Lubrication

WHY BEARINGS HAVE TO BE LUBRICATED?

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ITS MAXIMUM LIFE IN

SERVICE, BEARING MUST BE LUBRICATED.
FUNCTION OF THE LUBRICATING MEDIUM

-TO FORM A FILM BETWEEN BEARING

COMPONENTS WHICH MOVE RELATIVE
TO ONE ANOTHER
-TO REDUCE FRICTION AND ELIMATE
WEAR
-TO PROTECT AGAINST CORROSION
-TO SEAL AGAINST IMPURITIES SUCH AS
DIRT ,DUST, DAMP OR WATER.
Classification of Lubricants

Animal
Vegetable
Mineral
Synthetic
Animal Lubricants

Lubricants with animal origin:

These are highly stable at normal temperatures
Animal lubricants may not be used for internal
combustion because they produce fatty acids
Vegetable Lubricants

Examples of vegetable lubricants are:

Castor oil
Olive oil
Cottonseed oil
Animal and vegetable oils have a lower
coefficient of friction than most mineral oils but
they rapidly wear away steel
Mineral Lubricants

These lubricants are used to a large extent in

the lubrication .
There are three classifications of mineral
lubricants:
Solid
Semisolid
Fluid
Synthetic Lubricants

Because of the high operating temperatures , it

became necessary to develop lubricants which
would retain their characteristics at
temperatures that cause petroleum lubricants
to evaporate and break down
Synthetic lubricants do not break down easily
and do not produce coke or other deposits
 Oxidation inhibitors: There are usually
phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen or organic compounds that
impede the formation of gums and acids by slowing down
chemical oxidation.

Defoamers: A very small percentage of silicon

products minimize the generation of foam in high-speed
bearings.
Detergents: When detergency is required, products
similar in action to the common household article can be
added, in concentration upto 155, to keep the insoluble
materials in suspension in the oil. This prevents their
build-up on internal surfaces. Detergents are most
common as additives in oils for internal combustion
engines
 Rust Inhibitors: These are usually surface-active agents
that plate themselves out on ferrous surfaces to protect against
the formation of rust.

Pour Point Depressants: These compounds react with the

wax content of paraffinic oil to inhibit the tendency of wax
crystals to gel when the oil temperature drops below its pour
point. The gelling of wax crystals can seriously affect the oil
lubricating ability by limiting its 'ability to flow.
EP (Extreme pressure) Additives: These additives are
usually compounds of phosphorus, lead, sulphur, or chlorine that
react with bearing surfaces. The low shear strength films thus
created prevent, contact between the bearing surfaces.
Lubricating Oil Properties
Gravity Precipitation Number
Flash Point Corrosion and
Viscosity Neutralization Number
Cloud Point Oiliness
Pour Point Extreme-Pressure
(Hypoid) Lubricants
Carbon-Residue Test
Ash Test
Chemical and Physical
Stability
Gravity

The gravity of petroleum oil is a numerical

value which serves as an index of the weight of
a measured volume of this product
There are two scales generally used by
petroleum engineers:
Specific-gravity scale
American Petroleum Institute gravity scale
Flash Point

The flash point of an oil is the temperature to

which the oil must be heated in order to give off
enough vapor to form a combustible mixture
above the surface that will momentarily flash or
burn when the vapor is brought into contact
with a very small flame
Viscosity

Viscosity is technically defined as the fluid

friction of an oil
To put it more simply, it is the resistance an oil
offers to flowing
Heavy-bodied oil is high in viscosity and pours
or flows slowly
Cloud Point

The cloud point is the temperature at which the

separation of wax becomes visible in certain
oils under prescribed testing conditions
When such oils are tested, the cloud point is
slightly above the solidification point
Pour Point

Thepour point of an oil is the temperature at

which the oil will just flow without disturbance
when chilled
Carbon-Residue Test

The purpose of the carbon-residue test is to

study the carbon-forming properties of a
lubricating oil
There are two methods:
The Ramsbottom carbon-residue test
The Conradson test
Ash Test

The ash test is an extension of the carbon-

residue test
If an unused oil leaves almost no ash, it is
regarded as pure
The ash content is a percentage (by weight) of
the residue after all carbon and all
carbonaceous matter have been evaporated
and burned
Precipitation Number

