Potato chip Production and gear lubrication

The production of  potato  chips illustrates  food  handling  where  the gears  concerned are so  located that  little  contamination from the  lubricant  is possible. Numerous conveyors will be found for the potatoes, the slices, or the packages. Most of the gear reducers  for  conveyors will  be  subjected  to  only  moderate   temperatures  and not too  much  stress. Hence, either  straight  mineral  oil  or  MP  lubricant  of SAE  80  grade  can be used  for  the gears.

 If  a batch  peeler is used,  this may consist of  a  vertical  cylinder with  a rotating  abrasive  disc in the  bottom  which  will  be  driven  by  gears. Also, in washing potato slices, a gear driven drum will probably be used. The gear oil mentioned above will also serve these latter applications.  

Emulsion Tendencies of Lubricating Oils

Federal Test Method 3021.5 is intended for use in the determination of the emulsifying tendencies of lubricating oils. The test  consists  of  placing  40 ml each  of the  test  oil  and  of  either  distilled  water or  a one  per cent  salt solution in  a 100 ml graduated cylinder.  The  cylinder  is  then  placed in  a  bath  regulated to  either 130 0r  180 degree F and  the  contents  stirred with  a paddle  at  1500 rpm  for  5  minutes. Following this, while  still  maintaining  the  cylinder at  the  test  temperature , the time  required for  the  emulsion to  break  is  noted.

In  the  case  of  circulating  oils where  the  lubricant may  become  contaminated with   water, a firm emulsion  would  interfere  with  both  circulation and  lubrication. Therefore, under such  conditions  of  operation,  oils  which  show  little  tendency  to  emulsify  are  desirable.