Aerosol lubricating device, lubricating arrangement and lubricating method

Abstract

There is provided a lubricating device for a device to be lubricated having at least two friction members, wherein the lubricating device includes producing an oxygen-free aerosol of a liquid lubricant in a carrier fluid, and supplying the aerosol to the device to be lubricated. A method is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lubricating device ( 10 ) for a device ( 20 ) to be lubricated having at least two friction members ( 21 ,  22 ), comprising means ( 11 ) for producing an oxygen-free aerosol comprising a liquid lubricant and a carrier fluid, and means ( 12 ) for supplying the aerosol to the device to be lubricated, the supplying means coupled to and in communication with the device to be lubricated. 
     
     
         2 . The lubricating device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the producing means comprises a lubricant reservoir ( 13 ) for the liquid lubricant and a feed device ( 14 ) arranged in the lubricant reservoir for introducing the carrier fluid into the lubricant. 
     
     
         3 . A lubricating system ( 100 ), comprising a device ( 20 ) to be lubricated with at least two friction members ( 21 ,  22 ), and a lubricating device ( 10 ) coupled to and in communication with the device to be lubricated. 
     
     
         4 . The system ( 100 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the device ( 20 ) to be lubricated is constructed and arranged for a flow-through of an oxygen-free aerosol. 
     
     
         5 . The system ( 100 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the device ( 20 ) to be lubricated comprises outlet openings for release of any of the liquid lubricant, oxygen-free aerosol and gas. 
     
     
         6 . A method for lubricating a device ( 20 ) with at least two friction members ( 21 ,  22 ), comprising producing an oxygen-free aerosol including a liquid lubricant produced in a carrier fluid, and supplying the aerosol to the device. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and acetylene. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises a lubricant with an oil therein selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, mineral oil with polymeric additives, mineral oil with additives, and mineral oil with polymeric and other additives. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising adjusting characteristics of at least one of the liquid lubricant and the oxygen-free aerosol, the characteristics selected from the group consisting of temperature, viscosity, density and compressibility of the liquid lubricant and the oxygen-free aerosol. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising heating any of the liquid lubricant, the oxygen-free aerosol, and the carrier fluid for the oxygen-free aerosol.