CUSTOMER TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Force Feed Lubrication System Improvements

Although the previous force feed lubrication system (provided since July 1999) is adequate, Ariel
made a number of improvements outlined in this document. The changes are transparent for new
units as customer interfaces are unchanged. Some improvements include part number changes that
replace existing part numbers and require tubing modifications to install the new components on
existing systems. Many part improvements include no part number changes and are direct
replacements. Ariel began implementing these improvements as follows:
KBZ:U - 12/15/11* JG:A:M:N:P:Q - 2/15/12
JGR:J - 1/15/12* JGH:E:K:T:C:D, KBB:V - 3/15/12
*The new force-feed lubricator pumps will be installed on this frame class for units shipping 2/15/12 and later.
Existing equipment may be retrofit with these improvements in part or whole at customer discretion.
Contact your packager-distributor and/or Ariel for parts and assemblies required.
TABLE 1 Summary of Improvements
Improvements with Improvements without
New Product Offerings
Interchangeability Impact Interchangeability Impact
5. Lube Oil Gallery Check Valve
1. Force Feed Lubricator Pump
6. Rupture Discs 10. Resettable Pin Indicators
2. Force Feed Lubricator Box
7. Divider Block Baseplates 11. Proximity Switch
3. Pressure Gauges (ATEX Certified)
8. Divider Block Check Valves
4. Oil Traps and Injection Check Valves
9. Balance Valves with Pressure Gauges

NOTE: For a complete listing of all available Ariel Customer Technical Bulletins, visit
www.arielcorp.com and click Support/Customer Technical Bulletins.
REV DESCRIPTION REV EC DATE REV EC DATE

Page 5, “Force Feed Pumps”, ¶ #1: Added “Actual force feed lubricator
2 arrangement may differ from that shown.”
Page 5, Table 7: Added footnotes a and b.
2 018342 8-10-12
Page 7, Table 8 Title: Changed “A-18495” to “A-18496”. 1 018307 6-18-12
0 017190 3/14/12

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Improvements with Interchangeability Impact

1. Force Feed Lubricator Pump
The new Ariel force feed pump 1/4” NPT 1/8” NPT 1/8” NPT 1/8” NPT
minimizes oil and water leakage Inlet Outlet 7/16” Inlet Outlet
into the lubricator box, improves 1” 1-1/8”
priming, and decreases rolling
resistance on the camshaft.
Pump inlet port size increased
from 1/8 NPT to 1/4 NPT to
improve cold weather oil flow by 11/16”
allowing larger tubing for
independent oil supplies. The
new pump inlet and outlet New Old
connections are in slightly Pump Pump
different locations than the old
pump. New pump installation on
existing units may require minor
tubing modification. The new
replacement pump assemblies
include a 1/4 x 1/8 NPT reducing TABLE 2 Replacement Pump Part Numbers
bushing (A-0811) to help retrofit
the pump inlet to existing 1/8 Old P/N New P/N Description
NPT fittings. A-9476 A-18525-A 3/16” Ariel Pump
A-9477 A-18526-A 1/4” Ariel Pump

2. Force Feed A-9478 A-18527-A 3/8” Ariel Pump

Lubricator Box
Force feed lubricator box top rail height decreased by 1/8”. This minor modification improves priming
and reduces unit shutdowns due to pump air-lock. The lower rail height allows reuse of existing
tubing when replacing an old lubricator box. New and old lubricator boxes are forward and backward
compatible with the old force feed pumps and the new Ariel force feed pumps.

3. Pressure Gauges
Pressure gauges (100, 3000, 5000, and 7500 psi) changed from a 1/4” NPT threaded connection to
a 3/8” diameter tube adapter connection. A standard Swagelok tube fitting (included with the gauge)
adapts the new gauge to existing 1/4” NPT ports. The tube fitting and adapter allow easy gauge
positioning, minimize leakage, and prevent component damage due to over-tightening.
TABLE 3 Replacement Gauge Part Numbers
Old P/N New P/N Description
A-0261 A-18450-A Gauge, 100psi, Bottom Mount, 3/8” T
A-3189 A-18451-A Gauge, 100psi, Back Mount, 3/8” T
A-8727 A-17256-A Gauge, 3000psi, Back Mount, 3/8” T
A-8728 A-17257-A Gauge, 5000psi, Back Mount, 3/8” T
A-9093 A-17258-A Gauge, 7500psi, Back Mount, 3/8” T

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4. Oil Traps and Injection Check Valves

