Volume 53, Number 8, 1967

Lubrication
A Technical Publication Devoted to
the Selection and Use of Lubricants

PUBLISHED BY

TEXACO INC.
TEXACO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
 LUBRICATION
A TECHNICAL PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE SELECTION AND USE OF LUBRICANTS
Published by

Texaco lilt., 135 East 42nd Street, NewYork, N.Y. 10017

J. H. Rambin,Jr., Chairman
of the Boardof Directors;M.J. Epley,Jr., President;A. W.Baucum, HarveyCash,J. W.
Green,J. H. Pipkin, ExecutiveVicePresidents; W.E. Avery,A. M.Card, W.G. Copeland,S. T. Crossland,C. H.
Dodson,M.F. Granville,BenHalsell, O. B. Hocker,H. C. Hose,L. C. Kemp,Jr., KerrynKing,J. W.Kinnear,J. K.
McKinley,J. I. Mingay,W.H. Ryer,H. O. Woodruff, VicePresidents;A. B. Steed,VicePresidentand GeneralCounsel;
W.J. Clayton,Secretary;E. C. Mitchell,Treasurer;k~~. R. Love,Comptroller.
Volume53, Number8, 1967
(.OPYRIGtlT3: "l h~ ~ ontents o! LUBRICATION are cop~right~,d and cannot be reprinted legally by other publications uithout urisscn prtor
.~pprol.d [rom"l’c.xa* o ,and th*’n onl~ tt the article ts auotcd exactl~ and accompaniedby the cr~,dtt line "Courses)
LI’BRICATION",Cop*rtght .~ 1967 b~ "lc.x.*~o Inc. Cop)rtght undur International Cop)right Contentton. All rights Re,erred under Pan-

CHANGE OF ADDRE3S:In reporting change o[ address please give both old and new address: Write to--C. R. Frohlin. Tex,ao Inc.
135 E. ~2nd $t., N*u York. N. Y. 10017: or H. E. IVhittng, Texaco Canada Ltd., 1425 Mountatn St., ,~fontreal 25, Quebec, (.mad,,.

MINING MACHINERY-II
T HEprevious issue of this publication described
surface mining and its lubrication require-
windingon drumsequipped with clutches should be
lubricated sparinglyto preventthe possibility of lu-
ments.This issue will continuethe article with
bricant reaching clutch faces. Othercables should be
someservice suggestions for surface mining equip- cleaned every 10 to 100 hours as necessaryand fresh
ment and an introduction to underground mining cable lubricant applied.
machinery. Aboutevery 500 hours cables should be immersed
for a few minutes in cable lubricant using a trough
Service Suggestions built especially for this purpose. Usuallythis is a
Someuseful hints on servicing various com- horizontal trough equipped with pulleys arranged
ponents of surface mining equipmentare offered as to keepthe cable submerged ~vhile it is run through.
follows: A burlap collar removesexcess lubricant before the
Air Compressors cable leaves the trough.
Keepvalves clean to avoid excessive discharge Chains
temperaturesand keepreceivers drained of oil. Serv- To lubricate the pins of silent chains, remove
ice air cleanersevery5 to 10 hoursin dusty areas. chains every fifty hours, washin diesel fuel or kero-
Ball andRoller Bearings sene and soakin hot gear oil.
Ball and roller bearings often haveseals to pre- Clutches
vent grease leakage, and one charge should usually
last about 200 operating hours. Use a low pressure Use low pressure gun and do not over-lubricate
gun and apply only a few shots unless the bearing is clutch parts. Lubricanton clutch facings will cause
vented. Forcing grease aroundthe shaft maydamage slippage and over heating.
the seals. Fill bearingsone quarter to onehalf full. Electric Motors
Brakes Inspect grease lubricated bearings every 2000op-
Donot over-lubricate wheelbearings, as excessive erating hours. If grease has deterioratedor if dirt is
lubricant mayreach the brakes. Since hydraulic present, clean and repack by adding grease to hous-
brake mechanismsoften contain rubber parts, use ing until about one-third full. Adda small amount
only approvedbrake fluids in order not to affect of grease every 1000 hours, but do not over-
themadversely. lubricate.
Check oil level of the oil lubricated bearings
Cables and Wire Ropes regularly. Washout bearings every 2000 hours. Do
Donot lubricate cables that drag in the dirt. Cable not flood bearings and wipe off excess oil.

