Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a distribution system
utilizing oil droplets dispersed in air for lubricating bearing surfaces
as for example roller bearings, sliding surfaces, gears,
slideways, chains or similar mechanisms. In particular it
rclates to a distributor system which is not dependent on
gravity and reduces oil omissions into the atmosphere.
The prior art on lubrication systems is primarily
concerned with conveying oil in the form of a mist and
precipitating the oil from the mist near the bearing to be
lubricated. Although oil mist lubricators reduce the amount
of oil consumption there is a loss through the bearing seals
to the atmosphere. Gothberg, et al, U.S. 2,959,249 places local
constrictors so as to change the oil mist to a mixture of fluid
oil and air by precipitation. A precipitating nipple is used
so that the amounts of oil precipitated can be changed as
required by the bearings. ~ substantially high flow of the
oil mist is directed against a transverse stationary surface
to accomplish precipitation.
White, U.S. 3,665,684 is concerned with reclassi~ying
micro particles of oil from an oil mist to substantially eliminate
air pollution by such particles by use of a vacuum tank and pump
and filter unit.
Malone, U.S. 2,334,942 is basically concerned with
generating a continuous flow of oil mist, preferable bubbling
air or other gas through a body of the lubricant.
The surface tension of atomized microfine oil particles
is larger than the attraction force of the oil particles, so that
the microfine atomized oil is in a state which is comparable to a
~, gaseous condition of aggregation. The microfine atomized oil is
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in that state when conducted from the central atomizing appliance
to the different friction points and is recondensed in
corresponding nozzles in a manner as to form the droplet oil
liquid.
One drawback of this oil spray system is that it is
not possible to bring the oil spray completely back to the
drop-like state.
T'ne remaining oil sprav can thus cause an environmental pollution
!~ith environmental damages. Furthermore, atomized oil spray can
be transported only at very small distances, since the microfine
atomized aggregation condition of oil is maintained only as long
as the streaming remains laminary. When the streaming becomes
turbulent, the oil particles are propelled against each other to
unite and form big oil drops. In such a state no distribution
is possible and the oil flows back to the container tank. The
necessary small streaming velocity should be smaller than the
critical streaming velocity corresponding to the Reynold's
number, which necessitates relatively important cross-sections
of conduits.
In oil dispersed in a turbulent air stream, the action
of gravity provokes accumulation of the major part of the
lubricant at the lowest points of the distributing apparatus so
that distribution becomes dependent on location, which, for
example in the case of vehicles lubricating systems can have
negative consequences. Distributing devices with movable parts
have proven impractical. Separate air cyclones are likewise
impractical since the viscosity of lubricants varies within wide
limits. Lubricants, because of their widely variable viscosities,
~, are not compatible and the ratio between the air and the oil
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quantity varies depending on necessity. Location plays a
corresponding part. Thus it is accepted practice in a
lubricating system of a mixture of oil and air to add oil to
the air stream in a quantity corresponding to the location
of each separate friction point.
One object of the present invention is to provide a
novel distributor system for oil-air lubrication free of oil
mist and having improved efficiency.
Another object of this invention is to provide such
a system which is essentially independent of gravity so as to
be effective regardless of the spacial orientation of the
distributor mechanism.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will
be apparent from the description and claims which follow taken
together with the appended drawings.
Summary of Invention
The lubricating system of the present invention com-
prises essentially utilizing lubricant held in the form of
droplets in a carrier medium and dividing such lubricant into at
least two separate outlet streams. The inward stream is broken
up into a plurality of intermediate currents with one group
of intermediate currents discharging into each of the outlet
streams. Each group of intermediate currents is alternated
or interlaced with the other group to compensate for the
gravitational force. In a preferred form the inward stream is
received by two groups of intermediate current ducts radially
arranged with every second intermediate duct discharging into
one outward stream, the other ducts into a second outward
stream.
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One feature of this invention is subdivision Gf the
lubricant between the inlet stream and the outlet streams in a
plurality of intermediate streams. With subdivision of an
inlet stream into two outlet streams the inlet stream can, for
examp].e, be first subdivided into eight intermediate streams,
~our of which are recombined into one outlet and the other four
into a second outlet stream. Thus, each time two of the
intermediate streams penetrate at the hottom of the inlet
channel, two other pairs of intermediate streams penetrate at
two opposite side walls of the inlet channel, and the fourth
two intermediate streams penetrate at the top side of the same.
The intermediate streams branch off therefore in four different
directions namely, in the bottorn, at the two opposite side walls
and at the top. Then an intermediate stream from the bottom,
from the opposite sides and from the top are conducted together
into one outlet stream, while the four remaining intermediate
streams are conducted to another outlet stream. In this manner
each outlet stream is connected to four intermediate streams,
wlth different spatial directions of preference, at the passage
points from the inlet stream and the intermediate streams.
Distribution becomes independent of position, because the
gravity acts on the oil drops in the same manner in each position.
The invention is not limited to the above described
example; a subdivision with more than two outlet channels is
possible, and a substantially larger number of intermediate
streams can be used than has been described.
Movable parts are unnecessary. A further advantage
in this system is that the ratio between the carrier and the
lubricant remains constant. Moreover, the invention is
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independent of the viscosit~ of the lubricant. It can be
used throughout the wide span from the thinnest to the highly
viscous lubricants.
