DE102011076195B4 - Apparatus for monitoring water in a warehouse, in particular for monitoring water in a lubricant of the warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for monitoring water in a bearing, in particular water in a lubricant of a bearing, comprising a dimensionally stable receptacle (2), a measuring body (3) containing a super absorber arranged in the dimensionally stable receptacle (2) and a receptacle (2 ) of the measuring body (3) slidably guided disc (4), wherein on the receptacle (2) an opening (8) is provided, passes through the water to the superabsorber, and wherein the disc (4) connected to a slidably guided slide is.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device according to claim 1 for monitoring water in a warehouse, in particular water in a lubricant of the bearing, wherein the device comprises a superabsorber.

It is known from practice that water in a bearing, in particular water in the lubricant of a bearing, can be harmful.

Superabsorbents are known in practice which selectively store water, but other substances such as lubricants are not, and thus are suitable to reduce the water content in the bearing, in particular the lubricant of the bearing. The superabsorber can be, for example, a co-polymer based on acrylic acid and sodium acrylate, so-called core crosslinkers and surface crosslinkers being added. Furthermore, superabsorbers based on starch are known.

JP 2008-232 163 A (Abstract) describes a rolling bearing with a lubricant, wherein superabsorbers are arranged on the seal of the rolling bearing, which bear against the two bearing rings of the rolling bearing. The superabsorbent extracts water from the bearing, in particular the lubricant of the bearing. However, there is no suggestion to respond to a sudden collapse of water in the bearing in the event of failure of the seal. It is also not clear how the achievement of the maximum absorption capacity of the superabsorbent for water can be detected.

JP 2000-27575A (Abstract) describes a rolling bearing with a lubricant, wherein in the seal of the rolling bearing, a water-absorbing element is arranged with a superabsorber. Also in this case, the superabsorbent is a substantially passive element that absorbs water until its capacity is exhausted.

GB 1 499 551 A shows a combined cooling and lubricating device for a high-speed spindle bearing device for a spindle bearing. The spindle bearing device comprises sensors for condition monitoring and oil filters for oil preparation.

DE 20 2008 016 281 U1 shows a fuel filter with a superabsorbent, which leads a movable contact plate slidably in a receptacle. Thus, the water absorption can be monitored, the water can pass through openings to the superabsorbent.

JP 2010-164155 A (Abstract) shows a spindle bearing device with a cooling device, wherein a superabsorber is provided in the device to receive cooling liquid.

Object of the invention

It is the object of the invention to provide a substantially independently activating and operating device for monitoring water in a bearing, in particular water in the lubricant of the bearing.

Summary of the invention

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 for monitoring water in a warehouse, in particular water in a lubricant of a bearing, wherein the device is a dimensionally stable recording, arranged in the dimensionally stable recording measuring body containing a superabsorber, and a in the recording of the measuring body slidably guided disc comprises, wherein on the receptacle an opening is provided, passes through the water to the superabsorber.

If the superabsorber absorbs water in the measuring body, the volume of the superabsorber and of the measuring body increases so that the measuring body shifts the pane in the receptacle. The disc can then, for example, press a button or close a contact, so that an alarm is triggered. The inventive device acts as controlled by the water content in the superabsorber, essentially mechanical and independent actuator that allows the monitoring of the water in the camp, especially in the lubricant of the camp.

It is preferably provided that the dimensionally stable receptacle is formed as a tube. The measuring body with the water-absorbing superabsorbent expands within the hollow, specially hollow cylindrical body of the tube in the direction of the axis of the tube and thus in particular only in a single spatial direction.

It is preferably provided that the device comprises an electrical contact or pushbutton arranged in or on the receptacle, which can be actuated by the disk.

According to the invention, it is provided that the disc is connected to a displaceably guided slider, in particular a potentiometer. The position of the slide in the receptacle, in particular in the tube, is a rough measure of the water content in the superabsorber of the Measuring body and can be read visually, for example, so that a complex measuring sensors can be omitted. Specifically, it can be provided that the slide is displaceable only in one direction, upon expansion of the measuring body, but not in the opposite direction, upon shrinkage of the measuring body, when the superabsorbent emits water, so that the position of the slide in the receptacle, especially in the pipe, the maximum water content in the superabsorber at an earlier time than the reading time.

