Lubricating system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a lubricating system. In one example, a lubrication system includes a piston-shaped bore lubricator having a plunger portion including a soft porous material disposed in an external recess at a distal end of the plunger portion, the recess including an aperture through which lubricant is injected into the soft porous material when the plunger portion is positioned in the aperture. The proximal end of the piston-shaped plunger includes threads for coupling a squeezable lubricant source vial, where lubricant is ejected through the felt via actuation of the squeezable vial, or by gravity, or via different types of dispensers. The outer diameter of the piston may be adjusted to fit the inner diameter of the bore, and the bore may be sized to increase or decrease the flow rate of the lubricant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a lubrication system. Background Art

[0002] A manufacturing plant may manufacture equipment or machines that include a machined hole, such as a cylindrical hole. The machined interior surface of the hole may be lubricated, wherein a lubricant may be applied to the machined interior surface. For example, a lubricant may be used prior to installing an O-ring in the hole to help protect the O-ring from potential damage. However, conventional methods of applying lubricants to machined interior surfaces may not apply the lubricant in a homogenous, even manner, wherein some portions of the interior surface may be over-lubricated while other portions may be under-lubricated. For example, coating an interior surface with a lubricant may result in an uneven application and may cause false leak alerts in certain applications. Applying lubricants to O-rings may produce inconsistent results and result in operator exposure to the lubricant, which is undesirable.

[0003] Various lubricant applicators have been proposed to address this problem. For example, US 4499968A to Zimmerly teaches a hole lubrication device in which a plunger is inserted into a hole and a lubricant is injected through the plunger to coat the interior of the hole. However, Zimmerly's hole lubrication device may not coat the hole uniformly and may provide inconsistent results for holes of different diameters. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to address the shortcomings of Zimmerly and other current hole lubrication systems, the inventors of the present invention have developed a hole lubrication system to at least partially overcome the challenges described. In one example, the lubrication system includes a piston-shaped hole lubricator having a plunger portion, the plunger portion including a soft porous material arranged in an external groove at the distal end of the plunger portion, the groove including a hole, and when the plunger portion is positioned in the hole, the lubricant is sprayed into the soft porous material through the hole. The proximal end of the hole lubricator includes a thread for connecting a lubricant delivery system, wherein the lubricant is sprayed through the soft porous material via actuation of the lubricant delivery system. The outer diameter of the piston can be adjusted to fit the inner diameter of the hole, and the size of the hole can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow rate of the lubricant. By delivering the lubricant through the soft porous material, the lubrication system evenly coats the hole before the O-ring is installed, improving the efficiency of assembly and protecting the O-ring from potential damage.

[0005] It should be understood that the above utility model summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts further described in the detailed description in a simplified form. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is uniquely defined by the claims following the detailed description. In addition, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Various aspects of the present disclosure may be better understood by reading the following detailed description and referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a hole and a hole lubricator.

[0008] Figure 2A yes Figure 1 A stereoscopic view of the hole lubricator.

[0009] Figure 2B The lubricant applicator is removed Figure 1 A stereoscopic view of the hole lubricator.

[0010] Figure 3A It is a stereogram of a cylindrical hole.

[0011] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A Illustration of a cylindrical bore lubricated by a bore lubricator.

[0012] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of lubricating a bore with a bore lubricator.

[0013] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the piston portion of a bore lubricator with a handle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A bore lubricator for effectively lubricating a bore is described herein. Figure 1 An exemplary bore lubricator and corresponding bore are shown in FIG. The bore lubricator may have a cylindrical plunger portion including a lubricant applicator extending from an outer wall along a periphery of the plunger portion, such as Figure 2A The bore lubricator may have a piston portion which may include a handle into which a squeezable lubricant bottle may be inserted, such as Figure 5 The lubricant applicator may be placed in a recess on the outer wall, the recess including holes through which the lubricant may be sprayed, such as Figure 2B As shown. Figure 4 The method, the hole lubricator can be inserted into the hole to lubricate the hole, such as Figure 3A and 3B shown.

[0015] Figure 1 An axle assembly system 100 is shown that includes an axle assembly 101 and a bore lubrication system 102, also referred to herein as a bore lubricator 102, which may be used to lubricate a bore of the axle assembly 101. The axle assembly 101 includes a tubular flange 110 (also referred to as flange 110) that may be coupled to a portion 170 of the axle assembly 101 that includes a bore 116. The flange 110 may be coaxially aligned with the bore 116 about a central axis 190 of the bore 116. In the depicted embodiment, the flange 110 is bolted to the portion 170 of the axle assembly 101 via a plurality of bolts 182.

[0016] The flange 110 includes a flange hole 112 that is also coaxially aligned with the bore 116. The flange hole 112 has an inner diameter 158. In various embodiments, the inner diameter 158 can be greater than the diameter of the bore 116, and the flange 110 can include a first chamfer 114, wherein the diameter of the inner edge 119 of the first chamfer 114 is equal to the inner diameter 158, and the diameter of the outer edge 118 of the first chamfer 114 is slightly greater than the inner diameter 158 (e.g., 0.5 mm to 1 mm). The flange 110 can include a second chamfer 115, which can be unlubricated by the lubricator 102. During assembly of the axle assembly 101, an O-ring can be positioned within the flange hole 112, for example, at a rim 121 of the flange 110 between the flange hole 112 and the outer edge 118 of the first chamfer 114. Prior to placing the O-ring at the lip 121 , the flange hole 112 may be lubricated to facilitate placement of the O-ring. To lubricate the flange hole 112 , a hole lubricant 102 may be used to apply lubricant to the first chamfer 114 and the flange hole 112 .

