Ultrasonically controllable grease dispensing tool

摘要

A lubrication dispensing apparatus for lubricating a device with moving parts includes a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant dispenser for dispensing lubricant from the lubricant reservoir, an ultrasonic detection module which detects the amplitude of ultrasonic energy emitted by said device when its parts are moving and produces an signal related thereto, and a control module which analyzes the amplitude of the signal from the ultrasonic detection module and, in response to a lubricate signal, causes the lubricant dispenser to automatically dispense lubricant onto the moving parts of the device until the signal from the ultrasonic detector indicates that the ultrasonic energy produced by the device has decreased to a particular level. The control module includes a programmed processor and a storage memory. The memory stores as a base value the value of the detected amplitude of ultrasonic energy when the device is operating properly. After receiving a signal to lubricate the device, the processor causes the dispenser to start the flow of lubricant to the device, compares the signal from the ultrasonic detection module when the parts are moving to the base value, and causes the dispenser to cease the flow of lubricant when the signal substantially decreases.

主权项

1. A handheld, lubrication dispensing apparatus for lubricating bearings of a machine with moving parts, comprising:
a lubrication dispensing device capable of dispensing lubrication upon receipt of a start signal and ceasing lubrication upon receipt of a stop signal; a lubrication flow sensor to measure an amount of lubrication dispensed from the dispensing device and output information related to the measured amount of lubrication dispensed as data; a database, the data from the lubrication flow sensor being stored in the database; an ultrasonic detection device which detects an amplitude of ultrasonic energy emitted by the machine when its parts are moving and produces a signal related thereto; a control module which analyzes the amplitude of the signal from the ultrasonic detection device and determines, in real time, a necessary amount of lubrication that needs to be dispensed in order to properly lubricate at least one of said bearings, said control module being configured to use the data from the lubrication flow sensor, to determine when the necessary amount of lubrication has been dispensed from the lubrication dispensing device to properly lubricate the machine, and to provide the stop signal to the lubrication dispensing device when the necessary amount has been dispensed.