Engineering News

SPONSORED POST (Virtual Showroom):Labyrinth seals provide extremely efficient sealing of housings, contributing to improved bearing life when properly grease purged. However, if this is not done correctly then maintenance and productivity can be negatively affected because of bearing failures, leading to production losses.

Labyrinth seals are typically greased by hand, with relatively long intervals between re-lubrication, which may not be frequent enough to ensure efficient sealing outcomes. Labyrinth seals require a correct grease fill to be maintained and, preferably, a positive grease flow, for the best sealing effect. Hand greasing can only provide correct fill and sealing over a limited time frame, outside of which the seal will be susceptible to the ingress of foreign matter. Poor sealing leads to premature bearing failures.

Hand greasing also leads to excess grease being applied in an attempt to improve the sealing outcome. The excess grease builds up around the seal, allowing dirt to be mixed into the excess grease, which can then be drawn back into the seal. High-pressure water is often used to clean off excess grease, which can result in dirt and water being forced back through the seals into the housing, creating a form of grinding paste. As little as 0.05% of water in the grease can substantially shorten the life of a bearing, leading to a reduction of the grease oil film strength, corrosion, and hydrogen-induced fractures.

GreaseMax lubricators avoid the build-up of excess grease and its associated problems, offering significantly improved outcomes for labyrinth seal greasing.

GreaseMax ensures continuous grease pressure, a correct grease fill and a positive grease flow in the seal, while also preventing the inflow of foreign matter. With proven results in labyrinth seal greasing applications, GreaseMax offers a low-cost solution that provides considerable maintenance and productivity benefits.

For more information, visit Creamer Media’s Virtual Showroom