[87]
 LUBRICATION

Engine Crankcases maintained between 160 and 180°F. This requires

The drain period recommendedby the engine the use of shutters or other coveringon the radiator
manufacturer covers normal operation, and gen- whenstarting up or operating at light load in cold
erally, oil should be drained from engines as in- weather. In hot weather, special attention should be
structed. Morefrequent oil changes are necessary paid to the fan belt, radiator and water jacket to
for any of the following reasons: abnormally high maintain the cooling systemat maximum efficiency.
oil temperatures, engines started and stopped fre- Thermostatsshould be checkedfrequently by noting
quently, enginesidled for long periods, dusty atmos- whetherthe radiator remains cold until the engine
phere, oil diluted to facilitate starting, or excessive has reached proper operating temperature as shown
contaminationin oil or on filter. Onthe other hand, by the temperatureindicator.
if the operating conditions are consideredmild, ex- Permanenttype antifreeze solutions are preferred
tended drain periods maybe entirely practical. How- for miningmachineryengines, since alcohol boils
ever, extendingthe oil drain period often results in at 170°F. and most cooling thermostats are set near
poor economy,since additional wear and deposits or abovethis figure for efficient combustionof the
due to greater oil contaminationcan cause increased fuel. Keroseneor salt solutions shouldnever be used.
maintenanceand shorter equipmentlife. Copperor EngineDistributors
white metal specks on the filter often serve as a
warningof incipient bearing difficulties. Usedoil Thelower part of the distributor is often lubri-
cated automatically from the engine. Whendriven
analysis is helpful in spotting unsuspectedproblems from the generator, however,separate grease lubri-
with gasoline and diesel engines, as well as estab- cation is usually required. The upper distributor
lishing proper oil drain intervals for a group of bearingmayuse either grease or oil lubrication. The
engines in miningoperations. wick under the distributor rotor requires two or
If possible,drainoil whileit is hot. If the oil filter
is also changed whendraining oil, add an extra three drops of light oil. Anoccasional touch of
grease to the camis desirable, makingsure, however,
quantity of oil whenrefilling the crankcase. Check
the oil level every 10 hoursafter the enginehas been that nonereaches the breakerpoints.
stopped for a few minutes to allow oil in the upper Engine Fans
parts of the engine to return to the crankcase.When Fans mounted on a shaft extension or other
changingbrands of oil, even if manufacturedby the engine accessory and having no separate bearings
samesupplier, it is advisableto drain crankcaseafter require no lubrication. Neither do those having
the first 24 hours to removeany old deposits which permanentlypacked bearings.
were possibly loosened by the newoil. Somefans require occasional grease application,
Crankcase ventilator air cleaners should be while others must be lubricated regularly with oil.
serviced whenthe oil is drained. Onetype of oil lubricated fan is equipped with an
Engine Air Cleaners overflow, while another is equipped with a stand-
pipe to insure constant oil level. In the latter type,
Air cleaners may be the wire gauze type in the reservoir is filled withoil and the excessdrained
whichthe gauze is either replaced with a new ele- by turning the fan until the filler hole is down.If
ment, or washedin kerosene or diesel fuel, dipped over-lubricated, the fans maythrow grease or oil
in oil and reused. Usually, any SAE50 grade heavy ontothe belts.
oil is satisfactory for coatingthe oil wettedtype.
The oil bath type requires inspection at regular Engine Generators
intervals to keepthe oil at the proper level and the Over-lubrication of generators maycause deterio-
oil cup clean. Put a screwdriver into the oil, and if ration of windings and deposit formation on the
the sediment accumulation is one-quarter to one- commutator.
half inch, the unit should be cleaned and refilled.
The entire assembly should be disassembled and EngineOil Filters
thoroughly cleaned every 500 hours. Carryover of Oil filter elementsshould be cleaned or replaced
at every oil change, and more frequently under
oil into the intake manifoldindicates that the engine
has beenover-speeded,the oil too light, the oil level
severe dirt conditions. Lowtemperature operation
requires morefrequent filter changingdue to con-
too high or the air cleaner too small. Donot remove
the oil cup whenthe engine is running. densation formingan emulsionwith oil.
Centrifugal precleaners should be emptied when Oil filters do not removefuel diluent or soluble
the glass container becomes half full. oxidation products. Therefore, crankcase oil must
be changedregularly regardless of the filter type. By-
Engine Cooling Systems pass filters, and evenfull flowfilters do not remove
To insure complete combustion and to minimize all of the finely dispersedsoot. Consequently,highly
contaminating the lubricating oil with unburned dispersant oils tend to turn dark quickly in service.
fuel and soot, engine cooling systems should be Thisis a sign that the oils are functioningproperly.