It is preferably provided that the disc is connected as an electrode. The disk is connected as an electrode of a capacitor, so that the position of the slider in the receptacle, especially in the tube, electronically easily detected.

It is preferably provided that a heating element, in particular a heating coil of a heating wire, is arranged in or on the receptacle. If the heating element is actuated, the superabsorber is heated in a targeted manner and partly releases the absorbed water, whereby a portion of the released water molecules gets out of the store and water is removed from the store. When water is being dispensed, the superabsorbent and thus the measuring body shrink so that the device can be provided for re-monitoring the bearing.

It is preferably provided that holes are provided on the wall of the receptacle, which are permeable to water. Water can pass through the holes from the measuring body with the superabsorber, in particular when the superabsorber is deliberately heated in the measuring body by a heating element.

It is preferably provided that the receptacle is arranged in a sleeve, wherein the sleeve comprises a supply line for air and a discharge. The water emerging from the superabsorbent enters the sleeve, no longer back into the bearing, and can be removed by ventilating the sleeve by means of the feed line or discharge from the sleeve.

As an alternative or in addition to an arrangement of the receptacle in a sleeve, it is preferably provided that a sleeve element is received in the measuring body, through-holes being provided in the wall of the sleeve element. The sleeve element can be surrounded on all sides by the material of the superabsorber, so that water, in particular as water vapor, can pass from the entire superabsorber through the through holes into the sleeve element and be removed from the superabsorber and thus indirectly from the bearing.

With regard to the sleeve element may preferably be provided that in the sleeve member, a heating element, in particular a heating element, is arranged. The heating element is thus arranged in the immediate vicinity of the superabsorber and can heat this particularly effective.

For effective removal of water vapor-containing air from the vicinity of the superabsorber is preferably provided that the sleeve member is in communication with an air line. In particular, the sleeve member may be formed as an end portion of the air line.

With regard to the sleeve is preferably provided that the sleeve is assigned a conveying element for air, in particular a fan. By means of the conveying element, the removal of water from the superabsorber and thus indirectly from the bearing can be adjusted and supported in a targeted manner.

Further advantages and features emerge from the dependent claims and from the following description of two preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

list of figures

• 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for monitoring water in a warehouse, in particular of water in a lubricant of the bearing, and
• 2 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention for monitoring water in a warehouse.

Detailed description of the drawing

1 shows a device for monitoring water in a bearing, not shown, namely a rolling bearing, in particular for monitoring the water content of a lubricant in the rolling bearing. The device is a compact unit 1 installed in a hole in one of the bearing rings of the rolling bearing.

The device or the unit 1 includes a dimensionally stable recording 2 , which is formed as a cylindrical tube, and consists of a plastic. In the form-stable recording 2 is a measuring body 3 arranged, which comprises a tubular, elastic, added with a superabsorbent material.

On the measuring body 3 is located approximately midway between the ends of the tube 2 , a disk 4 on, from the measuring body 3 along the axis of the pipe 2 is shifted when the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 Absorbs water and thereby the volume of the superabsorbent and the measuring body 3 increases. The disc 4 is doing through the inner surfaces of the tube 2 slidably guided. In the pipe 2 is still a button 5 arranged by the disc 4 can be pressed and thus operated, provided that the volume of the measuring body 3 has sufficiently expanded, the initial distance between the discs 4 and the button 5 to bridge. Will the button 5 from the measuring body 3 Pressed, ie depressed, an alarm is triggered indicating that a critical threshold of water has been exceeded in the store.

Between the button 5 and the disc 4 is a spring element 6 arranged, for example, a coil spring, which the disc 4 away from the button 5 applied, so that the disc 4 in the event that the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 Water gives off and the volume of the measuring body 3 shrinks, the contact between the disc 4 and the button 5 is ended. With the spring tension of the spring element 6 You can also set the threshold at which an alarm is triggered.

At a first end 7 the recording 2 is an opening 8th provided by the water, in particular water-containing lubricant, from the bearing interior to the superabsorber in the measuring body 3 so that the superabsorbent can absorb the water content. The opening 8th is through the mesh of a grid 9 formed, which is the open first end 7 of the pipe 2 only partially closes.