Previous oil trap components (A-8724 body, A-8725 1/8 NPT stem, A-8936 1/4 NPT stem) and
injection check valve (A-3780 double-poppet and A-8057 double-ball) are replaced by much smaller
assemblies. The Ariel oil trap assemblies (A-17775-A for 1/8 NPT, A-17776-A for 1/4 NPT) each
contain a new miniature double-ball check valve with integral tube connector (A-18496). Reducing
component weight improves fitting vibration resistance and minimizes leakage on packing and
cylinder lube lines. Smaller components enable more flexibility during installation and help keep
components out of the way. The decreased internal volume of the new components reduces oil
needed to prime fittings at startup. The A-18496 check valve is about three inches shorter than the
previous check valves and requires modification of existing tubing for field retrofits. Ariel does not
recommend mixing the new smaller components with old style oil trap components.
Oil Trap Old TABLE 4 Oil Trap Assembly Part Numbers
Assemblies Style
Item New P/N Description
1 A-17774 Oil Trap Body
A-17775 1/8” NPT Stem
New 1 2a
Style A-17776 1/4” NPT Stem
3 2 3 A-18496 Check Valve
Complete Assemblies
Old A-17775-A 1/8” NPT Oil Trap & Check Valve Assy
Style A-17776-A 1/4” NPT Oil Trap & Check Valve Assy
Injection New a. Dependent on port size. The long end of the stem installs into
Check Valves Style
3 A-17774

Improvements without Interchangeability Impact

5. Lube Oil Gallery Check Valve
Ariel changed the outlet port of the A-3763
14 psi single-poppet check valve (located on
the lube oil gallery tube) from NPSF (straight
pipe thread) to NPT (tapered pipe thread).
This modification minimizes oil leakage,
prevents thread damage between dissimilar
threads, and maintains the existing envelope Installed A-3763
of the A-3763.

6. Rupture Discs TABLE 5 Blow-Out Fitting & Rupture Disc P/N’s

Rupture discs and rupture disc assemblies BLOW-OUT
now have improved burst pressure accuracy REPLACEMENT RUPTURE DISC
FITTING
and consistency to avoid premature failure
Rating
and nuisance shutdowns. Ariel P/N Ariel P/N Color
psig (barg)
A-0080 3250 (224) A-0124 Purple
A-3531 3700 (255) A-3536 Yellow
A-3532 4600 (317) A-3537 Red
A-3533 5500 (379) A-3538 Orange
A-3534 6400 (441) A-3539 Pink
A-3535 7300 (503) A-3540 Blue

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7. Divider Block Baseplates

Divider block baseplate inlet and outlet ports changed from NPSF 1/4” NPT
Inlet
(straight pipe thread) to NPT (tapered pipe thread). This change
minimizes oil leaks, prevents thread damage between mating
components, and remains forward/backward compatible.
Transition to revised baseplates on new units begins May 2012.
1/8” NPT
Outlets

8. Divider Block Check Valves

The outlet port of the A-3689 single poppet check valve (located on
the outlet of the divider block baseplate) changed from NPSF
(straight pipe thread) to NPT (tapered pipe thread). This change
minimizes oil leakage, prevents thread damage between mating
components, and maintains the existing envelope of A-3689.

A-3689
Check Valve

9. Balance Valves with Pressure Gauges

Balance valve assemblies now have a pressure
gauge installed to ease divider block system
adjustment and monitoring on KBB:V:Z:U frames.

New Product Offerings

10. Resettable Pin Indicators Balance Valve
Ariel now offers resettable pin indicators as a divider with Pressure
Gauge
block option. The pin indicators install on the front
face of divider valves and help pinpoint lube line
blockages.
Ariel lube sheets will TABLE 6 Resettable Pin Indicatorsa
show the location,
quantity, and pressure Resettable Pin RUPTURE DISC PIN INDICATOR
rating to mount pin Indicators Rating Rating
Ariel P/N Ariel P/N
indicators on the divider psig (barg) psig (barg)
valves. Contact Ariel to 3250 (224) A-0124
obtain updated lube A-18243 3000 (207)
3700 (255) A-3536
sheets when retrofitting 4600 (317) A-3537
existing equipment. Pin A-9968 3500 (241)
indicator pressure 5500 (379) A-3538
should not exceed 6400 (441) A-3539
A-9969 5000 (345)
rupture disc pressure. 7300 (503) A-3540
a. Rupture disc size determines pin indicator size.

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11. Proximity Switch (ATEX Certified)

Ariel offers the A-18255 proximity switch as an option. It is an
ATEX certified device and pairs with the A-18682 cycle
indicator for visual indication of divider valve operation.
A-18682 A-18255

Field Retrofits
Force Feed Pumps
Retrofitting existing systems with Ariel force feed pumps requires minor tubing modifications and
additional fittings. Below are photos showing existing Ariel force feed lubricator assemblies with old
pumps installed (top) and existing assemblies modified to Ariel pumps (bottom). Components
modified during this upgrade/retrofit appear unpainted and are called out in Table 7. Actual force feed
lubricator arrangement may differ from that shown.
Upgrade/retrofit individual pumps in multi-pump lubricator boxes if needed, but Ariel recommends
retrofitting all pumps in the lubricator box at the same time to minimize later tubing modifications.

