Grease pumps can be manual or automatic; while the manual pumps rely on physical labor, automatic pumps can use pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric power.
Grease Pump – Oil-Rite Corporation
Grease is a non-liquid lubricant with higher viscosity than regular oil. A viscous combination of oil and soap, grease is preferred to other petrol-based lubricants in locations where oil drippings are undesirable. Grease is applied to machinery under heavy pressure, specifically in points of heightened friction.
It is a desirable piece of lubricant equipment because it is easy to use, built to keep the grease contaminant free and is economically and environmentally friendly. A grease pump is a lubrication system that aesthetically resembles a small vacuum, although its body can range in size, holding anywhere from thirty pounds to four hundred pounds of grease.
Another positive attribute is the grease pump has the ability to match up with other lubricating systems, such as central lubrication systems and grease guns. Additional chemical additives can also be mixed into the grease formula for specific characteristics, such as adding anti-wear agents to keep the metal from abrasions and oxidation inhibitors to prolong the life of the grease.
Grease pumps are commonly employed by the automotive and manufacturing industries, although large machinery in the food and beverage, marine and construction industries also make use of the lubricators.
Important specifications to consider when purchasing a grease pump are the viscosity, or resistance to flow of the product being pumped, the volume dispensed, system pressure and the size of the drum. What system, if any, the grease pump will be working with is also an important consideration. The automatic, central lubrication system is usually set up to be permanent, greasing more then one part of a machine at once.
Although it often demands individual maintenance, it is commonly found attached to the machine it is lubricating. The cost of owning a central lubrication system with a grease pump is less because no additional operators are necessary, and the human error aspect is all but eliminated. A grease gun, which is another common grease pump attachment that can also work all on its own, is a tool used manually.
The power of the gun is in the body, and the flexibility to reach out of the way parts of a machine is in the long whip hose that varies in length. Grease pumps are basic necessities in the lubricating industry, versatile enough to match with other systems as well as work alone. They are a product that will be in demand for the foreseeable future.