Flow meter
Flow Meters for Central Lubrication Systems – achieve precise flow control
When bearings run hot, guides chatter, or seals age prematurely, the root cause is often not the pump but the actual volume delivered in each line. This is exactly where flow meters come in: they monitor and measure the lubricant stream directly in the line and make visible what previously was only assumed. The result is dependable actual values instead of estimates, stable processes instead of sudden shutdowns, and clean documentation for quality assurance and maintenance. With us you will find flow monitors, sensors, flow limiters, dividers, pulse generators, and matching controllers that let you keep an equally reliable eye on oil quantities in the low cm³ per stroke range as well as continuous cm³/min and L/min flows. In short: precision metrology that makes your central lubrication measurable, from single-point setups to complex systems.
How do flow meters work in central lubrication systems?
Flow meters detect the quantity per stroke or the flow per unit time and provide this information visually or as an electrical signal. Depending on the design, they operate with mechanical indication, pulse output (for PLCs/controllers), or analog measurement signals. Typical media are lubricating oils with defined viscosity; the devices are rated for practical pressure ranges and feature standardized threaded connections for quick integration. Proper sizing is crucial: the measuring range must match the real flow rate, otherwise repeatability and diagnostic capability are not guaranteed. When correctly selected, a flow meter becomes a robust quality instrument that detects deviations early and prevents consequential damage.
Key benefits at a glance
- Increase operational safety: under- or over-lubrication is detected immediately; components are lubricated reliably.
- Stabilize processes: real values instead of assumptions. Ideal for series production, test cycles, and acceptance protocols.
- Reduce costs: fewer unplanned stops, less lubricant waste, longer component service life.
- Create transparency: clearly structured displays and signals simplify documentation for QA and audits.
- Simplify integration: standard threads, common connectors, and well-thought-out accessories keep installation times short.
Typical applications
Flow meters are needed wherever oil flows must be monitored, compared, or verified: in machine tools and transfer lines, conveying and packaging equipment, quarrying and recycling machinery, construction equipment, power generation, as well as test stands and laboratory applications. They are especially valuable in systems with many outlets, long lines, or highly variable temperatures, where viscosity fluctuations and pressure losses influence dosing.
Product variants at a glance
Flow Monitors (in-line indication and control)
Flow monitors are installed directly in the line and provide an optical indication of the delivered quantity, often as cm³ per stroke or as a flow range. They are the first choice when on-site staff must quickly assess whether a point is being supplied adequately. Many models allow limit values to be set so a too-low or too-high flow becomes immediately apparent. Ideal for commissioning, balancing, and routine visual checks.
Flow Sensors (pulse and measurement transmitters)
When values must be captured by a PLC, data logger, or condition monitoring system, flow sensors are used. They generate defined pulses per delivered volume or provide proportional output signals. This allows you to monitor thresholds, detect trends, trigger alarms, and plan maintenance windows based on data. Perfect for automated systems in which measurement is part of the process.
Throttle Valves and Flow Limiters (SMD/SMB)
Throttle valves and flow limiters provide fine, reproducible partial flows per outlet. They limit volume independently of temporary network pressure spikes and are therefore the right complement for multi-line systems and distributor assemblies. In practice they are often placed downstream of a divider to perform the final optimization for each lubrication point. This is a key step to ensure uniform results across all outlets.
Flow Dividers
Flow dividers split a total flow into defined partial flows. This is particularly useful when several lubrication points must be supplied simultaneously and the total flow is already determined. Combined with flow limiters and sensors, a scalable architecture emerges that you can expand and fine-tune as needed without replacing the main pump.
Pulse Generators and Electronic Controllers
Pulse generators provide evaluable signals even at very small quantities, for example in the cm³/min range. Electronic controllers evaluate these signals, set thresholds, document cycles, and interface measurement with PLCs, HMIs, or higher-level control systems. This reduces false and nuisance alarms, creates clear states, and provides audit-proof evidence in regulated industries.
How to reach the right solution quickly
- Clarify medium and viscosity: viscosity influences measurement accuracy and pressure loss. Define target temperature ranges and select devices specified for them.
- Define the measured variable: do you need cm³ per stroke (cyclical systems) or flow per time (cm³/min, L/min) for continuous delivery? Sensor type, display, and control follow from this.
- Consider working pressure and margin: do nominal and peak pressures align? Plan headroom, especially with long lines and many outlets.
- Check connections and installation orientation: standard threads simplify mounting; in tight spaces, review form factor, flow direction, and display orientation.
- Set signal and integration: pulse output, analog signal, or purely visual indication? Consider connectors, IP rating, and ATEX if required.
- Think in terms of system architecture: in many cases the best solution is a combination of divider, flow limiters, and sensors. This turns point measurements into a coherent overall solution.
Why buy from Sinntec?
In central lubrication, every tenth of a cubic centimeter counts. That is exactly why you do not get guesswork at SINNTEC but components and consulting that work in the field.
- Technical consulting that goes deep: we clarify medium, viscosity, line pressure, desired signals, and installation orientation so the flow meter not only “fits” but measures correctly in the system.
- Tailored selection: from cm³ per stroke monitoring to L/min flow, we offer graduated measuring ranges, matching thread connections, and the necessary accessories (dividers, flow limiters, connectors). This yields a coherent overall solution.
- Original quality and compatibility: we rely on proven manufacturers in central lubrication. That reduces adaptation effort, ensures spare-part availability, and keeps systems standards-compliant.
- Fast delivery, clear specifications: measuring ranges, pressure limits, all quickly available. You save time in design, maintenance, and procurement.
Still have questions? No problem. Use our contact form and we will be happy to help you get your system running flawlessly.