[88]
 LUBRICATION
Engine Water Pumps
Somewater pumpsrequire no lubrication, since
they are lubricated either automatically from the
engine or are permanently packed at the factory.
Others have a wick leading from an oil sump and
still others have porous bushings from which oil
seeps to the shaft.
Greaselubricated pumpsin whichthe grease does
not comein contact with the engine coolant (when
the grease is applied to an external support bearing)
should be lubricated with a general purpose grease.
Those pumpsin which the grease does comein con-
tact with the engine coolant (when the grease is
used to lubricate the packing seal) are preferably
lubricated with a heavy, water insoluble grease.
If cooling systemsshowsigns of oil, it maybe an
indication that either too muchor the improper
grease is being applied. It should be remembered,
however,that somepermanenttype antifreezes are
two phaseproducts, and that oil in the cooling sys-
tem mayoriginate fromthe coolant.
Transmissions and Rear Axles
In most cases, transmission and rear axle lubri-
cants need not be changed more often than every
1000 hours, although the level shot*ld be checked
every 50 hours. Checkthe drain plugs after heavy
rains or severe dust conditions, then drain and refill
if wateris present or if dust is getting in. Keepthe
oil seals in goodconditionto preventleakage. Going
to a heavier grade of lubricant will not necessarily
reduceleakage,since the heavieroil ust, ally operates
at a higher temperature, xvhich in turn reduces its
viscosity. Foamingor overheating in gear boxes
often indicates too high an oil level. This ~vill also
cause leakage. Keepvents open to prevent pressure
bt, ildup inside the gearcase.
Open Gears
Lubricants for open gears may be heated and UniversalJoints
poured, applied by brush or swab, or sprayed. Gears Someuniversal joints are provided with lubrica-
shot, ld be inspectedabout every10 hot, rs and addi- tion fittings. The ball and trunnion type should not
be over lubricated as the boot will becomefilled
with lubricant. Someroller bearing types require
disassembly and hand packing by an experienced
mechanic.
Courtesy o/ Euclid Division o! G~n~ralAfotor~ Corporation
Figure 15 -- A cutaway view of a planetary drive axle.
[89]
tional lubricant applied as necessary. Opengears op-
erating in very dusty locations shouldbe washedfre-
quentlywithcrankcaseoil andvery, verylittle lubri-
cant applied. If gears mustrun dry, the speeds and
loads shouldbe reduced,if feasible.
GreaseFittings
Greasefittings should be wipedbefore and after
applying grease. Whena plug must be removedand
a fitting applied, it is an indication that this part
should be lubricated only occasionally. Mostparts,
such as plain bearings, should be lubricated fre-
quently and freely by applying product until fresh
grease showsat the point where the old grease is
forced out.
Rubber Parts
Oils and greases maycause natural and somesyn-
thetic rubbers to deteriorate. Thereforetires, fan
belts, rubber hose, engine mountings,rubber bush-
ings on radius rods and spring shackles, and cooling
system connections should be kept free from fuel,
oil and grease. In addition, use only approvedfluids
in shock absorbers, brake cylinders and hydraulic
control systems containing rubber diaphragms,
plungersor seals.
Steering Gear
Keepthe steering gear housingfilled with recom-
mendedoil to lubricate gear surfaces, bearings and
steering shaft. Use a low pressure pumpto prevent
the lubricant from being forced up the steering
column.
Turntable Roller Path
Donot lubricate (except doubleflange types with
hookrollers.) Lubricantwill cause rollers to slide
and wearflat. Lubricatebearingson turntable rollers
sparingly to avoid drippageon paths.
Wheel Bearings
Front wheel bearings generally are lubricated by
removing the wheels and repacking by hand. Some
rear wheel bearings have to be removed, while
others are lubricated automatically from the dif-
ferential, or are permanentlypackedat the factory.
Someare equippedwith a grease cup or fitting and
still others have a plug whichmust be removedand
a fitting substituted, the plug being replaced after
the lubricant is applied.
Gear-driven wheels on large equipment,like the
one illt*strated in Figure15, are usually oil lubri-
 LUBRICATION
cated. Theoil serves both the gears and the bearings.
Prematurewheelbearing failure often is caused
by contamination with dirt and dust during clean-
ing and repacking. Wheneverwheel bearings are
removed,they should be examined,washedcarefully
in a suitable solvent and dried with air. After clean-
ing, grease should be packed around the bearings
and the bearingsreplaced. Greaseseals should be ex-
aminedcarefully and replaced, if necessary. Bear-
ings must be adjusted so that the wheel~vill turn
freely with no end play. Only a small amountof
grease should be placed in the bearing housing, as
over-lubrication mayresult in grease leakage onto
the brakes.
Protecting Idle Equipment
In someareas, surface mining is seasonal, and
often equipmentis idle for extended periods, and
may be exposed to severe weather conditions be-
t~veenactive periods.
Effective engine preservative oils are available
for protecting the internal parts of gasoline and
diesel engines. Enclosedgear boxes, transmissions
and other systems containing lubricants not de-
signed to protect fully against rust during idle pe-
riods should be drained, cleaned and filled with
rustproof oil.
Air tools should also be protected during idle
periods. Manyair tool lubricants are designed to
provide adequate rust protection. Internal parts can
be safeguardedby lubricating the tool liberally be-
fore storage.
External parts of equipment and machinery are
also subject to the ravages of rust. Light mobile
equipmentsuch as cars, pickups and trucks should
be protected from rust, even during periods of op-
eration. Effective rustproofing materials are avail-
able whichwill virtually eliminaterusting and arrest
rust that has already started. The rustproof com-
poundscan be brushed, swabbedor sprayed to form
films whichcreep into remotecracks and crevices to
effectively control corrosion. Special application
proceduresare available for protecting inaccessible
parts of automobilebodies.
UNDERGROUND MINING
The underground mining environment is quite
different from that of surface mining. Temperatures
in mines vary from freezing to well above 100°F.
However,for the most part, temperatures are rea-
sonably moderate, generally ranging from 50° F. to
60°F. except near the mine openings. Fresh air,
light and power must be supplied to underground
operations. Poweris usually ACor DCelectric or
pneumatic, although internal combustion engines
are also used. Workingspaces are relatively con-
fined and, as in mining of low seam coal, can be
quite cramped. Machinesused must be especially
[90]
adapted, not only for workingunderground,but in
accordancewith the size and nature of the vein or
deposit to be worked.Accessto and from the mines
is generally time consumingand tedious. This is
particularly true in the transportation of machines,
parts and lubricants to and from the workingface
and shop or storage areas. This places a high value
on dependableoperation of machines, since produc-
tion is geared to the machinesand maximum pro-
duction depends upon continued normal operation
of equipment. The proper operation and continued
performanceof the equipmentis directly related to
adequate and proper lubrication. Therefore, high
lubricant quality, goodlubricant application prac-
tices and proper maintenanceare all essential to
profitable miningin this age of mechanization.
High humidity, contaminating dusts and dirt,
high operating temperatures, heavy work loads,
water and corrosive conditions are all commonto
undergroundmining, and constitute the main fac-
tors with which lubricants must contend.
The problem of adequate and proper lubricant
supply is lessened by use of especially designedcon-
tainers and dispensers to ease transportation and
use underground. Minimizingthe numberof lubri-
cants required is of primeimportanceand is receiv-
ing muchattention. This eases the responsibility of
lubricant distribution and reduces the chances of
misapplication. The ultimate goal of a single oil
and a single grease for undergroundequipmenthas
not yet been realized, althoughoften operations can
be properly serviced with three or four carefully
selected high quality lubricants.
Access to undergrounddeposits is provided by
openings driven into and under the ground. These
openingsare given different namesto indicate posi-
tion and direction. Someof these terms are identi-
fied as follows:
Shafts: Vertical tunnels driven from the surface.
Provides primary access for men, machines and
supplies and exit for ore.
Drifts: Horizontal tunnels driven to the deposit
area from the side of a mountain.Also, passages
driven along the vein.
Slopes: Inclined tunnels driven from the surface
to the depositarea.
Levels: Horizontal tunnels driven in the earth at
any given elevation. These include drifts and
crosscuts connectingdrifts.
Winzes: Vertical or steeply inclined shafts sunk
from levels. Usedfor access and as passages for
ore.
Raises: Vertical tunnels driven up,yard used for
access to and as passagesfor minedore.
Inclines : Tunnelsthat are neither vertical nor hori-
zontal.
 LUBRICATION

