SKF SF05A Manual

SKF SAFEFLOW FLOWMETERS
SF05A, SF10A, SF15A, SF20A and
SF30A
(Original operating and maintenance instructions compliant with EU Directive
2014/30/EU)

2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 LEGAL DISCLOSURE.......................................................................................................................................5
2 EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS, SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................6
3 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.................................................................................................................................9
3.1 General safety instructions..........................................................................................................................9
3.2 General behaviour when handling the product ...........................................................................................9
3.3 Intended use ...............................................................................................................................................9
3.4 Foreseeable misuse..................................................................................................................................10
3.5 Painting of plastic parts not allowed..........................................................................................................10
3.6 Modifications to the product ......................................................................................................................10
3.7 Forbidden measures .................................................................................................................................10
3.8 Other applicable documents .....................................................................................................................10
3.9 Notes on the type plate .............................................................................................................................11
3.9.1 Notes on the CE marking ...................................................................................................................11
3.9.2 Note on UKCA marking ......................................................................................................................11
3.9.3 Notes on the EAC marking.................................................................................................................11
3.9.4 Note on the RoHS mark in China.......................................................................................................11
3.10 Persons authorised to operate the device ..............................................................................................12
3.10.1 Operator ...........................................................................................................................................12
3.10.2 Mechanical specialist .......................................................................................................................12
3.10.3 Electrician.........................................................................................................................................12
3.10.4 Orientation for external technicians..................................................................................................13
3.10.5 Provision of personal protective equipment .....................................................................................13
3.11 Operation ................................................................................................................................................13
3.11.1 Emergency stopping of the flowmeter unit.......................................................................................13
3.11.2 Transport, installation, maintenance, malfunctions, repairs, shutdown for maintenance and
disposal .......................................................................................................................................................13
3.12 Commissioning and daily start-up...........................................................................................................14
3.13 Cleaning ..................................................................................................................................................14
3.14 Residual risks..........................................................................................................................................15
4 DELIVERY, RETURN & STORAGE................................................................................................................16
4.1 Delivery .....................................................................................................................................................16
4.2 Return........................................................................................................................................................16
4.3 Storage......................................................................................................................................................16
5 LUBRICANTS ..................................................................................................................................................17
5.1 General information...................................................................................................................................17
5.2 Lubricant selection ....................................................................................................................................17
5.1 Material compatibility.................................................................................................................................18
5.2 Ageing of lubricants...................................................................................................................................18
6 SKF SAFEFLOW FLOWMETERS SF05A, SF10A, SF15A, SF20A, SF30A ..................................................19

3
6.1 SKF Safeflow flowmeter’s technical description .......................................................................................19
6.1.1 Main components ...............................................................................................................................19
6.1.2 Operating principle .............................................................................................................................19
6.2 Technical specifications ............................................................................................................................19
6.2.1 Specifications .....................................................................................................................................19
6.2.2 Dimensions.........................................................................................................................................21
6.2.3 Accessories ........................................................................................................................................25
6.2.4 Specifying the flow .............................................................................................................................25
6.2.5 Adjustment curves..............................................................................................................................25
6.2.6 Drawing the oil line to the chart..........................................................................................................25
6.2.7 Defining the flowmeter cone level ......................................................................................................26
6.2.8 Flow adjustment (see adjustment curves)..........................................................................................26
6.3 Maintenance..............................................................................................................................................32
6.4 Spare parts and modification kits..............................................................................................................32
7 FLOW TUBE -SPECIFIC ALARM BSS ...........................................................................................................42
7.1 EC Declaration of conformity ....................................................................................................................42
7.2 Technical specifications BSS-051015.......................................................................................................43
7.2.1 General...............................................................................................................................................43
7.2.2 Control unit .........................................................................................................................................44
7.2.3 Alarm sensor ......................................................................................................................................44
7.3 Technical specifications BSS-12030.........................................................................................................45
7.3.1 General...............................................................................................................................................45
7.3.2 Control unit .........................................................................................................................................46
7.3.3 Alarm sensor ......................................................................................................................................46
7.4 Operating principle BSS-051015 and BSS-12030....................................................................................47
7.5 Electrical installation BSS-051015 and BSS12030...................................................................................47
7.5.1 Connecting the sensors......................................................................................................................49
7.5.2 External connections ..........................................................................................................................49
7.6 Settings and adjustments BSS-051015 ....................................................................................................51
7.6.1 Disabling the indicator lights...............................................................................................................51
7.6.2 Adjusting the sensors' switching point................................................................................................51
7.7 Settings and adjustments BSS-12030 ......................................................................................................52
7.7.1 Disabling the indicator lights...............................................................................................................52
7.7.2 Adjusting the sensors' switching point................................................................................................52
7.8 Terminal block sequence BSS-051015 and BSS-12030..........................................................................53
8 MEASURING GROUP-SPECIFIC ALARM BSC.............................................................................................54
8.1 Technical specifications BSC-051015 ......................................................................................................54
8.1.1 General...............................................................................................................................................54
8.1.2 Control unit .........................................................................................................................................55
8.1.3 Alarm sensor ......................................................................................................................................55