To form the opening 8th could in a modified training and through holes in the otherwise closed first end 7 the recording 2 be introduced.

A second end 10 of the pipe 2 is from a lid 11 closed, with the lid 11 of supply lines 12 is interspersed for electronic elements between the button 5 and the lid 11 within the recording 2 are arranged.

The trained as a hollow cylindrical tube recording 2 with the elements received within the tube forms a unit 13 , which is provided as a device for monitoring the water in the camp, in particular for monitoring the water in the lubricant of the bearing, and as a unit 11 is inserted into a cylindrical through hole in a bearing ring of the bearing, so that through the opening 8th at the first end 7 of the pipe 2 Water from the storage interior to the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 can get.

The illustrated unit 13 is inside a hollow cylindrical sleeve 14 recorded, such that the first end 7 and the second end 10 of the pipe 2 flush with the ends of the sleeve 14 to lock. The area between the ends 7 . 10 of the pipe 2 inside the sleeve 14 and the ends of the sleeve 14 is sealed airtight by a respective annular closure element, which is in the region of the first end 7 of the pipe 2 to the grid 9 adjoins and in the area of the second end 10 of the pipe 2 as an extension of the lid 10 is trained. Between the cylindrical outer surface 15 of the pipe 2 and one to this concentric cylindrical inner surface of the sleeve 14 becomes an air-filled annular gap 16 locked in.

On a surface 15 of the pipe 2 is a heating element 17 arranged that the pipe 2 in the area where the measuring body 3 surrounded with the superabsorbent surrounds; in particular, the heating element 17 designed as a heating coil of a heating wire whose energetic supply in the space between the button 5 and the lid 10 is included.

If the heating wire is energized, the superabsorber heats up in the measuring body 3 and releases water as water vapor, with the water vapor passing through holes 18 occurs in the wall of the hollow cylindrical body of the pipe 2 are arranged so that the water vapor is removed from the superabsorbent and indirectly also the bearing and into the annular gap 16 arrives. In the process, the measuring body previously expanded by the absorption of water shrinks 3 in a form of reduced volume, so that the unit 13 is available for further monitoring.

The sleeve 14 has at its otherwise tightly closed end a supply line 19 as well as a derivative 20 for air, so that provided as the exhaust duct annular gap 16 can be vented and the water vapor in the annular gap 16 Will get removed. The out of the sleeve 14 leading derivative 20 is a conveyor element 21 assigned for air, namely a fan, the water vapor-containing air from the annular gap acting as an exhaust duct 16 sucks to finally get the water out of the vicinity of the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 as well as to remove from the warehouse.

2 shows a second embodiment, wherein in the following description, the same reference numerals designate same or comparable in their technical effect characteristics. In particular, the differences from the first embodiment should be emphasized.

The device for monitoring water in a warehouse, not shown, in particular for monitoring water in a lubricant in the bearing comprises a dimensionally stable tube 2 trained recording in which a measuring body 3 is included, which contains a superabsorbent, namely the granules of a superabsorbent, wherein the measuring body 3 is elastically deformable and expands when the superabsorbent absorbs water. In the recording 2 is one of the measuring body 3 slidably guided disc 4 arranged a button 5 contacted and operated as soon as the volume of the measuring body 3 a minimum amount in the direction of the axis 22 the recording 2 has expanded.

On the wall of the recording 2 are holes 18 ' provided, as in the direction of the axis 22 extending narrow slots are formed, wherein the sectional plane of the representation of 2 placed so that exactly two slits are cut. Through the holes 18 ' Although water vapor from the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 leak out, the measuring body 3 but can not stretch significantly through the narrow slots.