[0017] To apply the lubricant, the bore lubricator 102 may include a lubricant applicator 106. The lubricant applicator 106 may be made of a soft porous material that can absorb (take up) the lubricant and apply the lubricant to the inner surface of the flange hole 112 when inserted into the flange hole 112. In various embodiments, the soft porous material may be felt, or a different organic or synthetic material having similar properties to felt. The lubricant applicator 106 may be located and / or positioned within an outer recess of the bore lubricator 102, as described below with reference to Figure 2A and 2B The soft porous material may be specific to the type of application of the bore lubricant 102 (eg, lubricant type, bore type, etc.).

[0018] In order to apply lubricant using the lubricant applicator 106, the bore lubricator 102 may be inserted into the flange hole 112 in the direction indicated by the arrow 199. The bore lubricator 102 including the lubricant applicator 106 has a diameter 156, wherein the diameter 156 is equal to the diameter 158 of the flange hole 112. Therefore, when the bore lubricant 102 is inserted into the flange hole 112, the outer periphery of the lubricant applicator 106 contacts the inner surface of the flange hole 112. Specifically, the diameter of the bore lubricator 102 not including the lubricant applicator 106 may be slightly smaller than the diameter 158, and the diameter 156 may be slightly larger than the diameter 158, so that when the bore applicator 102 is inserted into the flange hole 112, the inner surface of the flange hole 112 applies uniform pressure to the soft porous material of the lubricant applicator 106 on the outer periphery of the lubricant applicator 106.

[0019] The bore lubricator 102 may have a piston-like shape, with the first plunger portion 107 located at a distal end 108 of the bore lubricator 102 and the second piston portion 105 located at a proximal end 109 of the bore lubricator 102 relative to an operator of the bore lubricator 102. Figure 1 In the other figures included herein, the plunger portion 107 and the piston portion 105 are depicted and described as having a cylindrical shape, wherein the plunger portion 107 can lubricate a circular bore. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, one or both of the plunger portion 107 and the piston portion 105 may not have a cylindrical shape. For example, the plunger portion 107 may be cylindrical and the piston portion 105 may have a three-dimensional rectangular shape; or the plunger portion 107 and the piston portion 105 may both have a three-dimensional rectangular shape; the piston portion 105 may be cylindrical and the plunger portion 107 may be a three-dimensional hexagonal or octagonal shape; or one or both of the piston portion 105 and the plunger portion 107 may be different shapes.

[0020] The diameter 156 of the plunger portion 107 can be greater than the diameter 150 of the piston portion 105 to ensure that the surface of the piston portion 105 does not contact the inner surface of the flange hole 112 during lubrication. The lubricant applicator 106 can be included on the plunger portion 107 and positioned at the distal end 108. In other words, the lubricant applicator 106 can be positioned at the end of the bore lubricator 102 closest to the bore to be lubricated (e.g., the flange hole 112). The plunger portion 107 can have a length 160, and the piston portion 105 can have a length 162. In various embodiments, the length 160 can be greater than the length 162, or the length 160 can be less than the length 162, or the length 160 can be equal to the length 162.

[0021] The piston portion 105 can be hollow, wherein the piston portion 105 can include an aperture 104 coaxially aligned about the central axis 190. The aperture 104 can have a diameter 152, such that the piston portion 105 can have a thickness equal to the difference between the diameter 150 and the diameter 152. The inner surface 122 of the aperture 104 can be threaded to allow a lubricant delivery system to be inserted into the aperture 104 and coupled to the bore lubricator 102 by screwing the threaded portion of the lubricant delivery system into the piston portion 105 via the threaded inner surface 122.

[0022] In various embodiments, the lubrication delivery system can include a lubricant bottle that can be screwed into the threaded inner surface 122. The lubricant bottle can be squeezed by a user of the bore lubricator 102 to push lubricant from the lubricant bottle through one or more conduits within the piston portion 105 and the plunger portion 107 to the lubricant applicator 106, as described in more detail below.

[0023] In other embodiments, different lubrication delivery systems may be used. In embodiments where the length 162 of the piston portion 105 is greater than the length of the threaded portion of the lubricant bottle, the piston portion 105 may include a first hollow portion including the orifice 104 and a second hollow portion including a lubricant conduit, wherein lubricant may be delivered through the lubricant conduit. The lubricant conduit may be connected to a plurality of conduits included in the plunger portion 107 that allow lubricant to be delivered to the lubricant applicator 106, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 2A and 2B Described in more detail.

