Rotating Swivel Unit With Automatic Central Lubrication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotating and/or swivel units on construction machines often lack regular lubrication, leading to wear and damage due to neglect or forgetfulness, disrupting operations.

Innovation Solution

A rotating and/or swivel unit with an integrated central lubricant supply system featuring an automatically actuated lubricant pump and reservoir, which ensures lubrication without external connections, activated upon unit operation or machine startup, distributing lubricant to various points as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual lubrication is used, then the structure remains simple, but lubrication reliability deteriorates due to neglect or forgetfulness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lubrication system automatically supplies lubricant to multiple lubrication points without requiring manual intervention. The control unit activates the lubricant pump based on operational conditions, enabling the system to service itself and eliminate human error in lubrication maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary lubrication actions before wear or damage occurs. The control unit monitors operational parameters and activates the pump in advance to ensure lubrication points are protected before critical wear happens, preventing rather than reacting to problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If an integrated automatic lubrication system is added, then lubrication reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lubricant pump serves multiple functions by supplying lubricant to numerous lubrication points through a distribution unit with multiple outlets. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate lubrication systems into a single integrated pump unit, managing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The distribution unit acts as an intermediary between the single lubricant pump and multiple lubrication points. It receives lubricant from one source and distributes it to numerous destinations, simplifying the system architecture by eliminating the need for multiple pumps while ensuring reliable delivery to all lubrication points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If external lubrication connections are required, then the lubrication system can be simpler, but adaptability deteriorates due to need for external connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependence from external systemsVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lubrication system extracts the lubricant supply function from external connections and integrates it within the rotating/swivel unit itself. The self-contained lubricant reservoir and pump assembly removes the dependency on external lubrication systems, allowing the unit to be independently lubricated regardless of external connection availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubrication system is segmented into a self-contained module within the rotating/swivel unit, separate from the construction machine's main lubrication system. This segmentation allows the lubrication function to operate independently with its own reservoir and pump, while the distribution unit manages multiple lubrication points through organized segmentation of lubricant delivery paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Ensures consistent lubrication of lubrication points, preventing wear and damage, enhancing operational reliability by eliminating the need for manual intervention and external connections.

Implementation Method 1

a central lubricant supply with an automatically actuated lubricant pump (29) provided with a lubricant reservoir (28)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pump mechanism: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP4613940A1Rotating and/or pivoting aggregate
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 OILQUICK DEUT KG
  • EP4613940A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4613940A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4613940A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a rotating and/or swiveling unit for attachment to a construction machine, which comprises a connecting part (1) and a carrier (6) movably arranged on the connecting part (1) for a tool or a quick-change device (8) for coupling a tool or attachment, wherein the carrier (6) is arranged on the connecting part (1) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (8) by a rotary drive (8) and/or tiltable about a swivel axis (3) by a swivel drive (4, 5). According to the invention, the rotating and/or swiveling unit has a central lubricant supply (27) with an automatically actuated lubricant pump (29) provided with a lubricant reservoir (28) for conveying a lubricant to different lubrication points (32).