Oilers/Plant Tenders (HHC) Civil Service Practice Exam

In a simple grease cup, how is the lubricant forced into the parts to be lubricated?

1. By using pressure from an external pump

2. By screwing down the cap

3. By gravity

4. By manual injection

The correct answer is: By screwing down the cap

In a simple grease cup, the lubricant is forced into the parts to be lubricated primarily by the action of screwing down the cap. As the cap is tightened, it compresses the grease within the cup, creating pressure that pushes the lubricant through the outlet and into the desired lubricated area. This method leverages mechanical advantage to efficiently deliver lubricant without needing external pumps or complex mechanisms. While other methods such as pressure from an external pump or manual injection can be used in different grease lubrication systems, these are not characteristics of a simple grease cup operation. Gravity might play a role in some lubrication systems, but it does not facilitate the active delivery of grease in the context of a grease cup. Thus, the mechanism of screwing down the cap is the most direct and traditional method employed to ensure grease is dispensed where it is needed.