Lubricant application device spring plate and lubrication pinion holder

Abstract

The invention relates to a lubricant application device spring plate (100) having a first end (101) which can be connected to the lubricant application device (300) and having a second end (102) which can be connected to a frame, an engine or a body, wherein a spring travel of the lubricant application device spring plate (100) is longer than an extension of the lubricant application device spring plate (100) from the first end (101) to the second end (2).The invention further relates to a lubricant application device holder (200) having a first lubricant application device holder arm (210) with a first end (211) and a second end (212), a second lubricant application device holder arm (220) with a first end (221) and a second end (222), wherein the first lubricant application device holder arm (210) and the second lubricant application device holder arm (220) are substantially identical in construction and are spaced apart from one another by a distance that is greater than a width of the lubricant application device (300) transversely to a longitudinal direction (X), wherein the second end (212) of the first lubricant application device holder arm (210) and the second end (222) of the second lubricant application device holder arm (220) are connected to one another via a connecting element (230).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lubricant application device spring plate having a first end which can be connected to the lubricant application device and having a second end which can be connected to a frame, an engine or a body, wherein a spring travel of the lubricant application device spring plate is longer than an extension of the lubricant application device spring plate from the first end to the second end.The invention further relates to a lubricant application device holder having a first lubricant application device holder arm with a first end and a second end, a second lubricant application device holder arm with a first end and a second end, wherein the first lubricant application device holder arm and the second lubricant application device holder arm are substantially identical in construction and are spaced apart from one another by a distance that is greater than a width of the lubricant application device transversely to a longitudinal direction, wherein the second end of the first lubricant application device holder arm and the second end of the second are connected to one another via a connecting element.

[0002] Spring plates are often used, especially in moving systems, to compensate for imbalances in a rotating component caused, for example, by load fluctuations. The spring deflection of such spring plates is usually determined by the distance at the installation location between a connection point of the spring plate with the part to be cushioned and a fastening point, for example, on a motor or frame for the end of the spring plate used by the part.

[0003] Lubricant applicators or lubricant application devices are used where a lubricant must be supplied to a rotating part, such as a pinion on which a chain runs, at specified intervals or continuously. Since the installation location often determines which side the lubricant must be supplied to the lubricant application device, this information should be known when configuring the preconfigured, ready-to-install lubricant application device to avoid unpleasant surprises during assembly and to avoid complex modifications. This means higher storage costs and, due to lower production runs, higher unit costs.

[0004] It would therefore be desirable to have an improved lubricant applicator spring plate and an improved lubricant applicator holder that at least mitigates the aforementioned problems.

[0005] This object is achieved by means of the lubricant application device spring plate according to claim 1 and the lubricant application device holder according to claim 4.

[0006] It is an object of the application to provide an improved lubricant application device spring plate and an improved lubricant supply for a lubricant application device.

[0007] One aspect relates to a lubricant application device spring plate that is compactly constructed and has a spring travel that is longer than an extension of the spring plate in its longitudinal direction.

[0008] The lubricant application device can be a device with which lubricant can be dispensed, for example, to a lubricating pinion or a similar component.

[0009] The lubricant application device spring plate can be a stamped or cut part manufactured off-the-shelf. The spring force or spring resistance of the lubricant application device spring plate can be adjusted by the thickness of the spring plate transversely to its longitudinal direction and transversely to the plane containing the rotational axis, for example, the rotational axis of a lubrication pinion.

[0010] The lubricant application device spring plate can be connected at a first end, for example, to a vehicle body, a frame part of a device, or an engine. The second end can be connected to a lateral extension of a rotating shaft of a component to be supplied with lubricant, rotating on the rotating shaft, or via a frame that holds the lubricant application device. The frame can at least partially encompass the lubricant application device.

[0011] The length of the spring travel is not determined by the length of the lubricant application device spring plate, but by an arrangement of linear openings or slots in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the spring plate. The openings form geometric interlacings of material webs that connect the first end of the lubricant application device spring plate to the second end of the lubricant application device spring plate. The connected material webs define the length of the spring travel.

[0012] Another aspect relates to a holder for a lubricant application device, such as a lubrication pinion holder. The subject matter of the application is described in detail below using the lubrication pinion holder as an example. This facilitates reading of the application, but does not limit the subject matter thereto.