The precipitation number recommended by the

ASTM is the number of milliliters of precipitate
formed when 10 mL of lubricating oil is mixed
with 90 mL of petroleum naphtha under specific
conditions and then centrifuged
HOW IS A LUBRICATING OIL SELECTED?
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ?
Characteristics of Lubricating Oil
It should have the proper High antiwear properties
body (viscosity) Maximum cooling
High antifriction abilities
characteristics Maximum resistance to
Maximum fluidity at low oxidation
temperatures Noncorrosive
Minimum changes in
viscosity with changes in
temperature
Functions of Engine Oil

Lubrication,thus reducing friction

Cools various engine parts
Seals the combustion chamber
Cleans the engine
Aids in preventing corrosion
Serves as a cushion between impacting parts
Straight Mineral Oil

Straight mineral oil is one of many types of oil

used in aircraft reciprocating engines
It is blended from selected high-viscosity-index
base stocks
These oils do not contain additives, except for
a small amount of pour-point depressant for
improved fluidity at cold temperatures
Ashless Dispersant Oil

Most aircraft oils other than straight mineral oils

contain a dispersant that suspends
contamination such as carbon, lead compound
and dirt
The dispersant helps prevent these
contaminants from gathering into clumps and
forming sludge or plugging oil passageways
Multiviscosity Oil

In certain circumstances, all single-grade oils

have short comings
In cold-weather starts, single grade oil
generally flows slowly to the upper reaches
and vital parts of the engine
Multigrade oils have viscosity characteristics
that allow for better flow characteristics at
engine start
Characteristics of Lubrication
Systems

Pressure Lubrication
Splash Lubrication and Combination Systems
Principal Components of a Lubrication System
Oil Capacity
Pressure Lubrication

In a pressure lubrication system, a mechanical

pump supplies oil under pressure to the
bearings
Oil flows into the inlet of the pump through the
pump and into an oil manifold which distributes
it to the crankshaft bearings
Splash Lubrication and
Combination Systems

Although pressure lubrication is the principle

method of lubrication on all aircraft engines,
some engines use splash lubrication also
Splash lubrication is never used by itself
All lubrication systems are pressure systems or
combination pressure/splash systems
Components of Lubrication
Systems
Plumbing for Lubrication
Systems
Temperature Regulator
(Oil Cooler)
Oil Viscosity Valve
Oil Pressure Relief
Valves
Oil Separator
Oil Pressure Guage
Oil Temperature Guage
Oil Pressure Pumps
Scavenge Pumps
Oil Dilution System
Plumbing for Lubrication Systems

Oil plumbing is essentially the same as is used

in oil and hydraulic systems
When the lines will not be subject to bending,
aluminum tubing is used
Synthetic hose is often used near the engine
and other places on the aircraft that are subject
to vibration or other movement
Temperature Regulator (Oil Cooler)

An oil temperature regulator is designed to

maintain the temperature of the oil for an
operating engine at the correct level
These regulators are often called oil coolers
since cooling of engine oil is one of their main
functions
Oil Viscosity Valve

The oil viscosity valve is generally considered a

part of the oil temperature regulator unit and is
employed in some oil systems
The viscosity valve consists essentially of an
aluminum alloy housing and a thermostatic
control element
The oil viscosity valve works with the oil cooler
valve to maintain a desired temperature and
keep the viscosity within required limits
Oil Pressure Relief Valves

The purpose of the oil pressure relief valve is

to control and limit the lubricating pressure in
the oil system
This is necessary to prevent damage caused
by excessive system pressure and to ensure
that engine parts are not deprived of fuel due
to a system failure
Oil Separator

Airsystems where oil of oil mist is present may

require the use of an oil separator
These are often used on vacuum pump outlets
The oil separator contains baffle plates which
cause the air to swirl and it deposits on the
baffles
Oil Pressure Gauge

An oil pressure gauge is an essential

component of any engine oil system
These gauges generally use a bourdon tube to
measure the pressure
They are designed to measure a wide range of
pressures
Oil Temperature Gauge

The temperature probe for the oil temperature

gauge in the oil inlet line or passage between
the pressure pump and the engine system
On some installations the temperature probe is
located in the oil filter housing
These are normally electric or electronic
Oil Pressure Pumps

Oilpressure pumps may either be of the gear

type or vane type
The gear type pump is used in the majority of
reciprocating engines and uses close fitting
gears that rotate and push the oil through the
system
Scavenge Pumps

