1.686x2.5890x.6325 bearing isolator11/30/2023 The transfer containers must be clean and sealed to prevent any contamination when the lubricant is transferred to the asset. Simple American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) tests measure the properties and the cleanliness of the fluid, as it will likely need to be filtered and polished to meet the quality specifications for the equipment. Lubricants must be tested upon receipt to ensure they meet the defined specifications before they are added to the storage systems. Prioritize accurate storage and handling. This practice helps avoid mixing lubricants in storage and transfer containers. Team members should also take care when labeling the matching points on each asset in which the lubricant is added. It is the responsibility of the reliability and maintenance team to color code and label each lubricant by type to ensure a lubricant ends up in the correct application and location. Viscosity, additives, operating loads, speed and temperature should also be considered.Įnsure the chosen lubricant gets to the right machine. Selecting the best lubricant for an application and its assets is the first step in this effort. By installing equipment that has been selected for reliability and maintenance-which includes the lubricants for each machine-plant teams can keep these assets running at optimal efficiency for a long time. Consider these steps when pursuing reliable lubrication, particularly in the bearing housing of a gearbox:Ĭhoose the correct lubricant for the correct machine. If a plant team is striving to achieve reliable overall system operations, then it should also plan for a plantwide lubrication system. If the bearing isolators allow many contaminants in and lubricant changes are occurring more frequently, a new oil seal may need to be considered, particularly if simple lip seals are the asset’s only defense against contamination ingress.īest Lubrication Practices for Reliability Understanding these failure rates helps reliability teams determine the best time to change the oil. Oil seal performance can be measured via oil analysis, which reveals how well the seal operates and helps determine functional failure rates. ![]() Oil testing for contamination is available and is the only way to know that an oil seal is operating effectively. Oil leakage can be seen and measured, but discovering contamination can be challenging. Fortunately, filter life can be measured, and many breathers have color-changing desiccant to indicate when they need to be replaced. ![]() So, if the lubricants enter the machine clean and fit for use-and the operating environment is in the same condition-then how does the oil become contaminated? The answer lies in either the bearing isolators, breathers, filters or some combination of these components.īut these components have a finite lifetime. IMAGE 1: Components of the system-focused bearing isolator (Images courtesy of SEPCO)
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