Substitution of a valve seat for improving a lubricator pump unit and lubrication system of a large slow-running two- stroke engine, and an improved lubricator pump unit

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for improving a lubricator pump unit for a lubrication system in a large slow-running two-stroke engine. An existing lubrication system is modified for longer lifetime without leakage. For example, the large slow- running two-stroke engine is a marine engine or a large engine in power plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to the focus of on environmental protection, efforts are on-going with respect reduction of emissions from marine engines. This also involves the steady optimiza- tion of lubrication systems for such engines, especially due to increased competition. One of the economic aspects with increased attention is a reduction of oil consump tion, not only because of environmental protection but also because this is a signifi cant part of the operational costs of ships.

A lubrication system for marine engines is disclosed in German patent document DE19743955B4 and equivalent Danish patent DK173288B1. It discloses a lubrication system in which a central controller feeds lubricant to a lubricator for each cylinder of the marine engine. The lubricator distributes lubricant to a plurality of lubricant injec tors distributed around the circumference of the cylinder. The lubricator comprises a housing in which a plurality of piston pumps are arranged around a circle and driven synchronous in common by a hydraulic driven actuator piston. Each of the piston pumps comprises an injection plunger that is pumping lubricant through a non-return valve to one of the injectors of a single cylinder. The hydraulic driven actuator piston is moving over an adjustable distance between its stationary rearward end stop and a forward end stop that is adjustable by an adjusting screw. For turning the adjusting screw, it is accessible at an end cap that covers a flange of the housing, through which the adjusting screw extends. In connection with injection of compact jets of lubricant into marine engine cylinders and also for lubricant quills onto the piston between the piston rings, this system has gained widespread distribution and is marketed under the trade name Alpha Lubrica- tor pump unit by the company MAN B&W Diesel and Turbo. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a lubricator pump unit for an Alpha lubrication sys- tem as it is found on the Internet page

http://www.mariness.co.kr/02_business/Doosan%20Retrofit%2 0Service.pdf7PHPSES

SID=fd56da9de6eaca2flf4465l2e84fcf69. The drawing is slightly modified with additional reference numbers in order to explain the principle in more detail. For simplicity, the lubricator pump unit for an Alpha lu- brication system as marketed by MAN B&W Diesel and Turbo is called an“Alpha Lubricator” in the following. This term is in agreement with the normally used termi nology in the technical field of marine engines and in agreement with related publica- tions on the Internet and in technical literature.

Similar to the above mentioned DE19743955B4 and DK173288B1, the Alpha Lubri cator 100 comprises a metal housing 101 in which a plurality of injection plungers 119 are arranged one a circle and driven synchronous in common by a hydraulic driven actuator piston 123. Each injection plunger 119 is arranged slidingly in a dosing chan nel 115 receiving lubricant from an internal volume 114 of the housing 101 through an inlet aperture 113. The inlet aperture 113 is closed by the injection plunger 119 during forward motion of the injection plunger 119 so that further forward motion by the in jection plunger 119 pressurizes the received lubricant in the remaining part of the dos- ing channel 115 and pumps it through a non-return valve 102 into a pipe 103 and to one of the injectors of a single cylinder. During retraction of the actuator piston 123, caused by the pre-stressed spring 109, the injection plunger 119 is retracted, and vac uum created in the dosing channel 115, until the forward end of the injection plunger 119 is retracted past the inlet aperture 113 and lubricant can flow through the inlet aperture 113 and refill the dosing channel 115.

The volume of lubricant pressurized by the injection plunger 119 in the dosing chan- nel 115 and expelled through the non-return valve 102 is defined by the travel distance of the injection plunger 119 from the inlet aperture 113 to the most forward position before retraction. During the movement of the actuator piston 123 over the stroke length, the first part of the movement of the injection plunger 119 past the inlet aper ture 113, and only once the injection plunger 119 has moved past the inlet aperture 113 and closed it, the lubricant is pressurised and expelled from the remaining dosing channel distance.