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8.2 Technical specifications BSC-12030 ........................................................................................................56
8.2.1 General...............................................................................................................................................56
8.2.2 Control unit .........................................................................................................................................57
8.2.3 Alarm sensor ......................................................................................................................................58
8.3 Working principle BSC-051015 and BSC-12030 ......................................................................................58
8.4 Electrical installation BSC-051015 and BSC-12030 .................................................................................59
8.4.1 Connecting the sensors......................................................................................................................60
8.4.2 External connections ..........................................................................................................................60
8.5 Settings and adjustments BSC-051015 ....................................................................................................62
8.5.1 Setting the delay.................................................................................................................................62
8.5.2 Adjusting the sensors' switching point................................................................................................62
8.6 Settings and adjustments BSC-12030 ......................................................................................................62
8.6.1 Setting the delay.................................................................................................................................62
8.6.2 Adjusting the sensors' switching point................................................................................................62
8.7 Terminal block sequence BSC-051015 and BSC-12030..........................................................................63
9 APPENDICES..................................................................................................................................................64
9.1 CHINA RoHS Table ..................................................................................................................................64

5
1 LEGAL DISCLOSURE
Manufacturer
Oy SKF Ab Finland
Teollisuustie 6
40951 MUURAME
FINLAND
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.skf.com/lubrication
Training courses
In order to provide maximum safety and economic viability, SKF provides detailed training courses. Attending
the training courses is recommended. For further information, please contact the local SKF Service point.
Copyright
© SKF. All rights reserved.
Notes related to the operating instructions
These operating instructions do not include information on the product warranty. The warranty terms are de-
scribed in the general terms of use. The present operating instructions are the manufacturer’s original operat-
ing instructions and they were prepared pursuant to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The instructions are
pos. of the described products and must be kept at an accessible location for further use.
Disclaimer
The manufacturer does not accept any liability for any damage caused by the following actions by the cus-
tomer:
"negligent or inappropriate use, assembly, operation, configuration, maintenance or repairs, or accidents;
"improper or late response to malfunctions;
"unauthorised alterations of the product;
"negligence or wilful violation; and
"the use of non-original (non-SKF) spare parts.
SKF’s liability for damage resulting from the use of products is limited to the maximum purchase price.
Liability for consequential damages of any kind is excluded.

6
2 EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS, SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS
The following symbols are used in the safety instructions included in this manual to highlight conditions which
are potentially harmful to people, materials or the environment.
Please follow the instructions provided especially in the highlighted conditions. Also, mediate the safety in-
structions to other operators.
General warning Dangerous voltage
Risk of slipping Hot surface
Fire hazard Use protective goggles
General note Environmentally friendly disposal
Dispose of cartridges in an
environmentally friendly way
Warning level Consequence Probability
MORTAL DANGER Serious injury, death imminent
DANGER Serious injury, death possible
WARNING Minor injury possible
CAUTION Property damage possible

