Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/120548
Grease Guns LESSONS IN LUBRICATION BENNETT FITCH NORIA CORPORATION ANATOMY of a GREASE GUN While anatomy is commonly associated with biology and medicine, this article does not include the study of the human body. However, the typical illustrative methods used for detailed examination and analysis of bodily features have always been an effective learning tool in the classroom. The anatomy Types of Grease Guns o Grease guns have three ways in which they can be powered: by hand, air ai or electricity. Aside from these variation tions, the hand-powered (or manual) grease gun guns can either be manufactured with a lever or a pistol grip. The benefits to each of these depend primarily on the intended application and dep pend the lubrication technician's personal preferlubr ence. One other major variation to the grease gu is how the grease is to be gun load loaded: by suction fi ll, cartridge or bulk. Manual (Lever) – This is the most common type of grease gun a and can supply around 1.28 grams of gr grease per pump, which is forced through an aperture from hand pumps. Manual (Pistol Grip) – This variation of the lever-type grease gun allo allows for the one-handed pumping llow m met method, which is very common. It prov provides approximately 0.86 grams per pu pump. Pneum Pneumatic (Pistol Grip) – This grease gu gun uses compressed air directed i into the gun by a hose activating a positive displacement with e each trigger. B Battery (Pistol Grip) – This is a low-volta low-voltage, battery-powered grease gun that works com comparably to the pneumatic grease gun It offers the advant gun. advantage of being cordless. 50 | March - April 2013 l | www.machinerylubrication.com h l b lessons within Machinery Lubrication will apply these same methods for various topics within our industry. In this issue, the grease gun will be dissected to uncover all of its component characteristics. In addition, several other related topics will be discussed, such as common grease gun disorders, symptoms of incorrect greasing volume or frequency and best practices for using a grease gun. It's fundamental that grease is used as a lubricant because it clings to a machine's moving surfaces without easily leaking away like oil. For this reason, the filling and refilling of grease in greaselubricated machines must be treated differently than that of oil-lubricated machines. Therefore, it is essential that the proper grease gun operation is understood and managed by lubrication technicians for bearing and machine reliability. Simply knowing the signs of overgreasing and undergreasing and how often to reapply can go a long way in extending machinery life. Connectors, Adapters and Couplers A grease gun may come with the standard connection adapter such as a hydraulic coupler, but there are several variations depending on the application. The standard hydraulic coupler is the most commonly used and most applicable. A 90-degree adapter is ideal for fittings in confined areas that require a 90-degree bend. A needle-end adapter provides a thin, precise amount of grease for tight places, while a three-jaw swivel coupler offers a variety of locking positions for different applications.