| WORD | DEFINITION |
|---|
| Additive | A chemical compound added to a fluid to change its properties. |
| agitator | a device which keeps material moving in a tank or vessel; the movement may be required to prevent settling and to mix material |
| Air Compressor | A device that takes air from the atmosphere and compresses it to increase its pressure. |
| Ambient Temperature | The temperature of the air surrounding a piece of equipment. |
| arc of contact | the surface contact between the sheave and pulley and the belt, or the sprocket and the chain |
| Authorized Individual | A knowledgeable individual to whom the authority and responsibility to perform a specific assignment has been given. |
| axial flow | a flow along the axis of a fan or a pump |
| babbitt | material used in plain bearings (usually lead-based) |
| Backlash | The play between mating gear teeth. |
| Ball Bearing | An anti-friction bearing that permits free motion between a moving part and a fixed part by means of balls confined between inner and outer rings. |
| bearing | a device that allows 2 parts to rotate or move in contact with each other |
| blower | a device that moves air at low or high pressures and volumes |
| Centre of Gravity | The balancing point of a load. |
| centrifugal flow | a flow of 90 degrees to the axis of a fan or a pump away from the centre |
| Centrifugal Force | The outward force produced by a rotating object. |
| Circuit | A closed path through which hydraulic fluid flows. |
| Circumference | The boundary of a circle. |
| clutch | a device used to engage or disengage a driver to a driven unit |
| CMTS | Cable Modem Termination System describes a component that exchanges digital signals with cable modems on a cable network. A cable modem termination system is located at the local office of a cable television company. |
| Coax | Coaxial cable is copper-cored cable surrounded by a heavy shielding that is used to connect computers in a network. Either thin or thick coax can be used. |
| Connecting Link | A three-part chain attachment used to assemble and connect the master link to a chain. |
| conveying system | a system used to move material (usually solid) from one place to another |
| Corrosion | The action or process of eating or wearing away gradually by chemical action. |
| Coupling | A device that connects the ends of rotating shafts. |
| Cubic Foot | Contains 1,728 cubic inches (cu in) (12” x 12” x 12” = 1728 cu in.) |
| Directional Control Valve | A valve whose primary function is to direct or prevent flow through selected passages. |
| Displacement | 1. The volume of oil moved during each cycle of a pump.\n2. The measurement of the distance (amplitude) an object is vibrating. |
| Efficiency | A measure of a component’s or system’s useful output energy compared to its input energy. |
| elastomeric element | a flexible element used to join couplings and dampen energy |
| End Play | The total amount of axial movement of a shaft. |
| Energy | A measure of the ability to do work. |
| engineered lift | consultation with an engineer for an approved design of a lifting apparatus or lifting procedure without exceeding the rated capacity of the rigging equipment; it should be noted that this is generally done when unusual circumstances of a lift dictate deviations from normal accepted trade practices |
| Extension Ladder | An adjustable-height ladder with a fixed bed section and sliding, lockable fly sections. |
| fans | a device used to create air movement |
| ferrography | wear analysis of machine bearing surfaces by collection of ferrous (or nonferrous) wear particles from lubricating oil in a ferrograph analyzer |
| Ferrous Metals | Metals containing iron. |
| Flow Control Valve | A valve whose primary function is to regulate the rate of fluid flow. |
| fluid | a substance (either a liquid or gas) material that has the ability to flow |
| Gasket | A seal used between machined parts or around pipe joints to prevent the escape of fluids. |
| gear system | a combination of gears used to alter the speed and power from a driver to a driven unit |
| hypoid gear | a set of gearing whose shafts intersect on a different plane |
| Logic | The science of correct reasoning. |
| Lubrication | The process of maintaining a fluid film between solid surfaces to prevent their physical contact. |
| Machine | A group of mechanical devices that transfer force, motion or energy input at one device into a force, motion or energy output at another device. |
| maintain | keeping a machine or system running efficiently with a minimum amount of down-time; for use in this analysis the term “maintain” can encompass: checking for worn parts, lubrication, adjustment, inspection and modification |
| manufacturers’ specifications | the performance and engineering standards for a particular machine as detailed by the manufacturer; this information is usually available from drawings, manuals and bulletins provided by the manufacturer |