7
re.
regarding
°C
degrees Celsius
°F
degrees Fahrenheit
approx.
approximately
K
Kelvin
Oz.
Ounce
i.e.
that is
N
newton
gequal to or greater than
etc.
et cetera
h
hour
fequal to or less than
poss.
possibly
s
second
mm2
square millimetre
if appl.
if applicable
d
day
fl. oz.
fluid ounce
a.a.r.
as a rule
Nm
Newton metre
in.
inch
incl.
including
ml
millilitre
Pa
Pascal, newtons per
square metre, N/m
2
min.
minimum
l/min
litres per minute
bar
bar, 100 kPa
max.
maximum
gal/min
gallons per minute
PSI
pounds per square inch
min
minute
PINT/MIN
pints per minute
sq.in.
square inch
e.g.
for example
cc
cubic centimetre
cu. in.
cubic inch
kW
kilowatt
mm
millimetre
mph
miles per hour
U
voltage
l
litre
rpm
revolutions per minute
W
watt
dB (A)
sound pressure level
gal.
gallon
AC
alternating current
>
greater than
lb.
pound
DC
direct current
<
less than
hp
horse power
A
ampere
±
plus/minus
kp
kilopond
Ah
ampere-hour
Ø
diameter
f/s
feet per second
Hz
frequency [Hertz]
kg
kilogram
cSt
centistoke
NC
normally closed
RH
relative humidity
¿m
micrometre
NO
normally open
j
approximately
=
equal to
%
per cent
‰
per mille
Symbol Meaning
üInstruction step
ñList item
ðConditions which must be met before the activities described in
the title clause
can be completed
öRelated factors, causes or consequences

8
Conversion factors
length 1 mm = 0.03937 in.
low 1 cm² = 0.155 sq.in
volume 1 ml = 0.0352 fl.oz.
1 l = 2.11416 pints (US), 0.264
gallons (US)
mass 1 kg = 2.205 lbs
1 g = 0.03527 oz.
density 1 kg/cc = 8.3454 lb./gal (US)
1 kg/cc = 0.03613 lb./cu.in.
force 1 N = 0.10197 kp
pressure 1 bar = 14.5 psi, 100 kPA
temperature °C = (°F-32) x 5/9
output 1 kW = 1.34109 hp
acceleration 1 m/s² = 3.28084 ft./s²
speed 1 m/s = 3.28084 fpsec.
1 m/s = 2.23694 mph

9
3 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
3.1 General safety instructions
"These safety instructions should be read and followed by any persons entrusted with working on the
product and those who supervise or instruct the group of persons mentioned above. In addition, the
owner must ensure that the relevant personnel are fully familiar with the contents of the instructions
and have understood them. It is prohibited to commission or operate the product prior to reading the
instructions.
"These instructions must be kept for further use.
"The described products have been manufactured with diligence and according to the requirements of
the industry. If the products are used for other than their intended purpose, there may be risks which
may result in personal injury or property damage.
"Any malfunctions which may affect safety must be remedied without delay. In addition to these in-
structions, general statutory regulations for accident prevention and environmental protection must be
observed.
3.2 General behaviour when handling the product
"Always follow these instructions when using the product. If the product is not in proper technical con-
dition or you are not familiar with the potential hazards, do not use the product.
"Familiarise yourself with the functions and operation of the product. All specified assembly and oper-
ating steps must be competed in the indicated order.
"Any unclear points regarding proper condition or correct assembly/operation must be clarified. Opera-
tion is prohibited until issues have been clarified.
"Prevent unauthorised operation of the device and unauthorised access to the device.
"Always wear personal protective equipment.
"Take the proper precautions and follow the instructions concerning the relevant task. Responsibilities
for different activities must be clearly defined and observed. Uncertainty is a major risk factor for
safety.
"Safeguards and other protective and emergency equipment must not be removed, modified, discon-
nected or otherwise disabled. Their completeness and function must also be checked at regular inter-
vals.
"If a safeguard or other protective equipment has to be detached, it must be reattached and tested im-
mediately after the work is complete.
"Remedy any recurring faults included in your area of responsibility. If the fault is beyond your compe-
tence, notify your supervisor of the fault without delay.
"Never use parts of the centralised lubrication system or of the machine as standing or climbing aids.
3.3 Intended use
SKF Safeflow is a flowmeter unit for adjusting, measuring and controlling the flow rates of lubricants in circula-
tion lubrication systems. It must be used in accordance with the specifications, technical data and limitations
stated in these instructions.
Usage is allowed exclusively for professional users in the frame of commercial and economic activities.