The hydraulic driven actuator piston 123 is moving over an adjustable distance be tween its stationary rearward end stop 104 and a forward end stop 105 that is adjusta- ble by an adjusting screw. For turning the adjusting screw 121, it is accessible at an end cap 106 that covers a flange 107 of the housing 101, through which the adjusting screw 121 extends. The flange 107 in the Alpha Lubricator 100 supports the spacer 122 and contains a threading 110 for adjustment of the adjusting screw 121. The re ciprocal actuator piston 123 is driven by oscillating oil pressure in the volume 108 behind the actuator piston 123, where a solenoid valve 116 shifts between two pres sure levels in this volume 108 behind the actuator piston 123. Once, the lower pres sure level is reached, a spring 109 load presses the actuator piston 123 back to the rear end stop. The solenoid valve 116 is regulated by corresponding signals from a control unit.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a spacer 122 for basic settings of the pump stroke is provid ed in the 107 flange behind the end cap 106, at which the head of the adjusting screw 121 is accessible for adjustment by rotation. The Alpha Lubricator is different relatively the above mentioned patents DE19743955B4 and DK173288B1 in that a capacitive feedback sensor 120 is used to verify a sufficiently long stroke length of the hydraulic actuator. This feedback sensor 120 is also illustrated in FIG 1. As shown, the hydraulic actuator piston comprises two circumferential grooves 111, and the feedback sensor 120 gives a confirmation signal of proper lubrication to the central controller if the stroke of the hydraulic actuator piston 123 is long enough for the second groove 111 to move pass the feedback sensor 120. When the first and second grooves 111 pass by the feedback sensor 120, the feedback sensor 120 creates a double-pulsed signal which the central controller takes as confirmation of proper lubrication. If only one the first groove 111 passes by the feedback sensor 120, the corresponding single-pulsed signal from the feedback sensor 120 indicates to the central controller general functioning of the feed- back sensor 120 and movement of the actuator piston 123 over at least a small dis tance but not sufficient movement of the actuator piston 123 for proper lubrication. If the feedback sensor 120 is giving any signal, a warning message is provided by the controller that the stroke was not measured as long enough for proper lubrication.

The non-return valve 102 is provided inside a valve-chamber 102’ and is build up tra- ditionally by comprising a valve-member, in this case a spherical valve-member, pre- stressed against a valve-seat by a spring. The lubricant in the dosing channel 115 dis places the spherical valve-member against the pre-stressing force of the helical spring once the lubricant pressure rises above a predetermined limit where the force created by the pressurised lubricant is above the pre-stressed force. Once opened, the non return valve 102 gives passage to the pipe 103 for lubricant flow to the injector as long as the pressure is at the increased state in the injection phase. When the oil pressure in the dosing channel 115 decreases below the predetermined limit, the non-return valve 102 closes again for the idle phase and stays closed until the next injection phase.

It has been found that the lubrication system for marine engines with the Alpha-type lubricator is not satisfactory after a relatively short time of functioning. As the entire system including the Alpha Lubricator is relatively expensive and long-term reliability is generally requested, it would be desirable to extend proper functioning over a long er time span. DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the invention to provide an improvement in the art. A particular objective is to provide a method for improving a lubrication system with a lubricator of the type as described above, especially an Alpha lubrication system with an Alpha Lubricator.

The term“lubricator” is used herein for a lubricator pump unit that pressurizes and doses the lubricant for the lubricant injectors in the corresponding large slow-running two-stroke engine, typically fuelled with diesel or gas fuel. The lubricator and its function are explained in detail below with reference to the Alpha Lubricator as an example, which was described above with reference to FIG. 1.

The term“injection phase” is used for the time during which lubricant is injected into the cylinder by an injector. The term“idle phase” is used for the time between injec- tion phases. The term“injection-cycle” is used for the time it takes to start an injection sequence and until the next injection sequence starts, an injection sequence typically involving all lubricant injectors in each injection sequence. For example, the injection sequence comprises a single injection by each injector, in which case the injection- cycle is measured from the start of the injection phase to the start of the next injection phase. The term“timing” of the injection is used for the adjustment of the start of the injection phase by the injector relatively to a specific position of the piston inside the cylinder.

For intervals stated as between a first value and a second value, the end points are optionally included.

Surface roughness is expressed as the arithmetic average roughness value Ra.

Thorough study of the problem with the relatively short lifetime of the Alpha lubrica tion system has revealed that the reduced performance is due to leakage from the non return valve in the Alpha Lubricator. This is surprising, as it is not a component that is generally believed to face degradation problems after relatively short function. In studies, it has been found that the on-return valve leaked already after 1 million cy- cles. Although, 1 million cycles may appear as a large number at first sight, this is not so in practice, as it may correspond to less than the time lapse between subsequent maintenance stops of the engine.

Especially, if the Alpha Lubricator is used for lubricant injection at elevated pressure, the problem is more pronounced

The recognition that the problem was due to leakage in the non-return valve of the Alpha Lubricator was a very useful finding in that the functioning of the entire lubri cation system had the potential for improvement by modifying only a relatively small component, namely the non-return valve of the used lubricator.

From the recognition of the problem of the leakage, a technical solution was not straightforward. Especially, a mere exchange of the lubricator would not only be an expensive solution but also limit the functioning to only a further 1 million lubricant injection cycles. It was therefore an additional objective to provide an upgrade to the Alpha Lubricator.