| Mechanical Advantage | The ratio of the output force of a device to the input force. |
| multi-plane balancing | balancing of a rotating part on more than two planes; multi-plane balancing is generally performed with computer software that is usually provided with vibration analysis and balancing instruments |
| non-destructive testing (NDT) | testing procedures that do not damage the material being tested; these may include magnetic particle testing, dye penetrant testing, and fluid sampling |
| Overhead Crane | A crane that is mounted between overhead runways. |
| Parallel Lines | Two or more lines that remain the same distance apart. |
| Pictorial Diagram | A diagram that uses drawings or pictures to show the relationship of each component in a circuit. |
| Piston Pump | A pump in which fluid flow is produced by reciprocating pistons. |
| Platform | A landing surface that provides access or rest from a fixed ladder. |
| Pneumatics | The branch of science that deals with the transmission of energy using gas. |
| Polarity | The positive (+) or negative (-) state of an object. |
| positive displacement | transfer by pump without loss of pressure or material |
| Potential Energy | Stored energy a body has due to its position, chemical state or condition. |
| predictive maintenance | activities utilizing information from past and current performance records to objectively predict mechanical problems; predictive maintenance is a proactive monitoring approach rather than a time-based or reactive approach |
| Pressure | The force per unit area. |
| Pressure Gauge | A device that measures the intensity of a force applied to a fluid. |
| preventive maintenance | activities based on a periodic sampling and inspections; it normally involves the routine scheduling of maintenance activities; this schedule is based on past experience and manufacturers’ recommendations |
| prime mover | driver of the machine; it may be an electric, steam, gas or diesel powered |
| Ratchet | A mechanism that consists of a toothed wheel and a spring-loaded pawl. |
| Ratio | The relationship between two quantities or terms, e.g., 1:3. |
| Rectangle | A quadrilateral with equal opposite sides and four 90° angles. |
| Reservoir | A container for storing fluid in a hydraulic system. |
| Resistance | The opposition to electron flow. |
| Rigging | Securing equipment or machinery in preparation for lifting by means of rope, chain or webbing. |
| Rounding Off | The process of increasing or decreasing a number to the nearest acceptable number, e.g., 44 rounded off = |
| Rust | A form of oxidation in which metal oxides are chemically combined with water to form a reddish-brown scale on metal. |
| Scaffold | A temporary or movable platform and structure for workers to stand on when working at a height above the floor. |
| Semicircle | One-half of a circle containing 180°. |
| sensory inspection | inspecting through the senses (visual, hearing, feeling, smell) |
| Sequence | The order of a series of operations or movements. |
| service | for use in this analysis the term “service” refers to installing, diagnosing, repairing and maintaining |
| Service Life | The length of service received from a bearing. |
| Spur Gear | A gear that has straight teeth that are parallel to the shaft axes. |
| Standard | A guideline adopted by regulating authorities. |
| Steel Alloy | Metallic material formulated from the fusing or combining of two or more metals. |
| Strainer | A fine metal screen that blocks contaminant particles. |
| Symbol | A graphic element that indicates a particular device, etc. |
| Tensile Strength | A measure of the greatest amount of straight-pull metal can bear without tearing apart. |
| thermographic equipment | equipment that displays the temperatures of components by measuring infrared radiation |
| Torque | The twisting (rotational) force of a shaft. |
| Troubleshooting | The systemic elimination of the various parts of a system, circuit or process to locate a malfunctioning part. |
| Tube | A thin-walled, seamless or seamed, hollow cylinder. |
| Union | A fitting used to connect or disconnect two tubes that cannot be turned. |
| Vacuum | A pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. |
| Valve | A device that controls the pressure, direction or rate of fluid flow. |
| Variable Displacement Pump | A pump in which the displacement per cycle can be varied. |
| V-Belt | An endless power transmission belt with a trapezoidal cross-section. |
| Velocity | The distance a fluid travels in a specified time. |
| Vibration | The continuous periodic change in displacement with respect to a fixed reference. |
| vibration analysis | the process of monitoring the condition of equipment and the diagnosis of faults in equipment through the measurement and analysis of vibration within that equipment |
| Volume | The three-dimensional size of an object measured in cubic units. |