Lubrication and Lubricants

Lubrication Systems

Manual lubrication systems

•Hand grease guns and oilcans
•Non-dusty environment
•Dust proof oilcan

•Limitation: ?
Automatic or self-designed lubrication systems
•Protects lubricant from adverse atmospheric conditions
•Classified into:
Centralised lubrication system (manual)
•Lubricator discharges lubricant through a main tube to feed
branch tubes
Centralised lubrication system (power operated)
•Lubricant pumped to lubrication points on a time controlled
cycle

•Advantages?
•Disadvantages ?
Built-in lubrication system
• Coatings and surface treatments to minimize wear
of the rubbing surfaces
• Molybdenum disulfide, Graphite
Selection of Lubricants
• Preparing a chart of lubricants for important
components recommended by the manufacturer.
Display the chart.
• Lubricants pay in the long run by increasing life and
less breaks of equipment/parts.
•Factors to be considered for selecting a lubricant:
• type of the lubricant (solid or liquid),
• place of use from viewpoint of temperature
considerations,
• environmental conditions (open to atmosphere or sealed),
• frequency of applications
• life of the lubricant.
Handling Lubricants
• Clean and airtight containers
• Date of manufacture
• Atmospheric effects; high temp deteriorate properties
• Improper handling causes fire hazards
• Leakage causes loss, dirty and slippery place
• Conditions that affects lubricants ?

Coding Scheme
• Color code for different grades of oil and greases
• Various scheme of symbols such as circle or triangles of
different colors
Storing Lubricants (precautions while using
drums)
1. Drums placed on concrete slabs and oil
withdrawn into measured oil containers.
2. Equipment used for lubricating, should be kept
in oil racks
3. For draining oil stop-cocks must be provided,
also check for leakage
4. Small trays must be kept underneath, while
draining oil
5. Grease drums/containers can be stored
vertically must be covered
6. For draining lubricants from bigger container,
use measured containers. Carrying containers
must have lids/covers
7. For drawing out grease, use of hands should be
avoided.
8. For different types of lubricants, colour coding
should be used, trained persons must be
employed.
9. In storeroom, tags indicating type and grade
must be displayed.
Maintenance of Lubricants

• Storeroom be cleaned to avoid contamination

• Painted inside walls
• Cemented floor for easy clean
• Care for equipment used for lubrication
• Coding scheme for lubricants
• Expiry date must be checked regularly
• Proper dispensing equipments

Books:
Maintenance Engineering and Management by R.C. Mishra and K.
Pathak