Further, the lubricant, for example, the oil remains
ll.quLd, when sprayed onto the bearings. There is thus no oil
mist and the process is therefore envlronmentally clean. More-
over, the ratio of carrier-lubricant can be adjusted according
to the necessities at the central lubricating station. In
comparison with the mist oil system, higher transportation
velocities, can be used which result in smaller cross-sections
of conduits~ As compared with distribution systems including
movable parts, the procedure according to the invention operates
without wear.
Another characteristic of the invention is provision
that the outlet channels have different cross-sections. Still
another feature of the invention is that the openings of the
lntermediate channels in the inlet channel are uniformly
distributed in a radial manner about an imaginary middle axis
of the channel, ard that adjacent intermediate channels are
connected to different outlets. The fact that the outflow ducts
may be provided with throttle adjustments may be regarded as a
further distinguishing characteristic of the invention. By
means of these throttle adjustments, various different
arrangements may be made for the distribution of flow. If, for
example, the throttle is in the form of a diaphragm and the diaphragm openings
are of equal siæe, the flow is divided equally. However,
if the openlngs are of different sizes, the proportional division
of the flow varies directly as the ratios of the cross-sectional
areas of the openings to one another.
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It may be regarded as a further distinguishing
characteristic of the invention that the inflow duct has
internal denticulation, ~he intermediate ducts being formed
by the insertion into the inf]ow duct of toothed wheels with
a number of teeth different from that of the internal
denticulation. The gaps thus formed and distributed around
the entire circumference of the denticulate area create the
intermediate ducts, which then are linked in groups with the
outflow ducts.
In summary of the above, therefore, the present-
invention may be broadly described as providing a distribution
system for conducting a mixture of oil droplets and air to
surfaces to be lubricated, comprising a main inward flow duct
connected to a source of oil droplets dispersed in air, and
at least one distributor unit connected to the inlet duct;
the distributor unit including a baffle means containing at
least two alternately and symmetrically spaced groups of
conduits connectlng with the inlet duct; each groups of conduits
leading to a separate outlet channel.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic description of a number of
distributors connected together.
Fig. 2 is a large-scale cross section of a distributor
corresponding to Iine II-II in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional drawing corresponding to
line III-III in Fig. 2.
Specific Examples of Invention
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated
therein a distributor system made in accordance with this
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invention. From a central mechanism (not shown), an air-oil
mix in which the oil is held in the form of droplets rather
than in a fine mist is introduced in a turbulent air current
throuyh duct 1 in the direction of arrow A. Duct 1 has
severa]. dis~ributors (2, 3, 4...) attached, to which branch
duets 5, 6 and 7 are connected. Further distributors (8, 16,
9, 10, 11) are connected to the branch ducts. From these
distributors, the air-oi.l mix, designated as 12, is conveyed
to frietion and lubrieation points, which may be roller beds, .
slideways, sliding surfaces, gears, chains or similar mechanisms,
and which same are shown schematically on Figure 1. The branch
duets leading to frietion points are designated with No. 13,
as to those leading from distributor 8; and Nos. 14 and 15,
as to those leading from distributor 16.
Distributor 16 is shown sehematieally on an enlarged
seale on Figures 2 and 3, and deseribed ln detail below. Duet
5 forms lnternally an inflow ehannel, designated 17, for inflow
of oil droplets in a turbulent air eurrent in the direetion of
arrow B. Inward f].ow stream duet 17 is elosed off by gear 18.
Around the internal eireumferenee of duet 17, a total of 10
intermediate duets are distributed radially; these are numbered
19-28. Duets 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 lead together into outflow
duet 29, through whieh the air-oil mixture is eonveyed to the
frietion point in the direetion of arrow C. The duets
interspersed between those identified above, namely 20, 22, 24,
26 and 28, lead into a ring-shaped duet numbered 30, whieh
subsequently leads into duet 31, from whieh the air-oil mixture
exits in the direetion of arrow D. Even in the event that
beeause of gravitational foree a majority of the oil droplets
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in inflow B concentrate in the lower part of the inward flow
stream duct, the flow is nevertheless divided equally between
outward flow streams C and D, since both streams are fed by
the same number of intermediate ducts having equivalent
positional advantages. A change in the spatial orientation
of the distributor does not affect this distribution. Thus,
the influence of gravity on distribution in the event of a
change in spatial orientation is more effectively precluded
as the number of intermediate ducts is increased. Outward flow
stream ducts 29 and 31 are provided with throttle adjustments
32 and 33, respectively, which adjustments allow changes to
be made in the cross-sectional area of the outflow ducts.
This makes possible a wide range of variations in the distribution
arrangement. If, for example, a throttle opening has a radius
of 0.1 mm, the equivalent cross-sectional area is 0.0314 mm2.
If the throttle opening ln another outward flow stream channel
measures 0.2 mm, the equivalent cross-sectional area is 0.1256 mm2
or 4 tlmes the cross-sectional area of the other channel
(assuming that, unlike those shown on the drawings, the cross-
sectional areas of the outflow ducts are of equal size). An
aperture radius of 1 mm gives 100 times the cross-sectional
area of a radius of 0.1 mm.
Naturally, it is also possible to use the carrier
medium simultaneously as a working medium.
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