Plant Services - May 2008 - (Page 49) Power transmission reliability lubrication is important when the sidebar edges slide on tracks, it’s less obvious you need to lubricate the bushing OD and roller ID surfaces when the chain rollers travel on the tracks. If the sidebars slide on tracks, apply lubricant along the length of the track. Applying lubricant to the chain leaves the track unlubricated. Use grease that’s thick enough to stay on the tracks under operating conditions. These greases sometimes contain extreme-pressure and anti-oxidizing additives. If conditions permit, use lubricant-impregnated tracks or a low-friction polymer. Feed a small amount of oil between the inner and outer sidebars so that it can flow freely into the chain joints to smooth engagement with the sprockets. If the chain rolls on tracks, keep the tracks relatively dry. It’s important to feed oil between the inside sidebars and the rollers so it can reach the bearing surfaces between the roller ID and Reference American Chain Association, Standard Handbook of Chains, Chains for Power Transmission and Material-Handling, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2006. the bushing OD. The oil should be thin enough to flow into the bearing areas but thick enough to form a film. These oils sometimes have extremepressure and antioxidizing additives. You only need to feed a small amount of oil into the chain joints to smooth engagement with the sprockets. For manual application, brush grease onto the tracks and brush or drip oil onto the chain immediately after the conveyor stops. If you prefer automatic oilers, apply oil to the conveyor chain soon after it leaves the head shaft (driver) sprocket. The chain is under low tension at that point, which gives the oil the best opportunity to flow freely into the joints. Check the manufacturer’s bulletins, query the grease supplier and consult the “Standard Handbook of Chains” for help in picking the lubricant. Table 1 shows the suggested lube viscosity as a function of temperature. But don’t use Table 1 alone. Contact chain and lubricant suppliers for more guidance. Many conveyor chains operate where good lubrication is difficult. The chain and lubricant suppliers might have experience with those conditions and know how to handle them. It does no good to apply oil to a dirty chain. In fact, it might do harm if the lube carries abrasive dirt into the chain joints. That’s why it’s considered a best practice to clean the chain before applying fresh lubricant. If possible, remove the chain and dip it in a solvent to remove dirt and debris. Otherwise, wipe down the chain with May 2008 www.PLANTSERVICES.com 49 http://www.a2technologies.com http://www.a2technologies.com http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com
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