Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/793941
FROM THE FIELD M a i n t e n a n c e a n d R e l i a b i l i t y W INSPECTION 2.0 hen most of us refer to inspection, we are thinking of running machines inspected routinely, say on daily rounds. Unarguably, this type of on-the-run inspection is critical to machine condition monitoring, but other types of inspections are important as well. At its best, inspec- tion seeks and finds the "precursors" to failure, also known as root causes. This is job one, for sure. Next, inspection must hunt down those elusive incipient failure conditions (the earliest detectable state) that can be as difficult as the sound of a "pin drop" for our senses to detect. The time horizon when inspection should incur spans from cradle to grave. I've emphasized in past columns that Inspection 2.0 is a continuous state of vigi- lance. The moment you let your guard down is exactly the time when the enduring Mr. Murphy makes his entrance. To fend off risk and vulnerability, the wise and reli- ability-intensive organization performs inspection across multiple states. Inspection of Spares, Storage and Standby Equipment Keeping spares and standby machinery in a prime, healthy state can be a daunting task, to say the least. Often machines and critical spare parts must be stored for years in a "ready for operation" state. Several articles have been published in Machinery Lubrication magazine on maintaining idle and standby equipment. This is serious business to protect your investment and more importantly to sustain a state of readiness. Without a doubt, the central enemy for this type of equipment is water that condenses, settles, puddles and corrodes. Therefore, from the standpoint of inspec - tion, looking for water entry points and the presence of invaded water is high on the list. The ability of a lubricant's addi- tives to suppress corrosion is largely neutralized when additives are unable to circulate. For numerous reasons, water is rightfully the scourge of stored and idle machines and spare parts. Many types of machines are internally flooded with oil during storage to minimize air movement between the headspace and the atmosphere. This also keeps internal surfaces oil wet, which would otherwise be exposed to condensation and other atmospheric contaminants. In gearboxes, these surfaces would include all bearings, internal shafts and gears. Because of hydrostatic forces, these flooded machines are prone to leakage over time, often through gaskets and lip seals. All evidence of leakage, from dampness to oil puddles, should be noted and corrected. Also, check to ensure: • All shafts and couplings have protec- tive coatings still in place. AS I SEE IT Jim Fi t ch | Nori a Corpor at ioN 5 STATES The of Machine 2 | March - April 2017 | www.machinerylubrication.com