Machinery Lubrication

Machinery Lubrication Mar Apr 2013

Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation

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ML LUBE TIPS CONTROLLING Contamination on a BUDGET In gearboxes where installing a filter is not in the budget and water condensation is not an issue, use a rubber balloon on the vents and breathers. It is inexpensive and keeps contaminants out without blocking ventilation in the gearboxes. Compatibility of the oil with the balloon should be checked in advance by soaking the balloon in the oil to be used. How to Prevent Overgreasing Bearings Overgreasing bearings or bearing housings can cause blown seals, which can lead to loss of lubricant, overheating, mechanical failure and safety concerns. A pressure-relief fitting can prevent overpressurization because this type of fitting will relieve and Reducing Air in Reservoirs In circulating systems, the aeration of reservoirs can be reduced substantially if diffusers are used to "ooze" the oil back to the tank. Locate the diffuser well below the oil level and select diffuser designs so that flow velocities are reduced to 3 feet per second (fps). Best Practices for Top-up Containers Consider implementing these best practices for oil cans and top-up containers. Use only containers that can be sealed air-tight. Always reseal tightly between applications. Do not utilize galvanized containers. Dedicate containers to a class of "mixable lubricants only" and label accordingly. Don't use top-up containers to store oil next to machines. Instead, place containers in a nearby locker or cabinet between uses. Inspect containers routinely for dirt, sludge and debris. Lubricating Oil-Slinging Equipment When oiling equipment that may have a tendency to throw off lubrication and potentially contaminate your product, try using an aerosol-type sprayer. This will often supply a finite amount of a thin layer of lubrication, which will prevent larger globs of oil from being thrown off. You can purchase refillable cans that use a plant air supply to recharge. These work best with lower viscosity oils. Advice for Storing Oil Drums Outside When storing oil drums outdoors for extended periods with drum covers, mark where the bung is on the side of the drum prior to placing the drum cover on the drum. At 90 degrees to the bung, lay a wicking device (such as a strand from an industrial mop) over the chime so that half is on the top edge of the drum and half is hanging outside of the drum. Now, install the drum cover normally. If possible, set the back edge of the drum on a 1x2 board or equivalent to create a slope so that any condensation forming inside the drum cover can be directed downward toward the wick and out to the ground. Note: If placed 90 degrees to the bung, the wick will be 180 degrees from the board or on the downside of the slope. 22 | March - April 2013 | www.machinerylubrication.com discharge grease when the proper internal pressure is obtained. These are commercially available from several suppliers such as grease fitting manufacturers. Bearing and seal manufacturers can recommend the maximum pressure level in order to obtain the proper relief setting. Finding New Oil Storage Areas Are all of your oil storage areas contained? Even in a mature manufacturing facility, a random walkabout may discover "new" oil storage areas. Check the laws in your area, but generally new and used oil must be contained. A new and convenient place to store a barrel or two of oil may not have been completely thought out and so containment wasn't considered. Portable containment systems are available through several companies and can easily remedy this oversight. Take a walk through To receive the Lube-Tips your facility and see if you newsletter, subscribe now at can discover some new oil www.machinerylubrication.com/ storage areas. page/subscriptions. The "Lube Tips" section of Machinery Lubrication magazine features innovative ideas submitted by our readers. Additional tips can be found in our Lube-Tips email newsletter. If you have a tip to share, email it to us at editor@noria.com.

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