This objective was achieved by substituting the lubricator valve-seat in the valve- chamber by an insert valve-seat that has a higher dimensional precision. Examples of higher precision are lower surface roughness and precise circular symmetry.

The term lubricator valve seat is used for the valve seat that comes standard with the lubricator, and the term insert valve seat is used for a valve seat that is part of a insert inserted into the valve camber of the lubricator.

In experiments, it has been recognized that increased precision, especially reduction of the surface roughness of the valve seat has significant impact on the lifetime and tightness of the non-return valve, more than doubling the lifetime, which is probably due to tighter contact between the valve member and the valve seat and more even wear. For example, it is advantageous to provide the insert valve seat with a surface rough ness of less than 12.5pm, optionally less than 6.3pm or less than l .6pm. Optionally, the surface roughness is in the range of 12.5 to 0.8pm, 16.3 to 0.8pm, or 1.6 to 0.8pm.

For example, the insert valve seat has a concave surface. A useful concave surface is a part-spherical shape where the valve follows a part of a sphere.

However, an insert valve seat with a conical shape is also possible.

As a further option, the insert valve seat has convex shape. An example is a convex valve seat that is shaped as a circular-symmetric torus, for example with an elliptical or circular cross section. If also the valve member is convex, for example spherical, the valve member and the toroidal valve seat have a mutual ring of contact which is very narrow due to the tangential contact. A narrow ring of contact is also obtained between such torus and a conical valve member.

After modification, a valve member is loaded into the valve chamber for tightening against the valve seat along a circular ring after modification of the valve seat.

For example, the insert valve seat has concave shape with a first radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is measured orthogonal to the insert valve seat. The term“orthogonal to the insert valve seat” is to be understood as orthogonal to the plane containing the ring of contact between the valve seat and the valve member.

Optionally, the insert valve seat has a first radius of curvature that is not less than a second radius of curvature of a convex valve member, typically ball member, which is closing the valve by being pre-stressed against the valve seat.

For example, the valve member is the same as the one that was inside the valve cham ber prior to modification. Alternatively, a new valve member is loaded, for example having a different size and or shape. A typical valve member is of spherical shape so that the valve is a non-return ball valve. Typically, the valve member is made of metal, for example steel. Alternatively, the valve member is made of polymer or ceramics.

In some embodiments, the radius of curvature for the valve seat is the same or approx- imately the same as the valve member. In other embodiments, the radius of curvature for the valve seat is larger, for example within 5-50% larger, than the radius of curva- ture of the valve member, for example ball member. In this case, the curvature of the valve seat is sufficient to guide the curved valve member to rest centrally on the valve seat. However, due the different curvatures, the ring of contact between the convex surface of the valve member and the concave surface of the valve seat is relatively thin, which is an advantage for good tightness and quick response of the non-return valve.

For example, the thickness of the ring-formed contact surface between the valve member and the valve seat is in the range of 0.01 to 0.5 mm, optionally in the range of 0.05 and 0.5 mm or in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, if the valve seat has a diameter of 3 to 10 mm. In terms of an angular span in the polar angle, this corresponds roughly to 0.1 to 10 degrees. In some practical embodiments, a useful polar contact angle is in the range of 0.1 to 5 degrees. For example, the contact surface between the valve member and the valve seat has an area in the range of 0.1 mm2 to 2 mm2.

Typically, the valve member is 30-100% larger than the inner diameter of the valve seat. For example, of the inner diameter of the valve seat is 3 mm, the ball member is in the range of 4-6 mm in diameter. For example, the inner diameter of the valve seat is approximately equal to the diameter of the conduit which is upstream of the valve seat and closed by the non-return valve.

In the case of the radius of curvature of the modified concave valve seat being larger that the radius of curvature of the convex valve member, there is no requirement for precision of the radius of curvatures between the valve seat and the valve member. This makes the modification process relatively simple. The lack of constraint of the valve seat and the valve member having the same radius of curvature also allows other concave shapes for the valve seat, for example ellipsoi- dal, parabolic, or hyperbolic. It is even possible to use a conical shape.

For the long lifetime, however, it is advantageous that the valve seat is circular sym metric. For example, the circular symmetry varies by less than 0.2 mm, for example less than 0.1 mm, when measured across the valve seat.

In some embodiments, the valve-seat in the valve-chamber is modified from a non- spherical shape into a shape that is part-spherical. The part-spherical valve-seat re sembles the surface of a spherical segment, also called a spherical frustum. In the fol lowing, a valve-seat with such shape is called a part-spherical valve-seat.