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3.4 Foreseeable misuse
Any use differing from that stated in these instructions is strictly prohibited, particularly the following:
"use outside the indicated temperature range;
"use of non-specified lubricants;
"exceeding the maximum allowable operating pressure,
"use in continuous operation, excluding circulation lubrication systems,
"use in areas with aggressive or corrosive materials (e.g. high ozone pollution),
"use in areas with harmful radiation (e. g. ionising radiation),
"feeding, forwarding, or storing hazardous substances and mixtures described in annex I part 2-5 of
the CLP regulation (EG 1272/2008),
"feeding, forwarding or storing gases, liquefied gases, dissolved gases, vapours or fluids whose va-
pour pressure exceeds normal atmospheric pressure (1,013 mbar) by more than 0.5 bar at the maxi-
mum permissible operating temperature, and
"use in an explosion protection zone.
3.5 Painting of plastic parts not allowed
Painting of any plastic parts or seals in the product is expressly prohibited. Remove or protect with care any
required parts of the flowmeter unit before painting the piece of machinery onto which the flowmeter unit has
been installed.
3.6 Modifications to the product
Unauthorised alteration or modification may have unforeseeable effects on product safety and functionality.
Therefore, any unauthorised conversions or modifications are expressly prohibited.
3.7 Forbidden measures
Performing the following functions is allowed only for the manufacturer’s experts or for the manufacturer’s au-
thorised persons due to statutory regulations and/or to avoid possible errors. These functions may also be hid-
den.
"Adjusting, repairing or removing safety valve
3.8 Other applicable documents
In addition to these instructions, the following documents must be observed by the persons responsible for the
operation and maintenance of the machine:
"operational instructions and approval rules
"material safety data sheet (MSDS) of the lubricant used
Where appropriate:
"project planning documents
"instructions provided by suppliers of purchased parts
"any documents of other components required to set up the centralised lubrication system
"other documents relevant for the integration of the product into the machine or system

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3.9 Notes on the type plate
The type plate indicates the type designation, order code and other key details of the device. The type plate is
located in the alarm box of the flowmeter unit. The markings on the type plate vary depending on whether the
SF meter is equipped with an alarm unit.
To make sure no information is lost if the type plate
becomes illegible, enter the details in this manual.
Type _______________________________
Code ________________________________
Date of manufacture ________________________
3.9.1 Notes on the CE marking
With regard to the use of the CE marking, the following Directives, which are required for the use
of the CE marking, have been applied:
2014/30/EU - Electromagnetic compatibility
2011/65/EU - Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and elec-
tronic equipment
2006/42/EC - Machinery Directive
3.9.2 Note on UKCA marking
The UKCA label confirms that the product meets the requirements of UK regulations.
3.9.3 Notes on the EAC marking
The EAC conformity mark confirms that the product meets the requirements of the regulations
applicable in the territory of the Eurasian Customs Union.
3.9.4 Note on the RoHS mark in China
The RoHS label used in China confirms that the substances contained in the product and which are
subject to specific regulations, do not pose a risk to humans or the environment during the product's
specified period of use (number within a circle).

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3.10 Persons authorised to operate the device
3.10.1 Operator
An operator is a person who is qualified to carry out the functions and activities related to normal operation
based on his or her training, knowledge and experience. This includes avoiding possible hazards that may
arise during operation.
3.10.2 Mechanical specialist
A mechanical specialist is a person with appropriate professional education, knowledge and experience to de-
tect and avoid the hazards that may arise during transport, installation, commissioning, operation, mainte-
nance, repair and disassembly.
3.10.3 Electrician
An electrician is a person with appropriate professional education, knowledge and experience to detect and
avoid electrical hazards.

