Automatic lubricator

Abstract

An automatic lubricator using a magnetic reflection field plate is provided to thereby achieve a more stable and economic lubricator. The automatic lubricator includes an upper cover enclosed by and combined with a cover holder and a hollow lower cover on the lower end of which a lubrication hole is provided and in which a lubricant is filled, in which the upper cover and the lower cover are combined with each other to form a single body, and respective components for filling a lubricant into the body formed of the upper cover and the lower cover are assembled with a mutual association relationship. Here, a circuit board having a control circuit and a microprocessor for various controls and a movement assembly that transfers power with a driving manner using a magnetic reflection field plate, are mounted and assembled in the upper cover. A dry cell chamber accommodating a dry cell is provided in the upper end of the lower cover and between the upper cover and the lower cover. The movement assembly whose teeth are engaged with each other in operation and a rotational shaft are mutually connected in the middle of the lower cover which is the upper portion of the dry cell chamber. A piston that goes down according to rotation of the rotational shaft and lubricates a lubricant, is installed with a predetermined gap on the inner wall of the lower cover toward the lower portion of the dry cell chamber, and at the state of penetrating into and coupling with the rotational shaft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an automatic lubricator, and more particularly, to a more stable and economic automatic lubricator using a driving method using a magnetic reflection field plate instead of a driving method using a conventional mechanical motor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In general, an automatic lubricator is classified into a spring type lubricator, a gas pressure type lubricator, and a mechanical type lubricator solving the defects of the spring type lubricator and the gas pressure type lubricator, according to a type of pressing a piston.

[0005] Here, a spring type lubricator employs a basic principle based on an inhalation force according to elasticity of a spring and rotation of a bearing. Accordingly, a filling amount of a lubricant is varied in operation. In particular, a severe error occurs because of a mechanical vibration during high speed rotation. Also, when a lubricator is installed at a remote place, it is difficult to grasp a state where a lubricant is not well filled.

[0006] To solve the defect of the spring type lubricator, a gas pressure type automatic lubricator has appeared. However, this gas pressure type lubricator is also defective due to insufficiency of counter-measurement for the case where a lubricant is not filled.

[0007] That is, the gas pressure type lubricator is a chemical method that presses a piston with an expansion pressure of generated gas, and possesses a control device formed of an electronic circuit that is powered from a dry cell, in which hydrogen or nitrogen gas is produced through an electrolysis of a chemical material and used for expanding and pressing a piston.

[0008] Such a gas pressure type lubricator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,386 entitled “Lubricating apparatus” in 1987. FIG. 1 shows a control device in a conventional gas pressure type lubricator. The control device of FIG. 1 can be used at a wide range of temperature, and can be properly responded to a pressure change. However, a voltage between an electrolytic cell is continuously varied to thereby cause an inequal amount of gas produced.

[0009] meanwhile, to solve the defect of the gas pressure type lubricator, and fill a lubricant stably, an automatic lubricator is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 96-6420 entitled “Automatic lubricator” which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0010] The automatic lubricator of FIG. 2 includes a hollow housing 24 having a cover 21 that is threadedly engaged in the upper portion thereof, and a filling hole 22 that is penetrated in the lower portion thereof, in which a lubricant 23 is filled, a piston 25 internally inserted into the hollow housing 24, electrodes 30 and 31 installed on a barrier 26 inserted between the housing 24 and the cover 21 and partitioning the upper space of the piston 25 with a gas expansion chamber 27 and an electrolytic cell 28 filled with an electrolyte 29, and a control device controlling an operational power source of the electrodes 30 and 31 and outputting a warning signal when the pressure in the gas expansion chamber 27 increases over a predetermined value.

[0011] If a power switch SW101 is turned on through a control circuit shown in FIG. 3, power for a battery Ba is supplied to the electrodes 30 and 31 installed in the upper and lower ends of the electrolytic cell 28 via a pressure detection switch SW102.

[0012] Accordingly, the electrolyte 29 filled in the electrolytic cell 28 is electrically decomposed to then produce gas. The generated gas is filled in the gas expansion chamber 27, to then push down the piston 25, and fill a lubricant 23 filled in the housing 24 into the inner space of an engine via the filling hole 22.