[0013] The further aspect therefore relates to a lubrication pinion mount comprising a first lubrication pinion mount arm having a first end and a second end, and a second lubrication pinion mount arm having a first end and a second end. The first lubrication pinion mount arm and the second lubrication pinion mount arm are substantially identical in construction and are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the lubrication pinion. The lubrication pinion mount arms extend transversely to an axial direction of a lubrication pinion shaft, and the first end of the first lubrication pinion mount arm and the first end of the second lubrication pinion mount arm are connected to one another.

[0014] The first lubrication pinion support arm and the second lubrication pinion support arm may extend parallel to each other from the connection points or at an angle toward or away from each other.

[0015] The second end of the first lubrication pinion support arm may be a free end of the first lubrication pinion support arm and include a receptacle for a first end of a lubrication pinion shaft, or may be connected to the first end of the lubrication pinion shaft. The second end of the second lubrication pinion support arm may be a free end of the second lubrication pinion support arm and include a receptacle for the second end of the lubrication pinion shaft, or may be connected to the second end of the lubrication pinion shaft.

[0016] The lubrication pinion holder can be formed from a sheet metal, preferably by deforming a sheet metal. This means that the lubrication pinion holder can, for example, be punched or cut out of a sheet metal plate in a single production step and pressed into its final shape in a combined punching, cutting, and pressing tool. Alternatively, flat semi-finished products for the lubrication pinion holder can be punched or cut out of the sheet metal in a first production step and then deformed in a pressing tool in a second production step. Less preferably, the lubrication pinion holder can also be manufactured using a casting process or an adaptive process. For special cases, the lubricant holder can be made of plastic.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lubrication pinion mount can be U-shaped, clamp-shaped, or arc-shaped. U-shaped can mean that the lubrication pinion mount has the shape of a quadrilateral or rectangle open on one side. One, two, or all three of the side walls of the open quadrilateral can be straight, convex, or concave in the longitudinal and / or transverse directions. At least one of the side walls can have an L-shape in a sectional view transverse to the longitudinal axis.

[0018] The connecting element that connects the first lubrication pinion support arm and the second lubrication pinion support arm can be a strip of material, metal, or sheet metal. The first lubrication pinion support arm can protrude from the connecting element substantially perpendicularly in a first direction, and the second lubrication pinion support arm can protrude from the connecting element in a second direction. The first direction can be opposite to the second direction. The resulting lubrication pinion support can be rotationally symmetrical.

[0019] The lubrication pinion mount may further comprise a lubricant supply port that can be connected to the first or second lubrication pinion mount arm in the region of the respective receptacle for or connection to the lubrication pinion shaft. The lubricant supply port may be formed from a metal or a plastic, or comprise both materials.

[0020] The lubrication pinion shaft for the lubrication pinion may comprise a hollow lubrication pinion shaft, the lubrication pinion shaft having a first open end and a second open end. One of the two ends of the lubrication pinion shaft may be closed or may be closed when connected to the first or second lubrication pinion support arm. The lubricant supply port is connected to the other of the lubrication pinion support arms or may be connected to the other of the lubrication pinion support arms. Via the lubricant supply port, lubricant can be delivered through the open end of the lubrication pinion shaft into the interior of the lubrication pinion shaft. The lubrication pinion shaft may have openings between the first end and the second end through which the lubricant can exit the lubrication pinion shaft and, for example, be supplied to applicators that direct the lubricant to the lubrication point.

[0021] The lubrication pinion, the lubrication pinion holder and the lubricant supply nozzle together form a system that can be rotated about a common axis of rotation, so that the system can be easily adapted to different installation positions without changing the configuration, regardless of whether the lubricant supply has to be via the right or left side of the installed system due to the geometry of the available installation space.

[0022] In the following, exemplary embodiments of a lubricant application device spring plate and a lubricant application device holder are shown and explained in more detail with reference to figures, without thereby limiting the scope of the subject matter of the application.

[0023] The figures show in detail: Fig. 1: Lubricant application device spring plate; Fig. 2: Lubricant applicator bracket; Fig. 3: Exploded view of a lubricant application device; Fig. 4: Lubricant application device of the figure mounted.

[0024] The Fig. 1 shows a lubricant application device spring plate 100, in short spring plate 100. The spring plate 100 is plate-shaped with a first end 101 which is connected to a lubricant application device 300 (see Fig. 4) and a second end 102 which can be connected, for example, to a frame, a housing or another fixed component of a device.

[0025] The spring plate 100 has a length L, a width B, and a thickness D, which can be freely selected by a person skilled in the art according to the requirements of the spring plate 100. The spring plate body 110 lies between the first end 101 and the second end 102 of the spring plate 100. In the exemplary embodiment, the spring plate 100 is cut or punched in one piece, for example, from a metal sheet.

