Conventional Sampling Tubes & Sampling Valve Assemblies

On critical rotating equipment, oil sampling has long been recognized as a prime indicator of mechanical condition and reliability.  Most manufactures of gearboxes, drive train components, and hydraulic systems specify oil cleanliness levels in their warranty, yet only few make provisions or recommendations for oil sampling.

Oil sampling tubes, also called "pitot tubes" are used for drawing oil samples, with a hand held vacuum pump.  Ideally the samples are drawn under operating conditions, with the oil in full circulation and at operating temperature.   For a reliable oil sample, the pitot tube must access an area of active oil circulation, avoiding any "dead zone" or static area in the gearbox.

Conventional sampling tubes are sold as a "one piece" assembly which includes the sampling valve (test point) with a permanently attached, 3/16" diameter carbon steel pitot tube, and a 1/4" NPT male pipe thread.  Connection to the machinery is through a 1/4" female pipe port.  Where internal obstructions interfere with strait in-line access to an active oil zone, a pipe swivel is added to the fixed assembly.  This permits a limited degree of pre installation offset, prior to final installation.  When installed in a larger pipe port, reducer bushings are required.

For most Lo-Viscosity applications using lighter lubricating oils up to ISO VG 150 the sampling valve is a standard Minimess Series B test point with a tethered capFor Hi-Viscosity applications applications using gear oils from ISO VG 220 and up, the Minimess test point is replaced with a "Hi-Flow"  sampling valve and tethered cap.  The 3/16" pitot tube and 1/4" NPT male pipe thread remains the same as in the lo- viscosity one piece assembly.  For drawing an oil sample with a hand held vacuum pump, the appropriate sampling probe is attached to the 1/4" poly sampling tube then to the vacuum pump.

When using the conventional one piece sampling tube on Hi- or Lo-Viscosity applications, the main problem remains the highly restrictive inside diameter of the pitot tube.

OILMISER™ Hi-Viscosity Sampling Tubes & Sampling Valves

When it comes to pulling an oil sample, size counts. 

All OILMISER Sampling Tubes use a stainless steel pitot tube with a much larger 1/4" Inside
Diameter.  This feature lowers the flow resistance to heavier gear oils, and "significantly reduces" the time and effort required to draw an oil sample. Four times the inside area of conventional pitot tubes, means one quarter the effort.

The OILMISER Sampling Tube is a three piece assembly.

The three separate components include the gland-seal bushing , a stainless steel pitot tube  and a gland-seal tube retainer .  This configuration gives unparalleled flexibility to the OEM, the Service Contractor and the End User.   Now in a matter of minuets, a sampling tube and an oil sampling valve can be added to most gearboxes and reservoirs using an existing top, bottom or side access port.

Installing OILMISER™ Hi-Viscosity Sampling Tubes

Like all OILMISER Products, the ease of installation in the work place is the overriding design criteria for OILMISER Sampling Tubes.


The
gland-seal bushing is available in pipe sizes from 1/4" NPT to 1-1/2" NPT.  This eliminates any
additional pipe bushings and potential leak points associated with conventional sample tube assemblies.

Once the appropriate access port on the gearbox or reservoir has been determined, the gland-seal bushing can be permanently installed. 
 
The correct tube length is easy to establish.  Using the OILMISER Tube Orientation Tool, the sampling tube can be inserted or withdrawn with ease.  By
probing through the gland-seal bushing with the sampling tube, any mechanical interference is quickly identified.  The sampling tube is withdrawn, cut to length and reinserted into the gland-seal bushing.  The gland-seal tube retainer is then tightened into the gland-seal bushing.  A sampling valve is then turned into the 1/4" NPT pipe port, be it a Hi-Viscosity sampling valve for heavy gear oil, or a Lo-Viscosity sampling valve for lighter oils.  The installation is complete.

In some cases, internal obstructions may come into play.  The exclusive OILMISER three piece design maximizes the amount of pre installation offset that can be accommodated.  The pitot tube is inserted into the gland seal bushing and pre-formed.  The gland-seal bushing and tube assembly is then fed into the gearbox access port and fully tightened.  Using the OILMISER Tube Orientation Tool, the pre-formed pitot tube can be accurately positioned inside the gearbox.  The gland-seal tube retainer is then tightened, locating the pre-formed tube in the correct location.

All OILMISER Hi-Viscosity Sampling Tubes terminate in 1/4" NPT (female) pipe.  Two configurations are available, strait in-line, or in a 90 degree swivel, giving a full 360 degrees of rotation.  Now the final orientation of the sampling valve can address both the safety and efficiency of the service technician under operating conditions.  Sampling valves are ordered separately.


 

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JLM Systems Ltd.
23091 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, B.C., Canada V6V 1B9
(604) 521-1244

Email: [email protected]