Stopes: Openings from which ore is mined. They
may be just large enough to allow men and ma-
chines to work in them or large enough to ac-
commodatea multi-storied building.
The Mining Cycle
The underground mining cycle is composed basi-
cally of three phases ( 1 ) rock breaking by drilling
and blasting. Cutting of the deposit face prior to
blasting is done with some of the softer materials
in order to facilitate and improve fragmentation
and minimize blasting (2) mucking or loading and
(3) transportation, i.e. hauling and hoisting.
Fragmentation
Fragmentation is necessary to facilitate handling
the ore, waste rock or spoil involved. In this process,
a systematic pattern of blast holes is drilled in the Loading
face. The number and depth of the holes drilled
depend on the nature and size of the ore or fossil
fuel mass to be broken, as well as the mining method hauling system. For maximumefficiency, the capa-
to be followed. In hard rock, drilling is done pri-
marily with pneumatically powered percussion type
drills. With softer materials, electric and hydrau-
lically poweredrotary drills are predominantly used.
Mining explosives are of special design and com-
position to accomplish the particular job at hand.
In soft deposits such as coal, potash, etc., the release
of highly compressedair in the drill holes is exten-
sively employedfor fragmentation. Drilling is also
used for installing roof bolts, which are used to
provide supports for rock which might not stand
otherwise without added internal trussing.
Drilling blast holes and direct fragmentation
both require large quantities of compressed air in
many underground mines. Figure 16 is an example
of a six stage compressor used for such purposes.
The method of mucking, or loading is usually
determined by the choice and design of the mine