[0024] Additionally, in some embodiments, the piston portion 105 may include a hollow cavity into which the lubricant bottle may be inserted, the hollow cavity including a handle that an operator may easily grasp. Figure 5 , shows an embodiment of a bore lubricator 500, wherein the bore lubricator 500 includes a plunger portion 502 and a piston portion 504. The plunger portion 502 and the piston portion 504 may be Figure 1 Non-limiting examples of the plunger portion 107 and the piston portion 105. As described above with reference Figure 1As described, the bore lubricator 500 includes a threaded inner surface 510 (e.g., the threaded inner surface 122), into which a lubricant bottle can be screwed. The lubricant bottle can be inserted into the hollow cavity 508 of the bore lubricator 500. When the lubricant bottle is inserted into the hollow cavity 508, a user of the bore lubricator 500 can manually manipulate the bore lubricator 500 by grasping the outer surface 506 of the piston portion 504 (e.g., when inserting the bore lubricator 500 into a drilled hole for applying lubricant). In other words, the piston portion 504 can be used as a handle for the bore lubricator 500. The outer surface 506 can include one or more grippable features 512 along the outer periphery of the outer surface 506, such as raised or contoured portions, textures, ribs, etc., which can make it easier to hold the outer surface 506 and easier to manipulate the bore lubricator 500. In some embodiments, the piston portion 504 and / or the outer surface 506 can be made of plastic, rubber, or similar materials. In some embodiments, the piston portion 504 and the outer surface 506 can be flexible, wherein a user can squeeze the piston portion 504 to apply lubricant from a squeezable bottle, as described above. In other embodiments, the piston portion 504 and the outer surface 506 can be non-flexible, and the lubricant in the lubricant bottle can be applied by a different means, such as by gravity.

[0025] Figure 2A An expanded perspective view 200 of a plunger portion 207 of a bore lubricator 202 (such as plunger portion 107 of bore lubricator 102) is shown. A partial view of piston portion 205 is shown along a central axis 250 of bore lubricator 202 in a direction 252 (e.g., Figure 2A 206 and 207.

[0026] The plunger portion 207 includes a surface 203 located at the distal end 210 of the bore lubricator 202 and the plunger portion 207 relative to a user of the bore lubricator 202. In the described embodiment, the surface 203 is a flat, smooth surface. In other embodiments, the surface 203 can be uneven and / or not smooth. For example, the surface 203 can be convex or concave. The surface 203 can also include a pattern or texture. In other embodiments, the surface 203 may not extend beyond the entire distal end 210 of the plunger portion 207. In one embodiment, the surface 203 is annular and includes an orifice centered on the central axis 250. For example, the orifice can allow the bore lubricator 202 to be inserted into a bore that includes a component positioned within the bore, wherein a space having a width greater than the width of the annular surface can exist between the outer edge of the component and the inner surface of the bore.

[0027] The plunger portion 207 includes a lubricant applicator 206, which may be Figure 1The lubricant applicator 106 is a non-limiting example of a lubricant applicator 106. The lubricant applicator 106 is positioned within a groove 204 extending around the periphery of an outer wall 260 of the plunger portion 207, wherein the outer wall 260 extends from a distal end 210 to a proximal end 211 of the plunger portion 207. Figure 2A In the embodiment, the lubricant applicator 206 and the groove 204 are located at the distal end 210 of the plunger portion 207 on the outer wall 260. In other embodiments, the lubricant applicator 206 and the groove 204 may not be located at the distal end 210. For example, the groove 204 may extend around the periphery of the plunger portion 207 near the proximal end 211, or the groove 204 may extend around the periphery of the plunger portion 207 at a midpoint on the outer wall 260 between the distal end 210 and the proximal end 211, or at a different location on the outer wall 260.

[0028] Brief reference Figure 2B , a second perspective view 280 of the bore lubricator 202 is shown, wherein the lubricant applicator 206 has been removed, exposing the groove 204. The groove 204 has a width 220 and a depth 282. In some embodiments, the width 220 can be greater than the depth 282, while in other embodiments, the width 220 can be less than the depth 282. In addition, the groove 204 can have a variety of shapes. In the described embodiment, the groove 204 is V-shaped, including a first inclined surface 284 and an opposing second inclined surface 286, which intersect at a midline 288 of the groove 204. In other embodiments, the groove 204 can have a circular, semi-annular shape, or the groove 204 can have a square or rectangular profile with a recessed rear wall and two side walls. In other embodiments, the groove 204 can have different shapes.

[0029] The groove 204 may include a plurality of holes 290 extending from the interior of the plunger portion 207 to the surface of the groove 204, through which the lubricant may be injected into the lubricant applicator 206. Figure 1 As described, lubricant can be delivered to the plurality of holes 290 from a lubricant delivery system coupled to the piston portion 205 of the bore lubricator 202. The lubricant can be directed to the plurality of holes 290 via a corresponding plurality of conduits located inside the bore lubricator 202 by pressure applied by the lubricant delivery system. For example, the lubricant delivery system can include a lubricant bottle, and a user of the bore lubricator 202 can squeeze the lubricant bottle to generate pressure that can direct the lubricant to the plunger portion 207 via a central conduit located inside the piston portion 205. In the plunger portion 207, the lubricant can be directed to the plurality of holes 290 via a corresponding plurality of lubricant conduits leading from the central conduit to the plurality of holes 290.

[0030] exist Figure 2BIn the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of holes 290 are located in the inclined surface 286 of the groove 204. In other embodiments in which the groove 204 is V-shaped, the plurality of holes 290 may be located in the inclined surface 284 of the groove 204, or in the inclined surface 284 and the inclined surface 286. In embodiments in which the groove 204 has a different shape, the plurality of holes 290 may be located on one or more walls of the groove 204. The number of holes 290, the spacing of the holes 290, and the size of the holes 290 may depend on the application scenario of the bore lubricator 202. In other words, a first lubrication task may include applying a first lubricant to a first borehole. A second lubrication task may include applying a second lubricant to a second borehole. For the first lubrication task, the user may select a bore lubricator 202 having a first profile of holes 290 of a first size, spacing, and number, and for the second lubrication task, the user may select a bore lubricator 202 having a second profile of holes 290 of a second size, spacing, and number.

