LubricMini 120 Automatic Grease Applicator

The Lubricmini 120 is a self-ejecting canister of lubricant designed to screw into a grease nipple socket or other lubrication point, and discharge its content of 120ml of lubricant in a controlled continuous flow, for a preselected period of between one month and twelve months. It is driven by gas that is generated by slow galvanic chemical reaction. It is completely self contained and needs no pumps, motors, electricity or compressed air. Once fitted and activated it will work without attention until its allotted lifespan is over.

How It Works
Built in the top of each Lubricmini 120 is a zinc/molybdenum galvanic element and a flexible rubber expansion chamber containing a mildly acidic liquid electrolyte. The unit is activated by injecting the galvanic element into the electrolyte. The gas generated gradually expands against a piston, to extrude the lubricant slowly but surely into the bearing to which the Lubricmini 120 is fitted. The electrolyte and gas remain hermetically sealed within the expansion chamber so that no contamination of the lubricant can occur, even after the unit itself is spent.

How the Discharge Rate is Controlled
The discharge duration of a Lubricmini 120 is dependant on the rate of gas generation. This is governed by the configuration of the galvanic element. The Lubricmini 120 has a unique adjustable galvanic element. Before activation, this is held in the underside of the cap and is connected to the control knob on the exterior of the unit. Rotating the control knob adjusts the protrusion of a rod shaped electrode to provide the appropriate rate of gas generation for the discharge duration set on the dial. Settings of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 12 months duration are available. (These periods apply at an ambient temperature of about +20°C and will be varied by abnormally high or low temperatures.)

Activating a Lubricmini 120
After the discharge duration has been set, the red locking button is depressed to secure the settings and disconnect the control knob from the dial. Five further clockwise rotations of the control knob will then cause the element to be injected into the electrolyte to start the Lubricmini 120 working.

Monitoring the Lubricant Discharge Level
Throughout the working life of a Lubricmini 120, an indicating ring on the ejection piston shows through translucent windows in the body to enable its lubricant level to be monitored.

How a Lubricmini 120 is Installed
The lubricant outlet in the base of a Lubricmini 120 has a ¼ BSP male thread to enable it to be screwed by hand to fit tightly into a standard grease nipple socket. Adaptors are available to enable Lubricmini 120s to be fitted into sockets of other sizes. With the aid of extension tubes (of at least 5mm internal bore and up to 2 meters in length), they can easily be installed at a distance from the lubrication point. This is particularly useful when it is desired to group a number of Lubricmini 120s together on a panel for ease of access, or when it is necessary to isolate them from extremes of temperature or from excessive vibration. Two or more units may be coupled together in order to increase the supply of lubricant to a bearing. A Lubricmini 120 will work in any position and need not be mounted upright. It can be mounted on its side or upside down. It can be fitted to rotating or moving machine parts, providing the movement is not violent enough to cause the plastic base to break. A Lubricmini 120 will work indoors or out of doors - it will even work under water or encased in ice!

Use in Pressurised Systems
If a Lubricmini 120 is to discharge into a pressurized system (such as a high pressure pump bearing or a compressed air line), it is essential to isolate the Lubricmini 120 from the back pressure by fitting a non-return valve (Part No. 0052/1035) and the pressure in the system must be relieved periodically to permit the Lubricmini 120 to inject lubricant. This can normally be done at the end of the days work. In such circumstances a Lubricmini 120 injects lubricant intermittently rather than continuously.

Accessories and Fittings
A wide range of fittings is available to facilitate the installation of Lubricmini 120s. These are normally semi-permanent fixtures that are left in situ when spent Lubricmini 120s are replaced. Full details of the current range may be found in the separate information sheets entitled Lubricmini 120 Accessories and Fittings in which some typical mounting assemblies are also illustrated