Continued from page 41
Wayside lubricator • Trackside • Grease tank / pump • Solar panel • Wiper bars clamped inside rails
5. Adequate flowability within the reservoir for continued flow into the pump inlet at lower grease levels in the reservoir
6. Acceptable anti-rust and anti-corrosion properties 7. Desired level of conductivity so as to not interfere with electrical signals
8. High thin film strength for base oil 9. High Viscosity Index for base oil 10. High flash and fire point for base oil 11. Biodegradable so as to not persist under the ballasts which could render the track unstable due to floating
12. Be aquatically non-toxic; and not harmful to plants.
3. Laboratory Testing and Results Commercially available mineral oil based and bio-based greases were identified and acquired for testing. Those greases were known to be commercially available and in use by US railroads. By performing the tests in the same laboratory, the side by side results provide an insight into the performance of these existing products.
Figure 1. Basic components of a wayside grease dispenser (lubricator) and gage face where the grease is applied.
While rail curve grease in concept is simple because it is applied once and is lost to the environment, in practice it requires a multitude of performance attributes that makes it a complex product. Those desire attributes include the following:
1. High extreme pressure property 2. Adequate level of adhesiveness for adherence to the wheel flange and subsequently to the gage face of the track
3. Adequate level of cohesiveness necessary for “Carry” down the track; and for preventing pump cavitation
4. Good cold temperature flowability in hoses and lines from the reservoir to the distribution bars
Continued on page 44
Summer greases ranged in the worked penetrometer readings ranged from 279 to 285 (NLGI Rating of Grade 2); and the winter greases ranged in the worked penetrometer readings from 305 to 336 (NLGI Rating of Grade 1). Table 1 shows the side by side results for all the test greases.
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LUBE MAGAZINE NO.129 OCTOBER 2015
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