Abstract: A flow measuring device for measuring flow of a fluid. A housing has a passage which extends between an inlet and an outlet. A shaft is disposed within the housing and is rotatable about a central axis. A flow detector is mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the passage. The flow detector includes a rotatable, generally cylindrical body that rotates about a central axis as the fluid flows. A magnet is mounted on the rotatable body or on the shaft, and is configured to rotate simultaneously with the body about the central axis. A sensor is disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the flow detector angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector.

Abstract: A bearing system includes a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving lubricant, a quantity of the lubricant in the free volume, a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter affecting a degradation rate at which the lubricant will degrade and to produce at least one output signal indicative of the measured at least one parameter, a pump for pumping lubricant into the bearing housing, and a controller configured to receive the at least one output signal from the sensor and to control the pump based a function of the received at least one output signal.

Abstract: A lubrication system vent valve includes a valve body having a flow passage with an inlet fluidly coupled with a supply and an outlet fluidly coupled with a dispenser, and a vent passage with an inlet port fluidly coupled with the flow passage and an outlet port. A closure element disposed within the vent passage has a threaded portion and is linearly displaceable between an open position where the vent ports are fluidly coupled to permit lubricant flow from the primary passage and out of the body through the vent outlet port, and a closed position at which fluid flow between the vent ports is substantially prevented. A motor has a shaft with a threaded portion engaged with the closure element such that shaft rotation in one direction displaces the closure element toward the closed position and shaft rotation in an opposing direction displaces the element toward the open position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for dispensing a lubricant are provided, in which, for example, the apparatus includes a chamber having an inlet through which the lubricant is received and an outlet through which the lubricant is ejected. The apparatus also includes a piston movably positioned in the chamber to take lubricant into the chamber and eject it therefrom. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to take a measurement of a condition related to a force applied to the piston to move the piston in the chamber. The apparatus additionally includes a controller coupled with the sensor so as to receive data related to the measurement from the sensor. The controller is configured to determine, using the measurement, an amount of lubricant ejected by the piston.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a housing having an interior cavity, an opening, and an inward facing seal mounting surface. The assembly includes a bearing and a shaft mounted in the bearing for rotation about a central axis. The assembly includes a seal positioned axially between the interior cavity and the exterior of the housing to inhibit contaminants from entering the housing and damaging the bearing. The seal has a bearing side, an opening side, and a gap surface facing a corresponding surface that is either an outward facing surface of the shaft or thee inward facing seal mounting surface of the housing. The gap surface is spaced from the corresponding surface by a clearance gap. The width of the clearance gap increases from the bearing side to the opening side to direct fluid in the clearance gap away from the interior cavity as the shaft rotates.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining lubrication flow dispensed to lubrication points. Lubricant delivery is determined based upon the difference between volume measurements detected as the lubricant is delivered to the lubrication points, and volume measurements detected as the lubricant is vented after delivery. A flow sensor in the lubricant supply line measures lubricant delivered and lubricant vented and a controller determines the amount dispensed based upon the difference between the delivered and vented measurements.

Abstract: A flow measuring device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet, a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis and a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed partially within the passage, such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the axis. A magnet is mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector and a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector. Preferably, the sensor includes a switch adjustable from open and closed states when either one of the poles of the magnet is proximal to the switch. A processor is connected with the switch and determines flow volume and/or flow rate through the passage.

Abstract: A compact lubricant injector is disclosed. The injector includes an injector body having an inlet for lubricant under pressure, an outlet, and a measuring chamber for receiving lubricant from the inlet. A piston is movable in the injector body along a first axis through a stroke in the measuring chamber for the discharge of a measured volume of lubricant from the measuring chamber and thence through the outlet. A valve is movable in the injector body along a second axis different from the first axis. The valve is responsive to pressure conditions in the inlet for operation of the injector in a cycles ending in a state for venting the injector to effect recharging of the measuring chamber involving the transmission of lubricant from the inlet to the measuring chamber. A combination of at least one such lubricant injector and a manifold is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control. Profiles drive the stepper motor at various speeds.

Abstract: A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft in a shaft opening, filling the free volume with the lubricant, providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state and a release state, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.

