Sistema de Lubrificação Hidropneumática Automática – Projeto Mecânico

Automatic Hydropneumatic Lubrication System – Mechanical Project

SYNOPSIS

Automation in the modern world is inevitable. Any automatic machine intended for the economic use of man, machine and material is worth more.

Lubrication is the lifeline for any industry. Machines in various industries such as textile, printing, machine tools, automobile industries and excavators must be lubricated to reduce the friction created between moving parts. If machines are not properly lubricated at regular intervals, they get stuck and incur huge losses. Bearings can wear out easily due to inadequate lubrication and thus reduce machine efficiency. Furthermore, lubrication combats corrosion by providing a protective film on the surface in question.

Machine manufacturers recommend lubricating several points at periodic intervals. The periodicity is in terms of machine hours in the case of machines and mileage in the case of automobiles. Lubrication of multiple points of machines is also a difficult task in industries where a larger number of machines have been installed and require lubrication, such as printing machines, excavators, textile machines, etc., where the number of points to be lubricated may vary from 40 to 50.

In the above cases, lubrications are not only a time-consuming process but also result in worker fatigue. The centralized automatic lubrication system is used for easy and economical multi-point lubrication from a centrally located distributor. It was designed to deliver the right amount of lubricant at the right time to each point through distributors connected by hoses.

INTRODUCTION

When two or more surfaces are in moving contact with each other, friction is created between them. Lubricants are used to reduce this friction. In the process, they also reduce wear caused by friction. Lubrication also combats corrosion by providing a protective film on the surface in question.

Automatic Hydropneumatic Lubrication System - Mechanical Project Automatic Hydropneumatic Lubrication System – Mechanical Project

In the early years of the industrial revolution, machine lubrication was anything but systematic. Lubricants were used haphazardly, particularly when friction began to wear out machines rather than preventing it from happening. But as increasingly sophisticated machines were developed, a whole range of lubricants were delivered to the surfaces in question, in quantities and at speeds appropriate to the situation.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

The operation of the lubrication system is as follows. Air from the atmosphere is drawn into the air compressor and compressed. The air compressor is driven by the engine. High pressure air is stored in the air tank. Our system incorporates a solenoid valve and an electronic timer. The timer can be set to operate at periodic time intervals. Whenever the timer is on, the solenoid valve is opened. Air from the air tank is now admitted to the rear end of the double acting cylinder. Now the compressed air pushed the pneumatic cylinder piston forward. This causes the distributor plunger to push the oil toward the distributor outlet. Thus, oil is supplied to various parts where the hoses are connected. The valve is a 5/2 solenoid valve that makes the pneumatic cylinder piston reach its position (left end) after one stroke. During the return stroke, a partial vacuum is created at the front end of the oil cylinder. To compensate for the vacuum, oil from the container enters the chamber.

During the piston's advancing stroke, the oil contained in the chamber is expelled under pressure. The pressurized lubricating oil is then delivered to the necessary points through distributors. Flow control valves are provided on each hose to vary the flow of oil to different parts.

Sequence (me)

When the solenoid valve is activated, air from the compressor enters the air cylinder and pushes the piston forward. This, in turn, pushes the piston into the oil cylinder.

Sequence (ii)

When the solenoid valve closes, air from the compressor to the air cylinder is expelled through the exhaust port of the solenoid valve. As the air cylinder has double action, the piston retraces its path which in turn pulls the piston in the oil cylinder, thus creating a vacuum in the oil cylinder. Then the oil from the reservoir is sucked into the cylinder to compensate for the partial vacuum.

Sequence (iii)

Again, when the valve opens, air from the compressor enters the cylinder and pushes the piston which in turn pushes the piston in the oil cylinder. The oil is pumped to the distributor from where it is taken to various parts to be lubricated.

FORMS

When any machine works, the moving parts come into contact with each other, giving rise to what is known as friction, which acts like a parasite sucking up or consuming most of the available energy. Therefore, to avoid or, in real terms, reduce friction, a suitable medium must be applied between them that minimizes metal-to-metal contact. Therefore, this medium, aptly called lubricant, must be provided between the moving parts. In addition to reducing friction, this lubricant also has the function of disciplining heat and cleaning parts, which is why lubricant is actually called the lifeblood of machinery.

When machinery is operated for a longer period of time, the need for lubricant arises, namely a lubricating oil with the correct viscosity, as the application requires, to be supplied continuously. This need is met by an auxiliary system for any machinery called a lubrication system. To lubricate machines, it is necessary to stop them from working, which reduces precious working hours and leads to production losses. Our lubrication system, i.e. automatic centralized lubrication, has been designed with the aim of eliminating the hassles of periodic manual lubrication, stopping machinery for lubrication, etc. It has the added advantage of serving multiple service points at the same time. This system can be adopted for any machines such as lathes, milling machines that require a constant supply of lubricant.

A miniature version of our system can also be used on heavy automobiles such as earthmoving trucks, etc., which until now require manual lubrication for their suspension, etc. Our system can work on the pneumatic compressor available in heavy-duty automobiles. A larger version of our system can be used in industries where machines require a constant supply of lubricant. This reduces constant manual supervision and reduces the need to shut down machinery for lubrication.

The service time for specific machines can be preset on a timer and the system automatically populates the service points on the machines. Furthermore, the system can be attached to heavy vehicles that require lubrication at regular mileage intervals. In this case, the stopwatch can be coupled to the odometer so that it is triggered when the meter readings coincide with predefined intervals. The system can be easily coupled to the compressor available in heavy vehicles.

BENEFITS

  • All points are lubricated simultaneously
  • The timer can also be used to lubricate the points at regular intervals
  • Labor requirement for this system is not necessary
  • Lubricant waste is eliminated
  • Even flow of lubricant to all parts
  • Lubrication nipples are replaced with small adapters
  • Wear of lubricating components due to inadequate maintenance is eliminated
  • As lubricant waste is avoided, lubrication costs are lower
  • Equipment such as lubricants are avoided, the cost of lubrication is lower.
  • Components can be lubricated even when the vehicle is in operation.

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