LUBRICATION OF GEARS
The purpose of lubricating gears is as follows:
- 1. Promote sliding between teeth to reduce the coefficient of friction (m).
- 2. Limit the temperature rise caused by rolling and sliding friction.
To avoid difficulties such as tooth wear and premature failure, the correct lubricant must be chosen.
20.1 Methods of Lubrication
There are three gear lubrication methods in general use:
- Grease lubrication.
- Splash lubrication (oil bath method).
- Forced oil circulation lubrication.
There is no single best lubricant and method. Choice depends upon tangential speed (m/s) and rotating speed (rpm). At low speed, grease lubrication is a good choice.
For medium and high speeds, splash lubrication and forced circulation lubrication are more appropriate, but there are exceptions.
Sometimes, for maintenance reasons, a grease lubricant is used even with high speed.
Table 20-1 presents lubricants, methods and their applicable ranges of speed.
The following is a brief discussion of the three lubrication methods.
20.1.1 Grease Lubrication
Grease lubrication is suitable for any gear system that is open or enclosed, so long as it runs at low speed.
There are three major points regarding grease:
- Choosing a lubricant with suitable viscosity. A lubricant with good fluidity is especially effective in an enclosed system.
- Not suitable for use under high load and continuous operation. The cooling effect of grease is not as good as lubricating oil. So it may become a problem with temperature rise under high load and continuous operating conditions.
- Proper quantity of grease. There must be sufficient grease to do the job. However, too much grease can be harmful, particularly in an enclosed system. Excess grease will cause agitation, viscous drag and result in power loss.
20.1.2 Splash Lubrication
Splash lubrication is used with an enclosed system. The rotating gears splash lubricant onto the gear system and bearings.
It needs at least 3 m/s tangential speed to be effective. However, splash lubrication has several problems, two of them being oil level and temperature limitation.
- Oil level.
There will be excessive agitation loss if the oil level is too high. On the other hand, there will not be effective lubrication or ability to cool the gears if the level is too low.
Table 20-2 shows guide lines for proper oil level. Also, the oil level during operation must be monitored, as contrasted with the static level, in that the oil level will drop when the gears are in motion.
This problem may be countered by raising the static level of lubricant or installing an oil pan.
- Temperature limitation.
The temperature of a gear system may rise because of friction loss due to gears, bearings and lubricant agitation. Rising temperature may cause one or more of the following problems:
- Lower viscosity of lubricant.
-Accelerated degradation of lubricant.
-Deformation of housing, gears and shafts.
- Decreased backlash.
New high-performance lubricants can withstand up to 80 to 90°C. This temperature can be regarded as the limit.
If the lubricants temperature is expected to exceed this limit, cooling fins should be added to the gear box, or a cooling fan incorporated into the system.
20.1.3 Forced-Circulation Lubrication
Forced-circulation lubrication applies lubricant to the contact portion of the teeth by means of an oil pump. There are drop, spray and oil mist methods of application.
- Drop method:
An oil pump is used to suck-up the lubricant and then directly drop it on the contact portion of the gears via a delivery pipe.
- Spray method:
An oil pump is used to spray the lubricant directly on the contact area of the gears.
- Oil mist method:
- Lubricant is mixed with compressed air to form an oil mist that is sprayed against the contact region of the gears. It is especially suitable for high-speed gearing.
- Oil tank, pump, filter, piping and other devices are needed in the forced-lubrication system. Therefore, it is used only for special high-speed or large gear box applications.
By filtering and cooling the circulating lubricant, the right viscosity and cleanliness can be maintained. This is considered to be the best way to lubricate gears.
20.2 Gear Lubricants
An oil film must be formed at the contact surface of the teeth to minimize friction and to prevent dry metal-to-metal contact. The lubricant should have the properties listed in
Table 20-3.
20.2.1 Viscosity of Lubricant
The correct viscosity is the most important consideration in choosing a proper lubricant. The viscosity grade of industrial lubricant is regulated in JIS K 2001.
Table 20-4 expresses ISO viscosity grade of industrial lubricants.
JIS K 2219 regulates the gear oil for industrial and automobile use.
Table 20-5 shows the classes and viscosities for industrial gear oils.
JIS K 2220 regulates the specification of grease which is based on NLGI viscosity ranges. These are shown in
Table 20-6.
Besides JIS viscosity classifications,
Table 20-7 contains AGMA viscosity grades and their equivalent ISO viscosity grades.
20.2.2 Selection of Lubricant
It is practical to select a lubricant by following the catalog or technical manual of the manufacturer.
Table 20-8 is the application guide from AGMA 250.03 "Lubrication of Industrial Enclosed Gear Drives".
Table 20-9 is the application guide chart for worm gears from AGMA 250.03.
Table 20-10 expresses the reference value of viscosity of lubricant used in the equations for the strength of worm gears in JGMA 405-01.