Optionally, in order to improve the system further, a further non-return valve is added to the lubricator such that a double valve system is provided. A double valve system improves the tightness and longevity of the system. For example, a further non-return valve is added in series to the non-return valve of the insert.

Such additional non-return valve is potentially attached to the lubricator housing at the lubricant exit. Optionally, the further non-return valve comprises a part-spherical valve-seat.

Alternatively, the insert is provided with a double valve system comprising two serial ly arranged insert valve seats for two serially arranged non-return valves.

In some embodiments, the two insert valve seats have the same dimensions. Optional ly also the cooperating valve members have the same size and shape.

Alternatively, the two insert valve seats arranged serially as an upstream insert valve seat and a downstream insert valve seat have different dimensions. For example, the upstream insert valve seat is smaller than the downstream valve seat. Corresponding ly, the upstream valve member on the upstream insert valve seat is smaller than the downstream valve member on the downstream insert valve seat. Optionally, the pre stressing of the upstream valve member against the upstream insert valve seat is done by a spring resting against the downstream valve member, which in turn is pre- stressed against the downstream insert valve seat by a further and stronger spring in order for the further spring to provide sufficient force for pre-stressing both valve members against their respective seats.

Typically, the insert is made of metal, for example steel. Options include precision working of a solid piece of metal. Other options are moulding the metal insert and potentially providing a final precision working after moulding in order to obtain a high dimensional precision.

Alternatively, the insert is made of ceramics.

However, polymer inserts are also possible, for example moulded polymer, optionally containing a reinforcement material, for example powders or fibers. A further option is three-dimensional printing of inserts. Optionally, the moulded or printed inserts are precision- worked after printing in order to obtain a high dimensional precision.

Examples of working techniques are electrical discharge machining, drilling, milling, welding, grinding, polishing, etching, plating, or electrolytic machining. The list is not exclusive.

Even possible is a production of a metal insert with an insert valve seat as a raw struc- ture, which is then deformed by a deformation member hammered or pressed onto the seat, where the deformation member is formed as a mirror template. This technique has been used in experiments on a lubricator seat, which improved longevity, which is explained in more detail below.

For example, the method comprises operating the lubricator in the lubrication system for at least 100,000 lubrication injection cycles prior to the modification, and operat- ing the lubrication system with the lubricator and the modified non-return valve after the modification.

However, the modification is potentially made before a new lubricator, such as the above mentioned Alpha lubricator, starts its operation. In more detail, a concrete embodiment of the lubrication system is explained in the following.

The lubrication system provides lubricant to injectors for lubricating the cylinder or cylinders in a large slow-running two-stroke engine engine, for example a marine en gine or a large engine in power plants. Typically, the engine is burning diesel or gas fuel. The engine comprises one or more cylinders, each with a reciprocal piston inside and with a plurality of lubricant injectors distributed along a perimeter of the cylinder for injection of lubricant into the cylinder at various positions on the perimeter during injection phases.

The lubrication system comprises a lubricator that is pipe-connected to each injector by a lubricant feed conduit, for example one feed conduit for each injector, for provid- ing pressurized lubricant to each injector though the lubricant feed conduit during the injection phases.

The lubricator is of the type that comprises a housing, typically metal housing, in which a hydraulic-driven actuator piston is arranged reciprocal with a stroke length along a stroke direction. Optionally, the lubricator further comprises a stroke length adjustment mechanism configured for variably adjusting the stroke length of the recip- rocal hydraulic-driven actuator piston between a minimum stroke length and a maxi- mum stroke length.

The lubricator further comprises a plurality of injection plungers slidingly arranged in corresponding dosing channels, wherein the injection plungers are coupled to the ac- tuator piston in order to be moved by the actuator piston and for pressurizing lubricant in the dosing channels during this movement. When the actuator piston is moved over the stroke length, the injector plungers are moved over a corresponding length. The movement the injection plungers inside the dosing channel pressurizes the lubricant in the dosing channel while the injection plungers move over a dosing channel distance, where the dosing channel distance defines the volume of lubricant in a pumping action expelled from the dosing channel during the injection phase through a non-return valve and through the feed conduit to the injector for injection of the lubricant into the engine cylinder. For example, the dosing channel distance is equal to or less than the stroke length. This depends on the configuration. Optionally, the dosing channel distance is adjusta- ble between a minimum dosing channel distance and a maximum dosing channel dis tance corresponding to the actuator piston’s variable stroke length between the mini mum stroke length and the maximum stroke length.

The lubricator also comprises a valve, typically electrical valve, arranged for causing switch between hydraulic pressure levels that are acting on the actuator piston in order to hydraulically drive the actuator piston reciprocally by the switching pressure levels. Typically, the actuator piston is pre-stressed against the rear end stop by a helical spring.