Abstract: A bearing system includes a bearing housing configured to house a bearing and enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant, a bearing, a pump configured to pump lubricant into the free volume, a shaft in an opening in the housing rotatably supported by the bearing, an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft that is repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which it substantially prevents lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which it allows lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft. The exclusion seal is caused to shift by increasing and decreasing a pressure in the bearing housing, and the system includes a controller configured to repeatedly shift the exclusion seal by raising and lowering the pressure in the free volume to continuously maintain a lubricating film between the exclusion seal and the shaft.

Abstract: A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving lubricant, providing a quantity of the lubricant in the free volume, and providing a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter affecting a degradation rate at which the lubricant will degrade and to produce at least one output signal indicative of the measured at least one parameter. The method also includes providing a pump for pumping lubricant into the bearing housing, providing a controller configured to receive the at least one output signal from the sensor and configured to control the pump based the received at least one output signal, and controlling the pump based on a function of the received at least one output signal.

Abstract: A bearing system includes a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving lubricant, a quantity of the lubricant in the free volume, a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter affecting a degradation rate at which the lubricant will degrade and to produce at least one output signal indicative of the measured at least one parameter, a pump for pumping lubricant into the bearing housing, and a controller configured to receive the at least one output signal from the sensor and to control the pump based a function of the received at least one output signal.

Abstract: An improved lance pump is disclosed for pumping a pumpable product, particularly lubricant including grease, from a lubricant supply. The pump comprises a head for placement above the supply, a tubular lance structure affixed to the head and extending down into the supply, and a pump tube inside the lance structure that is reciprocated up and down for pumping lubricant from the supply on both upstrokes and downstrokes of the tube. A ram at a lower end of the lance structure is positioned for forcing lubricant up into the tube and past an inlet check valve on a downstroke of the tube.

Abstract: A pump for pumping viscous liquid. The pump includes a body, an elongate core, and a tube surrounding the core. A stepper or servo motor mounted on the body has a selectively rotatable output shaft. A transmission operatively connecting the motor output shaft and the elongate tube reciprocates the tube between a raised position and a lowered position. An inlet check valve defining an expansible lower chamber is oriented to open during each downward pumping stroke so liquid enters the lower chamber. The pump includes a pump chamber and a feed passage connecting the lower chamber to the pump chamber. The passage has a check valve oriented to open during each upward stroke to deliver liquid from the lower chamber to the pump chamber. An outlet passage connected to the pump chamber permits liquid to flow from the pump chamber to an outlet on each upward and downward stroke.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication points via divider valves. A pump driven by a stepper motor to supplies lubricant at a varying rate which provides lubricant substantially uninterrupted at the lubrication point(s), and/or provides lubricant at a continuous non-constant flow rate which provides lubricant without interruption at the lubrication point(s), and/or provides lubricant at a constant flow rate which provides lubricant without interruption at the lubrication point(s).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control.

Abstract: A filtration device is disclosed. The device includes a filter inlet, a filter outlet, and a filter flow path from the filter inlet to the filter outlet. A filter in the filter flow path filters contaminants from lubricant flowing from a lubricant supply to a lubricant destination. A bypass flow path bypasses the filter in the event the filter becomes clogged. The bypass flow path has a bypass inlet in fluid communication with the filter flow path at a location upstream from the filter and a bypass outlet separate from the filter outlet and not in fluid communication with the filter outlet. The bypass outlet is normally closed to permit flow along the filter flow path and opens if the filter becomes clogged so that lubricant is directed along the bypass flow path and through the bypass outlet for disposal without going to the lubricant destination.

Abstract: A device for at least partially blocking an opening includes a first body, a second body rotatably mounted to the first body and a compressible seal extending from the first body. The seal includes a first portion, a plate having a hole at one end of the first portion, and a second portion extending away from the plate. A hollow shaft extends from the second body and through the first body, the first portion, the hole in the plate, and into the second portion. The shaft has a shoulder in the second portion that is wider than the hole in the plate, and moving the shaft relative to the first body compresses the second body until the shoulder reaches the plate and then compresses the first body. Such compression expands the first and/or second portions and presses them against the inside of the opening to form a seal.