TRAVELLING ON OIL
The whole weight of a train is carried on films of oil; from the engine to the guards van, not one axle is touching the metal of the bearing in which it revolves. In a railway train the boxes, that will be seen at the ends of the axles on which the wheels are fixed, are filled with grease. A very thin film of this grease is spread all over the end of the axle and prevents it from actually touching the bearing in which it revolves. During a journey the original film is gradually worn away, and the bearing begins to get hot owing the increased friction. The heat melts the grease in the box and a fresh film is spread round the axle and reduces the friction. Even in the enormous mills used for rolling armour plates, the entire weight of every - moving part is literally floating on a film of oil. Were it not for this wonderful thin sheet of oil a shaft turning in a bearing would become red-hot in a few minutes.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18458, 17 April 1922, Page 3
Word Count
180TRAVELLING ON OIL Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18458, 17 April 1922, Page 3
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