[0013] Here, if one or more switch among a number of switches SW103-SW108 is turned on to then adjust an intensity of an electromotive force to be supplied to the electrodes 30 and 31, an amount of gas produced by electrolysis of the electrolyte 29 is adjusted and thus an amount of gas filled in the gas expansion chamber 27 is adjusted. Accordingly, an amount and time of a lubricant to be filled according to a drop of the piston 25 can be adjusted.

[0014] Also, when a pressure in the gas expansion chamber 27 is lower than a predetermined value (a normal value), the pressure detection switch SW102 is connected with a resistor R102, and thus power is supplied to a light emitting diode LED101 via the electrodes 30 and 31 and a capacitor C101, to notify a user of a normal operation state of the lubricator.

[0015] Here, a flickering interval of the light emitting diode LED101 is determined by a time constant of the resistor R102 and the capacitor C101.

[0016] However, when a pressure in the gas expansion chamber 27 is higher than a predetermined value, the pressure detection switch SW102 is connected with a resistor R103, and thus an electromotive force to be supplied to the electrodes 30 and 31 is blocked. Accordingly, no more gas is produced and the light emitting diode LED101 is flickered with a period differing from that when a normal operation state is notified by a time constant determined by the resistor R103 and the capacitor C101. As a result, a user is notified that a pressure in the gas expansion chamber 27 is higher than a predetermined value, to thus prevent the pressure in the gas expansion chamber 27 from increasing.

[0017] By the way, as described above, hydrogen and nitrogen gas that is generated via an electrolysis and expanded in the gas expansion chamber has no error in variation at a normal temperature condition. By a natural law, as temperature rises up, gas is expanded, while as temperature falls down, gas is contracted. As a result, an error of ±10-20% occurs according to features of a product. Also, a gas pressure type lubricator using gas generation always includes limitation of the technology due to instability of a designated lubricant filling speed.

[0018] Also, the conventional gas pressure type automatic lubricator cannot fill a lubricant when a transfer path of the lubricant including a filling hole is blocked with a foreign matter. Also, as time passes during performing an electrolysis, polarization of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell becomes severe to thus expose defects of change of a resistance in the electrolytic cell, and variation of an electrolysis speed in the electrolytic liquid according to temperature.

[0019] Further, an amount of gas is varied by change of a resistance in an electrolytic cell according to quality of a material of an electrode plate, and thus an amount of a lubricant is varied. Also, when a high electromotive force is supplied to the electrodes, and a lubricant is excessively filled due to an overreaction of the electrolyte, a mechanical mis-operation or unnecessary loss of the lubricant is brought due to an excessive lubricant filling stage because there is no safety device or warning device.

[0020] In addition, when filling of a lubricant is interrupted, mechanical components are broken and thus running of a factory stops in an extreme case.

[0021] Thus, a mechanical lubricant automatic lubricator has been developed to solve defects of the spring type lubricator and the gas pressure type lubricator.

[0022] Such a mechanical lubricant automatic lubricator is a lubricator which transfers a force to a piston at a ratio of reduction gears driven by a force of a motor using two through four batteries (1.5V), and reveals a stable lubricant filling speed in comparison with a gas pressure type lubricator using gas generation.

[0023] Also, the mechanical type lubricant automatic lubricator has an accurate discharging amount and period, and has features that components other than consumable components can be used semi-permanently.

[0024] The existing mechanical lubricant automatic lubricator using a motor driving method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,509,501 and 5,271,528.

[0025] Here, a conventional mechanical lubricant automatic lubricator will be described below with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,528.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4 through 7B, the mechanical lubricant automatic lubricator includes a body 100 and a base 200. The body 100 includes a circuit board 300, a current transformer 400, a motor 500, a reduction gear set 600, a rotational shaft 700, and a pusher 800.

[0027] The base 200 supports a lubricant pack 203, and an exit 201 through which a lubricant is supplied from a lubricant pack 203 and filled.

[0028] Also, the base 200 is made of a transparent material so that an amount of a lubricant remaining in the lubricant pack 203 is easily observed.

[0029] The base 200 is formed of a screw portion on the outer circumferential surface thereof in order to connect the body 100 with a nut 103.

[0030] Also, in order to replace the lubricant pack 203 with a new one, the nut 103 is loosened. Thus, the base 200 is removed from the body 100.

[0031] A gasket 104 is located between the base 200 and the body 100, in order to guarantee firm coupling.