In some concrete embodiments, the lubricator receives high pressure oil for driving the actuator piston, and the valve switches between

a) access of the pressurized oil to the actuator piston in the injection phase and b) connection between the actuator piston and a drain for drainage of oil from the ac- tuator piston between injection phases.

The lubrication system further comprises a controller that controls the switching of the valve. In the case of an electrical valve, the controller is electrically connected to the electrical valve for controlling the timing of the switching for the injection phases by corresponding electrical signals transmitted from the controller to the electrical valve. Alternatively, the controller operates a high pressure valve upstream of the lubricator in order to provide switching of the high pressure oil for driving the actuator piston.

According to the above objective, the lubrication system is improved by modifying the non-return valve of the lubricator such that the valve-seat, typically metal valve seat, in the valve-chamber is improved, typically after a certain time of operation, but possibly also prior to start of operation while the lubricator is still new. The final tech nical solution turned out to be a simple modification of existing lubricators at relative ly low cost, nevertheless solving the short-life problem of lubrication systems.

For clarification, it is pointed out that the term“injector” is used for an injection valve system comprising an injector housing having a lubricant inlet port, flow-connected to the lubricant feed conduit for receiving lubricant from it for injection into the cylinder. The injector further comprises one single injection nozzle with a nozzle aperture as a lubricant outlet that extends into the cylinder for injecting lubricant from the inlet port into the cylinder in the injection phase. Although, the injector has a single nozzle that extends into the cylinder through the cylinder wall, when the injector is properly mounted, the nozzle itself, optionally, has more than a single aperture. For example, nozzles with multiple apertures are disclosed in WO2012/126480.

For example, each of the injectors comprises an outlet-valve system at the nozzle con figured for opening for flow of lubricant to the nozzle aperture during an injection phase upon pressure rise above a predetermined limit at the outlet-valve system and for closing the outlet-valve system after the injection phase. The outlet-valve system closes off for back-pressure from the cylinder and also prevents lubricant to enter the cylinder unless the outlet-valve is open. For example, the outlet-valve system com prises an outlet non-return valve. In the outlet non-return valve, the outlet-valve- member, for example a ball, ellipsoid, plate, or cylinder, is pre-stressed against an outlet-valve-seat by an outlet-valve spring. Upon provision of pressurised lubricant in a flow chamber upstream of the outlet-valve system, the pre-stressed force of the spring is counteracted by the lubricant pressure, and if the pressure is higher than the spring force, the outlet-valve-member is displaced from its outlet- valve- seat, and the outlet non-return valve opens for injection of lubricant through the nozzle aperture into the cylinder. For example, the outlet-valve spring acts on the valve-member in a direction away from the nozzle aperture, although, an opposite movement is also pos sible.

For example, the central controller comprises a computer or is connected by an elec tronic wired or wireless connection to a computer, where the computer is of the type that is configured for monitoring parameters for the actual state and motion of the en gine, such that the amount and timing of the lubricant injection is controlled on the basis of the parameters.

Optionally, the injectors are SIP injectors configured to provide a mist of lubricant into the scavenging air of the cylinders. A spray of atomized droplets, also called mist of oil, is important in SIP lubrication, where the sprays of lubricant are repeatedly injected by the injectors into the scavenging air inside the cylinder prior to the piston passing the injectors in its movement towards the TDC. In the scavenging air, the at- omized droplets are diffused and distributed onto the cylinder wall, as they are trans- ported in a direction towards the TDC due to a swirling motion of the scavenging air towards the TDC. Examples of such injectors for SIP injection are disclosed in WO2012/126473 and WO2014/048438. Additional options for SIP injectors with electrical valves are found in Danish patent applications DK2017 70936 and DK2017 70940. For example, the injectors comprise a nozzle with a nozzle aperture of between 0.1 and 1 mm, for example between 0.2 and 0.5mm, and are configured for ejecting a spray of atomized droplets, which is also called a mist of oil. The atomization of the spray is due to highly pressurized lubricant in the lubricant injector at the nozzle. The pressure from the lubricator is higher than 10 bar, typically between 20 bar and 120 bar for this high pressure injection. An example is an interval of between 30 and 100 bar. Another example is an interval of between 60 and 120 bar, for example between 60 and 100 bar. The injection time is short, typically in the order of 5-30 milliseconds (msec). However, the injection time can be adjusted to 1 msec or even less than 1 msec, for example down to 0.1 msec.

In the case of SIP injection, the lubricator is operated with the correspondingly neces- sary parameters, especially the pressure intervals. For example, the method comprises operating the lubrication system with the modified lubricator at a lubricant pressure in the range of 20-100 bar in combination with SIP injectors, injection a mist of atom ized droplets of lubricant by the SIP injectors into swirling scavenging air inside the engine cylinder and distributing the droplets onto the cylinder wall during transport of the droplets by swirling motion towards the top dead centre, TDC, of the cylinder.

