Enclosures provide IP66 sealing and flexibility

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 1, 2003

Tough and flexible TK enclosures from Spelsberg have been used to house controls for an innovative new auto-lubrication system from Filtakleen.

Tough and flexible TK enclosures from Spelsberg have been used to house controls for an innovative new auto-lubrication system from Filtakleen.

Designed for use in large vehicles and machines, Filtakleen AX150 systems offer fully automated delivery of oil and grease to any working part, including normally hard to reach lubrication points.

On the road and on-site, the system works effectively in the harshest of environments; relying on the Spelsberg enclosures to provide impact protection and sealing up to IP66, even after modification to accept circuitry, cable glands and push buttons.

Filtakleen's AX150 lubrication systems are designed to automatically lubricate hard to reach components such as bearings, pins, shackles, chains and other moving parts on vehicles and industrial equipment.

The system is composed of applicators, airlines, meter blocks and a timer unit, which controls the lubrication frequency.

The number of applications can be easily varied according to the vehicles level of duty via a press button on the timer unit, which is housed in a Spelsberg TK polystyrene enclosure.

Ken Haxby-Thompson, Managing Director of Filtakleen explained: "The system was initially designed for use on waste management vehicles such as road sweepers where the timer units would be enclosed in a sealed cabinet along with the rest of the electronic control systems.

However, since we have specified Spelsberg enclosures, the timer unit can be sealed to IP66, allowing for attachment to harsher locations on the chassis or sides of the cab that are easier to reach for adjustment and system testing".

The smooth polystyrene lid and sidewalls of the enclosure allowed for easy customisation to install pushbuttons and cable glands used for attaching a handheld remote checking device.

Specifically designed for control and monitoring systems, the compact boxes allow for quick and easy installation of the timer circuit board and push-button switch.

For machines and vehicles without an on-board compressed air supply, the timer box is fitted inside a larger TK enclosure.

Haxby-Thompson explains: "Off-road vehicles such as diggers and dumper trucks require a control system with an integral compressed air kit in order for the lubrication system to work, we found that the kit easily fitted alongside the timer unit within the larger enclosure thanks to its dimensions and large variety of fixing points".

Equipment for off-road vehicle applications has to be highly sealed due to the amount of chemicals, dust and water in the working environment.

Not only did the large TK enclosure offer the ease of customisation offered by the smaller unit, but also provided the same IP66 levels of sealing and the option to use clear impact resistant lids for better visibility.