metering sleeve 12 and tighten the protective cap 1 at the top to complete the assembly of the core part, greatly simplifying the on-site installation steps and avoiding errors in the assembly of discrete parts.

[0026] A first sealing ring 13 is provided on the outer cylindrical surface of the cartridge valve body 3 to ensure a static seal between it and the inner wall of the intermediate fixed block 8. A second sealing ring 16 is provided on the outer cylindrical surface of the plunger 9 to achieve a dynamic seal between it and the intermediate fixed block 8. The outer periphery of the servo sleeve 10 is designed as a stepped surface to match the limiting step inside the intermediate fixed block 8, and two sets of third sealing rings 17 are provided on its outer cylindrical surface. Crucially, a breather 15 communicating with the outside is formed between the stepped surface of the servo sleeve 10 and the limiting step of the intermediate fixed block 8. This breather 15 connects to the annular space defined by the two sets of third sealing rings 17. This structure creatively solves the back pressure problem of the servo sleeve 10. When the servo sleeve 10 slides up and down, the breather 15 connects the annular space to the atmosphere or a low-pressure chamber, avoiding the formation of a closed air chamber or oil chamber, thereby eliminating the adverse effects of back pressure on the motion sensitivity and reset accuracy of the servo sleeve 10, and ensuring the stability and accuracy of the quantitative oil discharge action.

[0027] Another significant feature of this invention is its flexible scalability. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the intermediate main valve block serves as the basic lubrication unit, with standard left-side fixing blocks 7 and right-side fixing blocks 11 that can be attached to its sides. Depending on the number of lubrication points required by the equipment, multiple intermediate main valve blocks can be connected in series between the left-side fixing block 7 and the right-side fixing block 11. Each valve block constitutes an independent lubrication point, driven by a common lubrication pump, thus achieving synchronous, metered lubrication of multiple points with a single pump. The metering sleeve 12 can be designed in various specifications. By replacing metering sleeves 12 with different inner cavity sizes, the single oil supply volume at each point can be easily adjusted to meet the lubrication needs of different friction pairs.

[0028] To address the challenge of balancing quantitative accuracy and stability, the cartridge module of this invention pre-assembles the cartridge valve body 3, plunger 9, indicator rod 6, spring 5, Y-type sealing ring 4, mounting nut 2, and servo sleeve 10 into a single unit before shipment. This design integrates and solidifies the core reciprocating motion and oil circuit switching functions of quantitative lubrication into a single, independent component. During installation, the entire module is pressed into the quantitative sleeve 12 as a whole. Modular design significantly simplifies the permanent oil circuit structure inside the intermediate fixing block 8, making the main oil passages simpler and more intuitive, significantly reducing potential leakage points, and improving long-term stability and accuracy retention from the source.

[0029] Furthermore, addressing the issues of pressure balance and operational reliability, this invention introduces a unique back pressure balance design for the breather port 15. Two sets of third sealing rings 17 are set on the outer circumference of the servo sleeve 10, forming an independent annular cavity. This cavity is always connected to the external atmosphere or low-pressure area through the breather port 15 machined on the intermediate fixed block 8. When the lubrication pump pressurizes and pushes the servo sleeve 10 upward to perform oil discharge, the annular cavity on its back side is connected to the atmosphere through the breather port 15, avoiding the formation of a closed back pressure that hinders movement; when the servo sleeve 10 needs to return to its original position after depressurization, air is introduced through the breather port 15, ensuring that it can return to the limit step sensitively and completely. This design, together with the reliable sealing of the spring cavity by the Y-type sealing ring 4, ensures that the plunger 9 and the servo sleeve 10 can complete the full stroke of precise movement without lag in each cycle, which is the physical basis for achieving highly repeatable quantitative lubrication.

[0030] Finally, addressing the issue of inconvenient system expansion and adjustment, this invention employs a modular architecture with replaceable metering sleeves 12 and series-connected valve blocks. The volume of the metering chamber 14 is directly determined by the internal geometry of the metering sleeve 12. By replacing metering sleeves 12 with different inner diameters or depths, the single-discharge oil volume can be adjusted linearly and accurately, making the adjustment intuitive and scientific. Multiple intermediate main valve blocks with identical structures can be conveniently connected in series as a whole via the left fixing block 7 and the right fixing block 11. Each valve block is an independent metering and output unit, driven by the same pressure oil, yet capable of outputting the same or different oil volumes depending on the specifications of the metering sleeve 12 it is installed with. This enables the construction of a complex, multi-point, independently programmable metering lubrication system using the simplest single-line pipeline, greatly optimizing system layout and performance.

[0031] The lubrication method of the present invention is as follows: Figures 2 to 4 As shown: Step 1 (Oil filling and preparation, corresponding to...) Figure 2 The lubrication pump starts supplying oil, and grease enters from the right inlet 18, filling the metering chamber 14 formed by the plunger 9 and the lower part of the servo sleeve 10 through the axial gap between them and the intermediate fixed block 8. Subsequently, the oil pressure pushes the plunger 9 (driving the indicator rod 6) to compress the spring 5 upward. When the plunger 9 moves to the first working position, its side wall groove connects the metering chamber 14 with the oil outlet, preparing for oil discharge.

[0032] Step Two (Quantitative Excretion, Corresponding to) Figure 3 After the oil circuit is switched, the pressure on the oil inlet side continues to rise, pushing the servo sleeve 10 to slide upwards against resistance. The servo sleeve 10 acts as a piston, squeezing the metering chamber 14 and forcibly discharging the pre-filled grease, whose volume is precisely defined by the metering sleeve 12, from the connected oil outlet 19, completing one precise oil supply cycle. At this time, the breather 15 ensures that there is no pressure interference on the back of the servo sleeve 10.