[91]
 LUBRICATION
Single drumhoist.
Divided single drumhoist.
Double drum hoist-one drum clulched.
Figure 17- Schematicdrawings showingseveral mine hoist assemblies.
city of the systemmust be correlated with loading
rates. Different methodsof loading maybe classified
as follows:
( 1 ) Handloading, whichis virtually obsolete.
(2) Loading from chutes or bins.
( 3 ) Scraperor slusher loading. Slushersare oper-
ated on wire rope arrangementsusually pow-
ered by compressedair or electricity.
(4) Overshot loading. This entails use of me-
chanical loaders or excavators in whichthe
digging element crowds, lifts and discharges
with a rocker arm motionback into a car or
truck. The machineusually moveson rails or
crawler treads. Theyare used extensively in
hard rock mining.
(5) Conveyor type shovel loading. These ma-
chines dig on forward motion and discharge
on backwardmotion to a conveyorbelt that
in turn discharges to a hauling device.
(6) Continuous loading. This is done with ma-
chines having gathering arms that load con-
tinuously as they advance. Theyload onto a
[92]
Double drum holst-both drumsclutched.
Single and multi-rope Koepehoists.
Courtesy o! Nordberg,llannlacturing Co.
self-contained conveyor which moves the
materialinto rail or shuttle cars, belts, etc.
for hauling out of the mine.
Hauling
Hauling and hoisting are the meansof transport-
ing the minedmaterial to the surface and essen-
tially ends the miningoperation per se. Concentra-
tion, beneficiation, cleaning and drying of ores may
follow in subsequentoperations, but are beyondthe
scopeof this article.
Underground hauling is done in many ways.
Manymineshave extensive railway systems, and the
mined material is hauled in mine cars pulled by
electric locomotives. The filled cars maybe moved
to unloaders that emptyinto bins or chutes from
whichskip hoists are loaded to take the ore or coal
to the surface or, the loaded minecars themselves
maybe skip hoisted to the surface for unloading.
Otherminesuse endless belts to collect the ore near
the workingareas and moveit to stockpiles or clean-
ing plants outside the mine. Extensible belts which
 LUBRICATION

can be conveniently lengthened or shortened are ice, adhesive, heavy residual oils with high film
frequently used to follow the movingface. Belts and strengths are desirable. Oftenthese productsare cut
mine cars are often fed from mobile hauling ve- back with a volatile solvent to aid application. On
hicles, operating betweenthe loaders and primary evaporationof the solvent, the tough, adhesivelub-
hauling equipment. ricant film remains.
In order to take proper care of the wealth of Due to exposure and hard service of the head
mechanical equipment used in underground min- sheave wheel, a high quality rust and oxidation in-
ing, it is extremelyimportant that intelligent and hibited oil or grease should be used for bearing
careful consideration be given to maintenanceand lubrication. Lubricationof the wire ropes and cables
lubrication requirements. used in hoisting was covered previously.
Lubrication of Equipment Mechanical Mining Machinery
Manymines have large shops underground or
above ground in which someof the equipment can theThe greatest progress in undergroundmining in
past several years has been in the expandedde-
be properly maintainedand lubricated on schedule.
However,muchequipment cannot be readily moved
to shops, and hence maintenance and lubrication
must be done at isolated underground locations.
Since production is often involved, these services
maybe hurried, incomplete or improper. This, of
course, is highly undesirable and maysubsequently
lead to early and unscheduledoverhauls.
Discussion of lubrication of various types of
equipmentused extensively in undergroundmining
operations follows:
Hoists
Large drumhoists are employedin shaft sinking
and in hoisting mined material from deep under-
groundmineswith either vertical or inclined shafts.
Several arrangementsfor minehoist assemblies are
shownschematically in Figure 17.
The hoisting layout usually comprises a head-
frameerected over the collar of the shaft, or at the
top of an incline, and a sheave wheelat the top of
the headframe for each hoisting compartmentor
hoistway. Skips and cages are attached to wire ropes
that pass over the head sheave to the hoist drums.
The wire rope is woundand unwoundon the hoist
drums to raise or lower the skips and cages. An
important safety feature of skips and cages is a
device to stop themif the cable breaks. The head-
CourteJy ol NordbergManulacturingCo.
frame contains bins into whichthe hoisted material
is discharged. Thehoists also serve as a meansfor Figure 18--A closeup of a mine hoist clutch assembly.
men, equipmentand supplies to enter and leave the
mines.
Mosthoists are electrically driven through gear
and clutch arrangements, and often have two drums
that can be operated separately or in balance. Ex-
amples of each are shownin Figures 18 and 19.
The drums are driven through single or double
reduction gear sets that maybe open or enclosed.
Lubricationof the large electric hoist motorbear-
ings is usually accomplishedwith a highly refined,
mediumviscosity, rust and oxidation inhibited min-
eral oil. Mild EP gear oils are used for lubricating
enclosed reduction gears. Lubrication of open re-
duction gears maybe a problemif they are subject Courtesy ol Vulcan-Denver Corporation
to contaminationwith abrasive dusts. For this serv- Figure 19-- A large double drummine hoist.