[0032] A hollow hole 111 is formed on the upper portion of the body 100. An observatory glass 112 is assembled on the hollow hole 111.

[0033] An upper body 101 and a lower body 102 are formed and assembled in order to facilitate an assembly and a disassembly of the components in the body 100, to then be combined with each other by ultrasonic welding in order to form the body 100.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the circuit board 300 is located below the observatory glass 112 and has two layers of photosensitive switches 301 and 302.

[0035] Here, the photosensitive switch 301 adjusts an operational period of the motor 500 in order to control discharging of the lubricant, and the remaining photosensitive switch 302 controls an intermittent operational cycle of the motor 500 in order to fill the lubricant intermittently.

[0036] An operational switch 303 located beside the photosensitive switches 301 and 302 drives the motor 500 to make the pusher 800 reset and perform a reverse operation when the lubricant pack 203 is exhausted.

[0037] Also, two light emitting diodes 304 and 305 are used for indication of exhaust of the lubricant pack 203 and a normal operation of the lubricator, respectively.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the motor 500 is connected with one of two power sources, that is, an alternating-current power source where a current transformer 400 is contained in the body 100, or a direct-current power source where a plurality of dry cells 402 are contained in a dry cell chamber 401 formed in the body 100.

[0039] In particular, a dry cell chamber cover 403 is provided in order to make a user easily replace dry cells 402 by new ones.

[0040] The motor 500 is fixed to the lower body 102, and has an output shaft 501 engaged with an output gear 502.

[0041] The output gear 502 is engaged with a first gear 601 in the reduction gear set 600.

[0042] The rotational shaft 700 includes a shank 701 formed in the upper end thereof and a threaded portion formed in the lower end thereof.

[0043] The shank 701 is connected to a transmission gear 703 engaged with a final gear 602 in the reduction gear set 600.

[0044] A sleeve 105 is installed between the shank 701 and the lower body 102 to thus make the rotational shaft 700 easily rotate.

[0045] The pusher 800 includes a piston 802 and a piston rod 801.

[0046] The piston 802 has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the base 200 in order to make easy vertical displacement of the pusher 800, in the base 200, and thus air convection occurs in the base 200.

[0047] The piston 802 is provided with a head portion which is stepped concentrically in order to compress the lubricant pack 203 at an optimal compression concentration for maximum output.

[0048] The piston rod 801 is extended upwards from the center of the piston 802 and has an inner threaded portion having a small diameter in the upper portion thereof so as to be connected to the threaded portion of the rotational shaft 700.

[0049] In order to prevent the pusher 800 from rotating according to rotation of the rotational shaft 700, the piston rod 801 has a lengthy groove into which a positional element 106 extended from the lower body 102 is inserted.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the motor 500 is in operation, the motor 500 is decelerated by the reduction gear set 600. Thereafter, if the motor 500 operates, the motor 500 drives the rotational shaft 700 and the pusher 800 in order to compress the lubricant pack 203 to be displaced downwards, to thus compress and discharge the lubricant in the lubricant pack 203 via the exit 201.

[0051] In order to use the above-described automatic lubricator, the lubricant pack 203 is located in the base 200, and then the motor 500 is adjusted into an intermittent operational cycle in order to output the lubricant a predetermined amount of the lubricant at a predetermined interval.

[0052] If the lubricant pack 203 has been exhausted, the operational switch 303 is turned to make the motor 500 operate in a reverse direction for the upward displacement of the pusher 800 and the resetting of the pusher 800. By doing so, the base 200 can be removed from the body 100 so that the lubricant pack 203 can be replaced by a new one.

[0053] After replacement of the lubricant pack 203, the base 200 is fixed to the body 100 to resume an operation of the replaced lubricant pack.

[0054] The automatic lubricator can be used in all kinds of machines which require lubrication of a lubricant.

[0055] The gas pressure type lubricator using gas generation by the existing chemical or electrolytic technology has no variation errors at a normal temperature condition, but is sensitive to a rise or fall of the ambient temperature, to expose an error limitation of ±10-20% by the natural law.

[0056] Also, the mechanical type lubricator fills a lubricant intermittently one or two times per day, in the case that a discharging period is set to be long, for example, one year. Accordingly, the mechanical type lubricator has no uniform lubrication state in comparison with the gas pressure type lubricator which fills the lubricant continuously.