13
3.10.4 Orientation for external technicians
Prior to commencing any activities, external technicians must be informed by the end user at the place of op-
eration. on site safety provisions, applicable accident prevention procedures and the functions, guards and
protective devices of the device to be connected to the lubrication system.
3.10.5 Provision of personal protective equipment
The end user must provide personal protective equipment suitable for the respective location of operation and
the intended use.
3.11 Operation
The following must be observed during commissioning and operation:
"any and all information within this manual and the in any referenced documents, and
"all laws and regulations that the end-user must observe.
3.11.1 Emergency stopping of the flowmeter unit
In case of an emergency, stop the flowmeter unit as follows:
"Switch off the piece of equipment that uses the flowmeter unit or the piece of equipment to which the
flowmeter unit has been connected.
3.11.2 Transport, installation, maintenance, malfunctions, repairs, shutdown for
maintenance and disposal
"All relevant persons must be informed of the activity prior to starting any work. Observe safe operating
measures and work instructions.
"Use suitable equipment, working methods and tools when lifting and transporting the product.
"Maintenance and repair work can be subject to restrictions due to low or high temperatures (e.g.
changed flow properties of the lubricant). Whenever possible, carry out maintenance and repair work
at room temperature.
"Before conducting any work, depressurise the product or machine to which the product has been con-
nected and secure it against unauthorised activation.
"Ensure through suitable measures that movable or detached parts are immobilised during the work
and that no limbs can get caught in between if there are any inadvertent movements.
"Assemble the product only outside of the operating range of moving parts, at an adequate distance
from sources of heat or cold. Be careful not to damage other units in the machine or impair their func-
tion during installation.
"Dry or cover wet, slippery surfaces accordingly.
"Cover any hot or cold surfaces.
"Work on electrical components must be carried out by electrical specialists only. Carry out work on
electrical components using voltage insulated tools only.
"Make electrical connections only according to the information in the valid wiring diagram, taking into
account relevant regulations of the country of operation and the properties of the local electrical net-
work.
"Do not touch cables or electrical components with wet or damp hands.
"Do not bypass any fuses. Replace any blown fuses with fuses of the same type and rating only.
"Do not drill holes into critical, load-bearing parts. Use existing boreholes whenever possible. Be care-
ful not to damage lines and cables when drilling.
"Observe possible abrasion points. Protect the parts accordingly.

14
"All components used must be suitable for use at:
– the system’s maximum operating pressure, and
– the maximum and minimum operating temperatures of the product.
"No parts of the lubrication system may be subjected to torsion, shear or bending.
"Before using any parts, check them for contamination, clean if necessary.
"Observe the specified tightening torques. Use a calibrated torque wrench.
"When working with heavy parts, use suitable lifting tools.
"Avoid mixing up or wrong assembly order of dismantled parts. Mark these parts accordingly.
3.12 Commissioning and daily start-up
Ensure the following:
"All safety devices are complete and work properly
"All connections have been correctly made
"All parts have been correctly installed
"All warning labels on the machine are complete, highly visible and undamaged.
"replace illegible or missing warning labels without delay.
3.13 Cleaning
"There is a risk of fire and explosion when using flammable cleaning agents. Only use non-flammable
cleaning agents suitable for the purpose.
"Do not use any aggressive or corrosive cleaning agents.
"Do not use a steam jet or a high pressure cleaner to clean the device. Electrical components may be
damaged. Observe the IP protection class.
"Cleaning work on energised components may be carried out by electricians only.
"Mark damp areas accordingly.