Table 20-3 The Properties that Lubricant Should Possess
No. |
Properties |
Description |
1 |
Correct and
Proper Viscosity |
Lubricant should
maintain a proper viscosity to form a stable oil film at the
specified temperature and speed of operation. |
2 |
Antiscoring Property |
Lubricant should have
the property to prevent the scoring failure of tooth surface while
under high-pressure of load. |
3 |
Oxidization and Heat
Stability |
A Good lubricant should
nor oxidized easily and must perform in moist
and high-temperature environment for long duration. |
4 |
Water
Antiaffinity Property |
Moisture
tends to condense due to temperature change, when the gears are
stopped. The lubricant should have the property of isolating
moisture and water from lubricant. |
5 |
Antifoam
Property |
If the
lubricant foams under agitation, it will not provide a good oil
film. Antifoam property is a vital requirement. |
6 |
Anticorrosion
Property |
Lubrication
should be neutral and stable to prevent corrosion from rust that may
mix into the oil. |
Table 20-4 ISO Viscosity Grade of Industrial Lubricant (JIS K 2001)
ISO
Viscosity Grade |
Kinematic
Viscosity Center Value
10-6m²/s (cSt) (40ºC) |
Kinematic
Viscosity
Range
10-6m²/s (cSt)
(40ºC) |
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG
ISO VG |
2
3
5
7
10
15
22
32
46
68
100
150
220
320
460
680
1000
1500 |
|
2.2
3.2
4.6
6.8
10
15
22
32
46
68
100
150
220
320
460
680
1000
1500 |
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than
More Than |
1.98
2.88
4.14
6.12
9.00
13.5
19.8
28.8
41.4
61.2
90.0
135
198
288
414
612
900
1350 |
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than
and less than |
2.42
3.52
5.06
7.48
11.0
16.5
24.2
35.2
50.6
74.8
110
165
242
352
506
748
1100
1650 |
|
Table 20-5 Industrial Gear Oil
Types
of Industrial Gear Oil |
Usage |
Class
One |
ISO
VG 32
ISO VG 46
ISO VG 68
ISO VG 100
ISO VG 150
ISO VG 220
ISO VG 320
ISO VG 460 |
Mainly used in a general
and lightly loaded enclosed gear system |
Class
Two |
ISO
VG 68
ISO VG 100
ISO VG 150
ISO VG 220
ISO VG 320
ISO VG 460
ISO VG 680 |
Mainly used in a general
medium to heavily loaded enclosed gear system |
Table 20-6 NLGl Viscosity Grades
Table 20-7 AMGA Viscosity Grades
AGMA
No. of Gear Oil |
ISO
Viscosity Grades |
R & O
Type |
EP Type |
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 7 comp
8 8 comp
8A comp
9 |
2 EP
3 EP
4 EP
5 EP
6 EP
7 EP
8 EP
9EP |
VG 46
VG 68
VG 100
VG 150
VG 220
VG 320
VG 460
VG 680
VG 1000
VG 1500 |
Table 20-8 Recommended Lubricants by AGMA
Gear
Type |
Size
of Gear Equipment (mm) |
Ambient
temperature ºC |
-10
... 16 |
10 ...
52 |
AGMA
No. |
Parallel
Shaft System |
Single
Stage Reduction |
Center
Distance (Output Side) |
Less than
200
200 ... 500
more than 500 |
2 to 3
2 to 3
3 to 4 |
3 to 4
4 to 5
4 to 5 |
Double
Stage Reduction |
Less than
200
200 ... 500
More than 500 |
2 to 3
3 to 4
3 to 4 |
3 to 4
4 to 5
4 to 5 |
Triple
Stage Reduction |
Less than
200
200 ... 500
More than 500 |
2 to 3
3 to 4
4 to 5 |
3 to 4
4 to 5
5 to 6 |
Planetary
Gear System |
Outside
Diameter of Gear Casing |
Less than
400
More than 400 |
2 to 3
3 to 4 |
3 to 4
4 to 5 |
Straight
and Spiral Bevel Gearing |
Cone
Distance |
Less than
300
More than 300 |
2 to 3
3 to 4 |
4 to 5
5 to 6 |
Gearmotor |
2 to 3 |
4 to 5 |
High
Speed Gear Equipment |
1 |
2 |
Table 20-9 Recommended Lubricants for Worm Gears by AGMA
Types
of Worm |
Center
Distance mm |
Rotating
Speed of Worm rpm |
Ambient
Temperature, ºC |
Rotating
Speed of Worm rpm |
Ambient
Temperature, ºC |
-10
... 6 |
10
... 52 |
-10
... 16 |
10
... 52 |
Cylindrical
Type |
£150
150 ... 300
300 ... 460
460 ... 600
600< |
£700
£450
£300
£250
£200 |
7
Comp |
8
Comp |
700<
450<
300<
250<
200< |
|
8
Comp |
7
Comp |
Throated
Type |
£150
150 ... 300
300 ... 460
460 ... 600
600< |
£700
£450
£300
£250
£200 |
8
Comp |
8A
Comp |
700<
450<
300<
250<
200< |
8
Comp |
Table 20-10 Reference Values of Viscosity Unit: cSt/37.8°C
Operating
Temperature |
Sliding
Speed m/s |
Maximum
Running |
Starting
Temperature |
Less than
2.5 |
2.5 ... 5 |
More than
5 |
0ºC
... 10ºC |
-10ºC
... 0ºC |
110 ...
130 |
110 ...
130 |
110 ...
130 |
0ºC
... 10ºC |
More than
0ºC |
110 ...
150 |
110 ...
150 |
110 ...
150 |
10ºC
... 30ºC |
More than
0ºC |
200 ...
245 |
150 ...
200 |
150 ...
200 |
30ºC
... 55ºC |
More than
0ºC |
350 ...
510 |
245 ...
350 |
200 ...
245 |
55ºC
... 80ºC |
More than
0ºC |
510 ...
780 |
350 ...
510 |
245 ...
350 |
80ºC
... 100ºC |
More than
0ºC |
900 ...
1100 |
510 ...
780 |
350 ...
510 |