SKF provides efficient technology for agriculture
A
SKF UK product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 22, 2008
SKF is offering a range of technology that can be applied in the agriculture industry to increase productivity, lower operational costs and deliver sustainability benefits.
The technology is typically aimed at extending machine component service life and reducing maintenance, both of which contribute to less stoppages, more reliability and more machine availability.
All of this results in longer operational hours for tractors, combines and attachments in the agriculture industries.
Emphasis is also put on designing solutions with minimal lubrication needs.
Where needed, the use of automatic centralised lubrication systems provide accurate and timely lubrication to all key rotating, sliding and oscillating positions on the vehicles and equipment.
This reduces the use of lubricants, reduces component wear and reduces ground contamination from oil and grease, thus contributing to environmental care and sustainability.
The SKF Agri Hub is one example of these products, which is used in rotary discs for land tilling.
SKF field trials of the Agri Hub indicate an increase in productivity of up to 150 per cent and a reduction of the total cost of ownership by up to 30 per cent.
Furthermore, it is lubricated and sealed for life, saving an estimated 500kg of grease per machine over 10 years, which could leak from conventional designs.
It is reliable for an estimated 10 farming seasons and is relubrication- and pollution-free and easy to install.
The Agri Hub is a single unit, replacing traditionally up to 15 separate components and is expected to reduce OEM costs in management and overhead by up to 90 per cent.
The SKF self-lubricating axial spherical TX plain bearing and a specially developed seal virtually eliminate the need for maintenance for front steering applications in a tractor.
The unit also provides increased load carrying and extended service life.
There is no need for standstills for relubrication and the risk of bearing failures due to improper, or lack of, lubrication is virtually eliminated.
It is also environmentally friendly; there is no grease leakage and thus contamination of land is avoided.
Operating in temperatures from -20 to +50C, it is designed for 300,000 operating cycles in an environment of straw, stones, fertilisers, mud and high-pressure water cleaning.
Global positioning systems (GPS) are widely used in the agriculture industry, saving time and up to 10 per cent fuel due to no more overlapping by harvesters.
SKF provides sensors in the steering column of a tractor that are coupled to the GPS.
This enables the farmer to drive to a starting position and then engage the GPS control for automatic steering while mowing.
If the farmer sees obstacles in his path, or needs to turn at the end of the field, he simply turns the steering wheel.
This disengages the GPS steering and puts the farmer back in control.
When the obstacle is avoided, or the turn is made, the farmer can re-activate the GPS for the next part of the mowing process.
Continuous variable transmissions (CVT) are used today in many tractors.
Although there are many advantages of CVT, especially when mowing, one main issue of this technology is that the traditional mechanical brake in emergency situations, like mowing downhill, can sometimes be no longer fully effective.
If the tractor loses power there is no engine brake possible and the forces involved can be too high for a farmer to apply a hand operated mechanical brake.
SKF has developed an electromechanical actuation system that can get power from the battery and provide an effective emergency brake function in all critical conditions for the farmer.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact SKF UK
Tel +44 1582 490 049
Other SKF UK stories
-
SKF launches online vibration monitor
The Multilog online system DMx combines machine protection and condition monitoring functionality in a single device that can be mounted directly on the machine skid. -
AEO helps Young's build maintenance strategy
An asset efficiency optimisation (AEO) service from SKF is helping Young's Seafood to develop an effective long-term maintenance strategy. -
SKF launches hybrid braking system for tractors
An electronic parking brake for tractors and agricultural vehicles has been launched by engineering company SKF. -
Hybrid thermal imager introduced by SKF
SKF has launched a low-cost, easy-to-use digital camera offering thermal and 2 megapixel visual imaging, suitable for use by maintenance technicians with limited of thermal imaging. -
SKF dry lubrication safely boosts line efficiency
SKF's latest Vogel dry lubrication safely and cost-effectively optimises the efficiency of food and drink production lines.
Browse by category
- Consultancy and Services (906)
- Machine Building (4,549)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,217)
- Engineering Design Software (13)
- 2D CAD software (201)
- 3D CAD software (1,160)
- FEA and structural analysis software (373)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (922)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (200)
- Materials design and moulding design software (152)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (260)
- Electrical design software (165)
- Publishing and documentation software (230)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (318)
- Data, document management software (312)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (571)
- File conversion software, data capture (355)
- PLM and collaboration software (651)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,384)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (416)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,280)
- Linear Drives and Motors (115)
- Industrial Motors (499)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,071)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,983)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,049)
- Control and Instrumentation (1)
- Plantwide control (1,332)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,180)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (388)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (185)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (202)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (563)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (295)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (807)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,506)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (497)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (476)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (633)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (726)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (442)
- Data loggers (421)
- Materials testing equipment (419)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (508)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,229)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,188)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (556)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (688)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (710)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (425)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (805)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (370)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (634)
-
Materials and Processing (2,977)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,227)
- Rapid Prototyping (457)
- Materials processing and testing (288)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,107)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (564)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (401)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (351)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (437)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (842)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (278)
-
Powertrain Design (3,635)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (953)
- Chains and belts (328)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,450)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (430)
-
Capital Equipment (3,406)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (467)
- Production line blowers and fans (64)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (515)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,101)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (935)
-
Sensors (7,125)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (430)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (706)
- Pressure sensors (625)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (621)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (529)
- Linear Position Sensors (405)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (551)
- Proximity Sensors (707)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (285)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (154)
- Temperature sensors (613)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,388)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,649)
