Lubricators
Lubricators apply controlled amounts of lubricant to areas of friction on moving or rotating mechanical parts. Lubricating systems are vital to manufacturing and industrial companies since bearings, dies, chains, cables, spindles, pumps, rails, and gears need to be lubricated to make equipment run smoothly and reliably.
Quick links to Lubricators Information
Lubricator Design
Lubricating systems have three main parts: the reservoir, the pump, and the filter. The reservoir holds the old lubricant after it comes back from being used, while the pump moves the lubricant along the system and into areas that need lubrication. The filter cleans contaminants out of the lubricant and ensures that the system runs uninterrupted.
Types of Lubricants
The common lubricants discharged by lubricators are grease and oil, although alternative lubes do exist. The semisolid, soap and oil based grease is often used in hard to reach places because it stays for a long period of time and therefore only requires occasional appliances. Oil lubricants are often mineral based substances such as petroleum, liquid lubes that are easy to apply but still vital protection against wear and corrosion for a machine in constant motion. Not all lubricants are earth friendly when they are disposed of in a careless fashion. The greatest risk from the greases and oils used in a wide variety of industrial manufacturing companies is that they will spoil the water supply if not properly gotten rid of. Therefore every industry that uses lubricants must take responsibility for getting rid of the waste carefully. There are also lubes now available, such as Lanolin, which is a natural oil extracted from lambswool, that are non-toxic. Lubricators are used in almost every industry, including food service, textile, and automotive. The need for lubrication is not specific to manufacturing; many products that we use everyday require regular lubrication, including cars and computer technology.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Lubricator
Factors to consider when purchasing a lubricating system include capacity, pressure, flow rate, and maximum operating temperature. Lubricators can be manual or automatic. Central lubrication systems, which are actually attached to the large machines they service automatically through preprogramming, are very popular in large industrial settings. Grease pumps are examples of manual lubricators, although they can be attached to automatic systems like air lubricators. Whether targeted toward spot lubing machines or keeping a single part, such as a chain, constantly oiled or greased, there is a lubricator to get the job done.