Feb 19 2009
SKF, the leading knowledge engineering company, has developed an innovative self-aligning bearing system that eliminates the problem of axial displacement in rotating equipment. The arrangement comprises a CARB® toroidal roller bearing and an SKF Explorer spherical roller bearing, with each bearing supported in an SNL plummer block housing. This unique system results in improved performance and extended service life for industrial applications, minimising maintenance costs for end users.
Axial displacement has long been a problem in conventional self-aligning bearing arrangements where spherical roller bearings are used at both ends of the shaft. In these systems, the bearings effectively fight each other when the axial movement takes place, causing incorrect loading on the components and leading to premature wear.
The SKF solution remedies this problem by combining fit-for-purpose rolling bearings and robust housings. In the non-locating position, a CARB toroidal roller bearing provides superior shaft misalignment tolerance, eliminating fretting corrosion, reducing heat and lowering maintenance costs. CARB bearings are designed to accommodate axial movement internally, with the roller position inside the bearing automatically adjusted to distribute load evenly along the roller contact length, irrespective of misalignment.
The CARB bearing is complemented by an SKF Explorer spherical roller bearing in the locating position. These bearings have an all steel construction and patented self-guiding symmetrical rollers, offering three times the life of conventional bearings, with lower temperature and noise, greater strength and stiffness, and ultimately reduced maintenance costs.
Both of the bearings are housed in SKF’s SNL plummer block housings, which are specially cast to be stronger and stiffer than conventional models. As a result, the housings offer improved bearing seating, longer re-lubrication intervals and better heat dissipation for longer service life. The units are simple and fast to assemble and dismantle, keeping system downtime to a minimum. A range of sealing options are available, and the housings are designed to accept SKF's lubrication and condition monitoring solutions to improve performance and reduce costs still further.