Also, the viscosity influences the atomization. Lubricants used in marine engines, typ ically, have a typical kinematic viscosity of about 220 cSt at 40°C and 20 cSt at l00°C, which translates into a dynamic viscosity of between 202 and 37 mPa-s. An example of a useful lubricant is the high performance, marine diesel engine cylinder oil ExxonMobil® Mobilgard™ 560VS. Other lubricants useful for marine engines are other Mobilgard™ oils as well as Castrol® Cyltech oils. Commonly used lubricants for marine engines have largely identical viscosity profiles in the range of 40-l00°C and are all useful for atomization, for example when having a nozzle aperture diame- ter of 0.1-0.8 mm, and the lubricant has a pressure of 30-80 bar at the aperture and a temperature in the region of 30-l00°C or 40-l00°C. See also, the published article on this subject by Rathesan Ravendran, Peter Jensen, Jesper de Claville Christiansen, Benny Endelt, Erik Appel Jensen, (2017) "Rheological behaviour of lubrication oils used in two-stroke marine engines", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 69 Issue: 5, pp.750-753, https://doi.org/l0.H08/ILT-03-20l6-0075.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where FIG. l is a reproduction of a drawing of an Alpha controller s published on the Inter net site

http://www.mariness.co.kr/02_business/Doosan%20Retrofit%20Se rvice.pdf? PHP SES SID=fd56da9de6eaca2f 1 f446512e84fcf69

FIG. 2 is a sketch of part of a cylinder in an engine with a lubrication system;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a lubricator for modification;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a lubricator prior to modification;

FIG. 5 show microscope images of a valve seat of an Alpha Lubricator, in which a) a new valve contains metal fringes,

b) a new valve seat has edges, and

c) a used valve seat shows uneven wear;

FIG. 6 shows measurements of performance of a lubricator before modification after a) 3850 injection cycles and b) 1 million cycles;

FIG. 7 shows measurements of performance of a modified lubricator after 2 million injection cycles;

FIG. 8 illustrates an insert with a substituting valve seat;

FIG. 9 illustrates an insert with a double valve system;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a practical embodiments of an insert;

FIG. 11 illustrates an insert inside the lubricator, where a) is an overview image, and b) illustrates the insert in greater detail in enlarged view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION / PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a reproduction of a drawing of an Alpha controller s published on the Inter net site

http://www.mariness.co.kr/02_business/Doosan%20Retrofit%2 0Service.pdf7PFlPSES SID=fd56da9de6eaca2flf4465l2e84fcf69.

For the method as described herein, this drawing of the Alpha Lubricator serves as example for a concrete embodiment of a lubricator that is modified. Accordingly, the explanation as given in the introduction applies for the explanation of the modification equally well.

FIG. 2 illustrates one half of a cylinder of a large slow-running two-stroke engine, for example marine diesel engine. The cylinder 1 comprises a cylinder liner 2 on the inner side of the cylinder wall 3. Inside the cylinder wall 3, there are provided a plurality of injectors 4 for injection of lubricant into the cylinder 1.

As illustrated, the injectors 4 are distributed along a circle with the same angular dis tance between adjacent injectors 4, although this is not strictly necessary. Also, the arrangement along a circle is not necessary, seeing that an arrangement with axially shifted injectors is also possible, for example every second injector shifted towards the piston’s top dead centre (TDC) relatively to a neighbouring injector.

As illustrated, the injectors 4 receive pressurised lubrication oil from a lubricator 11 through lubrication supply lines 9. The supplied oil is typically heated to a specific temperature, for example 50-60 degrees. The lubricator 11 supplies pressurised lubri cation oil to the injectors 4 in precisely timed pulses, synchronised with the piston motion in the cylinder 1 of the engine. The injection by the lubricator 11 is controlled by a controller 12. For the synchronisation, the controller 12 monitors parameters for the actual state and motion of the engine, including speed, load, and position of the crankshaft, as the latter reveals the position of the pistons in the cylinders. Each of the injectors 4 has a nozzle 5 with a nozzle aperture 5’ from which lubricant is ejected under high pressure into the cylinder 1, for example in the form of a compact jet or as a fine atomized spray 8 with miniature droplets 7 for SIP injection.