[0057] Also, since the conventional mechanical type automatic lubricator uses a motor and a lubricant pack, its structure becomes complicated and ist production cost is uneconomical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0058] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic lubricator using a driving method using a magnetic reflection field plate instead of a driving method using a conventional mechanical motor, in which the lubricator is supplied form a dry cell power source, and controlled to periodically fill the lubricant via a control circuit on a circuit board, and a magnetic gear is rotated under the control of the circuit board so as to drive a rotational shaft and a piston which are connected to the magnetic gear to thereby enable a more stable lubricant filling and save an economical cost.

[0059] It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic lubricator using a demultiplier in a microprocessor to drive a rotational shaft via a driving method using a magnetic reflection field plate, and using 7-segment light emitting diodes, to thereby enhance a high efficiency with only voltage and current of dry cells.

[0060] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided an automatic lubricator including an upper cover enclosed by and combined with a cover holder and a hollow lower cover on the lower end of which a lubrication hole is provided and in which a lubricant is filled, in which the upper cover and the lower cover are combined with each other to form a single body, and respective components for filling a lubricant into the body formed of the upper cover and the lower cover are assembled with a mutual association relationship. Here, a circuit board having a control circuit and a microprocessor for various controls and a movement assembly that transfers power with a driving manner using a magnetic reflection field plate, are mounted and assembled in the upper cover. A dry cell chamber accommodating a dry cell is provided in the upper end of the lower cover and between the upper cover and the lower cover. The movement assembly whose teeth are engaged with each other in operation and a rotational shaft are mutually connected in the middle of the lower cover which is the upper portion of the dry cell chamber. A piston that goes down according to rotation of the rotational shaft and lubricates a lubricant, is installed with a predetermined gap on the inner wall of the lower cover toward the lower portion of the dry cell chamber, and at the state of penetrating into and coupling with the rotational shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a control device in a conventional gas pressure type lubricator;

[0063] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional gas pressure type lubricator;

[0064] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a control device for controlling the operation of the conventional gas pressure type lubricator shown in FIG. 2;

[0065] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional mechanical lubricator;

[0066] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional mechanical lubricator;

[0067] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a dry cell chamber in a conventional mechanical lubricator;

[0068] FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views showing the state of using a conventional mechanical lubricator;

[0069] FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the inner structure of an automatic lubricator according to the present invention;

[0070] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an automatic lubricator according to the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the structure of a magnetic gear using a magnetic reflection field plate and a reduction gear set in a movement assembly that is used for an automatic lubricator according to the present invention;

[0072] FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the structure of the movement assembly that is used for an automatic lubricator according to the present invention; and

[0073] FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram that is applied to a circuit board in the automatic lubricator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0074] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or like elements are assigned with the same or like reference numerals.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the external appearance of an automatic lubricator according to the present invention has a single body structure in which an upper cover 2 surrounded by a cover holder 1 and a lower cover 3 provided with a filling hole 3a located in the lower end thereof, are combined with each other.

[0076] Here, it is preferable that the body formed by the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 is made of a transparent material or semi-transparent material in order to make a user easily grasp an amount of a lubricant filled in the body.

[0077] Also, it is preferable that the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are assembled firmly by a welding work, but they can be threadedly assembled with each other considering an assembly efficiency, or can be assembled in a one-touch manner.

[0078] As described above, respective components that fills the lubricant into the body composed of the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are assembled with a mutual association relationship, in the automatic lubricator.

[0079] That is, a number of components such as a piston 4, a rotational shaft 5, a dry cell chamber 7, a circuit board 9, and a movement assembly 10 are installed in the body composed of the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3.

[0080] The cover holder 1 plays a role of enclosing and protecting the upper cover 2. The cover holder 1 has an opening in the center of the upper surface thereof so that a dip switch (DIP S/W) 9b connected to a circuit board 9 to be described can be provided.

[0081] Light emitting diodes 9a, a circuit board 9 in which a control circuit for various controls and a microprocessor (not shown) are provided, and a movement assembly 10 for power transmission all of which are described later are mounted and assembled in the upper cover 2.

[0082] Also, the inner portion of the lower cover 3 plays a role of a hollow cylinder, in which a lubricant is filled in the inner portion of the hollow lower cover 3.

