Lubrication device for an aircraft component

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lubrication device for an aircraft component, with a reservoir 3 for containing lubricant S, wherein the reservoir 3 can be connected to at least one area B of the component, which is intended to be lubricated with the lubricant S, so that lubricant S can be routed from the reservoir 3 to said area B.

Description

Title of the invention: Lubrication device for an aircraft component

[0001] The present invention relates to a lubrication device for an aircraft component, comprising a container for holding lubricant.

[0002] It is known, in the prior art, that screw drives used in aviation require periodic manual lubrication or re-greasing to compensate for lubricant losses (e.g., grease) over time.

[0003] Screw transmissions are also known to operate entirely in oil and / or lubricating grease, the entire screw transmission being sealed.

[0004] In this context, the present invention aims to provide a lubrication device to allow simplified lubrication of an aircraft component.

[0005] This objective is achieved by the object having the characteristics of independent claim 1. The advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] Thus, according to the invention, it is provided that the container can be connected to at least one area of ​​the component intended to be lubricated with the lubricant, so that lubricant can be supplied from the area to the container.

[0007] The lubrication device may be an integral part of the component or be disposed separately from it.

[0008] The lubrication device is preferably an automatic lubrication device for re-greasing screw transmissions in aviation. The lubricant supply is preferably automatic.

[0009] Preferably, the component, for example a screw drive used for actuation of a landing flap, is provided with an additional lubricant reservoir. This lubricant reservoir preferably reduces the number of manual re-greasing cycles or, ideally, eliminates manual re-greasing altogether during the product's life cycle.

[0010] Preferably, the component is a maintenance-free linear actuator, more particularly a ball screw for a landing flap or other application. The lubrication device preferably has a low additional cost in terms of price, weight and / or size.

[0011] The container can also be called “reservoir” or “receptacle” and can have any shape, more particularly that of the internal space.

[0012] Preferably, the number of maintenance cycles required for a component, more particularly a screw drive, for example a flap system Landing is reduced. Preferably, the lubrication device can also be used for other screw drives in the aviation sector. The lubrication device is preferably an automatic re-greasing device. The lubrication device is preferably adapted to the specific requirements of aviation.

[0013] The lubrication device is preferably an automatic re-greasing device for an aircraft screw drive, which includes a screw and a screw nut, the area of ​​the screw nut intended to be lubricated with lubricant being sealed against the environment, an additional volume of lubricant being transported in a reservoir which is connected to the sealed area of ​​the screw nut.

[0014] Preferably, the component is sealed against lubricant leakage by means of a gasket. The seal is preferably made in such a way that there is only minimal lubricant loss.

[0015] Preferably the lubrication device includes a pressure device which is designed and arranged to exert pressure on the lubricant contained in the reservoir.

[0016] It is preferably provided that the pressure device includes a mechanical spring and / or a gas spring, so as to exert pressure on the lubricant contained in the reservoir.

[0017] It is preferably provided that there is no overpressure or no overpressure in the tank.

[0018] Preferably, the area of ​​the component intended to be lubricated with the lubricant and / or in which the lubricant is present is subjected to slight overpressure, particularly to avoid or prevent moisture ingress. For example, the area of ​​a screw nut in which the screw nut's balls move can be slightly pre-stressed with pressure to prevent moisture ingress over time.

[0019] Overpressure or preload can preferably be applied directly by means of a preload by means of springs, one or more springs pressing on an additional volume, for example the inside of the tank, which is filled with lubricant and is connected to the area of ​​the component intended to be lubricated with the lubricant.

[0020] It is preferably provided that the tank is under pressure.

[0021] It is preferably provided that the tank, more particularly the interior of the reservoir filled with lubricant, either pre-stressed by spring force and / or by compressed gas.

[0022] It is preferably provided that the tank, more particularly the interior of the tank, is not prestressed.

[0023] Preferably, the invention makes it possible to advantageously extend the maintenance cycles of the components, more particularly of screw transmissions, especially depending on the capacity of the reservoir.

[0024] It is preferably provided that the lubrication device is designed and can be arranged so that, during movement of the component, lubricant is supplied to the area of ​​the component intended to be lubricated with the lubricant.

[0025] It is preferably provided that the lubrication device is designed and can be arranged so that, when the component is positioned in a defined position, lubricant is supplied to the area of ​​the component intended to be lubricated with the lubricant.

[0026] It is conceivable that the lubrication device be designed and arranged on a screw nut so that, when the screw nut is positioned in one or both of the final positions of the screw transmission, lubricant is supplied to the area of ​​the screw nut intended to be lubricated. In other words, the final position of the screw nut can preferably be used to deliver lubricant from the reservoir to the area where the balls of the screw nut move. This preferably allows for cycle-dependent re-lubrication.

[0027] It is preferably provided that the movement of the screw transmission, more particularly of the screw nut, causes the pumping of lubricant from the reservoir to the area of ​​the screw nut intended to be lubricated with lubricant.

