METERING PUMP, ESPECIALLY FOR LUBRICANTS, WITH EXPANSION DRIVE, AND LUBRICANT RESERVOIR FOR SAID METERING PUMP AND LUBRICATION METHOD

摘要

The invention relates to a metering pump (1), especially for lubricants, and to a method for the long-term lubrication of a lubrication point (16) preferably over several years. Said metering pump (1) is provided with at least one metering piston driven by an actuator (5). In order to allow for as compact a design as possible, the actuator (5) comprises at least one heating element (8) and an expansion element (6, 7) heated by said heating element (8). The expansion element is heated up by energy supplied to the heating element and the expansion material expands, thereby displacing the metering piston (4). The invention also relates to a lubricant reservoir (18) that is fastened on the metering pump in an air-tight manner. The air-tight fastening avoids aging of the lubricant in the metering pump and allows for a continuous supply of the lubrication points (16) with lubricant beyond the actual shelf life of the lubricant.