Using Ultrasound Techniques to Assess the Greasing of Bearings

<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/ueditor/php/upload/image/20220602/1654152583132210.jpg" title="1654152583132210.jpg" alt="2.jpg"/></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The best practice for&nbsp;greasing bearings is using ultrasound, as this helps determine how much grease is required. Ultrasound is an effective method of measuring friction – increased friction levels can be caused by applying too much or too little grease to a <a href="https://www.bearing-asia.com/products/catalogue.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><strong>bearing</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><strong>.</strong></span></span></p><p><br/></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">By using ultrasound, the correct amount of grease can be calculated by evaluating the required levels. SDT&nbsp;LUBExpert&nbsp;ensures that the correct amount of grease is applied for each bearing using ultrasound and condition-based lubrication.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In addition, the&nbsp;Ultranalysis?&nbsp;Suite 3&nbsp;software provides a way of saving valuable lubrication data, traceability, and trending where grease replenishment quantity, intervals, and ultrasound levels are recorded.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The information archived in this database can also be used to improve lubrication intervals/schedules, as well as to analyze root cause failure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The&nbsp;LUBExpert&nbsp;also allows for the screening of bearing conditions by utilizing the ultrasound&nbsp;crest factor&nbsp;algorithm.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Several trials on a large amount of grease-lubricated bearings across various plants were conducted. These bearings had been previously greased using fixed replenishment rates calculated from grease application calculators and/or formulas.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Results</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In one example, LUBExpert was used to inspect&nbsp;the bearings to determine the correct quantity of grease. The study indicated that approximately:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">70% of bearings were over lubricated,</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">15% of bearings were under lubricated, and,</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">15% of bearings had the correct replenishment rate.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The results from this trial are similar to results recorded from other plants.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Conclusion</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Rather than relying on calculated/fixed grease quantities, the bearing lubrication is specific to the conditions of each bearing.<br/><br/>Greasing using ultrasound:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Increases the availability and reliability of equipment by ensuring bearings have the correct amount of grease applied;</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Allows for further optimization of reliability programs and lubrication schedules, thanks to the data recorded and archived in the lubrication database;</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Decreases the amount of grease used and optimizes schedules, which in turn reduces costs.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by SDT Ultrasound Solutions.</span></p><p><br/></p>