Contamination Control
- March 31, 2023
Air Sentry
Gearboxes are used on various types of industrial machinery to provide increased torque while reducing speed from one type of rotating power source to another using gear ratios. A gearbox can be set up to do the opposite and provide an increase in speed with a reduction of torque. Some of the simplest gearboxes merely change the physical direction in which power is transmitted.
Gearboxes are used in many applications, such as wind turbines, conveyors, draglines, bridges, wastewater treatment pumping systems, and many other large pieces of machinery that require a power source.
In an effort to cut costs and improve system reliability, a manufacturer of high quality construction materials examined maintenance costs of their fifteen facilities. One of the findings showed spending in excess of $650,000 annually to maintain and repair 500 gearboxes across all plants.
- April 17, 2020
Gore, Precision Associates, and Parker Join the Fight Against Covid-19
What Gore is doing to help
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the world, Gore is working hard to identify ways in which they can apply their materials science expertise and production capabilities to help during this time of need.
Several initiatives are underway that bring together the knowledge, skills and capabilities from across Gore.
As an immediate and initial response to the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage, Gore rapidly engineered prototype reusable mask covers to supplement clinicians’ primary face masks.
The effort went from a product concept to prototypes in less than one week. Gore currently has prototypes being evaluated at a limited number of U.S. facilities in COVID-19 outbreak hot spots.
Additionally, by providing their customers and other manufacturing companies with Gore's highly specialized component materials, they can use them to produce a variety of finished PPE items, such as:
- Protective medical gowns, using fabrics laminates from Gore's current inventory
- Universal filter cartridge prototypes for fixed masks that incorporate Gore's filtration materials intended to provide N95 particulate protection,
- Disposable N95 respirators, using Gore's filtration laminates
It is through these collaborations with those who have the technical capabilities and production capacity needed to produce the finished goods in volume that together, Gore and its partners truly are improving life.
Gore has even donated medical supplies and protective gear to healthcare workers in the communities in which their facilities are stationed. They've also extended a hand to provide engineering and prototyping support to address other urgent equipment needs at local hospitals.
What Precision Associates is doing to help
Precision Associates, Inc. has ramped up its production of several essential rubber components for ventilator manufacturer Ventec Life Systems. Ventec recently announced plans to partner with GM to increase the output of these crucial units in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Critical patients suffering from the virus have difficulty breathing and require ventilator assistance for life support. GM is now transforming one of its factories to begin assembling ventilators for Ventec in early April.
- December 20, 2018
Coal fired power generation plants produce electricity making conveniences of modern life possible. The process and environment from which power flows is challenging for equipment. Water and coal dust are ever present. This combination of moisture and dust are the two most common avoidable contaminates found in lubricants.
For this environment, the Air Sentry® X Series or XR Series is the best choice for performance, serviceability and value. For stationary applications, Air Sentry® X Series, with double check valve design, delivers maximum life for the silica gel desiccant and the cost savings of a replaceable cartridge. The double check value design allows air exchange as needed, while maximizing desiccant life in a wet, humid environment. For mobile or high vibration applications, such as conveyor lines, the XR Series with metal reinforced base is the best choice.
Pump manufacturers report a 50% increase in service life if pump lubricants are protected from airborne contaminates. Bearing manufactures report a 3 fold increase in bearing life when lubricants maintain ISO cleanliness standards. With Air Sentry® on duty, equipment is more reliable, downtime is reduced and return on investment increases.
- November 27, 2018
Cement and aggregate facilities are dusty, dirty, humid environments. Sand, gravel, crushed stone and water are in use in many forms throughout the facility. Keeping solid particles and water vapor out of oils and machinery is important.
Mobile equipment such as cranes and shovels are used to move materials around the facility or place them on conveyor systems. They are also used to dig or dredge the sand and gravel from lakes, rivers and streams. Hydraulic systems and gearboxes on the mobile equipment are subjected to dust and humidity continuously. Protecting the oils from water vapor and solid particulates keeps the systems running smoothly.