15
3.14 Residual risks
Residual risk
Lifecycle stage
Prevention/remedy
Personal injury / material damage
due to falling of raised parts
A, B, C, G, H, K
Prevent unauthorised access.
Make sure no one remains under
suspended parts or loads. Lift
parts with suitable, tested lifting
devices.
Personal injury / material damage
due to tilting or falling of the prod-
uct because of non-observance
of the stated tightening torques
B, C, D, G
Observe the specified tightening
torques. Fasten the product to
components with adequate load-
bearing capacities only. If no
tightening torques have been
stated, tightening torques for
grade 8.8 screws apply.
Personal injury / material damage
due to electric shock from a dam-
aged connection cable
B, C, D, E, F, G, H
Check that the low level switch
connection cable is intact before
using the switch for the first time
and, after that, daily during start-
up. Do not mount the cable onto
moving parts or at an abrasion
point. If this cannot be avoided,
use spring coils or protective con-
duits.
Personal injury/property damage
due to spilled or leaked lubricant.
B, C, D, F, G, H, K
Detach and reattach lubricant
feed lines with care when replac-
ing or starting up the device. Al-
ways use appropriate hydraulic
screw connections and lubrication
lines suitable for use in the stated
pressures. Do not mount lubrica-
tion lines to moving parts or abra-
sion points. If this cannot be
avoided, use flexible hose lines,
spring coils or protective conduits.
Lifecycle stages: A = transport, B = installation, C = commissioning, D = operation, E = cleaning, F =
maintenance, G = fault, repair, H = decommissioning, K= disposal

16
4 DELIVERY, RETURN & STORAGE
4.1 Delivery
Inspect the product immediately after reception for any signs of damage during shipment and other defects by
comparing the delivery to the shipping documents. Immediately report any damage suffered in transport to the
forwarding agent. In case of damage during shipment or other defect, store the original product packaging,
until all deviations have been corrected. Ensure the safe handling of the product in the internal transport in the
location.
4.2 Return
Clean all parts and pack them properly (i.e. following the regulations of the recipient country) before returning
the product or its parts. Protect the product from mechanical strain (dents, shocks). Returns can be made via
land, sea, or air transport. Add the following symbols to the package of the product to be returned:
4.3 Storage
The product must be stored as follows:
"Store in a closed, dry, cool and vibration-free location.
"Ensure that there are no corrosive or aggressive materials at the place of storage (e. g. UV rays, ozone).
"Protect the product from pests and animals (insects, rodents, etc.).
"Can be stored in the original packaging.
"Protect the product from hot and cold.
"In case of significant temperature fluctuations and/or high air humidity, perform the necessary measures
in order to prevent condensation (e.g., by using a heater).
"The product’s allowed storage temperature range is the same as its operating temperature range (see
Technical specifications).
Before taking the product into use, inspect it for possible damages incurred during storage.
This applies to parts made of plastic and rubber (embrittlement) as well as components
primed with lubricant (ageing) in particular.

17
5 LUBRICANTS
5.1 General information
Different lubricants are used in different applications. In order to suit their intended use, lubricants must meet
various requirements to varying extents. The most important requirements for lubricants are:
"Reduction of abrasion and wear
"Corrosion protection
"noise minimisation
"protection against impurities
"cooling (primarily for oils)
"Longevity (physical/chemical stability)
"Compatibility with as wide range of materials as possible
"economic and ecological aspects
5.2 Lubricant selection
SKF considers lubricants to be an element of system design. A suitable lubricant is selected already when de-
signing the machine and it forms the basis for centralised lubrication system planning.
The selection is made by the manufacturer/end user of the machine, preferably together with the lubricant
supplier based on a requirement profile defined by the customer.
Should you have little or no experience with the selection of lubricants for centralised lubrication systems,
please contact SKF.
If required, we will be glad to support customers in selecting suitable components for feeding the selected lub-
ricant and planning and designing their centralised lubrication system.
With our expertise, you can avoid costly downtime caused by damage to your machine/system
or the centralised lubrication system.
ATTENTION
Only lubricants specified for the product may be used. Unsuitable lubricants may lead to
product failure.
ATTENTION
Do not mix lubricants. This may have unforeseeable effects on the usability and therefore on
the function of the centralised lubrication system.
ATTENTION
Due to the multitude of possible additives, it is possible that individual lubricants, which ac-
cording to the manufacturer's data sheets match the system’s specification, might not in fact
be suitable for use in centralised lubrication systems For example, additives included in syn-
thetic lubricants may not be compatible with the materials used in the system. To avoid this
problem, always use lubricants tested by SKF.