[0083] Also, a dry cell chamber 7 for accommodating dry cells 7a is provided in the upper end of the lower cover 3 between the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3.

[0084] Here, it is preferable that two through four dry cells 7a are accommodated in the dry cell chamber 7, and each dry cell is 1.5V.

[0085] Also, the movement assembly 10 that operates through tooth-engagement of gears to be described later is installed in the upper portion of the dry cell chamber 7, at the state of being connected with the rotational shaft 5. Also, the piston 4 that goes downwards according to rotation of the rotational shaft 5, and thus fills the lubricant, is penetrated into and combined with the rotational shaft 5 toward the lower portion of the dry cell chamber 7.

[0086] The rotational shaft 5 is formed of a screw-shaped shaft and plays a role of making the piston 4 going downwards. The rotational shaft 5 is connected from the center of the lower cover 3 to the axis of a final gear 15e of the movement assembly 10, and then is extended up to the very upper end of the filling hole 3a.

[0087] The filling hole 3a formed in the lower cover 3 is always open as a path for discharging the lubricant filled in the lower cover 3. However, at normal times, the filling hole 3a is designed in such a manner that the lubricant is not discharged through the filling hole 3a by viscosity of the lubricant.

[0088] Also, if the lubricant is pressed by the piston 4 that goes down, a predetermined amount of the lubricant is discharged through the filling hole 3a in proportion to the applied pressure. When the excessive pressure is applied to the piston 4 and the rotational shaft 5, the rotational shaft 5 in the lower cover 3 is designed so as not to be seceded from the center thereof.

[0089] Also, the piston 4 has a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the lower cover 3, in order to make the piston 4 perform vertical displacement along the rotational shaft 5 in the lower cover 3. An O-ring 15 is fitted into the outer circumferential surface of the piston 4 to enhance a sealing performance in order to prevent the lubricant from being discharged through the gap between the lower cover 3 and the piston 4, when the piston 4 goes down.

[0090] Meanwhile, a bearing 11 is fitted into a portion connecting with the rotational shaft 5 between the piston 4 and the dry cell chamber 7, for smooth rotation. A transmission 4a is fitted into a portion connecting between the piston 4 and the rotational shaft 5, and thus the piston 4 can go down along the rotational shaft 5 according to rotation of the rotational shaft 5.

[0091] That is, the transmission 4a is fixed to the piston 4. The piston 4 is combined with the rotational shaft 5 via the transmission 4a.

[0092] Of course, when the piston 4 goes down initially, the piston 4 is moved only if a driving force of the piston 4 is larger than a stationary frictional force, between the inner walls of the lower cover 3.

[0093] Also, a substantial down-movement of the piston 4 is very little so that it is difficult to identify the down-movement distance with the naked eyes in proportion to an amount of the lubricant since the daily filled lubricant amount is very little in the automatic lubricator.

[0094] Meanwhile, one of the essential features of the present invention resides in the movement assembly 10 that is installed to transmit power through rotation of the magnetic gear 14 using a magnetic reflection field plate in order to make the piston 4 go down according to rotation of the rotational shaft 5.

[0095] The movement assembly 10 is based on an application of a driving mechanism that drives a general watch, and has a structure of mutual tooth-engagement of a number of gears 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e. The movement assembly 10 uses rotation of the magnetic gear 14 using a magnetic reflection field plate in order to rotate a number of tooth-engaged gears.

[0096] A structure of the movement assembly 10 using rotation of the magnetic gear 14 using a magnetic reflection field plate will be described below. First, two iron-core plates 13 that are integrally arranged at an interval, a solenoid coil 12 wound around one side of the iron-core plates, and a magnetic gear 14 located in an unfolded form between the two iron-core plates 13, are provided in the movement assembly 10.

[0097] Here, the magnetic gear 14 is a gear where a magnet is integrated in the lower portion thereof, in which an N-pole and an S-pole are repeated more than once. As alternating current is periodically supplied to a solenoid coil 12, polarities formed in the iron-core plates 13 are varied. Accordingly, a repelling force or an attraction force is repeatedly applied between the magnetic gear 14 and the iron-core plates 13 so that the magnetic gear 14 rotates.

[0098] Also, a reduction gear set 15 in which a number of small or large gears 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e are sequentially connected in association with the magnetic gear 14, is included in the movement assembly 10.