Bulk material handling terminals load, unload and store the fine and coarse aggregates. The conveyor systems are used to move various materials. Each system is equipped with large drives, gearboxes and bearings that have oil and lubrication reservoirs. Air Sentry® breathers provide protection from airborne dust and moisture.
- June 21, 2018
Air Sentry is a leading developer of desiccant breathers designed to keep particulate and moisture contamination from the headspace of gearboxes, reservoirs, tanks and other lubricant and fuel vessels. Air Sentry breathers, (including their industry leading GUARDIAN series), adapters and accessories ensure longer lubricant life, better performance and lower maintenance costs. Air Sentry products cover a wide range of application requirements. The line consists of Good, Better and Best options designed to meet your specific application and duration specifications.
Watch the video below to learn which type of desiccant breather is right for your specific application.
[embed]https://youtu.be/cfw51OiKE6E[/embed]
Still have questions about Air Sentry desiccant breathers? Feel free to contact our engineering department with any questions or
- May 03, 2018
Air Sentry® set the standard for contamination control breather technology in 1997, creating new state-of-the-art features that reduced particulate and moisture contamination. This innovative breather line was the first to integrate check valve technology and the first to offer replacement desiccant/filter cartridges, significantly reducing maintenance costs.
Air Sentry's GUARDIAN® is the industry-leading breather series. It's casing is constructed from Tritan®, a patented material highly resistant to impact and chemicals, with a broad range of operating temperatures. Some models also incorporate an isolation check valve, which keeps exhaust air from depleting the desiccant and also protects employees from volatile fumes and splashing fluids. These unique features equate to a longer life for your breather and your equipment.
GUARDIAN® Modular Add-ons
GUARDIAN's modular construction and optional add-on features allow you to customize each GUARDIAN model to your specific application requirements. Because of these options we're going to discuss, your GUARDIAN will last longer and reduce downtime, giving you the flexibility you need to protect your industrial assets.
HIGH-CAPACITY AIR FILTER
Can be used with a desiccant cartridge or as a standalone particle filter. The filter's 0.3-micron HEPA filter is 99.97% efficient, making it ideal for extremely dirty/dusty environments. - March 15, 2018
Watch how easy it is to change out an Air Sentry GUARDIAN® desiccant breather on a gearbox.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VVGsBoQw6M[/embed]
GUARDIAN® is Air Sentry's industry leading breather series. Some models feature an isolation check valve that keeps exhaust air from depleting the desiccant and protects from volatile fumes and splashing fluids. The GUARDIAN's casing is constructed from Tritan®, a patented material highly resistant to impact and chemicals with a broad range of operating temperatures. These unique features equate to a longer life for your breather and your equipment.
GUARDIAN's modular construction and optional add-on
- August 10, 2017
Air Sentry® set the industry gold standard with their first line of contamination control breathers in 1997, and now that standard is raised with GUARDIAN®.
Watch the video below to see how the Air Sentry® GUARDIAN® protects your process fluids from particulates and moisture.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh65qS2DvQs&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
- July 20, 2017
Air Sentry® breathers should be an integral part of any proactive maintenance and reliability program. The breathers are designed to replace the breather cap or air filter on gear boxes, hydraulic fluid reservoirs, bulk storage tanks, oil drums, oil-filled transformers, and other fluid reservoirs. Most older style air venting methods provide minimal, if any, contamination control. Air Sentry® breathers provide the first line of defense in contamination control methodology, utilizing patented designs and featuring color indication silica gel and self-cleaning 2-micron filtration.
Why is Contamination Control Important?
There are two important threats to productivity that an Air Sentry breather can protect you from:
Particulates
One research group found that greater than 75% of all machine wear related failures were due to particulate contaminants. Frequently the greatest cost of equipment failure is not the component replacement cost, but the labor production downtime. Most particles start off as dirt that becomes airborne, finds its way into lubricant and fuel reservoirs, and is later transported to bearings, bushings, seals, valves, and other machine components. There they become key ingredients in abrasion, erosion, and fatigue failures. The contaminants also cause lubricant degradation, shortening the life of the lubricant and decreasing its ability to lubricate.
