On the other hand, a grease pump for a fluid handling system can be a mobile unit which can be manually operated or air operated. The reciprocating piston pump is mounted on a grease keg; the sizes of the drum vary between 12.5, 16, 18, 25, 50 and 180 kg. The additional components which can be added to the pump are a trolley, hose, control valve, z swivel and/ or metering gun.
When selecting a grease pump, it is vital to consider not only the application and environment but the type of grease or Trabon lube systems that you are using. The most important property of grease, which distinguishes it from other types of lubricants, is its semi–solid nature. Greases do vary from very soft or semi-liquid to hard. The most commonly used classification used for grease to refer to is NLGI. So for example, NLGI 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
The main function of the lubricant such as a grease or Trabon lube, is to interpose a film between two surfaces so that they can slide without excessive friction and without damage. Many decades ago, in order to grease a bearing, a grease nipple was and still is used. This is a metal component which is used to feed lubricant into a single bearing point using a grease gun. It was then around the 1900s that a company called Lincoln pioneered many innovations in lubrication pump design. In 1940, Victor Klein invented a 2.5”air motor which led to a full stroke mechanism being built which allowed the creation of an air operated pump.
There are many methods to lubricate machinery in factories, plants as well as off road and on road vehicles. This can be done with traditional manual lubrication (grease nipples, oil cans, grease guns) or through a centralised lubrication or grease system (grease pump, oil pump, and spray pump).
There have been many discussions over the years regarding the old fashioned traditional manual lubrication.This consisted of a maintenance person walking around with a grease gun, climbing on machinery and having to estimate how much lubricant to push into a bearing. While this provided peace of mind that each friction point was getting lubricated, it was not the most effective way.
Machinery would often go through periods of under- or over-lubrication, compared to centralised lubrication which keeps your machinery in the optimum lubrication zone. Centralised lubrication systems are the most effective and economical solution, when machine downtime, parts replacement and overall costs are factored into the lubrication equation.
There are many advantages of using a Trabon grease pump whether that is a manual or automatic unit. The advantages are that it prevents waste; offers better saturation, longevity, speed and accuracy; delivery is controlled and metered; the unit is self-contained; the operation is predictable; multiple bearings can be greased from one central point; and the grease is contained within the reservoir and can be refilled at any time.
