Graco Maxi-Flo System User Manual

MASTER DIVIDER

VA LV E

LARGE BEARINGS

SECONDARY

DIVIDER VA LVES

MAXI-FLO

PUMP

Maxi-Flo® System

DESCRIPTION

The Graco® Maxi-Flo® System consists of the compact Maxi-Flo
pump/control package and Trabon MJ Divider Valves to provide
positive, automatic, centralized series lubrication for low pressure
applications. Designed for machinery requiring oil lubrication,
the self-contained, easy to install package includes a reservoir,
electrical motor driven positive displacement pump, and a choice
of three control modes.

The amount of lubricant supplied to the system is adjustable and
can be controlled by a timed cycle, a stroke count cycle (machine
operation), or wired directly to the machine control system.

The MJ Divider Valve, the heart of the Maxi-Flo system, contains
precision match honed pistons of different diameters to accurately
meter oil in various quantities. The series progressive design and
operation of the MJ Divider Valves provide positive displacement
of lubricant to all points at all times. Variations in viscosity due
to changes in temperature or types of lubricant will not affect the
positive delivery of oil to the lube points.

The system consists of a Maxi-Flo pump and MJ Series Divider
Valves. MJ Divider Valves are positive displacement, Series-Flo
type. Each valve piston must complete its stroke, dispensing a
measured amount of lubricant to the location it serves before the
inlet flow is ported to the next valve position.

The master divider valve, or first divider valve in the system,
receives the full flow of oil from the pump, and divides it to the
secondary divider valves. The secondary divider valves then
re-divide the oil to the bearing points. The actual amount of oil
necessary to satisfy each lubrication point determines the size
of the piston serving that outlet. The size of the pistons and the
number of intermediate sections determine the total flow as well
as the distribution of oil. A wide variety of arrangements are
possible by combining the output of one or more intermediate
sections (referred to as crossporting).

SYSTEM OPERATION

In a Maxi-Flo system the divider valves operate in a sequential
manner (See Figure 1). Figure 2 illustrates a typical system.
Refer to engineering slide card No. 412-C.

Figure 1

The divider valve is self-cycling and no reverser is required. It
is made up of 3 or more intermediate sections which contain
metering pistons. The pistons move progressively back and forth.

Figure 2 Typical Maxi-Flo System

There is a number and a letter stamped on each intermediate
section of the divider valve. The number is the output (for each
position stroke) of that intermediate section per cycle of the
divider valve in thousandths of a cubic inch., The S or T indicates
single or twin outlets. An S intermediate section is designed to
discharge oil to only one point. The T intermediate section, or
twin, discharges oil to two points.

Singling and crossporting can be accomplished internally
(intermediate sections can be ordered as singles or twins), or with
an external singling or crossporting bar.

Trabon® Maxi-Flo® System

Inlet

5T

10T
15S
10S

End

.005 .010 .020 .030 .010 .005

124

Ratio

1 Cycle

62 1

Actual Cu. In.

Relative
Amounts

1

2
3

4

5

6

7

8

.080

Lubricant

MJ Divider Valve

Si ze

Volum e ( in

3

)

Pe r Out let

5T .005

10T 5S .010

15T .015

10S .020

15S .030

A

B

3

2

A
B

3
2

1.5 to 1

=

=

T = Two Outlets S = One Outlet

Figure 3

L23110

Relative Size of A to B

Figure 4 The Basic Ratio

To obtain the basic ratios of a group of bearings, divide the lubricant
requirements of each bearing by the smallest oil requirements of the
group. (Refer to calculating lube requirements, Trabon Application
Engineering Lit. No. L20115.)

Example:

Bearing

A 2 1

B 3 1.5

C 4 2

A = 2/2 =1 B = 3/2 = 1.5 C = 4/2 = 2

Unit of Oil Required in a

Given Time Period

Basic Ratio

Crossporting joins two adjacent intermediate sections, thus
combining their capacities.

Example: 15 S & 15 S yields .060 cu.in./cycle
10 S & 10 S yields .040 cu.in./cycle

A wide range of ratios are available.

Example:

5T & 15S

10T & 15S

10T & 15T

15S Sections

0.030

0.005

0.030

0.010

0.015

0.010

0.060

0.005

= 1:6

= 1:3

= 1:1.5

= 1:12

SYSTEM DESIGN

Proportioning—

The proportioning of oil in a Maxi-Flo system depends on the
relative size of the pistons in a divider valve. Therefore, to size the
pistons correctly one need only know the relative size of the oil
requirements. This relative size is called "The Basic Ratio."

This illustration shows both the relative and actual quantity of oil
discharged during one complete cycle of the divider valve.

It can be seen in Figure 5 that the total oil discharged by the divider
valve during one cycle is .080 cubic inches. Conversely, if .080
cubic inches of oil is supplied to the inlet of this divider valve it will
complete one cycle.

(One cycle equals Ts x 2)
(Where Ts = total of intermediate section sizes)

Figure 5 Proportioning

Examples:

By multiplying the basic ration by the smallest intermediate section
capacity (5) the actual section size can be determined.

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