Product category:
Bearings
News Release from: NSK UK | Subject: Self-Lube bearings
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 February 2003
Ready-assembled bearing units speed
manufacturing
Although originally developed over 40 years ago by RHP, the housed bearing unit can truly be said to have come of age in today's highly pressurised global market for manufacturing.
The unrelenting pressures to reduce build times and costs have led to greater integration of component parts in all areas of manufacture For example, in the automotive industry the onus in now firmly on suppliers to provide pre-engineered assemblies such as hub units that simply bolt onto the vehicle transmission system - itself usually pre-assembled
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Jul 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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Housed bearing units provide the same integrated benefits in general manufacturing industry, food processing, materials handling and agricultural applications.
By providing units that are ready assembled to bolt into place, they enable designers to easily and economically solve specific bearing problems relating to component complexity, mounting, and also bearing maintenance and life in difficult environments.
A simple comparison supports the case for "bolt-on" convenience.
The typical mounting arrangement for a standard ball bearing includes a number of separate components, some having to be accurately machined.
These components include a housing, stepped shaft; inner and outer ring retainer and lock nut and thread.
Further reading
Guide helps users avoid bearing failures
Free publication deals with all aspects of bearing procedures, including handling of bearings, mounting, maintenance and inspection, dismounting and bearing storage.
Positioning technology allows microscopic handling
NSK's micro-manipulation system features a three-axis (XYZ) positioning stage that facilitates the attachment of measuring devices, micromanipulators and microscopes for examining a preparation.
Guide eases bearing changes
The guide provides replacement part numbers for metric bearings in bore diameters from 2 to 220mm and imperial sizes from 1/8in bore to 57.15in.
Not surprisingly, this arrangement is both expensive and time consuming to install.
In contrast, one of RHP's Self-Lube units employs the same basic bearing, but integrates all other elements needed to assemble the bearing, together with facilities for sealing and relubricating.
In practice therefore, the housed bearing has reduced the number of expensive components, simplified assembly and cut stock holding costs.
But that's not all.
Self-Lube units provide effective engineering solutions to other bearing problems too, including economical mounting, bearing maintenance and bearing life in difficult environments.
Self-Lube bearings conform to ISO standards and are available in different materials and configurations.
Cast iron pillow block and flange types are used for normal and medium duty applications, while zinc plated press steel units are available for lighter duty operations.
In addition, as many Self-Lube units are called upon to operate in harsh environments, NSK has introduced the Silver-Lube range of corrosion resistant bearings and housings.
These are an excellent solution in applications where frequent washdowns are necessary, optimum hygiene standards are required and good chemical resistance is important.
Essentially Self-Lube housed bearing units consist of an insert, normally a 6200 series deep groove ball bearing with cast iron (pillow block, flange or take-up unit) or pressed steel housings.
The bearing insert can carry a combination of radial and axial loads in the same way as a standard ball bearing.
It has an extended inner ring with integral shaft locking device and a spherical outer ring that matches the spherical bore in the housing to overcome initial housing misalignments up to 0.030rad.
A number of insert types are available for use in light and heavy applications and high and low temperature operating conditions.
Heavy-duty types are used widely in equipment such as pumps and fans.
Designed with a wide inner ring they facilitate a wide range of locking methods.
The simplest of these, set screw locking, is suitable for most applications excepting those where vibration is a problem.
Where vibration does occur an eccentric locking collar mechanism is supplied.
Alternatively, in applications where positive concentric lock is required, or when heavy vibration or shock loads are present, a taper lock system is preferred.
With all these locking arrangements, standard shafting can be used - there is no need for a precision interference fit.
In applications where Self-Lube bearings are required to operate in high or low temperature conditions, HLT inserts come into their own.
These units provide opportunities to reduce maintenance, downtime and replacement costs at temperatures as high as +180C and as low as -40C.
Especially suited to high temperature applications, HLT inserts are designed with C5 radial internal clearance and high temperature grease and seals to give maximum life, even at +180C.
As Self-Lube bearings are widely used in operating environments that are dirty and wet (such as materials handling, agriculture and textiles) they are provided with a choice of effective sealing systems.
The standard S type seal consists of a robust steel pressing with a nitrile sealing lip that is designed to retain grease within the bearing and keep contaminants out.
For more hostile environments a Flinger seal has been developed.
This gives increased levels of protection to the standard single lip seal to extend bearing life in arduous conditions without any loss in speed capability.
Finally, offering the highest levels of protection of all is the triple lip seal.
A highly efficient seal having three nitrile sealing lips, this component is recommended where a high degree of contamination is present.
But the speed capability is limited depending on the size of bearing.
The Self-Lube range comes with protection of another kind, this time for factory personnel against the dangers posed by rotating shafts.
A Protector end cover is available for easy fitment to most standard Self-Lube housed bearing units.
Manufactured in mild steel, the patented Protector is difficult to dislodge, yet can be removed without damage and used again repeatedly. Request a free brochure from NSK UK ...
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