grease nipple
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE502022002349
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-04-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing grease nipples lack efficient and reliable methods for tracking lubrication processes, particularly in scenarios with multiple lubrication points close together, leading to potential mix-ups and inefficiencies in maintenance recording.
Integration of an RFID transponder within a ring groove in the key handle of the grease nipple, allowing for wireless communication with a reading device to record lubrication data, ensuring accurate tracking of lubrication points and times without manual assembly or special operations.
This solution enables precise and efficient logging of lubrication processes, preventing mix-ups and allowing for automated data recording, while facilitating efficient manufacturing of grease nipples with integrated transponders.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a grease nipple with a rounded head, to which a shaft with a reduced diameter, a key handle and a threaded section are axially connected, and with a lubricant channel passing axially through the grease nipple, wherein an RFID transponder is arranged in the key handle.
[0002] Grease nipples are used for lubricating bearings in machines. The threaded portion of the grease nipple is screwed into a threaded hole in a machine part, which is connected to the bearing surfaces to be lubricated via a lubricant channel. A motor-operated or hand-operated grease gun can then be connected to the head of the grease nipple, either directly or via a flexible line and a coupling, forcing lubricant into the lubricant channel.
[0003] As a rule, machines with grease nipples must be serviced at regular intervals. Such maintenance procedures typically include replacing or topping up the lubricant. It is common practice, and in many cases, mandatory, that maintenance procedures, including lubrication procedures, be carefully documented, specifying the lubrication points supplied, the times of the lubrication procedures, the lubricant used, and, if applicable, the pressure applied.
[0004] From US 2019 / 107249 A1 a grease nipple of the type mentioned above is known, in which an RFID transponder allows the logging of the lubrication processes to be simplified.
[0005] The object of the invention is to improve the known grease nipple.
[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the key handle has a groove which runs annularly around the shaft and which receives the RFID transponder which surrounds the shaft in a ring shape.
[0007] Using a write head, an identifier can be stored in the transponder that identifies the lubrication point where the grease nipple is located. During the lubrication process, the RFID transponder then communicates wirelessly with a read head or a read / write head, which can be detachably mounted on the coupling or grease gun, for example. This head, in turn, communicates wirelessly or via a cable with a recording device, which can thus record which lubrication points were supplied at which times.
[0008] The invention has the advantage that the transponder can be arranged in a very space-saving manner in the immediate vicinity of the relevant lubricant channel and that no special operations are required for the assembly of the transponder.
[0009] By directly integrating the transponder into the grease nipple and, if necessary, locating the corresponding reading head on the lubricant coupling or grease gun, it can be ensured that the reader only receives data from the transponder to which the grease gun is actually connected. This avoids the risk of confusion, especially in cases where multiple lubrication points are located relatively close together on the same machine. The grease nipples with integrated RFID transponders can be manufactured very efficiently by machine, without any manual labor being required.
[0010] In the following, an embodiment example is explained in more detail using the drawing.
[0011] The only drawing shows a grease nipple cut in half with an integrated RFID transponder.
[0012] The grease nipple 10 shown in the drawing has, as usual, an approximately spherical head 12 at the tapered end of a conically shaped shaft 14. A disk-shaped wrench handle 16 for a screwing tool is axially connected to the shaft 14, which is followed by a threaded section 18, which in the example shown is designed as a self-tapping thread. A lubricant channel 20 extends axially through the entire grease nipple.
[0013] In the key handle 16, on the side facing the head 12, in a region which lies radially outside the base of the shaft 14, an annular groove 22 is formed which receives an annular RFID transponder 24 which thus surrounds the shaft 14 of the grease nipple.
Claims
1. Grease nipple having a rounded head (12), and, axially adjoining thereto, a reduced-diameter shaft (14), a key handle (16) and a threaded section (18), the grease nipple further comprising a lubricant channel (20) passing axially therethrough, wherein an RFID transponder (24) is arranged in the key handle (16), characterized in that the key handle (16) has a ring-shaped groove (22) that runs around the shaft (14) and contains the RFID transponder (24) which annularly surrounds the shaft (14).