Lubrication management system

Abstract

The present application refers to a system intended for maintenance, with a specific focus on bearing lubrication, may being intended for the sectors of automotive, manufacturing and production, metallurgical area among other sectors. The technology is a set of solutions developed to assist in the management of asset lubrication, in line with good preventive maintenance practices, increasing the reliability and availability of equipment. The solution consists of a system that manages lubrication supply data, whether manual or automatic, which enables the storage of supply data automatically and integrated with the management software.

Description

[0001] LUBRICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

[0002] Field of application

[0003]

[0001] The present application refers to a system intended for maintenance, with a specific focus on bearing lubrication, may being intended for the sectors of automotive, manufacturing and production, metallurgical area among other industrial sectors.

[0004] State of the Art

[0005]

[0002] Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the late XVIII century, machine lubrication has become a crucial necessity in industries. Early steam engines, with their complex gears and moving components, needed lubrication to reduce friction and wear, ensuring the efficiency and durability of the equipment.

[0006]

[0003] In the transition from manual labor to mechanized production, machine maintenance has become essential to avoid downtime and increase productivity. In the XIX century, with the proliferation of factories and the technological evolution, lubrication came to be seen not only as a maintenance practice, but as a science. Engineers and technicians began to develop specific oils and greases for different types of machines and operating conditions.

[0007]

[0004] During the XX century, global industrialization intensified the demand for more complex and high-performance machines, which led to significant advances in lubrication technology. With the emergence of new metal alloys, increased precision in manufacturing parts, and the introduction of automatic machines, lubrication has become even more critical. Centralized and automated lubrication systems have been developed to ensure the proper application of lubricants, improving operational efficiency.

[0005] In the contemporary context, predictive maintenance and asset management benefit from advanced technologies, such as loT sensors and artificial intelligence, to monitor the state of lubrication in real time and predict maintenance needs. This not only increases the service life of the machines, but also contributes to sustainability and reduced operating costs.

[0008]

[0006] In this context, document GB2525181A describes a system whose methodology was developed to execute a lubrication plan. The system comprises a grease gauge that will account / store the amount of grease filled into the equipment while the display will show the bearing being filled through photographs along with the amount of grease. The distinctive feature of this document is that the points, through the display, will be shown through arrows over photos of the equipment taken previously. The points can be geographically referenced and the display can be replaced by google glasses, smartphone, among others. The system in which protection is requested does not use photographs to identify the supply points.

[0009]

[0007] Similarly, document CN114110406A describes an intelligent lubrication management system in centralized systems that optimizes the lubrication of rotating equipment through vibration, temperature, and noise signals. These signals are integrated into field data collectors that convert analogue data into digital and transmit it to a central processing unit. The smart gateway, communicating with the data collector, sends this processed data to the server. The lubrication device adjusts the lubrication based on the instructions received and sends working parameters back to the server for continuous monitoring. Document CN114110406A differs from the technology under analysis because the present system does not contain a continuous vibration, temperature and noise monitoring to analyze the need or not for lubrication.

[0010]

[0008] On the other hand, document US 6997286 describes a system whose manual lubrication is provided for individual identification elements for each lubrication point. Information on the amount of lubricant that should be administered to each individual lubrication point in each lubrication instance is stored in a memory. During lubrication, the lubrication point is identified and information about the predetermined amount of lubricant is retrieved from memory, and the lubricant is administered to the lubrication point. Information about the lubrication performed and the duration of the lubrication is stored in the memory. The device includes a lubricant gun with a lubricant reservoir, a pump device, a measuring device with indicator element and a nozzle. The system described in patent US 6997286 leaves gaps both in the correct amount of grease supply, according to a maintenance plan, and in the identification of the bearing because it is not integrated into the grease pin.

[0011]

[0009] While these solutions eliminate many of the possibilities for errors in supply, whether manual or automated, there is room for improvement in terms of ensuring which bearing is being filled, and whether the correct amount of grease defined in the maintenance plan is actually being filled into the bearing.

