How to Lubricate a Bearing

How to Lubricate a Bearing Lubrication plays an essential part when it comes to the efficacy of the machinery parts, mainly the bearings.

Lubrication of a bearing is done for four primary reasons, firstly, it helps to reduce any kind of friction, secondly, it helps to slow down any kind of disintegration and wearing, thirdly it regulates the temperature and fourthly, it helps as a protection.

There are various types of machinery present in the industry and one should choose the right lubricant from a lubrication oil supplier and opt for proper lubrication procedure according to the operating system of the machines.

If not chosen properly, it can hinder the performance of the machinery rather than improving it. Let’s find out, here in this article, how you can lubricate a bearing in the best way possible. ​Know Type of Lubricants There are two types of lubricants available – grease lubricants and oil lubricants. Oil is a liquid lubricant; whereas the grease is viscous in nature, thicker than the oil. Grease is an awesome lubricant with low maintenance procedure and it adheres well to the bearing parts than the oil. Grease lubricant is great if the bearing operation requires no dripping. Oil lubricants, on the other hand, are a free flowing lubricant which can be distributed so easily which also lubricates the other parts along with the bearing.

The Oil Bath Lubrication Method The oil bath lubrication procedure is by far the easiest method applicable in the industries. There are some bearings which are established in an operating system which requires low to moderate speed. The movement of bearings spread the oil within the parts along with its rotation through the oil bathing which is placed at the core of the bearing.

Oil Pick-Up Ring Lubrication Method There are bearings that are set up in an operating system which requires high speed and free flowing of oil. The oil pickup ring lubricating procedure is suitable for such circumstances than the oil bath method. It uses a ring that is hanged from the sleeve on the shaft of a single side of the bearing. Along with the bearing rotation, the ring distributes the oil from the base to a collecting canal. As a result, thus the oil runs down through the bearing component.

Oil Circulatory Lubrication Method When bearings are set up in an operating system that requires higher speed and thus causes higher temperature, then it is suitable to use the oil circulatory lubrication method. In such circumstances, the oil tends to downgrade at a rapid rate. To hinder the overheating problem and stall the recurrent changes of the oil, this lubrication procedure is done by using a pump which distributes the oil further through the bearing. As a result, the oil drips from the bearing and accumulates in the pool where the oil cools off and gets filtered before turning back in the system.

Other Lubrication Method

Besides the aforementioned methods, there are other lubrication methods available too. They are the oil jet lubrication method, oil-air lubrication method, and grease lubrication method. These methods are required when the operating system runs on a very high speed. Sometimes it is required that the lubricant needs to hold on to the bearing components. (Applicable to only grease lubrication method)