18
5.1 Material compatibility
Lubricants must be compatible with the following materials:
"steel, grey iron, brass, copper, aluminium
"NBR, FPM, ABS, PA, PU
5.2 Ageing of lubricants
After a prolonged downtime of the machine, the lubricant may no longer be suitable for use due to chemical or
physical ageing and must therefore be inspected before the system is recommissioned. We recommend in-
specting the lubricant already after a week’s downtime. If you suspect that the lubricant is no longer suitable,
replace it prior to recommissioning and, if necessary, perform initial lubrication manually. It is possible for lubri-
cants to be tested in SKF's laboratory for their suitability for being pumped in centralised lubrication systems
(e.g. no “bleeding”). Please contact SKF if you have further questions regarding lubricants. An overview of the
lubricants tested by SKF is also available upon request.

19
6 SKF SAFEFLOW FLOWMETERS SF05A, SF10A, SF15A, SF20A, SF30A
6.1 SKF Safeflow flowmeter’s technical description
SKF Safeflow oil flowmeters function on the rotameter principle. This method can be set very accurately,
whatever the temperature, viscosity or operating pressure.
6.1.1 Main components
The SKF Safeflow oil flowmeter unit is a modular product consisting of one or several measuring units with a
beam structure.
The term meter refers to a measuring structure that can be set separately and the meter unit consists of one
or several meters.
The input and output connections for a meter unit are located in a strongly built aluminium casing. The flow
monitoring tubes are made of heat-resistant glass. A float is used for measuring and the flow is controlled by
constriction. Each meter can be set separately according to the required flow.
The SF05A, SF10A and SF15A meters also make it possible to use three flow ranges, since they can be con-
verted with the SF05A-KIT4 modification kit, SF10A-KIT4 modification kit or SF15A-KIT4 modification kit.
The meter unit is fixed to the installation base by placing locking screws in the rectangular slot in the back of
the frame and by tightening the frame with locking nuts in a suitable place on the back board or fixing bar. The
sensors for electronic flow monitoring, supplied as options or installed later, are fitted to the meters.
6.1.2 Operating principle
The oil enters the meter unit from the lower connection at the back of the frame (in exceptional cases the oil
enters from the connection at the end of the frame).
An adjusting valve is located in the feed opening for each meter and the oil moves through its flow opening to
the meter section. A feature of the adjustment valve is that the surface area of the flow opening changes by
sector and not in rings as in older pin or cone valves.
Under normal operating conditions the described constriction valve will not block. The meter has a cylindrical
glass tube in which the adjustable cone and ring-shaped float are located.
With a ring-shaped float, the flow remains visible even when the oil is of a dark colour since it flows though the
float.
The oil flows from the measuring section at a set rate through the output connection along a tube to the lubri-
cation point. The output connection is at the back of the frame above the input connection. There is an output
connection for each meter.
6.2 Technical specifications
6.2.1 Specifications
Table 1. Flow rate range

20
Flowmeter type Viscosity Flow rate range
SF-05A
100 cSt
0.1 - 0.7 l/min
220 cSt
0.04 - 0.35 l/min
SF-10A
100 cSt
0.1 - 3.0 l/min
220 cSt
0.1 - 1.7 l/min
SF-15A
100 cSt
0.3 - 7.2 l/min
220 cSt
0.2 - 4.4 l/min
SF-20A
100 cSt
1.3 - 17.0 l/min
220 cSt
0.6 – 10.6 l/min
SF-30A
100 cSt
5.0 - 56.0 l/min
220 cSt
2.5 - 44.0 l/min
Viscosity range
Viscosity range 30 - 1,000 cSt.
Operating temperature
Max. operating temperature 80 °C.
Operating pressure
Max. operating pressure 16 bar.
Connection sizes
The sizes for input and output connections are shown in the dimensional drawings.