For example for SIP injection, the nozzle aperture has a diameter of between 0.1 and 0.8 mm, such as between 0.2 and 0.5 mm, which at high pressure atomizes the lubri cant into a fine spray 8, which is in contrast to a compact jet of lubricant. Pressures are above 10 bar, for example in the range 10-120 bar, optionally 20 to 120 bar or 20 to 100 bar, 30 to 80 bar, or 50 to 80 bar, or 60 to 120 bar, or even at higher pressure than 120 bar, The swirl 10 of the scavenging air in the cylinder 1 transports and presses the spray 8 against the cylinder liner 2 such that an even distribution of lubrication oil on the cylinder liner 2 is achieved.

Optionally, the cylinder liner 2 is provided with free outs 6 for providing adequate space for the spray 8 or jet from the injector 4.

The lubricator 11 is connected to a supply conduit 14 for receiving lubricant from a lubricant supply 15, including an oil pump, and a return conduit 13 for return of lubri cant, typically to an oil reservoir, optionally for recirculation of lubricant. The lubri cant pressure in the supply conduit 14 is higher than the pressure in the return conduit 13, for example at least two times higher. The lubricant supply conduit 14 is also used for supplying lubricant for lubrication in addition to driving the actuator piston in the lubricator 11.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a lubricator 11 for modification. The numbering is equal to the modified prior art lubricator of FIG. 1. Prior to modification, the valve- chamber 102’ contains the single non-return valve 102 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed drawing of the non-return valve 102 in the valve-chamber 102’ of prior art lubricator 11 of FIG. 1. Two enlarged portions B and C illustrate de tails in further magnification of 3 and 6, respectively. The non-return valve 102 com prises a spherical valve-member 23, pre-stressed against a valve-seat 24 by the load from a helical spring 25. The lubricant in the dosing channel 115 displaces the valve- member 23 against the pre-stressing force of the spring 25, once the lubricant in the dosing channel 115 achieved a pressure above a predetermined limit. As illustrated, the valve-seat 24 is a sharp edge, despite the valve-chamber 102’ generally having a conical end-portion 27. Thorough study of the early mal-functioning of the lubricator 11 has revealed that leaks are due to tightness problems of the sharp edged valve-seat 24.

An improvement is achieved, if the valve-seat 24 is modified. For example, the valve- seat after modification has a profile that is part of a sphere, optionally having the same radius as the spherical valve-member.

FIG. 5 shows some microscope images of a valve seat of an Alpha Lubricator prior to modification. FIG. 5a shows pronounced roughness of the valve seat as well as metal fringes 35 in in the valve seat of a new Alpha Lubricator, which is detrimental to tightness of the non-return valve. FIG. 5b shows edges 34 in the valve seat 24 of a new Alpha Lubricator, which prevents a proper sealing between the valve seat 24 and the ball member. FIG. 5c shows a micrograph of a used Alpha Lubricator, illustrating sections 24’ of the valve seat appearing broader than other sections 24”, which is due to elliptical shape of the valve seat. An elliptical valve seat is probably due to uneven wear during use. It does not seal properly any more against a spherical valve member. All these defects in the valve seat, some stemming from a new Alpha Lubricator, oth ers from wear during use, prevent a satisfactory sealing, especially at elevated lubri cant pressure.

FIG. 6a and 6b show measurements of performance of a lubricator before modifica tion, where the valve-seat 24 was sharp-edged as illustrated in FIG. 4 and defects as in FIGF. 5. The six graphs in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b are made for the six outlets of the Al pha Lubricator, each outlet having one non-return valve. The measurements in FIG. 8a were made after 3850 injection cycles. The peaks show injections and the horizontal level shows the pressure level in the idle phase. The graphs in FIG. 8b show similar measurements after 1 million cycles. The drop of the solid drawn curves illustrates pressure loss in the idle phase, which is due to leaking non-return valves 102.

FIG. 7 shows measurements of performance of a modified lubricator after 2 million injection cycles. The experimental results show horizontal pressure curves in the idle phases between the spikes of the injection phases. The horizontal pressure levels of FIG. 7, in contrast to the decreasing pressure curves of FIG 6b, express increased life- time by more than a factor of 2 of the modified non-return valve 102 with respect to tightness.

The lubricator 11 in the test experiments of FIG. 7 had a valve-seat 24 that was modi- fied to a part-spherical configuration with smaller surface roughness and higher preci- sion with respect to circular symmetry.

The modification of the valve seat for the experiments of FIG. 7 has been made by pressing a deformation-member in the shape of a ball of approximately the same size as the ball-shaped valve-member 23 onto the sharp-edged valve-seat 24 with a force corresponding to 200 kg. This force was sufficient to deform the sharp-edged valve- seat 24 from the configuration of FIG. 4 into a shape of a part of a sphere with less surface roughness and more precise circular symmetry. In the experiment, a spherical deformation member with a surface roughness of 0.06 pm (arithmetic average rough ness value Ra) was pressed into the valve seat with a force corresponding to 200 kg, caused deformation, and resulted in a changed surface roughness of 0.8 pm. The width of the ring-shaped valve seat was 0.06 mm. The surface area of the valve seat was in the order of 0.5 mm2.