[0028] Preferably, positioning the screw nut at one or both of the screw nut's final positions will actuate a mechanism of the lubrication device, similar to that of a grease pump, with a small amount of lubricant being pumped from the reservoir to the screw nut.

[0029] It is preferably provided that the movement of the balls in the ball circulation of the screw nut causes the pumping of lubricant from the reservoir to the screw nut.

[0030] It is preferably provided that the lubricant is or consists of a lubricating grease, a lubricating oil and / or a solid lubricant.

[0031] Preferably, the lubrication device and / or the reservoir are designed so that the reservoir can be filled or emptied of lubricant. The reservoir may be designed so that the lubricant cannot be refilled.

[0032] It is preferably provided that the reservoir is filled with lubricant.

[0033] Preferably, the lubrication device is provided to include one or more means, for example a screw cap, which are designed to fill the lubricant reservoir. The reservoir is preferably refillable.

[0034] Preferably the lubrication device is provided to include a mechanical or electronic indicator, which is designed to display the lubricant level in the reservoir.

[0035] Preferably, the lubrication device is equipped with an indicator, more particularly a level indicator. Preferably, this makes it possible to completely eliminate periodic re-greasing intervals and to re-grease only when necessary, thereby reducing the operating costs of the aircraft, more particularly the airplane.

[0036] The invention also relates to a system comprising a lubrication device according to the invention and an aircraft component, the lubrication device preferably being directly disposed on the component. In other words, the lubrication device can be an integral part of the component and, for example, integrated into the component.

[0037] Preferably the component is provided to be a screw drive or a screw nut.

[0038] The screw transmission preferably does not operate entirely in oil and / or lubricating grease and / or preferably no complete sealing of the entire screw transmission is achieved.

[0039] Preferably the component is a planetary roller screw, a trapezoidal screw or a ball screw, or a screw nut of one of these screw drives.

[0040] The invention also relates to an aircraft, more particularly an airplane, with a system according to the invention.

[0041] It is specified here that the terms “a” and “an” do not necessarily refer to only one of the elements, although this is a possible realization, but may also designate a plurality of the elements. Similarly, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also includes several of the elements in question. Furthermore, all the features of the invention described herein may be combined with each other or claimed individually.

[0042] Other advantages, features, and effects of the present invention will result from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures, in which identical or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals. The unique

[0043] [Fig.1]: represents an embodiment of a system according to the invention.

[0044] The system shown in the figure comprises a screw drive with a nut a screw 2 moving on a screw 1 and a lubrication device. The lubrication device is directly located on the nut of screw 2.

[0045] The reservoir 3 of the lubrication device is filled with lubricant S.

[0046] The reservoir 3 is connected to area B of the screw nut 2, which is intended to be lubricated with lubricant S and in which the balls 22 of the screw nut 2 circulate, so that lubricant S can be supplied from zone B to reservoir 3. Zone B includes the ball circulation. Zone B is therefore also filled with lubricant S.

[0047] Area B is sealed against leakage of lubricant S by a seal 4.

[0048] Inside the reservoir 3, there is a mechanical spring 5 which exerts pressure on the lubricant S, for example via a piston. A slight overpressure therefore exists in the reservoir 3.

[0049] On the piston, there is a rod 6, which is guided outwards through an opening in the reservoir 3, and thus constitutes an indicator to display the level of lubricant S in the reservoir 3.

Claims

Demands

1. Lubrication device for an aircraft component, comprising a reservoir 3 for containing lubricant S, characterized in that the reservoir 3 can be connected to at least one area B of the component intended to be lubricated with the lubricant S, so that lubricant S can be supplied from the reservoir 3 to the area B.

2. Lubrication device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pressure device which is designed and arranged to exert pressure on the lubricant S contained in the reservoir 3.

3. Lubrication device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure device comprises a mechanical spring 5 and / or a gas spring, so as to exert pressure on the lubricant S contained in the reservoir 3.

4. Lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is no overpressure or no overpressure in the reservoir 3.

5. Lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed and can be arranged so that, during movement of the component, lubricant S is supplied to the area of ​​the component intended to be lubricated with lubricant S.

6. Lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed and can be arranged so that, when the component is positioned in a defined position, lubricant S is supplied to the area B of the component intended to be lubricated with lubricant S.

7. Lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lubricant S comprises or consists of a lubricating grease, a lubricating oil and / or a solid lubricant.

8. Lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lubrication device and / or the reservoir 3 are designed so that the reservoir 3 can be filled or not with lubricant S.

9. Lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a mechanical or electronic indicator, which is designed to display the lubricant level in the reservoir 3.

10. 7 System comprising a lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims and an aircraft component, wherein the lubrication device is preferably disposed directly on the component.

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the component is a screw drive or a screw nut 2.

12. Aircraft, more particularly airplane, with a system according to claim 10 or 11.

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