Wind Turbine Lubricant Dispenser With Squeeze Refill Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The refilling of lubricant reservoirs in wind turbines is time- and cost-intensive due to the limited capacity of conventional pumps, requiring multiple lubricant containers and extensive manual effort, especially for offshore turbines where on-site services are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant dispenser with a carrier system that supports lubricant containers and features a squeeze mechanism, allowing for the rapid discharge of lubricant from the container into the reservoir through a flow connection, which can be actuated manually, electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically, enabling efficient transfer of at least 50% of the container's volume with a single action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an external pump is used to transfer lubricant from containers to the reservoir, then the lubricant transfer can be achieved, but the refilling process becomes time-consuming and requires multiple containers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pump from the system and replaces it with a direct mechanical squeezing mechanism. The lubricant container is designed with a squeezable body that directly forces lubricant out through its outlet, eliminating the need for an external pump and significantly reducing refilling time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a pump to pull lubricant from the container, the invention inverts the approach by using a squeezing mechanism to push lubricant out from the container directly. This reversal of the transfer mechanism eliminates the time-consuming pump operation.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple lubricant containers are used to fill the reservoir, then the reservoir capacity can be met, but the refilling process becomes more complex and requires more equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple lubricant containers into a single integrated reservoir structure. The reservoir itself is designed as a storagetank that can be directly filled, eliminating the need for multiple separate containers and the complex process of transferring lubricant between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir serves multiple functions: it acts as both the storage tank and the receiving vessel for lubricant transfer. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for separate transfer containers and reducing equipment complexity.
3Ease of operation
If conventional pumping equipment is used for refilling, then lubricant transfer is achieved, but the equipment required is complex and requires power supply connections
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant container is designed to be self-squeezing through its structural design. The squeezable body and outlet configuration allow the container to automatically discharge lubricant when pressure is applied, without requiring external power supply or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex electromechanical pump system with a simple mechanical squeezing mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for power supply connections, motors, and control electronics, significantly simplifying the equipment required for refilling.
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 lubricant dispenser significantly reduces the time required for refilling, potentially down to less than 1/10 of conventional methods, enhancing efficiency and reducing the complexity of equipment needed, while minimizing the risk of contamination and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The squeeze mechanism is configured such that if a lubricant container is disposed between the first and second supports, movement of the second support leads to the squeezing of the lubricant container so that the content of the lubricant container is discharged through the flow connection
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant dispenser for filling a lubricant reservoir of a wind turbine is provided. The lubricant dispenser includes a carrier configured to receive a lubricant container, wherein the carrier includes at least a first and second support for supporting a first and second end of the lubricant container and. The lubricant dispenser further includes a flow connection having a first end configured to be coupled to the lubricant container and a second end configured to be coupled to the lubricant reservoir, and a squeeze mechanism that is mechanically coupled to the second support and that is actuatable to move the second support towards the first support such that a lubricant container disposed between the first and second supports is squeezed, whereby the content of the lubricant container is discharged through the flow connection. A wind turbine lubrication system and method of refilling a wind turbine lubricant reservoir are provided.