Deformation by pressing a deformation member into the valve-chamber, for example a steel ball loaded with a force, is a simple way of modifying the sharp-edged valve- seat 24 of FIG. 4.

An even better improvement of the non-return valve is obtained by providing a pre cisely worked valve insert in which the valve member 23 and the insert valve seat 24 are worked to a precision that an optimum tightness and longevity is obtained.

FIG. 8 illustrates a valve insert 26 that is inserted into the valve chamber 102’. The insert is held in place by shoulders 33 of a front flange 34. In the illustrated embodi ment, the spring 25 is shorter that in FIG. 4 due to different position of the spherical valve-member 23. For example, the insert valve seat 29 has a concave shape, typically part-spherical shape, for example having the same radius of curvature or substantially same radius as the spherical valve-member 23. Due to this part-spherical valve-seat, the contact area 28 between the spherical valve-member 23 and the insert valve set 29 is smoother than between the spherical valve-member 23 and the sharp-edged valve-seat 24 in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the insert valve seat 29 has a concave form with a radius of curvature that is larger than for the valve member. As a further alternative, the final valve seat has a conical shape or a convex toroidal shape.

The insert 26 is a piece that is worked outside the housing 101 of the lubricator 11 and therefore easier to produce with high precision than if the lubricator valve seat 24 is modified by working the material of the housing 101 itself. The lack of precision of the lubricator valve seat 24 in standard lubricators is believed to be due to a compro mise of quality versus production time, in addition to the fact that a large piece, such as the housing 101, is not easy to work to a precision as achieved with the much smaller dimensioned separate insert 26. The separate production of the insert 26 as compared to the valve seat 24 of standard lubricators has not only the advantage of higher precision and longevity when modifying used lubricators but is also useful for new lubricators 11 in that the insert 26 can be produced in parallel with the production of the lubricator housing 101, which optimizes production resources, costs and time.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further modification in which an insert 26 has been inserted into the valve-chamber 102’. The insert 26 comprises a double valve system 20 with a first pre-stressed spherical valve-member 23 as part of a first non-return valve 21 and a further spherical valve-member 23’ as part of a second non-return valve 22, as well as two part-spherical valve-seats 29, 30’, one for each spherical valve-member 23, 23’. The interspace 27 between the two spherical valve-members 23, 23’ comprises a fur ther spring 25’ in order to keep the innermost spherical valve-member 23’, which is smaller’, pre-stressed against its valve-seat 30.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the first and second non-return valve 21, 22 with the two valve-members 23, 23’ are provided in the insert 26 inside the valve-chamber 102’. Once opened, the first non-return valve 21 gives passage to the second non-return valve 22, which when opened, give passage to the pipe 103 for lubricant flow from the lubricator 11 to the injector 4 as long as the pressure is at the increased state in the injection phase. When the oil pressure in the dosing channel 115 decreases below the predetermined limit, the non-return valves 21, 22 close again for the idle phase and until the next injection phase.

Alternatively, not illustrated though, a first valve is provided by an insert 26 inside the valve-chamber 102’ and a second valve is provided outside the valve-chamber 102’, for example between the lubricator 11 and the pipe 103. In this case, similarly to the embodiment in FIG. 9, the double valve system comprises a first non-return valve by the insert 26 and a second non-return valve connected in series.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a practical embodiments of an insert 26 in a perspec tive view, a side view and a cross sectional view. The insert 26 is composed of two parts, a downstream part 26A and upstream part 26B, which are screwed together for easy insertion of the spherical valve-member 23 and the spring 25 into the insert 26. For the purpose of tightness, an O-ring 31 is provided at the upstream end of the up stream part 26B. The downstream part 26A comprises an outlet 32 and a shoulder 33 at the outlet, where the shoulder 33 presses against the spring in order to keep it pre stressed. The shoulder 33 pre-stresses the spring gradually during screw-assembly of the two parts 26 A, 26B. Alternatively, to the screw principle for the assembly of the insert 26, the two parts 26A and 26B could also be press fitted together.

FIG. 1 la illustrates an insert 26 of the type as in FIG. 10 when inserted into the valve chamber 102’ of a lubricator 11. As illustrated in more detail in FIG. l lb, the O-ring 31 tightens against the housing 101 of the lubricator 11. The particular insert 26 is held in place inside the valve camber 102’ by a threaded screw connection 34. How ever, a tight press-fit could be used alternatively.