SKF invented the spherical roller bearing in 1919 and has been a leading manufacturer of these bearings ever since. Spherical roller bearings offer an attractive combination of design features that make them irreplaceable in many demanding applications. Due to their self-aligning ability they are able to accommodate misalignment between a shaft and housing without an increase in friction and reduction in bearing life. They are also able to support heavy loads in both the radial and axial directions.
SKF spherical roller bearings are well proven in the field and undergo continuous development to provide improved performance. The most recent example has been the introduction of the SKF 'Explorer' series bearings that represent a significant breakthrough in bearing technology. The 'Explorer' design is the result of years of intensive research by an international team of SKF scientists and engineers. The following improvements were made to the bearing material and manufacturing process:
* Steel - The reduced oxygen content from the refined steel making process resulted in ultra-clean steel that offers longer life at higher loads.
* Heat treatment process - The new bainite hardening process used for the bearing rings offers increased hardness and wear resistance coupled with high toughness and dimensional stability at temperatures up to 200°C for standard bearings.
* Manufacturing - Refined manufacturing processes allow the production of bearings with optimised internal surface finish. These bearings offer reduced internal friction, lower bearing temperatures and improved lubricant performance and life.
* Internal geometry - The fine-tuned micro-geometry of the rolling contacts, and reduced roller diameter and form deviations offer optimum load distribution and reduced material stress for the same loading.
All of these improvements contribute to a significant increase in load carrying capacity, bearing service life and reliability. The optimised internal design minimises friction and heat, and by this lubricant consumption which in turn leads to reduced maintenance requirements and costs.
The bearings are available in a wide range of sizes with bore diameters from 20 mm to 1,8 m. Cylindrical or tapered bore variants are available to suit all types of mounting methods. Bearings are also available in a wide range of series that are designed to satisfy the following selection criteria - load carrying capacity, combination of radial and axial loads, rotational speed and available space in the application.
SKF recently introduced a range of sealed spherical roller bearings that are especially suited for bearing positions where, because of limited space or for cost reasons, effective external seals cannot be provided. They incorporate double lip, sheet steel reinforced rubber contact seals on both sides of the bearing and filled in the factory with a grease that is appropriate for the operating conditions. The seal design has been developed using computer simulation to fulfil high demands on sealing efficiency and operational reliability under difficult environmental conditions. Under normal operating conditions, sealed spherical roller bearings are maintenance free, keeping service costs and grease consumption low.
Standard SKF spherical roller bearings are fitted with Nitrile rubber seals and filled with a grease that is suitable for operating temperatures up to 110°C. Specialised bearings incorporating flouro-rubber seals and specialised greases can be produced upon request for higher temperature applications.
For more information contact Warren Walker, SKF South Africa, +27 (0)11 821 3500, [email protected]
| Tel: | +27 11 821 3500 |
| Fax: | +27 11 821 3505 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.skf.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about SKF South Africa |
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