[0031] For example, the first lubrication task may involve a high viscosity lubricant and the second lubrication task may involve a low viscosity lubricant, whereby the first profile may include more holes 290 than the second profile, and / or the first profile may include holes 290 that are more closely spaced than the second profile, and / or the first profile may include holes 290 that have a larger diameter than the second profile.

[0032] Alternatively, the first lubrication task may include lubricating the first type of hole, and the second lubrication task may include lubricating the second type of hole. The first hole type may use a larger amount of lubricant than the second hole type. As a result, a first hole lubricator 202 having a larger number of holes and / or holes of larger diameter and / or holes spaced closer together may be selected for the first hole type, and a second hole lubricator 202 having a smaller number of holes and / or holes of smaller diameter and / or holes spaced farther apart may be selected for the second hole type. In various embodiments, the spacing of the holes may depend on the diameter of the holes, wherein smaller holes may be spaced closer together than larger holes. In addition, the spacing of the holes may depend on the material used for the lubricant applicator 206. For example, a lubricant may be more easily, faster and / or more efficiently distributed through an organic material than a synthetic material, or vice versa. If the material supports a more efficient distribution of the lubricant throughout the material, the spacing of the holes may be increased. If the material supports an inefficient distribution of the lubricant throughout the material, the spacing of the holes may be reduced. The size of the lubricant applicator may also be adjusted to apply the lubricant more efficiently.

[0033] Back to Figure 2A, the size of the groove 204 can be designed to fit the lubricant applicator 206. In various embodiments, the lubricant applicator 206 can be an O-ring made of a soft porous material, such as felt, or a different organic or synthetic material. The O-ring can be stretched and slid on the outer wall 260 and inserted into the groove 204, wherein the lubricant applicator 206 can be maintained in the groove 204 by the elasticity of the O-ring. In embodiments where the plunger portion 207 is not cylindrical, the O-ring may not have a circular shape (e.g., the lubricant applicator 206 may have a square or different shape, depending on the shape of the plunger portion 207). The lubricant applicator 206 shown has an annular profile, wherein the width 220 of the lubricant applicator 206 (e.g., the same as the width of the groove 204) is equal to the depth 222 of the lubricant applicator 206. In other embodiments, the O-ring may have an asymmetric profile, wherein the width 220 is not equal to the depth 222. For example, the depth 222 may be greater than the width 220.

[0034] The depth of the groove 204 (e.g., depth 282) can be less than the depth 222 of the lubricant applicator 206, wherein the extension 226 of the lubricant applicator 206 can extend a distance 223 from the outer wall 260. The size of the plunger portion 207 can be selected so that when the plunger portion 207 is inserted into the hole (e.g., the flange hole 112), the space between the outer wall 260 and the inner surface of the hole is minimized, while still allowing the plunger portion 207 to slide freely within the hole. The depth of the groove 204, the size of the lubricant applicator 206, and the material used for the lubricant applicator 106 can be selected so that when the plunger portion 207 is inserted into the hole, the extension 226 of the lubricant applicator 206 is compressed against (e.g., squeezed) the inner surface of the hole to the extent that the outer surface 270 of the lubricant applicator is in close contact with the inner surface along the inner periphery of the hole. When the extension 226 is compressed against the inner surface, the lubricant in the lubricant applicator 206 can be applied to the inner surface. Since the extension portion 226 is in close contact with the inner surface along the inner periphery of the hole, the lubricant can be applied to the inner surface in a homogeneous and uniform manner.

[0035] In addition, the size of the lubricant applicator 206 and / or the size of the lubricant applicator 206 can depend on the application scenario of the bore lubricant 202. A larger lubricant applicator 206 can deliver more lubricant to the bore than a smaller lubricant applicator. For example, a first bore lubricant 202 having a first sized lubricant applicator 206 can be selected for a first lubrication task using a first type of lubricant, and a second bore lubricant 202 having a second sized lubricant applicator 206 can be selected for a second lubrication task using a second type of lubricant. As another example, a first bore lubricant 202 having a first sized lubricant applicator 206 can be selected for a first bore, and a second bore lubricant 202 having a second sized lubricant applicator 206 can be selected for a second bore.

[0036] Figure 3A and 3B A bore lubricator is shown for lubricating the bore of the flange. Figure 3A An exemplary axle assembly 300 is shown including a flange 310 that can be coupled to Figure 1 The flange 310 includes a flange hole 312 surrounding a bore 316, with a first chamfer 314 (e.g., first chamfer 114) and a second chamfer 315 (e.g., second chamfer 115) on either side of the flange hole 312. The flange hole 312 has a diameter 358 and a depth 320 in the direction indicated by arrow 340, the depth being from an inner edge 326 of the first chamfer 314 to an inclined lip 324 (edge ​​121) of the chamfer 314. A circumferential area along an inner surface 322 of the flange hole 312, including the first chamfer 314, can be lubricated during assembly of the axle assembly 300. In one example, the inner surface 322 can be lubricated before placing an O-ring at the inclined lip 324.