[0010] The requested lubrication management system consists of a system that manages lubrication supply data, whether manual or automatic, which enables the registration of supply data automatically and integrated with the management software. The system consists of equipment integrated with the lubrication systems, which make it possible to identify the bearing to be lubricated along with the amount of grease to be supplied. This data is sent wirelessly to a server on which software will be installed for data visualization, storage and processing. The system is comprised of two distinct strands: manual lubrication solution and centralized lubrication systems.

[0012] Description of the Invention Patent

[0013] [Oi l] The technology is a set of solutions developed to assist in the management of asset lubrication, in line with good preventive maintenance practices, which increase the reliability and availability of equipment.

[0014]

[0012] The solution consists of a system that makes it possible to automatically identify the bearing to be lubricated, along with the volume of grease supplied at a given point / bearing. This data is sent and received by a server in the cloud where the management software is deployed, as shown in Figure 1.

[0015]

[0013] In detail, the presented system is a system for the management of punctual lubrication, which is comprised of 02 distinct aspects:

[0016] (a) firstly the lubrication management system for manual refueling systems, has a grease fitting (1) in which a wireless TAG with internal memory is integrated. This grease fitting is capable of storing bearing data, location, amount of grease needed, date and time of the last fill-up. All information in this system is read by a wireless contactless reader (2) integrated into the grease coupler. The reader (2) in turn is connected to a data acquisition board (3) for processing, calculations, commands, storage and transmi ssion / reception of data. To know the amount of grease the oval gear flow meter (4) is installed in the grease feed line and interconnected to the data acquisition board (3). The data acquisition board communicates with a smartphone (5), or any other equipment, via wireless protocol, which will be used to support the operator interface application. The acquisition board will activate and deactivate the automatic grease pump (6) via electric and / or wireless control. The acquisition board will also communicate wirelessly with the software (7) located on a local server or in the "cloud". The entire system being powered via battery (8).

[0017]

[0014] In item (1) a grease fitting was designed with the intention of integrating a wireless TAG. This TAG is capable of storing information such as bearing identification, location, amount of grease to be filled, amount of grease previously filled, date and time of previous fillings.

[0018]

[0015] In item (2) a grease coupler was designed integrated with a wireless proximity reader to be able to guarantee the reading of the grease fitting that is being filled.

[0019]

[0016] Item (3) presents the acquisition board that was designed, to collect the information sent by the reader (2) and by the flow meter (4). Wireless communication with a smartphone (5) for interaction with the local user and sends the acquired and supply data to the software (7) via wireless communication. In addition to these features, the board has an internal routine for supply control. The board receives the data for refueling via wireless (Bearing x quantity), stores this information at the time of refueling, after the operator connects the reader (2) to the grease fitting (1) the system recognizes which bearing and the amount of grease to be filled. It also sends the signals to the automatic hand pump for correct bearing filling. The supply data is fed back with the flow sensor data.

[0020]

[0017] Item (4) presents the oval gear flow meter that is connected to the grease line and sends signals to the acquisition board (3).

[0021]

[0018] Item (5) represents the smartphone or any peripheral capable of registering (store) the TAG (1) establishing a wireless communication for visualization and system commands. Additionally, providing georeferenced location.

[0022]

[0019] The manual grease pump with automatic supply is indicated in item (6), has a capacity of up to 7kg of grease with automatic activation through signals sent by the acquisition boards (3).

[0023]

[0020] The lubrication management software is presented in item (7) and is capable of registering the bearings, with the data of location, amount of grease and frequency of supply. There are also history screens, service reports, work orders, among other features. This data is shared between the acquisition board (3) and the software (7).

[0024]

[0021] Item (8) represents the battery bank for powering the entire system.