[0026] Linear openings 120, 130 are introduced into the spring sheet body 110. The openings 120 run in the longitudinal direction X, and the openings 130 run in the width direction Y. The openings 120, 130 or slots form material webs 140, which are interconnected and connect the first end 101 of the spring sheet 100 to the second end 102 of the spring sheet 100. The length, number, and width of the slots can be freely selected and optimized through a few tests.

[0027] The added length of the material webs 140 results in a length of the spring travel of the lubricant application device spring plate 100. The spring travel is longer than the length L of the spring plate 100, specifically of the spring plate body 110. The spring plate 100 is therefore a compact spring plate 100, which can be used particularly advantageously where the available installation space is limited.

[0028] A spring resistance or spring force of the spring plate 100 can be adjusted by a width in the Y direction of the material webs 140 and, in particular, by the thickness D of the spring plate in the Z thickness direction. The greater the thickness of the spring plate 100, the greater the resulting force or resistance.

[0029] Preferably, the openings 120, 130 are already introduced into the spring sheet body 110 during the punching or cutting of the spring sheet 100 from a semi-finished product. Thus, the spring sheet 100 can be manufactured cost-effectively in a single, off-tool step.

[0030] The Fig. 2 shows a lubricant application device holding element 200, or holding elements 200 for short. In the exemplary embodiment, this is a lubricant pinion holder 200.

[0031] The lubrication pinion mount 200 includes a first lubrication pinion mount arm 210 and a second lubrication pinion mount arm 220, and a connecting member 230. The lubrication pinion mount 200 is U-shaped.

[0032] The first lubrication pinion support arm 210 has a first end 211, which forms a free end of the first lubrication pinion support arm 210, and a second end 212, which is connected to the connecting element 230. The connecting element 230 is a flat strip of material, for example, a sheet metal strip. The first lubrication pinion support arm 210 can be connected with its first end 211 to a first end 411 of a shaft 410 of a lubrication pinion 400 (see Fig. 3). The first lubrication pinion support arm 210 may have a flat shape or an L-shaped shape to improve rigidity and prevent deformation.

[0033] The second lubrication pinion support arm 220 has a first end 221, which forms a free end of the second lubrication pinion support arm 220, and a second end 223, which is connected to the connecting element 230. The second lubrication pinion support arm 220 can be connected with the first end 221 to the other, second axial end 412 of the shaft 410 of the lubrication pinion 400 (see Fig. 3). The second lubrication pinion support arm 220 may have a flat shape or an L-shaped shape to improve rigidity and prevent deformation.

[0034] The first lubrication pinion mounting arm 210 protrudes from the connecting element 230 substantially perpendicularly in the +Z direction, and the second lubrication pinion mounting arm 220 protrudes substantially perpendicularly in the -Z direction. This results in a substantially rotationally symmetrical lubrication pinion mounting 200, the advantages of which will become apparent below.

[0035] The lubrication pinion holder 200 can be manufactured cost-effectively in a single step from a semi-finished product, such as sheet metal, using a combined punching / cutting / pressing tool. The lubrication pinion holder 200 can be manufactured using a casting process in a mold or by means of an additive process, for example, to increase rigidity through different material thicknesses in the bending radii. The lubrication pinion holder 200 can be post-treated for special applications, for example, by hardening.

[0036] The Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a lubricant application device 300, here with a lubricating pinion 400, with which in the Fig. 2 detailed described lubricant application device holder 200 and the in the Fig. 1 described in detail lubricant application device spring plate 100. Reference is made to the corresponding figure descriptions.

[0037] The lubricating pinion 400 has an applicator 500 on each of its flanks, with which the lubricant is dispensed, for example, to a chain running on the lubricating pinion 40. The lubricating pinion shaft 410 is designed as a hollow shaft with a first open end 411 and a second open end 412. The first and second open ends 411, 412 each have an internal thread. In the center of the lubricating pinion shaft 410, in the illustrated embodiment, a circumferential groove 420 is formed in the outer surface 413. The groove has openings 421 through which a lubricant can emerge from the interior of the hollow lubricating pinion shaft 410 and be picked up by the applicators 500 and directed to the lubrication point.

