Product category:
Bearings
News Release from: Eriks UK | Subject: SRB split plummer block mounted bearings
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 02 July 2004
Repacement bearing doesn't raise the
roof
Wyko's range of interchangeable SRB split plummer block mounted bearings has proved its worth by ensuring that one of the two central brick production lines at Ibstock Brick was kept running.
Wyko's recently launched range of interchangeable SRB split plummer block mounted bearings has emphatically proved the point of the new designs by ensuring that one of the two central brick production lines at Ibstock Brick was kept in operation cost effectively Using the split design as a direct replacement for a failed conventional interference fit SN housed bearing, Wyko demonstrated a huge saving in terms of time and cost of replacement
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 9 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Engineers took just three hours to complete the replacement whereas the alternative of replacing the original like-for-like would have taken 3-4 working days and required a crane to remove part of the factory roof.
Wyko's Bearing Specialist David Oliver comments: "Ibstock are the leading UK manufacturer of high quality clay facing bricks and paving".
"The company has a proactive maintenance policy and excellent provision for emergency maintenance work so it is difficult to quantify any savings in terms of potential down-time, however we estimated it would have taken up to four working days to replace the existing housed bearing, had a direct replacement split bearing not been available".
"To install another conventional bearing, Ibstock would have had to hire a crane to remove part of the factory roof and lift large motor and gearbox assemblies clear of the factory floor".
"In all, the cost would have been approaching GBP 10,000 and required far more logistical planning".
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"As it was, the repair work took just three hours and cost a little over GBP 2000 fitted, including a James Walker split seal to help prevent liquid contaminants entering the bearing enclosure and causing future failures".
The failed bearing supported one of the main power transmission shafts in one of the two central brick production lines at Ibstock; fortunately the company was already in production on the second line while the maintenance problem was solved.
Until recently, there were only two choices open to maintenance engineers faced with this situation; the first would be to fit another standard bearing and the second to adapt the mounting and shaft positions to accommodate a traditional split roller bearing.
The first option would have required the complete dismantling of a large part of the plant with all the incumbent costs.
To fit the second option - a traditional split roller bearing, would also have required a significant amount of work to alter or replace the main support beam in order to accommodate the larger housing dimensions normally associated with a split bearing design.
The new "compact" SRB split plummer block bearing from Wyko however, is the first split cylindrical roller bearing assembly to be dimensionally interchangeable with standard SN and SD series plummer blocks and therefore could be installed without the major drawbacks associated with the other two options.
The SRB unit simply required the shaft to be supported and the replacement bearing to be assembled around the shaft.
Being totally split to the shaft, all the components including the upper and lower half of the housing, bearing races, cage and roller assembly are simply positioned and then slid into place.
The replacement process takes a fraction of the time required for solid equivalents that can require a wide array of heaters, hammers, pullers, feeler gages and shims to fit correctly.
The solution for Ibstock Brick clearly demonstrates how maintenance engineers can now have the best of both worlds.
The benefits offered by Split roller bearings in terms of dramatically reduced downtime in maintenance and replacement situations were achieved without any additional disassembly, engineering and fabrication.
There were absolutely no alterations required to the existing shaft and support arrangement at Ibstock, the shaft was simply supported while the original housing was unbolted and the bearing removed.
Simple inspection is another key advantage of the SRB design.
With a solid bearing, specialised vibration analysis maybe required to detect bearing wear.
Many are replaced routinely rather than risk downtime due to failure; the top sections of an SRB unit, however, can be simply unbolted and lifted off to provide a rapid visual inspection.
Again, this feature can save time and reduce the risk of unplanned or pressurised downtime.
SRB bearings can also compensate for a higher degree of shaft misalignment.
Self-aligning ball and spherical roller bearings allow misalignment of the shaft relative to the seal, which results in inefficient sealing performance.
The SRB bearing is enclosed by a housing that can swivel within the cast iron support allowing the bearing and seals to remain concentric to the shaft.
This feature prevents the characteristic shaft wear and seal damage caused by standard bearings compensating for misalignment within the bearing.
SRB has a wealth of experience in specifying, supplying and supporting split bearings on a worldwide basis with 40% of production exported.
SRB plummer blocks are available from stock in common sizes and can be manufactured with very short lead times for extra large shaft diameters up to and over 900mm. Request a free brochure from Eriks UK ...
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