[0033] Step 3 (Pressure relief and resetting, corresponding to...) Figure 4 When the lubrication pump stops and depressurizes, the restoring force of spring 5 pushes plunger 9 downward to reset. When plunger 9 moves downward, it closes the passage between metering chamber 14 and oil outlet, while simultaneously reopening the connection with oil inlet 18 through axial clearance.

[0034] Step 4 (Servo sleeve reset): Grease enters through the reopened path, pushing the servo sleeve 10 downward until its step surface contacts the limit step, and the entire system returns to its initial state, ready for the next cycle.

[0035] Furthermore, this invention possesses excellent modular scalability. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the central main valve block serves as a standardized unit, and its two sides can be connected to the standard left-side fixing block 7 and right-side fixing block 11 via connecting bolts. Depending on the actual number of lubrication points required, multiple central main valve blocks can be connected in series between the left and right fixing blocks to form a compact multi-point lubrication module. The oil output of each valve block can be independently adjusted by replacing the metering sleeve 12 with different internal cavity sizes. This design allows a single lubrication pump to drive the entire module, synchronously, equally, or unequally supplying oil to multiple lubrication points as needed, greatly simplifying the system piping layout and improving system integration and reliability.

[0036] The above embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the examples given above. Any changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention are also within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cartridge-type single-line quantitative dispenser, comprising an intermediate main valve block; characterized in that: The intermediate main valve block includes an intermediate fixing block (8) and a metering sleeve (12) fitted inside the intermediate fixing block (8). The cartridge valve body (3) is fixedly installed inside the metering sleeve (12), and the lower part of the cartridge valve body (3) is in sealed contact with the inner wall of the intermediate fixing block (8). The top of the cartridge valve body (3) is fixed with a mounting nut (2), and a plunger (9) is movably disposed in the internal cavity of the cartridge valve body (3). An indicator rod (6) is connected above the plunger (9), and a spring (5) is fitted on the outside of the indicator rod (6). One end of the spring (5) abuts against the mounting nut (2) through a Y-shaped sealing ring (4), and the other end of the spring (5) abuts against the indicator rod (6). A servo sleeve (10) is slidably disposed on the outside of the plunger (9), and the servo sleeve (10) is slidably disposed in the middle fixed block (8); a metering cavity (14) is formed between the plunger (9) and the servo sleeve (10) in the middle fixed block (8). When the metering cavity (14) moves upward, it connects to the oil outlet of the middle fixed block (8), and when it moves downward, it connects to the oil inlet (18) through the axial gap between the plunger (9) and the servo sleeve (10).

2. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer cylindrical surface of the cartridge valve body (3) is provided with a first sealing ring (13), and the first sealing ring (13) is in sealing contact with the inner wall of the intermediate fixing block (8).

3. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper opening of the cartridge valve body (3) is screwed with a protective cap (1), and the lower end of the protective cap (1) abuts against the top of the mounting nut (2).

4. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plunger (9) has a second sealing ring (16) on its outer cylindrical surface that makes dynamic contact with the intermediate fixed block (8).

5. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the servo sleeve (10) is a stepped surface, which matches the limiting step of the intermediate fixing block (8). When the servo sleeve (10) moves upward, the gap between the stepped surface of the servo sleeve (10) inside the intermediate fixing block (8) and the limiting step of the intermediate fixing block (8) communicates with the external breathing port (15).

6. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer cylindrical surface of the servo sleeve (10) is provided with two sets of third sealing rings (17) that are in dynamic sealing contact with the intermediate fixed block (8), and the breathing port (15) connects the space sealed by the two sets of third sealing rings (17).

7. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that: The middle main valve block is covered and installed with a left fixing block (7) and a right fixing block (11) on both sides.

8. The insert-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that: The number of intermediate main valve blocks is at least one, and multiple intermediate main valve blocks are connected in series between the left fixed block (7) and the right fixed block (11), with each intermediate main valve block constituting an independent lubrication point.

9. A method for metering lubrication using a cartridge-type single-line metering dispenser as described in any one of claims 18, characterized in that, Includes the following iterative steps: S1, the lubrication pump supplies oil, and the grease enters from the oil inlet, passes through the axial gap between the plunger (9) and the servo sleeve (10), and fills the metering cavity (14) formed by the plunger (9), the servo sleeve (10) and the intermediate fixed block (8); the grease pressure pushes the plunger (9) to compress the spring (5) and move upward. When the plunger (9) moves to the side wall connecting the metering cavity (14) and the oil outlet (19), the oil outlet preparation is completed. S2, the pressure on the oil inlet side of the oil inlet passage increases, pushing the servo sleeve (10) to slide upward relative to the intermediate fixed block (8); the movement of the servo sleeve (10) squeezes the metering chamber (14), and discharges the metered grease inside from the connected oil outlet; S3, the lubrication pump stops supplying oil and depressurizes, and the restoring force of the spring (5) pushes the plunger (9) to move downward to reset; when the plunger (9) moves to the point where its side wall blocks the passage between the metering chamber (14) and the oil outlet (19), and at the same time reopens the connection between the metering chamber (14) and the oil inlet (18) through the axial gap, the oil circuit switching is completed. S4, the grease enters through the reopened connection path, pushing the servo sleeve (10) to slide down and reset until its step surface contacts the limit step, the system returns to the initial state and prepares for the next working cycle.

10. The quantitative lubrication method for the cartridge-type single-line quantitative dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that: The gap between the stepped surface of the servo sleeve (10) and the limiting step of the intermediate fixing block (8) forms a breathing port (15) to balance the back pressure of the servo sleeve (10).

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