[0037] Figure 3B Shows Figure 3A 360 of an exemplary axle assembly 300, wherein the inner surface 322 is lubricated by a bore lubricator 362, which may be Figure 1 The hole lubricator 102 and / or Figure 2A and 2B The bore lubricator 362 includes a lubricant applicator 370 located within a groove along the outer periphery of the plunger portion 364 of the bore lubricator 362, as described above with reference to Figure 2A and 2BAs described. The plunger portion 364 has a diameter (e.g., outer diameter) equal to the diameter 358. For the purposes of this disclosure, equal to the diameter 358 can be understood to be smaller than the diameter 358 by a threshold amount, so that the plunger portion 364 can be inserted into the flange hole 312 with a minimum amount of space (e.g., 0.5-2 mm) between the outer periphery of the plunger portion 364 and the inner surface 322 of the flange hole 312. In various embodiments, the bore lubricant 362 can be selected from a plurality of different sized bore lubricants based on the diameter 358 of the flange hole 312. As described above with reference to Figure 1-2B As shown, the piston portion 366 of the bore lubricator 362 is shown extending from the plunger portion 364.

[0038] To lubricate the inner surface 322, the bore lubricant 362 is positioned so that the plunger portion 364 is adjacent to the flange bore 312, wherein the lubricant applicator 370 is in contact with the first chamfer 314. Since the diameter of the plunger portion 364 is equal to (or slightly smaller than) the diameter 358, the contact between the lubricant applicator 370 and the inner surface 322 can be equal (e.g., within a threshold) on the inner periphery of the first chamfer 314. The lubricant applicator 370 is inserted into the flange bore 312 through the first chamfer 314. When the lubricant applicator 370 is inserted into the first chamfer 314 and the flange bore 312, a portion of the lubricant applicator 370 (e.g., Figure 2A The extended portion 226 of the bore lubricator 362 can be compressed against the first chamfer 314 and the inner surface 322 to allow the plunger portion 364 to enter the flange hole 312. When the plunger portion 364 enters the first chamfer 314, the user of the bore lubricator 362 can actuate the lubricant delivery system of the bore lubricator 362 to direct the lubricant through the plurality of holes (e.g., Figure 2B The plurality of holes 290) of the lubricant applicator 370 enter the soft porous material of the lubricant applicator 370, wherein the lubricant is applied to the first chamfer 314 and the inner surface 322. The compression of the lubricant applicator 370 against the first chamfer 314 and the inner surface 322 can ensure that the lubricant is applied in a homogeneous and uniform manner.

[0039] It should be further understood that the lubricant applicator 370 extends outwardly from the plunger portion 364 by a compressible margin (e.g., 1.5-2 mm) that is large enough to apply lubricant to the inner surface 322 and the slightly larger inner diameter of the first chamfer 314. In other words, the lubricant applicator 370 may be compressed a first amount when the lubricant applicator 370 is inserted into the first chamfer 314, and then may be compressed a second, larger amount when the lubricant applicator 370 is inserted into the flange hole 312. In this manner, sufficient pressure is generated on the surface of the first chamfer 314 and the inner surface 322 to apply lubricant to the surface of the first chamfer 314 and the inner surface 322 in a uniform and consistent manner.

[0040] Now go to Figure 4 , shows an exemplary method 400 of lubricating a bore using a bore lubricator, the bore lubricator being respectively, for example Figure 1 , 2A and 2B and 3B of the hole lubricator 102, 202 and / or 362. The hole can be a flange hole, such as Figure 1 The flange hole 112 and / or Figure 3A Flange hole 312.

[0041] Method 400 begins at 402, where method 400 includes selecting a lubricant. In various embodiments, the lubricant may be selected based on the type of application of the lubricant. The type of application of the lubricant may depend on the type or characteristics of the hole to be lubricated. In other words, a first type of lubricant may be used on a first type of hole, and a second type of lubricant may be used on a second type of hole. For example, 75w85 fully synthetic lubricant may be applied to axles in an axle assembly plant, and different lubricants may be applied to different components.

[0042] At 404, method 400 includes measuring the inner dimension of the hole. For example, the hole can be a cylindrical hole, and measuring the inner dimension of the hole can include measuring the diameter of the hole. Alternatively, the hole can have an elliptical profile, or a square or rectangular profile, wherein measuring the inner dimension of the hole can include measuring the height and / or width of the elliptical, square or rectangular hole. In other embodiments, the hole can have different shapes.

[0043] At 406, method 400 includes selecting an appropriate bore lubricant based on the type of lubricant, the inner dimensions of the bore, and the desired lubricant flow rate. For example, if the bore is a cylindrical bore, a bore lubricant may be selected that includes a plunger portion (e.g., plunger portion 107) that is circular and has a diameter that is equal to the diameter of the cylindrical bore (e.g., the diameter is less than the diameter of the cylindrical bore by a threshold amount). In other words, a first bore lubricant of a first size and shape may be used to lubricate the first bore; a second bore lubricant of a second size and shape may be used to lubricate the second bore, the second size and shape being different from the first size and shape; a third bore lubricant of a third size and shape may be used to lubricate the third bore, the third size and shape being different from the second and first sizes and shapes; and so on.

