Steam kiln lube problem

Bronze bushings, get sticky when using grease. Oil will soak into most porous bronze bushing material & provide superior lubrication. Motor or gear oil would be preferable to things like wd-40, triflow.......

Hi, Commodity Sampler!

What is the origin of the contaminates? Do they come from the lubricant components or from the kiln process?

Mark

contaminents are from kilm process nothing else is enduced

Hi, commodity sampler!

"contaminents are from kiln process"

In that case, the bushings need to be isolated from the kiln during operation.

Perhaps a continuous shield through the kiln next to the hinge would be useful. It could be attached to the door or to the body of the kiln, arc-shaped to accomodate a pocket in its opposing part (in the sketch, the pocket is shown in the kiln) and present a vapour barrier component during the killing process.

Here's a sketch of a (fantasized) kiln & door section with a hinge shield where the shield is shown as part of the door, and pockets into the kiln.

The drawing is exaggerated, because in reality, the shield and pocket only need be knife-thin to maintain the kiln's structural strength along its hinge edge, so long as the shield can hold its shape:

Probably as a secondary component, the pocket should have a flexible strip attached to its edge to seal it off from the passage of contaminating fumes through the pocket to the hinge during the killing process.

Mark

its worth some thought, thanks ...

Try replacing the bushings with self-lubricating bushings, like Rulon LR. This may eliminate the need to lubricate at all.

Bonded teflon could be the answer..

Our company can chemically bond teflon into and onto the surface of the parts you are haveing issues with.

The teflon is stable up to 240 degrees or so, (It is cured at this tempurature)

and will hold up soundly in this application..

Let me know how I could be of service to you.

Are you also having to service your steam traps? That chore can be eliminated also.

it hasn't been an issue as of yet... this is a new start up company only 4 months of production to date everything is brand new... thanks

how

Hi CS,

You're temp is relatively low, you could use a Kevlar welding blanket or other flexible material to cover the hinges, depending on the pressure & amount of leakage

Mild steel and bronze in most cases need lubrication.

In many cases we used nylon type bushings and hard chromed pins ( cylinder piston rod stock). Leave enough clearance for the plastic to expand no lubrication required. )

If you have brass or oil lite bushings in place now just change the pin.

Good luck

Ever considered carbon bushings? They work without lubrication.

http://www.graphalloy.com/html/where_to_use.html?gclid=CKKx5_CA-pACFQZ0sgod6hGa0w

Provided the impurities that coalesce from the kiln contents onto the hinge pins can not hinder the graphite alloy bushings and they are capable of bearing the doors' weight, they appear definitely to be worth a try. Certainly, the manufacturer's representative could have a look at the problem and decide on a percentage of successful solution to the sticking made possible by employing their product.

Mark