[0099] The reduction gear set 15 is installed in a separate case 10a in order to prevent phenomena of sliding of the final gear 15e and bending of the shaft.

[0100] As described above, the mutual operations of the gears 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e forming the reduction gear set 15 in the movement assembly 10 are determined by rotation of the magnetic gear 14 that is influenced by induction current, resulting in rotation of the gears.

[0101] In other words, the rotation of the magnetic gear 14 is transmitted to a first reduction gear 15a in the reduction gear set 15 where a number of the small or large gears are sequentially connected as described above.

[0102] Also, a final gear 15e in the reduction gear set 15 is connected with the rotational shaft 5.

[0103] The operational process of the movement assembly 10 as constructed above will be described below. When current is supplied to the solenoid coil 12 from the dry cells 7a, induction current is formed to rotate the magnetic gear 14, and thus a number of gears 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e forming the reduction gear set 15 are rotated, to then rotate the rotational shaft 5 associated with the reduction gear set 15.

[0104] Here, the direct-current supplied from the dry cells 7a is converted into a periodic current pulse having an alternating current characteristic via a circuit structure of the circuit board 9, to then be supplied to the solenoid coil 12. In this manner, the magnetic gear 14 is rotated according to variation of polarities between the solenoid coil 12 having received the periodic current pulse and the iron-core plates 13. As a result, the reduction gear set 15 associated with the magnetic gear 14 is rotated to rotate the rotational shaft 5.

[0105] Of course, the driving of the gears 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e in the movement assembly 10 having the above-described structure is controlled by the circuitry structure of the circuit board 9.

[0106] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 12, the circuit board 9 includes a multi-switch, that is, an on/off switch, for switching a direct-current power to have an alternating-current characteristic.

[0107] As illustrated, the circuit according to the present invention includes resistors, LEDs, capacitors, multi-switch, etc.

[0108] In the above-described circuit structure, a normal voltage is 3V. Voltage of 3V is applied to each resistor connected with the multi-switch at a node of a resistor R1. Accordingly, a variety of pulse widths of a variety of waveforms per second are formed according to each resistance.

[0109] A basic example applied to a watch will be described. In the case of a watch, a pulse is generated per second. In the present invention, a pulse is not generated but various pulses having a variety of pulse widths are output, to thereby turn on LEDs.

[0110] Also, the multi-switch is applied in a micro-chip, and has a function of a microprocessor by using a crystal oscillator and capacitors.

[0111] As described above, the multi-switch is provided in the circuit board 9, so that the lubricant can be filled at a designated time by period. The multi-switch is a variable switch 9c which can adjust a pulse period of current by using a variable resistor. Also, a program is programmed into a microprocessor (not shown) to adjust a pulse period at a desired value, and automatically calculate and select periods of a variety of forms.

[0112] As described above, the variable switch 9c is a time adjustable multi-switch that selects a desired period, and uses a 7-segment LCD having a multi-type characteristic and a LED turning on/off control, to thereby supply various kinds of power and positively suppress an excessive power consumption.

[0113] That is, the variable switch 9c can be set in various forms of time, considering an amount of filling the lubricant by period such as one month, three months, six months or one year. Also, the variable switch 9c can be constructed to control an intermittent working cycle of the movement assembly 10 in order to fill the lubricant intermittently.

[0114] Also, a detection sensor (not shown) using a resistor is provided in the circuit board 9. The detection sensor is grounded with the axis of the final gear 15e in the reduction gear set 15 via a contact and detects whether the piston 4 does not go down or an overload is applied, at the state of being set to be a predetermined set value according to a pulse of current supplied to the movement assembly 10 via the resistor, to thus play a role of warning a user of an operational state.

[0115] For example, if a back pressure occurs toward the filling hole 3a and thus an overload is generated in the direction of the rotational shaft 5, the overload is transferred to the piston 4 via the lubricant. In this case, an operational state of the final gear 15e is detected by the force applied to the final gear 15e, to thereby output a warning signal.

[0116] Here, the signal detected by the detection sensor is sent to the light emitting diodes 9a provided in one side of the circuit board 9. Accordingly, the light emitting diodes 9a indicate an operational state of the automatic lubricator.