[0044] The amount of lubricant applied to the inner surface of the bore may vary depending on the type of bore, the type of lubricant, the type of application, or other factors. The lubricant may be applied by a lubricant applicator, such as a felt O-ring (e.g., respectively) located in a groove (e.g., groove 204) of the plunger portion. Figure 1 , 2Aand lubricant applicator 106 / 206 / 326 of 3B). The recess may include a plurality of holes (e.g., a plurality of holes 290) through which pressure generated by a lubricant delivery system of the bore lubricator causes lubricant to be ejected into the lubricant applicator. In some embodiments, the lubricant may be delivered by gravity. Thus, the amount of lubricant applied to the inner surface may be controlled in part by the pressure generated by the lubricant delivery system because the lubricant delivery system is actuated by a user of the bore lubricator. For example, a user may squeeze a lubricant bottle at a first pressure, whereby a first amount of lubricant may be ejected into the lubricant applicator and applied to the inner surface. A user may squeeze a lubricant bottle at a second pressure greater than the first pressure, whereby a second amount of lubricant may be ejected into the lubricant applicator and applied to the inner surface, the second amount being greater than the first amount. By varying the amount of pressure, the user may apply a greater or lesser amount of lubricant to the inner surface (the amount of lubricant applied is more controlled by the fit of the felt applicator with the flange hole, which is variable, but only when multiple applications (or insertions) are performed).

[0045] In addition, the amount of lubricant applied to the inner surface can be partially controlled by the size of the plurality of holes. For example, if the amount of lubricant to be applied to the inner surface is large, a first hole lubricant with larger holes can be selected, and if the amount of lubricant to be applied to the inner surface is small, a second hole lubricant with smaller holes can be selected. Thus, the hole lubricator can be selected based on the desired flow rate through the plurality of holes and based on the constant pressure applied by the lubricant delivery system.

[0046] At 408, method 400 includes attaching a lubricant delivery system to the bore lubricator. The lubricant delivery system can be coupled to a proximal end of the bore lubricator (e.g., Figure 1 In one embodiment, the lubricant delivery system is a plastic squeezable lubricant bottle including a threaded opening that can be coupled to the bore lubricator by screwing the squeezable lubricant bottle into a threaded hole at the proximal end of the bore lubricator (e.g., the threaded inner surface 122 of the bore 104). Thus, the lubricant delivery system can be actuated by a user squeezing the lubricant bottle to generate pressure to deliver lubricant to the lubricant applicator.

[0047] At 410, method 400 includes inserting a bore lubricator into the bore. At 412, method 400 includes actuating a lubricant delivery system to apply lubricant to the inner surface of the bore when the bore lubricant is inserted into the bore. When the lubricant delivery system is actuated, pressure can be generated in the lubricant that causes the lubricant to flow through the bore lubricator to the lubricant applicator. In one embodiment, pressure is generated by a user squeezing a lubricant bottle or an extrudable portion of the bore lubricator. In another embodiment, pressure can be generated in an alternative manner. For example, the lubricant delivery system may include a gravity-fed dispenser or a pressurized lubrication dispenser in which pressure is generated by a separate component (e.g., a pump) or a different type of dispenser.

[0048] When the bore lubricant is inserted into the bore, the user and / or lubricant delivery system can apply a constant pressure. The constant pressure can deliver the lubricant to the multiple holes in a consistent and uniform manner. For example, the size and position of the lubricant conduit included in the bore lubricator can allow the lubricant to be discharged from the multiple holes equally across the multiple holes. In other words, the length and diameter of the lubricant conduits leading to the multiple holes can be equal, so that an equal amount of lubricant is delivered at each hole of the multiple holes. In addition, the size, number, and spacing of the holes can be selected to apply a desired amount of lubricant (e.g., for a given application) by a single insertion of the bore lubricator without rotating the bore lubricator, so that multiple insertions or rotations of the plunger portion are not relied upon to fully lubricate the bore.

[0049] At 414, method 400 includes extracting the bore lubricant from the bore. The bore lubricant may be extracted from the bore by sliding the bore lubricant out of the bore in a direction opposite to the direction in which the bore lubricant was inserted into the bore. When extracting the bore lubricant from the bore, the lubricant applicator may smooth the lubricant applied to the inner surface of the bore, ensuring that the lubricant is applied as a thin, even coating without drips, portions with excess lubricant, or unlubricated portions. Method 400 ends.

[0050] Therefore, a novel bore lubricator is proposed that efficiently and quickly applies lubricant to a bore, and its design can be customized to the lubrication type, bore type and / or application type. The bore lubricator includes a plunger portion that is sized and shaped to fit snugly within a corresponding bore. The bore lubricator can include a lubricant applicator arranged around the outer periphery of the plunger portion. The lubricant applicator can be inserted into a groove on the outer periphery, the groove including a plurality of holes through which pressurized lubricant can be discharged into the lubricant applicator. The lubricant applicator can be made of a soft porous material that can effectively absorb the lubricant.

[0051] For example, the lubricant applicator can be an O-ring made of felt or similar organic or synthetic material. In one embodiment, the lubricant applicator can be made of plastic or nylon, such as The lubricant applicator may extend outwardly from the outer periphery of the plunger portion so that when the plunger portion is inserted into the hole, the lubricant applicator can be evenly pressed against the side of the inner surface of the hole. As a result of pressing the lubricant applicator against the inner surface, the lubricant absorbed by the lubricant applicator can be applied to the inner surface. In addition, the amount of lubricant applied to the inner surface can be controlled by the pressure applied by the lubricant delivery system. For example, the lubricant delivery system can include a lubricant bottle, and the pressure can be generated by the user of the hole lubricator by squeezing the bottle. The amount of lubricant can also be controlled by adjusting the size, number and spacing of the multiple holes and / or the size of the lubricant applicator.