Existing Single, Two-Pump, and Four-Pump Force Feed Lubricator Assemblies

3 3 4 3

4
4

2 2

1 1

Retrofitted Single, Two-Pump, and Four-Pump Force Feed Lubricator Assemblies

TABLE 7 Part Numbers for Force Feed Pump Retrofit Parts

Item Steel Stainless Description
N/A PT0201CD TUBING, 316, 1/4 OD X .065 WALL (12” length needed)a
1
N/A PT0200CB TUBING, 304, 1/4 OD X .035 WALL (12” length needed)b
2 A-18946 A-18949 NUT AND FERRULE SET, 1/4 TUBE
3 A-0804 A-2193 STREET ELBOW, 90°, 1/8 NPT
4 A-0830 A-0813 MALE CONNECTOR, 1/4 TUBE X 1/8 NPT
a. 7300 psi maximum rupture disc rating.
b. 4600 psi maximum rupture disc rating.

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Oil Traps and Injection Check Valves

The photos below show one example of new/old oil trap and injection check valve installations on
Ariel cylinders and guides. The Ariel product line employs numerous tubing arrangements. When
upgrading lube systems to the new components, visually confirm the tubing and fitting arrangement
you plan to modify before installation. The new component installation may require additional tubing
and fittings (see “Adapting the A-18496 Check Valve”).

Old Oil Trap Installation New Oil Trap Installation

Old Check Valve Installation New Check Valve Installation

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1/4 6 5 Adapting the A-18496 Check Valve

NPT
The A-18496 check valve must be installed in the
lube line so the check valve outlet remains sub-
Hex reducing bush-
merged in oil. In general, the new smaller fitting
ing adapts item 4 or arrangements should resemble the existing
5 to 1/4 NPT ports tubing path. Modify, replace, or extend existing
tubing via tubing and a tube union to make up the
7 3” shorter overall length of A-18496. Table 8 lists
parts available to adapt existing equipment.
4
9

8 On some dual nozzle

cylinders, a tubing
clamp secures item 7
or 8 using a 1/4-20
fastener.

1/8 3 1
NPT
Oil
Flow
10

11

1/4
12

1/8
{
NPT NPT 2

Common Fitting Arrangements when Mounting

A-17776 A-17775 A-18496 to Cylinder and Guide Assemblies
Stem Stem

TABLE 8 Part Numbers for Fittings Used to Adapt the A-18496 Check Valve
Item Steel Stainless Description
1 A-0845 A-8823 Tube Union, 1/4 Tube
2 NA PT0201CD Tubing, 316 SS, 1/4 OD X .065 Wall
3 NA A-18496 Check Valve, Double Ball, 1/4 Tube Inlet X 1/8 NPT Outlet
4 A-0804 A-2193 Street Elbow, 90°, 1/8 NPT
5 A-3989 A-3990 Street Elbow, 45°, 1/8 NPT
6 A-0811 A-0824 Hex Reducing Bushing, 1/4 NPT (Male) X 1/8 NPT (Female)
7 A-0801 A-18585 Female Elbow, 1/4 Tube X 1/8 NPT
8 A-18631 A-18632 Female Connector, 1/4 Tube X 1/8 NPT
9 A-18582 NA Tubing Clamp, 5/8 Tube
10 NA A-17774 Oil Trap, Body, SS, 1/8 NPT
11 NA A-17775-A Oil Trap Assembly, SS, 1/8 NPT (includes A-18496, A-17774 body, A-17775 stem)
12 NA A-17776-A Oil Trap Assembly, SS, 1/4 NPT (includes A-18496, A-17774 body, A-17776 stem)

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Ariel Contact Information

Contact Telephone Fax E-Mail
Ariel Response Center 888-397-7766 740-397-1060 arc@arielcorp.com
Spare Parts (toll free USA & Canada) or 740-393-5054 spareparts@arielcorp.com
Order Entry 740-397-3602 (International) 740-397-3856 ---
Ariel World Headquarters info@arielcorp.com
740-397-0311 740-397-3856
Technical Services fieldservice@arielcorp.com
Web Site: www.arielcorp.com
Ariel Response Center Technicians or Switchboard Operators answer telephones during Ariel
business hours, Eastern Time - USA or after hours by voice mail. Contact an authorized distributor to
purchase Ariel parts. Always provide Ariel equipment serial number(s) to order spare parts.
The after-hours Telephone Emergency System works as follows:
1. Follow automated instructions to Technical Services Emergency Assistance or Spare Parts
Emergency Service. Calls are answered by voicemail.
2. Leave a message: caller name and telephone number, serial number of equipment in question
(frame, cylinder, unloader), and a brief description of the emergency.
3. Your voicemail routes to an on-call representative who responds as soon as possible.

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