[0025]

[0022] The (b) second lubrication management system for centralized supply systems, presents the system that was developed for online monitoring of lubrication points. The system is ideal for integration into centralized lubrication systems, between the end of the supply line and the bearing. This equipment ensures the amount of grease that is arriving at the bearing. The system comprises of oval gear flow meter (4) and a data acquisition board (3) that will collect the signals sent by the flow meter (4) and will send the data to the management software (7) on the local or cloud server. The entire system is powered by a battery (8).

[0026]

[0023] In item (1) represents the oval gear flow meter is connected to the grease line and sends signals to the acquisition board (2), where the acquisition board has the function of acquiring the signals in the flow meter (1), geographic location, storing data and sending to the software. The lubrication management software (3) is capable of registering the bearings, with location data, amount of grease and frequency of supply. There is also history screens, service reports, service orders, among other features. Item (4) represents the battery bank for powering the system.

[0027]

[0024] The technology has numerous advantages such as: detection of the bearing that is being lubricated via wireless TAG; detect the amount of grease to be applied to the bearing, control this amount of grease; record of which grease pump is being used; aids to detect if they have applied the grease correctly; registration of date, hour of application and operator; data storage; sending the information to a server (it can be in the cloud or local); information management software, alarm creation, history, lubrication route, lubricant consumption prediction in the timeline.

[0028] Drawings

[0029]

[0025] Figure 1 shows the first lubrication management system for manual filling systems containing a grease fitting (1) in which a wireless TAG with internal memory is integrated. All information from this system is read by a wireless reader by approximation (2) integrated into the grease coupler. The reader (2) is in turn connected to a data acquisition board (3) for processing, calculations, commands, storage and transmission / reception of data. To know the amount of grease the oval gear flow meter (4) is installed in the grease feed line and interconnected to the data acquisition board (3). The data acquisition board communicates with a smartphone (5), or any other equipment, via wireless protocol, which will be used to support the operator interface application. The acquisition board will activate or deactivate the automatic grease pump (6) via electric and / or wireless control. The acquisition board will also communicate wirelessly with the software (7) located on a local server or in the "cloud". The entire system being powered via battery (8).

[0030]

[0026] Figure 2 presents the second lubrication management system for centralized supply systems, which is designed for on-line monitoring of lubrication points. The system is comprised of oval gear flow meter (4) and a data acquisition board (3) which will collect the signals sent by the flow meter (4) and will send the data to the management software (7) on the local server or in the cloud. The entire system being powered by a battery (8).

Claims

CLAIMS1. LUBRICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, characterized by present two distinct stages, namely:(a) The first step for manual supply systems, which features a grease fitting (1) in which a wireless TAG with internal memory is integrated, wherein all information is read by a wireless reader (2) integrated into the grease coupler, this reader (2) is interconnected to a data acquisition board (3) and to know the amount of grease the oval gear flow meter (4) is installed in the grease supply line and interconnected to the data acquisition board (3), which communicates with a smartphone (5), or any other equipment, which will be used to support the interface application with the operator, this data acquisition board (3) will activate and turn off the automatic grease pump (6) via electric and / or wireless command and will also communicate with the software (7) located on a local server or in the "cloud", the entire system being powered via battery (8);(b) The second stage of the system is composed of oval gear flow meter (4) and a data acquisition board (3) which will collect the signals sent by the flow meter (4) and will send the data to the management software (7) on the local or cloud server, the whole system being powered by a battery (8).

2. LUBRICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, according to Claim 1, characterized by the grease fitting machine (1) being able to enable the supply of grease in the bearing, storing the bearing data, location, amount of grease required, date and time of the last filling.

3. LUBRICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, according to Claim 1, characterized by the acquisition of data (3) being for processing, calculations, commands, storage and transmission / reception of data.

4. LUBRICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized by the wireless reader integrated into the grease coupler (2) being a device capable of coupling to the grease fitting machine for grease supply and reading of the wireless TAG.

5. LUBRICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, according to Claim 1, characterized by the grease pump (6) being a manual pump with automatic supply with a capacity of 1 to 7kg of grease.

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