[93]
 LUBRICATION

velopment and use of mechanical mining machin-

ery. Because of the importance of proper lubrication
of this high investment equipment and the previ-
ously mentioned problems of providing mainte-
nance services in the operating areas, muchthought
should be and has been given to the selection of
lubricants and simplification of the lubrication pro-
gram.

Lubricants
Primary considerations for lubricating this equip-
ment include the hydraulic system pumpsand other
mechanisms, gearing, sliding surfaces and the vari-
ous machine and motor bearings. Therefore, the
hydraulic oil, gear oil, chassis lubricant anti ball and
roller bearing grease must be carefully selected and
properly applied for optimum machine perform-
ante anti availability.
Automatic lubrication has been applied success-
fully to individual pieces of mechanical mining
equipment, using both oil and grease for general
lubrication according to the design and location of
the parts to be serviced, kVhen operating mecha-
nisms can be served from a central reservnir, high
viscosity, mild EP oils have proved quite satisfac-
tory. Some machines are equipped with zone lubri-
cating systems with easily accessible application
points, from which lines carry the lubricant to the
less accessible bearings and gears. Careful checks
should be made periodically to assure that none of
these lines are broken. If any of the lubrication lines
are broken or damaged, they should be replaced
promptly. Lubrication buttons should be carefully
cleaned before applying lubricants to prevent in-
gress of abrasive dust and dirt into the movingparts.
Often it is convenient and advantageous to install
a lubricant dispensing pump on an individual piece
of eqnipment for servicing other equipment in the
area. For instance, installatinn on shuttle cars pro-
vides a high degree of mobility. However, the unit
could be placed on the continuous miner, since its
lubrication is more demanding, and the mobile
equipment brought to it for servicing.
Wheel bearings require a shear resistant grease
with gnod rust protective properties. Grease lubri-
cated motnr bearings require a product which cir-
culates properly in the bearing, resists leakage and
possesses good rust and oxidation resistance. On
equipment using motors designed to operate at
usually high temperatures, such as silicone wound
ACmotors, a special grease with exceptional oxida-
tion resistance and high temperatnre perfnrmance
characteristics is required for reasnnable service life.
In general, wheel and motor bearings, (except those
operating under extremely adverse conditions), re-
quire relatively infrequent lubrication. This can be
done at scheduled periodic service intervals.
Gear lubricants should resist thickening and have
Figure 20--Hot Plate Ignition Test. Note how mineral oll
ignites whensprayedon heated surface.
sufficient load carrying properties to prevent scor-
ing and galling of gears, including the shock loading
conditions typical of underground mining. Gear
lubricatk~n and general grease requirements of
some mining machinery can be met with one spe-
cially formulated semi-fluid grease type prnduct.
This, of course, permits simplified stocking of lub-
ricants in the immediate working area. The semi-
fluid grease must flow readily under gear box service
conditions, since snme splash lubrication may be
inw)lved. It also must possess sufficient viscosity to
resist leakage, and to function properly as a chassis
and general purpose grease on other parts of the
equipment. It shoukt have a high resistance to ad-
verse effects of water and solids conta~nination so as
not to thin out or harden excessively in service.
The hydraulic oil lubricates the internal parts of
the control valves, hydraulic cylinders, fluid motors,
pumps, and relief valves in the hydraulic system. It
must protect these parts from excessive wear, pro-
vide adequate rust protection and be compatible
with the seal, gasket and hose materials used in the
machine] Cleanliness is of extreme importance in
hydraulic systems to insure proper operation and to
aw)id excessive wear from abrasive dust and dirt.
The system should be inspected, flushed at intervals
and the hydraulic oil renewed as necessary. The nil
should resist deterioration due to heat and nxidation
and resist formation of stick}’ gumsand sludges that
may impair performance of precisely designed hy-
draulic mechanisms.
The Bureau of Mines encourages the use of fire
resistant tluids in underground mines, and has de-
veloped a schedule of fire resistance tests fnr qualifi-
cation as permissible fire resistant hydraulic ttuids
under their Schedule 30. There are three general
types of fire resistant tluids, namely: Synthetics,
water-glycol compositions and water-in-oil emul-
sions, s None of these fluids are completely non-
ttammable, but they all possess a high degree of fire
resistance. The reader will note the dramatic ditfer-
 LUBRICATION
Figure 21 --Atomized Spray Ignition Test. The fire resistant
hydraulic fluid does not ignite even whensprayed through a
propaneflame at 2000°F.
ences in ttammability between mineral oil and a fire
resistant ttuid in the laboratory ignition tests illus-
trated in Figures 20 and 21.
In coal mining, the principal interest has been
on the water in oil emulsion types because of their
adequate performance at reasonable costs. The
emulsiontype fluids owetheir fire resistance to their
water content, which generally is in the range of 35
to ,i5 per cent. \Vhen these fluids are exposed to
sul~ficiently high temperatures, steam is formed,
thereby reducing local temperatures and displacing
oxygen in the immediate area. This acts to blanket
the fire and suppress ignition. The lubricity of
water-in-oil emulsions is derived frnm the mineral
oil and additives: the oil phase completely surrounds
the water droplets in the emulsion. Service tests
indicate that properly formulated emulsion type
Figure 22 -- A coal cutting machine.
!951
ttuids give good performance which is comparable
in most instances to that obtained with mineral hy-
draulic oils, reduced consumption and lower oper-
ating temperatures. Oneof their main limitations is
that they cannot be used extensively at temperatures
exceeding 150 F. due to evaporation of the water
phase.
The emulsion type ttuids differ from mineral oils
in several respects. Becauseof this, certain care and
precautions must be observed in their use. When
properly handled and use~t, they perform satisfac-
torily and contribute to mine safety. Fluid suppliers
are familiar with the characteristics and capabilities
of their products, alld should be consulted if their
adoption and use is being considered.
The clutch n3echanisms on mining equipment,
and particularly miners, are very impnrtant items.
They must functinn properly so that they dn not
slip excessively or stick, causing overheating, over-
loading and possible damageto the machines. Clutch
types and materials of construction vary appreciably,
and in someinstances may be sensitive to the fric-
tional properties of the oil. Whenthe machines are
working continuously and under heavy lnad, rela-
tively high temperatures can develop in the clutch
zone, especially with disk type friction clutch packs.
High grade rust and oxidation inhibited mineral
nils, such as those used for hydraulic tluid service
shoukt be used to lubricate these devices. In some
applications, such as in chatter type clutches, mild
EP gear oils nr sen3i-ltuid greases have been used
with success.
CIItt~I~,g Machines
Mechanical cutting machines like the one shown
in Figure 22 are used for cutting coal, potash, gyp-
sum, and other soft materials at the face to improve
fragmentation. Since cutting is a heavy duty opera-
~ ,,:,,a ,’, ol 7 he J,/]r,.5 .llanut..;uring Co,

