Lubrication method for housing having an exclusion seal

1. A method comprising:

providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening;

providing a shaft in the shaft opening;

filling the free volume with the lubricant;

providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and

continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the only location for the lubricant to exit the bearing housing is between the shaft and the exclusion seal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first level is greater than or equal to 10 psi.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first level is greater than or equal to 20 psi.

5. The method of claim 2 including:

providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing, the pump being capable of causing the pressure of the lubricant in the housing to exceed the first level; and

providing a controller operably connected to the pump for controlling the pump,

wherein repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant to exceed the first level comprises controlling the pump with the controller to add the lubricant to the free volume.

6. The method of claim 5 , including:

providing a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the lubricant in the bearing housing and send a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature to the controller, and

determining whether a temperature increase occurs each time the pump pumps the lubricant into the bearing housing.

7. The method of claim 6 , including producing a signal indicative of a failed lubrication event in response to the controller determining that a temperature increase does not occur in response to the addition of the lubricant to the bearing housing.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first level is greater than or equal to 10 psi.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first level is greater than or equal to 20 psi.

10. The method of claim 5 including:

providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing, the pump being capable of causing the pressure of the lubricant in the bearing housing to exceed the first level; and

providing a controller operably connected to the pump for controlling the pump,

wherein repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant to exceed the first level comprises controlling the pump with the controller to add the lubricant to the free volume.

11. The method of claim 5 , including

providing a sensor configured to measure a pressure in the bearing housing and to produce an output signal indicative of the measured pressure;

adding the lubricant to the housing while measuring the pressure of the bearing housing;

determining a maximum pressure obtainable by adding the lubricant to the bearing housing; and

if the maximum pressure is not greater than a predetermined pressure providing a signal indicative of a worn seal.

12. The method of claim 2 , including

providing a sensor configured to measure a pressure in the bearing housing and to produce an output signal indicative of the measured pressure;

adding the lubricant to the housing while measuring the pressure of the housing;

determining a maximum pressure obtainable by adding the lubricant to the bearing housing; and

if the maximum pressure is not greater than a predetermined pressure providing a signal indicative of a worn seal.

13. The method of claim 2 including:

providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing, the pump being capable of causing the pressure in the bearing housing to exceed the first level;

providing a controller operably connected to the pump for controlling the pump;

providing a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the bearing housing and to produce an output signal indicative of the measured pressure;

adding the lubricant to the bearing housing while measuring the pressure of the bearing housing;

determining a maximum pressure obtainable by adding the lubricant to the bearing housing; and

if the maximum pressure is not greater than a predetermined pressure providing a signal indicative of a worn seal.

14. The method of claim 13 including:

providing a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the lubricant in the bearing housing and to send a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature to the controller,

determining whether a temperature increase occurs each time the pump pumps the lubricant into the bearing housing, and

producing a signal indicative of a failed lubrication event in response to the controller determining that a temperature increase does not occur in response to the addition of the lubricant to the bearing housing.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a second exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the second exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the second exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the second exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the second exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a second level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the second level, wherein the second level is greater than the first level.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a second exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the second exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the second exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the second exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the second exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above the first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level.

17. A method comprising:

providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening;

providing a shaft in the shaft opening;

filling the free volume with the lubricant;

providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to a level greater than or equal to 10 psi and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the level; and

providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing, the pump being capable of causing the pressure in the bearing housing to exceed the level; and

continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly operating the pump to cause the pressure of the lubricant to alternately rise above and fall below the level,

wherein the only location for the lubricant to exit the bearing housing is between the shaft and the exclusion seal.

18. The method of claim 17 including:

providing a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the bearing housing and to produce an output signal indicative of the measured pressure;

adding the lubricant to the bearing housing while measuring the pressure;

determining a maximum pressure obtainable by adding the lubricant to the bearing housing; and

if the maximum pressure is not greater than a predetermined pressure providing a signal indicative of a worn seal.

19. The method of claim 17 including:

providing a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the lubricant in the bearing housing and to send a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature to a controller,

determining whether a temperature increase occurs each time the pump pumps the lubricant into the bearing housing, and

producing a signal indicative of a failed lubrication event in response to the controller determining that a temperature increase does not occur in response to the addition of the lubricant to the bearing housing.

20. A method comprising:

providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening;

providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing;

providing a shaft in the shaft opening;

providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being configured to allow the lubricant to escape past the exclusion seal when the pressure is above a first level;

providing a controller operably connected to the pump for controlling the pump, and

providing a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the bearing housing and to send an output signal to the controller indicative of the measured pressure;

adding the lubricant to the bearing housing while measuring the pressure;

determining a maximum pressure obtainable by adding the lubricant to the bearing housing; and

if the maximum pressure is not greater than a predetermined pressure providing a signal indicative of a worn seal.