[0052] In this manner, the bore can be lubricated in a quick and efficient manner, which can reduce the time required to assemble a system that includes the bore, such as an axle assembly of a vehicle. In addition, using the bore applicator, the lubricant can be applied in a coating that can be more evenly distributed around the interior surface than coatings applied by other methods, without over-applying the lubricant to some portions and under-applying it to other portions.

[0053] For example, to lubricate a bore without using the bore lubricator described herein, one may manually apply lubricant via a brush or pad. Personnel may not apply equal pressure to the brush or pad on all portions of the bore's inner surface. For example, when applying lubricant to the lower portion of the bore, personnel may apply greater pressure than to the upper portion, which may be less visible and / or more difficult to reach for personnel. Due to unequal pressure, excess lubricant may be applied to some portions, and / or other portions may be insufficiently lubricated. In addition, lubricant may drip from the brush or pad onto the inner surface, and due to gravity, the dripping or excess lubricant may gather at the lower portion of the inner surface. Due to the uneven application of lubricant, the amount of deterioration and / or wear that occurs in the bore and / or the components inserted into the bore may increase. For example, an O-ring may be inserted into the bore after lubrication, and if the lubricant is applied manually, the O-ring may be more easily damaged, or the O-ring may not be accurately positioned in the bore. False alarms of leaks may also occur when testing components including the inner diameter. Alternatively, a component snugly inserted into a bore (e.g., an axle of an axle assembly) may experience degradation at portions of the inner surface that are insufficiently lubricated. By applying lubricant via a bore lubricator, the overall efficiency of the assembly process may be improved, the time and cost of assembly may be reduced, and the useful life of system components that include bores may be increased. Furthermore, by using a bore lubricant, contact of the lubricant with personnel applying the lubricant may be minimized.

[0054] The technical effect of applying lubricant to a bore using the bore lubricator described herein is that the bore can be lubricated more efficiently and evenly, reducing the amount of degradation of components that contact the lubricated portion of the bore, and increasing the speed of assembly of components including the bore.

[0055] The present disclosure also provides support for a lubrication system, the lubrication system comprising: a piston-shaped bore lubricator having a plunger portion, the plunger portion comprising a soft porous material arranged in an external groove at the distal end of the plunger portion, the external groove comprising a hole, and when the plunger portion is positioned in the bore, the lubricant is ejected through the hole into the soft porous material. In a first example of the system, the proximal end of the bore lubricator includes a thread for connecting a lubricant delivery system to the bore lubricator. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the lubricant delivery system includes a squeezable bottle, and the lubricant is ejected through the soft porous material via actuation of the squeezable bottle. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the lubricant delivery system includes a hollow cavity in the piston portion of the bore lubricator, the lubricant bottle is inserted into the hollow cavity, and the lubricant is ejected through the soft porous material via gravity. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to third examples, the outer size of the plunger portion is adjusted to fit the inner size of the bore. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to fourth examples, the size of the holes can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow rate of the lubricant through the soft porous material. In a sixth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to fifth examples, the porous material is made of one of a felt material, a plastic material, and a nylon material. In a seventh example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to sixth examples, the porous material is specific to the application type of the lubrication system. In an eighth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to seventh examples, at least one of the number, size, and spacing of the holes is specific to the application type of the lubrication system. In a ninth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to eighth examples, the plunger portion is circular and the hole is cylindrical. In a tenth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to ninth examples, the hole is a tubular flange of an axle assembly of a vehicle. In an eleventh example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to tenth examples, the plunger portion is a non-circular shape and the hole has a non-cylindrical profile.

[0056] The present disclosure also provides support for a method for lubricating a bore, the method comprising: selecting a type of lubricant based on an application of the lubricant; measuring one or more inner dimensions of the bore; selecting a bore lubricant based on the type of lubricant, the one or more inner dimensions, and a desired flow rate of the lubricant; coupling a lubricant delivery system to the bore lubricant; inserting the bore lubricant into the bore, and actuating the lubricant delivery system to apply the lubricant to the bore; the bore lubricant comprising a plunger portion having a soft porous material disposed in an outer recess at a distal end of the plunger portion, the outer recess comprising a hole through which the lubricant is ejected into the soft porous material. In a first example of the method, coupling the lubricant delivery system to the bore lubricator further comprises screwing a lubricant bottle into threads included at a proximal end of the bore lubricator, and selecting the bore lubricator based on the type of lubricant further comprises selecting a bore lubricator having threads coupled to the threads of the lubricant bottle. In a second example of the method, optionally including the first example, the soft porous material is felt, plastic, or nylon. In a third example of the method, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the lubricant delivery system is a squeezable bottle inserted into the hollow piston portion of the bore lubricator, and actuating the lubricant delivery system to apply the lubricant to the bore further comprises squeezing the squeezable bottle. In a fourth example of the method, optionally including one or more or each of the first to third examples, selecting a bore lubricant based on lubricant type further comprises: under a first condition, where a higher flow rate is desired, selecting a bore lubricant having an external groove that includes at least one of a greater number of holes, holes of a larger diameter, and holes that are more closely spaced, and under a second condition, where a lower flow rate is desired, selecting a bore lubricant having an external groove that includes at least one of a lesser number of holes, holes of a smaller diameter, and holes that are more closely spaced.