[0117] That is, the light emitting diodes 9a indicate whether the automatic lubricator normally operates, according to the signal obtained by detecting the operational state of the final gear 15e via the detection gear using the resistor provided in the circuit board 9.

[0118] Thus, in the case that a normal operation is not performed as described above, the light emitting diodes 9a indicate that the normal operation is not performed and a buzzer generating a warning sound can be installed in addition to the light emitting diodes 9a.

[0119] Meanwhile, the detection sensor can be a pressure detection micro-sensor of detecting an operational sensor that detects a variation in pressure of the lubricant according to operation of the piston 4.

[0120] The operational state of the automatic lubricator according to the present invention having the above-described structure will be described below.

[0121] First, when power is consistently supplied from dry cells 7a with two through four cells of 1.5V each, the direct-current of the dry cells 7a is converted into a periodic current pulse having an alternating-current characteristic according to manipulation of an on/off switch on the circuitstructure printed in the circuit board 9, and thus the periodic current pulse is supplied to the solenoid coil 12 installed in the movement assembly 10.

[0122] Here, the pulse period of the supplied current is varied according to a periodic setting condition of the variable switch 9c in the circuit board 9.

[0123] If a periodic current pulse is applied to the solenoid coil 12, a magnetic force line of an N-pole and an S-pole is produced on either side of the two iron-core plates 13. The magnetic force line causes a polarity change periodically on either side of the iron-core plates 13 due to the periodic current pulse, and applied to the magnetic gear 14 provided between the two iron-core plates 13.

[0124] Here, a repelling force and an attraction force are applied between the N-pole and the S-pole of the magnetic gear 14 and the N-pole and the S-pole on the magnetic force line that causes a polarity variation on the ends of the both sides of the iron-core plates 13.

[0125] Such an applied force rotates the magnetic gear 14. The first reduction gear 15a in the reduction gear set 15 engaged with the magnetic gear 14 is rotated according to rotation of the magnetic gear 14.

[0126] Also, the gears 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e in the reduction gear set 15 are sequentially rotated to rotate the final gear 15e. As a result, the rotational shaft 5 connected with the axis of the final gear 15e is rotated.

[0127] When the rotational shaft is rotated, the piston 4 connected to the rotational shaft 5 via the transmission 4a moves down along the rotational shaft 5. The lubricant located in the lower portion of the piston 4 is pressed according to down-movement of the piston 4, to thereby fill the lubricant via the filling hole 3a.

[0128] Here, if the filling hole 3a is blocked by foreign matter or a back pressure occurs at the side of the filling hole 3a at any reasons, the piston 4 cannot move down, and thus an overload is produced to make the final gear 15e stop.

[0129] In this state, the detection sensor detects whether an overload has been produced, and sends a detected signal to the light emitting diodes 9a to indicate an abnormal operational state.

[0130] Of course, when a buzzer generating a warning sound is installed, a warning sound is also output.

[0131] Meanwhile, the present invention uses a microprocessor, 7-segment diodes, and a liquid crystal display, to thereby enable an automatic calculation so that a lubricant filling function is achieved in various forms.

[0132] As described above, the automatic lubricator according to the present invention uses a driving method using a magnetic reflection field plate, not a mechanical motor driving method, in order to fill the lubricant automatically, and has a general mechanical characteristic for filling the lubricant smoothly irrespective of change in the ambient environment. As a result, the present invention provides an effect of solving a defect of filling the lubricant wrongly according to change in the ambient circumstances such as temperature, vibration, and pressure, which causes a main factor of imperfect gas generation which has been pointed out as the conventional gas pressure type automatic lubricator.

[0133] Also, the present invention is not influenced by rising and falling of the ambient temperature, and supplies power in correspondence to a pulse period via two through four dry cells of 1.5V each and a control circuit, to thereby solve an unstable lubricant filling speed perfectly.

[0134] Also, the present invention does not use a conventional mechanical lubricant filling motor nor a separate lubricant pack, but adopts a method of filling the lubricant directly by a force of a piston or spring, to thereby reduce the size and weight, make a convenient use, and save an economic cost.

[0135] Moreover, the present invention uses a magnetic reflection field plate, to bring a stable lubricant filling speed using a force of a reduction gear ratio, employs an overload detection sensor, to enable a user to speedily grasp a normal operation or failure to counter-measure the failure. Also, the present invention uses a multi-type variable switch to set a variety of lubricant filling times.

