Constant Level Oilers Flashcards
What is the Purpose of a Constant Level Oiler and what is the Standard Operation?
A CLO provides a small head tank of oil that releases small quantities of Oil to the main oil reservoir when the level drops low enough to reach the CLO liquid/air seal.
Once the Liquid or Air Seal is Broken, what happens?
Air migrates into the CLO and bubbles rise to the CLO reservoir vapor space allowing oil volume to migrate from the Oiler to the Main Oil Reservoir until the liquid or air seal is restored.
What are the Most Common Constant Level Oilers we see?
Trico; Watchdog, Trico; Opto-matic, and Oil Rite
What is the advantage of using a Trico; Watchdog
The watchdog solves one major problem, venting! Instead of requiring a local vent or vent tubing back to the bearing housing to create a closed system, the watchdog offers a larger feed bore which connects the airspace of the CLO to Bearing Housing.
What is a Closed-System Arrangement?
Vent port tubed to the bearing housing vapor space.
Trico Provides 3 main types of Constant Level Oilers - What are they? How are they vented? Is the Oil Level Adjustable?
- Original Opto-Matic Oiler, Adjustable Oil Level, Vents to Atm.
- Closed Loop System Opto-Matic Oiler, Adjustable Oil Level, Vents to Equipment Housing.
- Closed System Watchdog Oiler, Non-Adjustable Oil Level, vented directly to equipment Housing large Oil tubing.
What is the role of air in a Constant Level Oiler?
Air regulates the flow of oil by balancing pressure inside the reservoir. When air enters the reservoir, it displaces the vacuum, allowing oil to flow into the housing. When air entry is blocked, the oil flow stops.
How does the operation of a constant level oiler compare to a straw in water?
It works like a straw dipped in water. If you cover the top of the straw with your finger, water stays in the straw due to the vacuum at the top. When you remove your finger, air enters, and water flows out. Similarly, in a constant level oiler, air entering the reservoir allows oil to flow, and blocking air stops the flow.
Why does the oil stop flowing once the housing reaches the preset level?
The oil flow stops because the tip of the reservoir tube becomes submerged, blocking air from entering the reservoir. This creates a vacuum that prevents oil from flowing.
What happens when the oil level in the housing drops below the preset level?
When the oil level drops, the tip of the reservoir tube is exposed, allowing air to enter the reservoir. This breaks the vacuum, and oil flows into the housing to refill it.
How does gravity affect the operation of a constant level oiler?
Gravity pulls oil from the reservoir into the housing when air enters the reservoir. The reservoir must be positioned above the housing for the oil to flow downward.
What would happen if the reservoir were completely sealed?
If the reservoir were completely sealed, air could not enter, and the vacuum would prevent oil from flowing out, even if the oil level in the housing dropped.