[0057] The present disclosure also provides support for a device for lubricating a cylindrical hole, the device comprising: a cylindrical plunger portion, the plunger portion including a felt O-ring positioned in an outer groove around the outer periphery of the plunger portion, the groove including a hole, when the plunger portion is inserted into the cylindrical hole, lubricant is delivered to the inner surface of the cylindrical hole through the felt O-ring, the lubricant being applied by the felt O-ring. In a first example of the system, a lubricant bottle is coupled to the device by extrusion through threads around the inner periphery of the hole included in the end of the cylindrical plunger portion, and the lubricant is delivered through the hole. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the outer periphery of the plunger portion is adjusted to fit the inner periphery of the cylindrical hole, and the size of the hole is adjusted to increase or decrease the flow rate of the lubricant through the felt O-ring.

[0058] Although various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented as examples rather than limitations. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that the disclosed subject matter may be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the subject matter. Therefore, the above embodiments are considered to be illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects.

[0059] It is understood that the configuration and routine disclosed herein are exemplary in nature, and these specific embodiments should not be considered as restrictive, because multiple changes can be made. As used herein, the elements or steps described in the singular and starting with the word "one" or "one" should be understood as not excluding a plurality of the elements or steps, unless such exclusion is clearly indicated. In addition, the reference to "one embodiment" of the utility model is not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of other embodiments that also include the features. In addition, unless there is a clear statement to the contrary, "including (comprising)", "including (including)" or "having" an embodiment of one or more elements with a specific characteristic can include other such elements that do not have the characteristic. The terms "including (including)" and "in which (in which)" are used as the concise language equivalents of the corresponding terms "including (comprising)" and "wherein (wherein)". In addition, the terms "first", "second" and "third" etc. are only used as marks, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or specific positional order on their objects.

[0060] Figure 1-3BAn example configuration with relative positioning of various components is shown. If shown as directly contacting or directly connected to each other, such elements can be referred to as directly contacting or directly connected, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, at least in one example, elements shown as continuous or adjacent to each other can be respectively continuous or adjacent to each other. As an example, components placed as face-shared contact with each other can be referred to as face-shared contact. As another example, in at least one example, elements positioned to be spaced apart from each other with only a spacing space between them and no other components can be referred to as such. As another example, elements shown as above / below each other, on opposite sides of each other, or on the left / right of each other can be referred to as such relative to each other. In addition, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in at least one example, the topmost element or the point position of the element can be referred to as the "top" of the component, and the bottommost element or the point position of the element can be referred to as the "bottom" of the component. As used herein, top / bottom, upper / lower, above / below can be relative to the vertical axis of the accompanying drawings and used to describe the positioning of the elements of the accompanying drawings relative to each other. Therefore, in one example, the element shown as above other elements is vertically positioned above the other elements. As yet another example, the shapes of elements depicted in the accompanying drawings may be referred to as having such shapes (e.g., such as rounded, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, etc.). Additionally, in at least one example, elements shown as intersecting each other may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting each other. Further, in one example, an element shown as being within another element or outside another element may be referred to as such.

[0061] This written description uses examples to disclose the present invention, including the best mode, and also enables those skilled in the art to practice the present invention, including making and using any device or system and performing any combined method. The patentable scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that do not differ substantially from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A lubrication system, characterized in that: include: A piston-shaped bore lubricator having a plunger portion (170, 207, 502, 364, 107), the plunger portion comprising a soft porous material arranged in an external groove (204) at a distal end (108, 210) of the plunger portion (170, 207, 502, 364, 107), wherein when the plunger portion (170, 207, 502, 364, 107) is positioned in a bore (116), the external groove (204) comprises a hole (290) through which a lubricant is ejected into the soft porous material.

2. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The proximal end (109, 211) of the bore lubricator includes threads for coupling a lubricant delivery system to the bore lubricator.

3. The lubrication system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lubricant delivery system includes a squeezable bottle, and the lubricant is sprayed through the soft porous material via actuation of the squeezable bottle.

4. The lubrication system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lubricant delivery system includes a hollow cavity (508) in the piston portion of the bore lubricator into which a lubricant bottle is inserted and the lubricant is ejected through the soft porous material via gravity.

5. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer dimensions of the plunger portion (170, 207, 502, 364, 107) are adjusted to fit the inner dimensions of the hole (116).

6. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The size of the holes (290) can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow rate of lubricant through the soft porous material.

7. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The soft porous material is made of one of felt material, plastic material and nylon material.

8. The lubrication system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The soft porous material is specific to the type of application of the lubrication system.

9. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one of the number, size, and spacing of the holes (290) is specific to a type of application of the lubrication system.

10. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plunger portion (170, 207, 502, 364, 107) is circular and the hole (116) is cylindrical.

11. The lubrication system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The hole is a tubular flange of an axle assembly (101, 300) of a vehicle.

12. The lubrication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plunger portion (170, 207, 502, 364, 107) is non-circular in shape and the bore (116) has a non-cylindrical profile.

Images