Progressive Lubricant Distributor Bypass Piston for Variable Outlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Progressive lubricant distributors face challenges in adapting to a variable number of lubrication points, leading to non-functional systems when lubrication points are removed, and suffer from lubricant accumulation and pressure imbalances due to the design of dummy pistons, resulting in reduced service life and precision.
Innovation Solution
A modular progressive distributor design with a housing block, metering pistons, and a dummy piston that permanently seals inlet and outlet bores while providing a bypass connection to maintain lubricant flow, ensuring efficient lubricant distribution and preventing accumulation, allowing for reconfiguration and extended service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dummy piston with an annular space is used to seal the inlet bore, then lubricant can be directed past the dummy piston to other bores, but lubricant accumulates in the region of the dummy piston and is not further transported, leading to system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic annular space from the dummy piston design. By eliminating this space where lubricant accumulates, the system prevents lubricant stagnation and the associated aging and blocking issues, thereby extending service life while maintaining reliability through alternative sealing and bypass mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different regions: the dummy piston provides sealing at the inlet bore location, while a separate bypass connection provides lubricant transport pathways. This local differentiation ensures that sealing and transport functions are optimized independently, preventing lubricant accumulation while maintaining system reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of outlets and distribution ratio are kept fixed in a block distributor, then the system structure remains simple, but the system cannot adapt to a smaller number of lubrication points, rendering it non-functional
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distributor system into modular components: individual piston bores that can be independently activated or deactivated, and a dummy piston mechanism that allows selective closure of inlet bores. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation to variable numbers of lubrication points without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The dummy piston serves multiple functions: it seals the inlet bore to prevent lubricant leakage, provides structural support, and enables the bypass connection for lubricant transport. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components when adapting the system to different lubrication point configurations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular design enables flexible adaptation to varying lubrication points, improves lubricant distribution precision, and extends the service life of the progressive distributor by preventing lubricant accumulation and pressure imbalances.
Implementation Method 1
includes at least one bypass connection that fluidically connects two of the connecting bores in order to direct lubricant past the dummy piston into the connecting bore leading to the next piston bore
Data Source
AI summary
A progressive distributor for lubricant includes a housing block having an inlet and a plurality of outlets and a plurality of metering pistons received in associated piston bores in the housing block. Each piston bore is associated with two lubricant outlet bores, and each metering piston is displaceable and configured to alternatingly release the one or the other lubricant outlet bore in order to dispense the metered lubricant amount to the lubricant outlet bore. The piston bores are fluidically connected to the lubricant inlet bore and to each other via connecting bores in order to transfer lubricant to the other piston bores. A dummy piston is disposed in one of the piston bores that permanently closes both the lubricant inlet bore and both lubricant outlet bores, and includes at least one bypass passageway that fluidically connects two of the connecting bores to each other.