A lubrication practice in which the tech couples an ultrasonic detector to the grease fitting or housing and adds grease one shot at a time. A starved bearing reads high in decibels from asperity contact; as grease reaches the rolling elements the level falls. When it stops falling or begins to climb, the bearing has enough. It replaces fixed-volume habits that cause both overgreasing and starvation.
Do the conveyor pulleys with ultrasound-assisted greasing, two shots brought the tail pulley down 8 dB.
Grease slowly and pause between shots, because it takes a few seconds for new grease to reach the rolling elements and move the reading.
Also heard as
- acoustic lubrication
- ultrasonic greasing
- acoustic greasing
Related terms
Overgreasing
Pumping more grease into a bearing than it needs, causing churning, heat and blown seals.
Shot
One full stroke of a manual grease gun, the everyday unit for how much grease goes in.
Lube tech
Lubrication technician, the person who owns the lube routes, oil sampling and lube room in a plant.
Zerk
Everyday name for the small ball-check grease fitting that a grease gun coupler snaps onto.