Meat Packing and Gear Lubrication

Most of the machinery in meat packing plants is subjected to moisture and thus the conditions are such that rusting occurs. For this  reason  gear  cases  should  be  tight  to  prevent  entry of water. Even so, the gear oils used should contain a rust inhibitor. Another  factor  to  consider  is that  the  temperatures  to  which  the  lubricant  is  exposed  will  be  below  normal. Therefore, low cold test oils should be employed. Gear reduction units found in most packing plants may consist of spur or worm gears. A number  of these  will be on  conveyors and in  general  an oil  of 300 to 500  viscosity  SUS  at 100 degree F  and  containing  both  oxidation and rust  inhibitors  should  be  used. For the worm drives a compounded oil of 125 to 150 SUS at 210 degree F is best. When making frankfurters or sausages, grinders and mixers are used. The grinder will probably be driven by a motor coupled to a herringbone gear. The  mixer may  consist  of a hopper  with  paddle  agitators which  are  driven  through a reduction  gear. In either case the 300 to 500 oil noted above may be used on the enclosed gears. A reservation should  be made  that if gear  reducers operate in a cold  room  where  the temperature  is near  or below  zero, it  will be best  to use  a low  pour  point oil  of 150 to 200 viscosity SUS  at 100 degree  F. Occasionally open  gears  will be  found  in packing  plants. If this is true, residual type oil having a viscosity of 500 to 1000 SUS at 210 degree F and containing a rust inhibitor should be used as needed.