Function:

Oil-air systems with a continuous lubricant supply consist of a pump that pumps the lubricant to the oil metering system. There is also an air throttle, which reduces the amount of air supplied. The oil metering unit and air throttle are connected to the so-called mixing chamber, which opens into the oil-air line. The originally pulse-like droplets from the oil metering unit are drawn in this line with the aid of the air pressure in the line to form a long streak of oil. This makes it possible to pump micro-volumes of oil to the lubrication point and avoid undesirable oil mist. The streaks of oil can be monitored by streak sensors just upstream of he lubrication point. These monitoring sensors also enable it to be determined whether the line has a leak or whether the lubrication points are being reliably supplied with lubricant. The transport air stream in the line firstly cools the lubrication point and the overpressure of the air also provides protection from the bearing becoming contaminated. This systems is often also referred to as minimum volume lubrication.