tion, severe loads are imposed on the chains, gears
and bearings of these machines.
Some cutting machines can be lubricated with a
soft grease or a mediumheavy oil, ranging in vis-
cosity from 300 to 600 SSU at 100°F. On equip-
ment where both the gears and bearings are lubri-
cated by the same system, a somewhatheavier prod-
uct is generally used, such as a mediumviscosity
mild EP gear oil, a compoundedresidual oil or a
semi-fluid grease.
The cutter normally operates on tracks driven
through a wormand gear, with chain connections
to the wheels. Chain lubrication usually presents a
problem, as the chains are exposed to the abrasive
effects of dirt and rock dust. Therefore, cleaning and
regular periodic lubrication are important. Both ob-
jectives can be accomplished by soaking the chains
in oil at regular intervals.
Courtes) o/Vulcan-Denver
Figure 23 -- A cutaway of a double drum slusher
Slusher Hoists
In certain types of hard rock mining, loading
involves use of slusher hoists to muckthe loosened
material into bins which load the hauling equip-
ment. Slusher hoists are open end scrapers draxvn by
wire cable threaded through a series of properly
located sheaves and operated by one, two or three
drum hoists, depending t,pon the requirements.
Figure 23 is a cutaway view of a double drum hoist
shoxving the liberal use of gears and ball bearings
in these devices. The cable is kept tight at all times
and the drums are operated together or separately
as required to pull the scraper through the ore and
accumulate it in bins or chutes. The slushers are
powered by electric or air motors as large as 150
horsepower. Under adverse conditions, considerable
heat may be generated in the hoists throt,gh use of
drum brakes and from clutch slippage. The hoists
are also subject to severe contamination with abra-
sive dust and dirt.
The lubrication requirements of slusher hoists
can be adequately met by using a mediumviscosity
mild EP gear oil for the gears and a grease for the
bearings. For simplification, someoperators stand-
ardize on a single grease to lubricate the antifriction
bearings, solar gear teeth and the bushings and
LUBRICATION
bearings of the solar gear pinions. The grease for
this service should be heat resistant, possess suitable
shear stability and have antiwear characteristics so
as to properly protect tile gear teeth. Positive lubri-
cation at proper intervals will help overcome the
adverse effects of heat and contamination.
Corporation
hoist. Courtesy ol The Eimco Corpor.mon
Figure 24 -- An overcast shovel loading ore.
Overcast Loaders
Overcast shovels are used extensively in hard
rock mining operations. The loaders fill the shovels
in forward movementsand then for overcasting, the
loader moves back and the shovel is elevated and
pulled backward. Thus, the ore is cast backward in
an overhead motion into conveyors or mine cars.
These loaders usually operate on rails or crawler
tracks and are pneumatically or electrically powered.
Figure 24 shows an overcast shovel at work loading
ore. A general view of another type of shovel
loader appears as Figure 25.
Air motors can be lubricated satisfactorily xvith
SAE 20 grade motor oil. SAE 80 grade mild EP
gear oil is suitable for the chain reel drive assembly
and traction motor gears. A suitably selected multi-
purpose grease can serve as the wheel bearing and
chassis lubricants. The primary problems in lubrica-
tion of overcast shovels and loaders arise through
contamination with abrasive dirt and dust. Hence,
it is goodpractice to drain and flush lubricants reg-
ularly to avoid excessive bearing and gear wear.
Scroll Type Loaders
The modern machine used primarily in loading
softer materials is a combination gathering, con-
[96]
 LUBRICATION

