Textile Machine Oiler With Adjustable Air Throttle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile machine oilers, particularly those using compressed air, face challenges in controlling the lubricant dosage accurately, leading to either over- or under-lubrication, which can contaminate textiles and are inefficient in managing oil mist distribution to multiple lubrication points.

Innovation Solution

A textile machine oiler with a tank and atomizer device that includes an adjustable throttle to regulate compressed air access, maintaining a constant internal tank pressure, and an atomizer designed to produce a conical spray for uniform oil mist distribution, along with an oil supply system that ensures consistent oil flow and quality, regardless of the tank's fill level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If compressed air is used to generate oil mist and distribute it to multiple lubrication points, then lubrication coverage is improved, but control of lubricant dosage becomes difficult leading to over- or under-lubrication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication coverageVSAvoidlubricant dosage control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the pressure parameter of the compressed air by introducing a pressure regulator that maintains constant pressure in the compressed air cushion (e.g., 0.3 bar) regardless of the number of connected lubrication points. This pressure stabilization ensures consistent oil mist generation and dosage control across multiple outlets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure regulator provides feedback control by continuously monitoring and adjusting the compressed air pressure to maintain a setpoint value. This feedback mechanism ensures that pressure variations due to changing numbers of lubrication points are compensated, maintaining precise lubricant dosage control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of lubrication points varies, then adaptability is improved, but the composition of oil-air mixture becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of lubrication pointsVSAvoidoil-air mixture composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention stabilizes the composition parameter of the oil-air mixture by maintaining constant compressed air pressure in the cushion chamber. The pressure regulator ensures that despite variations in the number of connected lubrication points, the air pressure remains constant, thereby stabilizing the oil mist generation and overall mixture composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the compressed air supply system into a cushion chamber that decouples the pressure source from the variable demand of multiple lubrication points. This segmentation allows the cushion to buffer pressure variations, maintaining stable mixture composition regardless of how many outlets are active.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If compressed air pressure is reduced in the tank, then oil mist distribution is improved, but pressure control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil mist distributionVSAvoidpressure control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a pressure regulator as an intermediary device between the compressed air source and the cushion chamber. This regulator mediates the pressure control function, automatically maintaining the desired low pressure (e.g., 0.3 bar) in the tank without requiring complex manual control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure regulator provides self-service pressure control by automatically adjusting the compressed air supply to maintain the setpoint pressure in the cushion chamber. This eliminates the need for complex external control systems while ensuring consistent low pressure for optimal oil mist distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution ensures a consistent and controlled oil-air mixture is delivered to lubrication points, optimizing oil usage and reducing waste, while allowing for adjustment based on the number of active outputs, thereby improving lubrication efficiency and minimizing contamination risks.

Implementation Method 1

An atomizer device is provided in the tank for generating an oil mist, which is blown from the pressure cushion of the tank through connecting lines as an air-oil mixture to the lubrication points. The atomizing device contains an atomizing nozzle arrangement which sucks in oil from the oil supply and atomizes it by means of compressed air.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

The tank has an oil reservoir and a compressed air cushion above it. An atomizer device is provided in the tank for generating an oil mist, which is blown from the pressure cushion of the tank through connecting lines as an air-oil mixture to the lubrication points.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air cushion:

Implementation Method 3

The pressure building up in the compressed air cushion is the result of a flow balance between the air flowing out via the lubricant lines and the air flow fed into the tank. The setting device thus forms a control device which, when set correctly, keeps the internal tank pressure, i.e. the pressure of the compressed air cushion, at an almost constant value.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow balance:

Implementation Method 4

The jet pump assembly is preferably configured to produce an upwardly directed conical spray. This is directed towards the output connections, which are preferably arranged on a circular ring. The axis of the cone beam is preferably arranged concentrically to the circular ring.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet pump:

Data Source

PatentEP2307602B1Oiler for textile machines
Publication Date: 2012.09.12 MEMMINGER IRO GMBH
  • EP2307602B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2307602B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2307602B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a knitting machine oiler 1 comprising an adjusting device 40 by means of which the inlet of compressed air to the tank 5 thereof can be regulated. Simple adjustment to different numbers of connected lubrication points is thereby made possible. Air consumption can be significantly reduced by means of said simple action.