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equipment which displays closely configured bearing clusters, or groups. A proportional discharge of oil is delivered to each point while the machine is in operation. The system provides a clean film of oil between critical bearing surfaces to keep friction and wear to a minimum. Positive Displacement Injector Systems Bijur Delimon PDI systems are for low, medium or high pressure oil or grease lubrication systems. These systems are precise in their lubrication delivery, and some models are adjustable, so a single injector manifold can be used to deliver different amounts of oil or grease to different friction points. Injectors are alternately activated and deactivated at regular intervals. Oil and fluid grease discharges from the injectors when the system reaches operative pressure. Dual Line Systems Dual Line Lubrication Systems are found in virtually every industry where continuous duty operation is required. Advantages include: • They are economical for a system which has multiple bearing points • Lubrication points can be added easily without redesigning the total system • A blockage between feed line and bearing will not shut the system down; remaining bearings will continue to be lubricated • There are visual indicators of grease flow for each lubrication point • They have the ability to positively displace a broad range of lubricants from light oil to grade 2 grease • Lubrication discharge volume at each bearing is fully adjustable even after start-up Series Progressive Systems Bijur Delimon Series Progressive Systems are generally used on medium-duty machinery and equipment. Robust pumps are connected to divider valves, some of which are modular, allowing for easy installation, modification and maintenance, without the removal of any tubing. Progressive movement lubricant divider blocks operate in a pre-arranged sequence with easy monitoring of system operation through a moving indicator pin. Discharge from a lubricator forces sequential movement of the pistons inside the divider block, which displaces fixed volumetric amounts of lubricant to each point connected to the system network. Single Point Systems Single Point lubricators are simple in design, but very effective at delivering grease to a single bearing lubrication point. Users are able to estimate the time it will take to run the unit to empty, with clear reservoirs enabling engineers to visually assess the lubricant level at any time. Once the reservoir is filled and the unit is connected to a bearing, the single-point lubricator uses Venturi action to discharge lubricant only when the bearing is in motion. www.bijurdelimon.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 IME 23 According to reports, over 50% of bearing failures are the result of improper lubrication, with inadequate lubrication and bearing contamination being the two biggest contributors. Automated lubrication systems can end the "feast or famine" conditions associated with manual lubrication. Too much lubrication creates safety or environmental hazards while too little lubrication causes bearing friction and wear. An automatic lubrication system ends this cycle by applying smaller amounts of lubricant frequently while the equipment is running – keeping machinery in the ‘Optimum Lubrication Zone’. The closed system design of an automatic system also keeps contaminants out, allowing for longer bearing life and less downtime. Understanding Centralised Lubrication Centralised Lubrication Systems – sometimes referred to as Automatic Lubrication Systems – are a common tool used in industry to distribute a precise amount of lubricant to specific locations at specific times through the use of programmable timers, lubricant pumps and lubricant injectors. Since systems were introduced in the mid-1930s, much research has concentrated on resolving the flow issues of viscous lubricants, such as grease, to deliver the fluid properly to its designated points. Advancements in technology have created today's Centralised Lubrication Systems with precise delivery methods for a wide range of light and heavy industrial applications. Delivering either grease or oil to a lubrication point, the basic operation of a Centralised System, such as a Single Line Injector system, includes the following: 1. The system controller and injectors deliver a pre-set but adjustable amount of lubricants and intervals. 2. To deliver the lubricant, the lubricant pump is activated by the controller. This builds pressure in the lines, causing the grease to flow out of the injectors. 3. A pressure switch is incorporated in the system to deactivate the pump once the lubricant injection is complete. 4. The system directs any lubricant remaining in the lines back into the reservoir by venting. Technological advancements have resulted in a variety of methods for controlling and monitoring such systems that further increase the precision and reliability. Lubricant injectors, system plumbing and lubricant reservoirs are commonly monitored by alarms. An alert signal is sent when an undesirable flow pattern exists or when the lubricant reservoir is low – ensuring a preventive maintenance system is in place. Single Line Resistance Systems Bijur Delimon SLR systems are low pressure oil lubrication systems that are designed for light or medium machinery that are suitable for up to 100 points of lubrication. Two types of systems are available: • Manual systems are ideally suited for machinery which can be lubricated by a hand actuated, intermittently fed oil discharge system on an occasional basis. • Automatic systems are ideally suited for machinery requiring an uninterrupted discharge of oil either regularly timed or continuous. Automatic systems are actuated by a self-contained timing mechanism or by a mechanical drive mechanism connected to the equipment being lubricated. SLR systems are compact, economical and relatively simple to operate and maintain. The system is ideally suited for machinery or 22 IME MARCH/APRIL 2018 CENTRALISED LUBRICATION SYSTEMS OILS, LUBRICANTS & GREASES “The closed system design of an automatic system also keeps contaminants out, allowing for longer bearing life and less downtime.” With improper lubrication highlighted as a major cause of bearing failure, it is imperative that maintenance teams have the correct procedures in place to put an end to disruptive, unplanned downtime. We speak to Bijur Delimon (t/a Denco Lubrication Ltd), a specialist in the field, to find out more about the benefits of Centralised Lubrication Systems.