Courtvty o] Goodman
Di~,ition, I[/estingbouJe Air Brake Compan:,
Figure 25- A shovel loader.

veying and handling device, as Figure 26 shows. machines move on crawler treads under their own
The gathering and scraping mechanism digs into power. They are equipped with movable cutting
the loosened coal or mineral deposit and directs it heads that can rip relatively soft materials from the
onto a conveying unit. This, in turn delivers the mine face without drilling, cutting or blasting. The
material to shuttle cars, belts or other hauling units. mined ore, coal, etc. is loaded onto a conveyor
These mechanismsmust ft, nction in direct contact built into the machine by scrolls or gathering arms.
with abrasive materials and frequently under ad- The material is then discharged into hauling equip-
verse temperature and water conditions. Accord- ment, thus completing the fragmentation and load-
ingly, gears, chains and bearings must be properly ing ~vith one machine and in one operation.
maintained and lubricated at all times. The continuot, s miners are built to different
dimensions to accommodate the various size seams
Continuous Miners and production rates which must conform with the
During recent ),ears, great advances have been mine operators’ reqt, irements. These machines are
made in the design and performance of large con- generally electrically and hydraulically powered.
tinuous miners to handle coal and other soft They are provided xvith water sprays to lay dust
materials like potash, salt, and gypsum These and can be equipped with drilling devices for in-
stalling roof bolts. These ma-
chines are highly productive,
and a single machine can mine
as much as several thousand
tons per shift. Three of these
remarkable machines are il-
lustrated in Figures 27, 28 and
29.
Continuous miners are com-
plex, expensive equipment and
represent a major investment
to the mine operators. Main-
tenance and lubrication care
must be at high levels, because
when these machines are in-
operative, the production of
the entire mine is affected.
Their compactness and design
are xvell suited for simplifica-
tion of lubrication require-
Courtesy o/Joy Manu[acturing Compan) ments, and some of these ma-
Figure 26-- A modernloading machine. chines have been operated on

[97]
 I.UBRICATION

Figure 27-- A continuous miner.

Figure 28-- Anothertype of continuousminer in operation.

virtually nnc oil and one

grease’. Due to the environ-
ments in which they work,
contamination of the hydraulic
and lubricating systems is a
majnr factor. Intelligent lubri-
carton practices and good
maintenance can do much to
minimize contamination and
extend the useful service life
of this equipment.

Figure 29-- Anothertype of contlnuousminerin service.

The next issue of this publication will conclude REFERENCES

this article with descriptions of underground min-
7. Magazine LUBRICATION, Volume 52, Number 5,
ing transportation equipment, drills, compressors 1966. "Hydraulics."
and pumps, and mining machinery components 8. Magazine LUBRICATION, December, 1962. "Fire
commonto both surface and underground mining. Resistant Hydraulic Fhlids."
 TEXACO

For men who run companies, Texaco has ideas that keep
things movingmore efficiently, moreeconomically,
more profitably. Andmore ideas are on the way
all the time for companiesof every kind.
 TRUSTYOUR CAR TO THE MAN WHO WEARS THE STAR

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