In the measuring body 3 is a sleeve element 23 taken from a dimensionally stable material, wherein the sleeve member 23 the disc 4 penetrates and is surrounded on all sides by the material of the superabsorber. In particular, several sleeve elements 23 provided, for example, six or eight sleeve elements, which are equidistant from each other, the axis 22 the recording 2 surrounded, wherein one of the sleeve elements in 2 indicated by the reference numeral '23'. In the wall of the sleeve element 23 Through holes are provided through the water, especially as water vapor, from the material of the superabsorbent in the cavity of the sleeve member 23 can occur. In the cavity of the sleeve element 23 is a heating element 17 ' , namely a heating element, arranged, which controls the air in the cavity of the sleeve element 23 and thus that on the sleeve element 23 adjacent material of the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 heated, so by heating the heating element 17 ' the superabsorbent and thus indirectly the bearing water can be withdrawn.

The sleeve element 23 is connected to an air line 24 in connection and is in particular formed as an end portion of the air line 24, wherein the air line 24 part of a supply line 19 for ventilation. Through the air line 24 can water vapor-containing air from the recording 2 be discharged and thus the superabsorbent in the measuring body 3 permanently withdrawn. Here is a conveyor element 20 for air, for example, a fan or a pump, provided in a derivative 20 is arranged for the water-containing air. The supply line 19 as well as the derivative 20 are through a lid 11 led, who at a second end 10 the recording 2 is arranged and closes this.

In the embodiments described above, the disk was 4 in the tube 2 designed so that the disc 4 upon reaching a presettable volume of the measuring body 3 against the bias of a spring element 6 the button of a button 5 pressed, with the button 5 closes an electrical contact so that an alarm is triggered. It goes without saying that it is also possible to connect a sensor which, for example, determines the water content in the bearing or in the lubricant of the bearing by means of, for example, optical, especially spectroscopic, or electrical, especially resistance-based, measuring methods not only qualitatively, but quantitatively. The button 5 can also trigger a drive that sets the bearing in motion so that the heat generated during the movement allows the water in the bearing to evaporate specifically.

In the embodiments described above, the disk was 4 for a substantially purely mechanical triggering of the button 5 intended. It is understood that the disc 4 is connected to a slidably guided slide, in particular with a potentiometer, so that, for example, depending on the slide position, which can be detected electrically or visually, the sensor switched on or a possibly graded warning signal can be discontinued. It goes without saying that the disc 4 can be switched as an electrode to the position of the disc 4 inside the pipe 2 capture.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

unit

2

admission

3

measuring body

4

disc

5

button

6

spring element

7

first end

8th

opening

9

grid

10

second end

11

cover

12

leads

13

unit

14

shell

15

Surface of the pipe 2

16

annular gap

17, 17 '

heating element

18, 18 '

hole

19

supply

20

derivation

21

impeller

22

axis

23

sleeve member

Claims (13)

Apparatus for monitoring water in a warehouse, in particular water in a lubricant of a warehouse, comprising a dimensionally stable receptacle (2), a in the dimensionally stable receptacle (2) arranged measuring body (3) containing a superabsorbent, and a disc (4) displaceably guided in the receptacle (2) by the measuring body (3), wherein on the receptacle (2) an opening (8) is provided, passes through the water to the superabsorber, and wherein the disc (4) is connected to a slidably guided slide. Device after Claim 1 , characterized in that the dimensionally stable receptacle (2) is designed as a tube. Device after Claim 1 or 2 characterized by a in or on the receptacle (2) arranged electrical contact or button (5) which is actuated by the disc (4). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3 , wherein the slidably guided slider is a potentiometer. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the disc is connected as an electrode. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that in or on the receptacle (2) a heating element (17), in particular a heating coil of a heating wire, is arranged. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that on the wall of the receptacle (2) holes (18, 18 ') are provided, which are permeable to water. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7 , characterized in that the receptacle (2) in a sleeve (14) is arranged, wherein the sleeve (14) comprises a supply line (19) for air and a discharge (20). Device after Claim 8 , characterized in that the sleeve (14) is associated with a conveying element (21) for air, in particular a fan. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7 , characterized in that in the measuring body (3) has a sleeve member (23) is received, wherein in the wall of the sleeve member (23) through holes are provided. Device after Claim 10 , characterized in that in the sleeve member (23) a heating element (17 '), in particular a heating element, is arranged. Device after Claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the sleeve member (23) with an air line (24) is in communication. Bearing, in particular rolling bearing, comprising a device according to one of Claims 1 to 12 ,

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