[0038] The first lubricating pinion mounting arm 210 can be connected by means of a separate lubricant supply fitting 600 with an external thread that extends through the first lubricating pinion mounting arm 210 and can be screwed into the internal thread of the first open end 411 of the lubricating pinion shaft 410. The second lubricating pinion mounting arm 420 can be connected by means of a plug 700 with an external thread that is screwed into the internal thread of the second open end 412 of the lubricating pinion shaft 410. The plug 700 closes the second open end 412 of the lubricating pinion shaft 400 so that no lubricant can escape from the second open end 412. The second end 412 of the lubricating pinion shaft 410 can be closed in another embodiment. In this case, the plug 700 serves only to connect the second lubricating pinion mounting arm 220 to the lubricating pinion shaft 410.

[0039] The Fig. 4 shows the fully assembled lubricant application device 300 of the Fig. 3, in the exemplary embodiment, an application device for the lubricating pinion 400. The first lubricating pinion mounting arm 210 and the second lubricating pinion mounting arm 220 are connected to the lubricating pinion shaft 410. They encompass the lubricating pinion 400 and the applicators 500.

[0040] The first end 101 of the spring plate 100 is fixedly connected to the connecting element 230 of the lubrication pinion holder 200. The second end 102 of the spring plate is prepared to be connected to a housing, frame, or other structural part (not shown), for example, of a vehicle or machine. List of reference symbols: 100 Lubricant application device spring, spring plate 101 first end 102 second end 110 spring sheet body 120 Breakthrough 130 Breakthrough 140 material bridge 200 Lubricant applicator or lubricant application device retaining element, retaining element, lubricant pinion holder 210 Lubrication pinion holder arm 211 first end, 212 second end 220 Lubrication pinion holder arm 221 first end 222 second end 230 connecting element 300 Lubricant application device 400 lubricating pinions 410 Lubricating pinion shaft 411 first end 412 second end 413 exterior area 420 groove 421 openings 500 applicators 600 lubricant supply nozzles 700 plugs L length B Width D Thickness X Length direction Y latitude direction Z thickness direction

Claims

[1] A lubricant application device spring plate (100) having a first end (101) that can be connected to the lubricant application device (300) and to a frame, engine or body at a second end (102), wherein a spring travel of the lubricant application device spring plate (100) is longer than an extension of the lubricant application device spring plate (100) from the first end (101) to the second end (2). [2] Lubricant application device spring plate (100) according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant application device spring plate (100) has a spring plate body (110) between the first end (101) and the second end (102), which has slot-shaped openings (120) in the longitudinal direction (X) and slot-shaped openings in the transverse direction (Y), wherein the openings (120) and the openings (130) are connected to each other. [3] Lubricant application device spring plate (100) according to claim 2, wherein the openings (120, 130) form interconnected material webs (140) defining the spring travel of the lubricant application device spring plate (100). [4] A lubricant application device holder (200) with a first lubricant application device holder arm (210) with a first end (211) and a second end (212), a second lubricant application device support arm (220) with a first end (221) and a second end (222), wherein the first lubricant application device support arm (210) and the second lubricant application device support arm (220) are essentially identical in construction and are spaced apart from each other at a distance greater than the width of the lubricant application device (300) in a transverse direction to a longitudinal direction (X), wherein the second end (212) of the first lubricant application device support arm (210) and the second end (222) of the second lubricant application device support arm (220) are connected to each other via a connecting element (230). [5] Lubricant application device holder (200), wherein the lubricant application device (300) is a lubricating pinion (400) and the lubricant application device holder (200) is a lubricating pinion holder (200). [6] Lubricant application device holder (200) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the first end (211) of the first grease pinion support arm (210) is a free end which can be connected to a first end (411) of the grease pinion shaft (410) and the second end (221) of the second grease pinion support arm (220) is a free end which can be connected to a second end (412) of the grease pinion shaft (410). [7] Lubricant application device holder (200) according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the grease pinion holder (200) is formed by deformation of a sheet metal semi-finished product. [8] Lubricant application device holder (200) according to one of the four preceding claims, wherein the grease pinion holder (10) is U-shaped. [9] Lubricant application device holder (200) according to one of the five preceding claims, wherein the connecting element (230) that connects the first grease pinion holder arm (210) and the second grease pinion holder arm (220) is a sheet metal strip and the first grease pinion support arm (210) extends substantially perpendicularly from the connecting element (230) in a positive upward direction (+Z) and the second grease pinion support arm (220) extends from the connecting element (230) in a negative upward direction (-Z). [10] Lubricant application device holder (200) according to one of the seven preceding claims, wherein the lubricating pinion shaft (410) is hollow, with a first end (411) that can be connected to a lubricant supply nozzle (600) and a second end (412) that is closed or closable.

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