Scavenge pumps are driven in the same

manner as the pressure pumps but have a
greater capacity
This higher capacity is because the oil in the
sump is foamy which means it has a much
greater volume than air-free oil
Oil Dilution System

The purpose of the oil dilution system is to

provide thinner oil during engine start
This allows faster lubrication of engine
components
Oil dilution is accomplished by pumping a small
amount of fuel into the oil
Sludge Chambers

Some reciprocating engines have sludge

chambers which are in the hollowed out
connecting-rod journals
These journals accumulate carbon sludge and
dirt particles as they are designed to
During engine overhaul these must be
replaced
Typical Lubrication Systems

Oil System for Wet-Sump Engine

Oil System for Dry-Sump Engine
Oil Tanks
Oil Tanks
Dry sump engine lubrication systems require a
separate tank for each engine system
These tanks can be constructed in three different ways:
Welded sheet aluminum
Riveted aluminum
Stainless steel
Some aircraft are equipped synthetic rubber tanks
GREASE LUBRICATION
GREASE

Grease is a mixture of lubricating oil and metallic soap

or other vehicle that keeps the oil in suspension. The
most practical way to classify greases is by the soap
used. Following soaps are most commonly used.
Calcium
Sodium
Lithium
TYPES OF GREASES:

Calcium Soap Base greases: Calcium-base

greases, also called lime base, are used to lubricate
bearings operating at temperature upto about 150F.
Above this temperature, the grease tends separate and
a does not re-form when cooled.
In the recommended temperature range, lime-base
greases will perform satisfactorily if operation is more
or less. Also, they are water-resistant.


Sodium Soap Base greases: Sodium base greases, also called

Soda base, can be used at temperatures as high as 250F. They
have a relatively stiff and fibrous consistency. Thus providing
superior sealing abilities are reduced, but not the lubricating
abilities of the grease, at the upper limits of operating
temperature range.
Soda base greases can absorb some water without decreasing
their lubricating value.
 Lithium Soap Base greases: Lithium base grease
are often called multipurpose greases because of their
reasonable resistance to water, favorable high and low
temperature characteristics, and good mechanical and
oxidation stability. These greases lubricate well over a
broad range of conditions. Max operating temp 350F.
ADDITIVES FOR OIL AND GREASE

Both oil and grease are used to lubricate rolling and

sliding-contact bearings. In some applications either
lubricant can be used. But each type has particular assets
that best equipped for certain types of applications.

Various materials can be added to oils and greases to

enhance their lubricating abilities. Such additives are
usually chemical compounds that fortify one or several of
the lubricant properties.
 PROPERTIES

-CONSISTENCY
-TEMPERATURE RANGE
-RUST PROTECTION
-MECHANICAL STABILITY
-MISCIBILITY
-BASE OIL VISCOSITY
-LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY
 CONSISTENCY

CONSISTENCY MEANS THE DEGREE OF STIFFNESS

WHICH A GREASE POSSESSES.
CONSISTENCY IS SPECIFIED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE SCALE LAID DOWN BY THE NATIONAL
LUBRICATING GREASE INSTITUTE (NLGI) IN THE
USA.
 Oil and Grease Requirements
PROPERTIES OILS GREASE
Lubricants X X
Act as a hydraulic medium X
Act as a coolant X
Carry away contaminants X
Protect against wear X X
Protect against corrosion X X
Protect against deposits X X
Resist aeration and foaming X
Remain in place X
 Effects of Irradiation on Oils
RADIATION DOSE EFFECT
< 10 6 Rads No unusual problems.
Things begin to happen ; some turbine
10 6
- 10 Rads
7
oils borderline.

10 7 - 10 8 Rads Most oils usable; some marginal

The best iols usable; most become
10 8 - 10 9 Rads unusable.

10 9 - 10 10 Rads Only special products will work

> 10 10 Rads No oil usable

 Effect of Irradiation on Grease
RADIATION DOSE EFFECT
< 10 6 Rads No unusual problems.
10 6 - 10 7 Rads Things begin to happen ; some
greases borderline.
10 7 - 10 8 Rads Most high quality products usable;
others not.
10 8 - 10 9 Rads Most grease unusable.
10 9 - 5 X 10 9 Rads Special products required.
> 5 X 10 9 Rads No grease usable