9
The Concept of Automated Lubrication
Greases are used where a mechanism can only be lubricated infrequently and where a
lubricating oil would not stay in position. They also act as valuable sealants to prevent ingress of
water and dust.
Equipment requires lubrication for the following reasons:
1) Keep moving components separated.
Lubricants are typically used to separate moving components, reducing friction, surface fatigue,
heat generation, operating noise and vibrations. The most common way lubricants achieve this
is by creating a physical barrier. In cases of high surface pressure (EP) or temperatures the
fluid film is thin and some of the forces are transmitted between the surfaces through the
lubricant. This is termed elastohydrodynamic lubrication.
2) Carry away contaminants and debris (“Wash Out” or “Purge”).
Any accidental metal-to-metal contact created by debris or externally introduced contaminants
like dirt or water, need to be removed to reduce the risk of damage and prevent corrosion.
3) Protect against wear.
Lubricants do not just prevent wear by keeping the moving parts apart. Lubricants may also
contain anti wear or extreme pressure additives to boost their performance against wear and
fatigue.
4) Prevent corrosion.
Quality lubricants are typically formulated with additives that form chemical bonds with surfaces
to prevent corrosion and rust.
Under normal circumstances, lubricants / greases are applied to moving parts using a manual
grease gun during regular maintenance intervals. These maintenance intervals could coincide
with other service requirements like engine oil changes or can be determined based on hours of
operation.
Proper equipment maintenance incorporates OEM recommended lubricant application at
regular intervals. The goal is to ensure that the protective grease film is preserved between
moving surfaces. The required interval (hours of operation or mileage) is determined by user
operating information, equipment type, and environmental conditions. The equipment
owner/operator is responsible to review the equipment and the lubricant application interval and
adjust as needed to refresh the lubricant and prevent premature wear.
The manual application of lubricant relies on flush out of old lubricant in one instance during a
service interval, while the equipment is idle. The goal is to prevent the failure of the lubricant
film, as mentioned earlier, to prevent metal to metal contact.
To Next Page
Loading...