[0136] Also, the present invention uses a demultiplier in a microprocessor to drive a rotational shaft via a driving method using a magnetic reflection field plate, and using a 7-segment LCD, to thereby enhance a high efficiency with only voltage and current of dry cells.

[0137] The present invention is not limited in the above-described embodiments. It is apparent to one who is skilled in the art that there are many variations and modifications without departing off the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automatic lubricator comprising:

an upper cover enclosed by and combined with a cover holder; and

a hollow lower cover on the lower end of which a lubrication hole is provided and in which a lubricant is filled,

wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are combined with each other to form a single body, and respective components for filling a lubricant into the body formed of the upper cover and the lower cover are assembled with a mutual association relationship,

wherein a circuit board having a control circuit and a microprocessor for various controls and a movement assembly that transfers power with a driving manner using a magnetic reflection field plate, are mounted and assembled in the upper cover,

wherein a dry cell chamber accommodating a dry cell is provided in the upper end of the lower cover and between the upper cover and the lower cover,

wherein the movement assembly whose teeth are engaged with each other in operation and a rotational shaft are mutually connected in the middle of the lower cover which is the upper portion of the dry cell chamber, and

wherein a piston that goes down according to rotation of the rotational shaft and lubricates a lubricant, is installed with a predetermined gap on the inner wall of the lower cover toward the lower portion of the dry cell chamber, and at the state of penetrating into and coupling with the rotational shaft.

2. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is provided with a circuit including light emitting diodes, various detection sensors, a microprocessor, a 7-segment LCD, resistors, LEDs, capacitors, and a variable switch or multi-switch.

3. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein in the case of a driving method using a magnetic reflection field plate in the movement assembly, two iron-core plates that are integrally arranged at an interval, a solenoid coil wound around one side of the iron-core plates, and a magnetic gear located in an unfolded form between the two iron-core plates, are applied with current to generate induction current and rotate the magnetic gear by change in polarities, and

wherein a reduction gear set formed by tooth-engaging a number of gears in the movement assembly is linked according to rotation of the magnetic gear, to rotate the rotational shaft connected to the movement assembly to transmit power to the piston.

4. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein the rotational shaft is formed of a screw-shaped shaft and is connected from the center of the lower cover up to the very upper end of the filling hole,

wherein one end of the rotational shaft is connected to the final gear in the movement assembly, and is fitted into the piston via a transmission fixed in the piston to thereby make the piston going downwards along the rotational shaft, according to rotation of the rotational shaft.

5. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein the direct-current supplied from the dry cells to the movement assembly is converted into a periodic current pulse having an alternating current characteristic via a circuit structure of the circuit board.

6. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein a circuit provided in the circuit board adjusts a current pulse period via a variable resistor to enable a selective time setting by a variety of periods.

7. The automatic lubricator of claim 2, wherein the detection sensor provided in the circuit board detects whether the piston does not go down or an overload is applied, at the state of being set to be a predetermined set value according to a pulse of current supplied via a number of resistors, thus warning a user of an operational state.

8. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein when the excessive pressure is applied to the piston and the rotational shaft, the rotational shaft is suppressed so as not to be seceded from the center thereof, and the piston and the rotational shaft are assembled via the transmission and the screw-combination for smooth down-movement.

9. The automatic lubricator of claim 3, wherein the movement assembly is assembled in the case, and when the final gear is driven in the reduction gear set, and an excessive pressure is applied to the upper end of the rotational shaft driving the piston, phenomena of sliding or destruction of the final gear and bending of the axis of the final gear is easily suppressed.

10. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein a microprocessor provided in the circuit board adjusts a pulse period at a desired value, and automatically calculates and selects periods of a variety of forms.

11. The automatic lubricator of claim 2, wherein a microprocessor provided in the circuit board adjusts a pulse period at a desired value, and automatically calculates and selects periods of a variety of forms.

12. The automatic lubricator of claim 2, wherein the circuit board uses a 7-segment LCD having a multi-type characteristic and a LED turning on/off control, to thereby supply various kinds of power and positively suppress an excessive power consumption.

13. The automatic lubricator of claim 1, wherein a body including the upper cover and the lower cover is made of a transparent material or semi-transparent material to easily grasp an amount of the lubricant filled in the body.