T15 Olympus BH microscope

Olympus BH Microscope

Used to:

1. Measure wear scar and/or wear track size
2. Capture wear scar and/or wear track appearance.

Typically used with:

1. BOCLE
2. SL-BOCLE
3. HFRR
4. SRV

BOCLE(Left) & SL-BOCLE(Right)

Both the Ball On Cylinder Lybricity Evaluator (BOCLE) and the Scuffing Load - Ball On Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator work on the principle of testing the lubricity of a fuel/lubricant. A non-rotating ball is forced against a rotating cylinder. The cylinder is partially immersed in a bath of the fuel to allow the fuel to be constantly carried to the area of contact.

The BOCLE & SL-BOCLE machines operate on much the same principals. They are nearly identically constructed. They differ in:
1) The types of fuels they typically test.
2) The qualifying parameters and test methods (See ASTM link below).
3) The maximum load they can carry.

The BOCLE is a wear test. A microscope and camera is used to quatify the size and record the appearance.

The SL-BOCLE is a load carrying capacity test. A series of loads are applied until a sudden change in the friction coefficient is observed (higher than 0.175). This load then represents some of the lubricity behaviour.
Note the suggested loading sequence in the operating manual.

Ball,Ring & Bath

In this Table some basic differences are presented:

Both units are operated via a simulink interfaces found on the PC next to the units (Univ PC nr: 766118).

Documentation

User Manual

A single user manual exists for both machines. click here

ASTM Standards

BOCLE (ASTM D5001) click here
SL-BOCLE (ASTM D6078) click here

MSDS of relevant Chemicals

Acetone click here
Isooctane click here
Isopropyl alcohol click here
Reference fuels (A&B) click here

Wiring, Flow & Instrumentation diagrams

Overall wiring diagram
BOCLE
PDF VISIO
SL-BOCLE
PDF VISIO

Detailed Opto wiring diagram
BOCLE
PDF VISIO
SL-BOCLE
PDF VISIO

Piping diagram (Air flow) Identical for both click here

History of this Equipment

The equipment was recieved from Sasol in 2012 after being used there for a period of time. The equipment was conntected to the OPTO 22 network in 2012 by Jacques Langenhoven to allow data logging and control through the lab network and OPTO system.

Current/Previous projects

2012

Jacques Langenhoven, The commissioning of the BOCLE & SL-BOCLE in the Tribology lab
PDF
MS WORD