Longer life of new ROCOL greases
Longer life of new ROCOL greases
Keywords Greases,ROCOL
New greases claimed to last longer than conventional greases have been introduced by ROCOL Limited, in addition to two new category-creating grease applicators: the ROCOL Auto-Lube(see Plate 3) and the Sapphire Handi (see Plate 4).
The new greases are Sapphire Hi-Speed 2, Sapphire Hi-Temp 2 and Sapphire LoTemp 2. All are NLGI No. 2. The first, a brand new product, has a maximum speed rating of 1.25 ×106DmN. (DmN is Mean Bearing Diameter × RPM e.g. a 50mm mean diameter bearing rotating at 20,000RPM would have a DmN rating of 1 million.) Developed for rolling bearings running at high speeds in environments where low noise is a priority (i.e. machine shops and the textile industry), Sapphire Hi-Speed 2 exhibits a remain-in-place tenacity which can eliminate the need for an external lubrication system. This property, which stems from an arcane combination of anti-wear and anti-oxidant additives and corrosion inhibitors with a blend of synthetic base oils, also ensures economy through optimum lubrication allied to reduced maintenance. The new grease can eliminate the need for external oil mist lubrication systems, and needs only a simple enclosure to protect against the ingress of pollutants. A brown, complex-soap thickened grease Sapphire Hi-Speed 2 has excellent load carrying ability (200kg on IP239/ASTM D2596 4-ball weld load tests), showed only a 2 per cent reduction on IP215/ASTM Dl264 Water Washout tests, and is suitable for operating temperatures ranging from minus 20°C to l20°C.
Plate 3 ROCOL "Autolube" battery-powered stand-alone grease applicator
Plate 4 ROCOL "Handi" grease squeeze bottle
Sapphire Hi-Temp 2 and Sapphire Lo-Temp 2 are redeveloped products which benefit from combinations of new and improved additives and advances in synthetic and semi-synthetic base oils.
The high-temperature grease has an operating range extending from minus 40°C to 200°C, and meets DEF STAN 91-106/1 for a multi-purpose grease operating at elevated temperatures. It resists carbonisation and affords long-term protection against corrosion. Independent tests of the ROCOL grease and competitive products by a leading manufacturer of bearings showed that a single application of Sapphire Hi-Temp 2 lasted 267 hours at 180°C/2000 RPM. The other greases lasted between 128 and 190 hours.
This superior performance is the product of "packages" of enhanced anti-wear, load-carrying,extreme-pressure (EP) and anti-oxidant additives and anti-corrosion inhibitors.
Similar improved ingredients resulted in the development of Sapphire Lo-Temp 2. Distinguished by its ability to retain effective lubrication properties at temperatures down to minus 50°C, it ensures low start-up and running torques at extremely low temperatures. For example, IP 186 tests show start/run torques at minus 40°C of 700gm.cm and 450gm.cm respectively.
A multi-complex-soap thickened grease with a semi-synthetic base fluid, it has a load wear index of 128kg and a weld load (1P239/ASTM D2596) of 800kg. A typical application of the new greases would be on blast freezers and cryogenic equipment.
The addition of the three new products extends the ROCOL Sapphire range to 12 high-performance greases. These are complemented by a variety of specialist lubricants such as greases for aerospace, weapons, power turbines, and the food industry.
The ROCOL Autolube, the world's first battery-powered, stand-alone automatic grease applicator, which can provide up to three years of continuous operation in arduous conditions, is now available in the UK.
Completely self-contained,the unit contains l20cu.cm of Sapphire multi-purpose bearing grease or"Foodlube" bearing grease. It is simply screwed into a standard 1Ž4inch BSP union on a bearing housing or other lubrication point and switched on. The Autolube will then supply at a maximum pressure of 5 bar a pre-determined amount of grease at precisely regular intervals for up to three years.
The amount and frequency of grease discharged can be regulated to suit bearing size and operation, by simple adjustment of two micro-switches. There are four options: 0.11, 0.22,0.44 or 1.33 cubic centimetres of grease dispensed every day for three, nine, 18 or 36 months respectively. The electromechanical drive unit of the Autolube is reusable and its supply canister can be replaced on-site by the operator with either Sapphire multi-purpose bearing grease or "Foodlube" bearing grease. The corrosion-proof plastic outer casing of the unit is dust and splash-proofed (IP 65), and is transparent to show the level of lubricant remaining. It is recommended for independent, automatic greasing of rolling and sliding bearings,drive and conveyor chains, guide rails and open gears, particularly those with lubrication points which are difficult or hazardous to reach or are easily forgotten. Unlike gas-operated applicators, its discharge rate is unaffected by high ambient temperatures.
The new Autolube is complemented by the ROCOL Handi: a low-cost concertina-style squeeze bottle containing 150ml of Sapphire multi-purpose bearing grease. It ensures that grease is not contaminated during manual application and provides a simple,clean, economic method of accurately positioning correct quantities of grease. For example, it will ensure bearings are not over-filled: only 33 per cent to 50 per cent of the free volume between the rolling elements should be filled; too much grease and it "churns", generating heat with the attendant risk of premature bearing failure. The compact ROCOL Handi will appeal particularly to service and maintenance engineers, especially if they travel. It is easily carried, sits readily in any toolbox, and, since it enables grease to be precisely applied with one hand, is singularly useful for difficult-to-reach lubrication.
For more information contact Mike Milligan, ROCOL Limited. Tel: +44 (0) 113 232 2600; Fax: +44 (0)113 232 2650.
