Tubular Probe For Extracting Lubricant Samples In Off- Highway Equipment Transmissions Makes Testing Neat And Easy
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Maintaining the quality of engine and transmission oil in tractors, trucks and similar heavy duty equipment is extremely important. If lubricant quality degrades too far, engine failure can result. But changing these lubricants prematurely is expensive. With several gallons required for an engine or transmission, an economical approach to extract and analyze lubricant for viscosity and contaminants was needed.
Periodic lubricant testing is also required to maintain warrantees on equipment that can receive very hard use and then sit idle for long periods.
As a contract manufacturer for assemblies, Minnesota Rubber & Plastics developed for their customer a disposable three-piece Tubular Sample Probe assembly that matches up with an existing rubber septum placed on each vehicle to help perform this inspection.
The Tubular Sample Probe consists of a 12 inch long, clear PVC plastic tube, a 1.5 inch long flow-through stainless steel needle, and a plastic part to join the two. The device helps make the job neat, fast and easy. The plastic component has a specially designed flange, facilitating insertion of the needle tip in the septum to the correct depth. The flexible, clear tube shows lubrication flow thru the device. For the application, the Tubular Sample Probe is both chemical and heat resistant. Individually packaged for easy one-time use, each Tubular Sample Probe is bubble seal packaged for clean storage until needed.
Using automated manufacturing and assembly equipment, Minnesota Rubber & Plastics produces these complete Tubular Sample Probe assemblies at the rate of 500 per hour.
"Key to the success of this design is the overall package," reports Ted Ahrenholtz, Minnesota Rubber & Plastics technical sales support manager. "The metal needle in the simple plastic part with the clear PVC tube delivers everything our customer wanted at an attractive price. The assembly is easy to handle in a tight engine compartment. Our design improved on an earlier version which had a one piece plastic needle and body and an over-molded black plastic tube. It just didn't have the qualities required to do the job."