New additions to Schaeffler range of lubricators

An automatic lubricant supply can prevent over-lubrication and under-lubrication, and it also saves time and extends the operating life of bearings. Schaeffler says that maintenance costs can be reduced by up to 30 per cent compared to manual lubrication with the added advantage of problem-free production over the long term. 

The company has now expanded its CONCEPT range by adding two more automatic lubricators. In addition to its existing lubricators, the CONCEPT2 (with two lubricant supply line outlets) and the CONCEPT8 (with eight lubricant supply line outlets) the range now includes the CONCEPT1, launched in the UK in November 2020, as well as CONCEPT4 lubricators. As the designators imply, the CONCEPT1 is designed for automatic relubrication of one lubrication point, while the CONCEPT4 can independently supply up to four lubrication points. 

Another new development is that the CONCEPT1 lubricator itself and the replacement cartridges for the CONCEPT4 can be filled up to three times in just a few steps, even with greases from outside Schaeffler’s proprietary Arcanol range. This is claimed to reduce waste, help protect the environment and save on maintenance costs.

The CONCEPT1 is seen by Schaeffler as primarily suitable as a starting point in the field of automatic relubrication. It is available in 60 cm3 and 125 cm3 sizes and is powered through electrochemical reaction by a gas-producing dry cell, which means that an external power supply is not needed. The CONCEPT1 is said to be suitable for use in a wide range of applications, including electric motors, pumps, and belt conveyors. Due to its compact dimensions, it can be mounted in virtually any lubrication point. Further, the CONCEPT1 is also ATEX certified for operation in explosion-proof areas. 

The CONCEPT4 is stated to be suitable for minimum-quantity lubrication, dispensing just 0.15 cm3 per actuation impulse. It was intentionally designed without an integrated timer for the lubricant dosage and without a display with control buttons, which makes it particularly durable in the field. The CONCEPT4 is regulated solely via an external control unit and is thus aimed exclusively at customers who have an existing PLC infrastructure. 

Unlike the CONCEPT1, the CONCEPT4 utilises special lubricant cartridges (as do the CONCEPT2 and CONCEPT8). The CONCEPT4 lubricator, which utilises cartridges with a standard size of 400 cm3 and has four outlets for lubricant supply lines, can also provide high delivery pressures of up to 70 bar. This ensures that lubricant reaches hard-to-access points that require long lubricant supply lines. 

An overview of Schaeffler’s entire range of lubricators can be found here.