June 2021

n TECHNOLOGY June 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com 22 THE UK BEARINGS manufacturer, Bowman International, has developed a split roller bearing (SRB) that, it claims, offers substantially higher radial and axial load capacities than rival products, as well as increasing bearing lives by up to five times Aimed at high-load applications, the SRBs – being sold under the John Handley Bearings brand, which Bowman acquired in 2017 – are said to offer radial load capacities that are up to 75% higher than other SRBs, as well as axial load capacities that are up to 1,000% higher in both directions. The SRBs comprise two independent 3D- printed axial bearings designed to accommodate greater loads and improve system performance with less maintenance and fewer unplanned machine failures. “For the first time,” says Bowman’s technical director, Ian Breeze, “plant builders and maintenance engineers can specify a split roller bearing that does not rely on race lips alone to accommodate axial force in high- load applications.” He adds that the new bearings will boost axial L10 lives “by up to 500%”, compared to other market-leading split bearings. A patented triple-labyrinth seal is said not only to offer a tighter seal than other SRBs, but also to reduce the need for the costly removal, machining or replacement of worn shafts. Instead, users can simply fit an extended seal onto an undamaged part of the shaft, without compromising performance and without needing extended downtime. The bearing’s high thrust and radial load capacities mean that it can replace solid spherical roller bearings in rotating machinery, and can be changed up to ten times faster than was previously possible for such applications. “When space is limited,” Breeze explains, “engineers often need to disconnect the coupling and move other equipment – such as motors, gearboxes or pumps – out of the way before they can slide solid bearings off the shaft for replacement or maintenance. “Split roller bearings can be assembled radially around the shaft, eliminating these additional logistical challenges and making maintenance and replacement a lot faster and more cost-effective,” he adds. “To further enhance time and cost savings, the Bowman Advanced Split Roller Bearing uses the rollers to lock the two cage halves together, eradicating the use of small and easy-to-lose clips and other locking components.” Bowman is offering a series of dimensionally interchangeable retrofit products that fit into existing bearing housings – even those from competing suppliers – to improve radial and axial load capacities quickly and cost-effectively. “We are the first manufacturer to create a split roller bearing capable of increasing the lifespan and performance of high-axial systems,” Breeze concludes, “and thanks to the production benefits of 3D printing, we have been able to deliver this product at a price point up to 20% lower than other leading split bearings.” https://www.johnhandleybearings.com/jh b-split-roller-bearings/ Split roller bearing handles larger loads and lasts up to 5 times longer Bowman says that its split roller bearings will last up to five times longer than rival products SIEMENS IS COLLABORATING with the bearings manufacturer Schaeffler to offer intelligent diagnostics for motor-based drive systems. They are using automated bearing diagnostics to deliver informed maintenance decisions and to integrate information on bearing condition into motor health monitoring systems. Siemens has combined its Sidrive IQ IIoT platform with Schaeffler’s bearings expertise to provide automated bearing diagnostics that makes it possible to determine a bearing’s condition with greater precision. This will allow users to make better decisions on operating and maintaining drive systems. For example, they can determine quickly whether a drive system can continue to operate, or whether a bearing needs to be replaced either immediately or during the next planned maintenance procedure, to avoid possible damage. This, say Siemens and Schaeffler, will reduce the effort and cost of maintenance and prevent costly unplanned downtime. “This cooperation and automated exchange of algorithm-based diagnostic data is one of the first of its kind in the industrial IoT,” says Hermann Kleinod, CEO of Siemens Large Drives Applications. “It’s a great example of a new dimension of cooperation among established technology companies.” Dr Stefan Spindler, CEO Industrial at Schaeffler, adds that the partnership with Siemens “is based on a solid foundation of product knowledge and specific expertise. Both companies are playing an instrumental role in driving forward digitalisation in the industry with their entire focus on customer value.” Rolling bearings are key mechanical components in motors and experience all of the loads and stresses that occur in a motor. Bearing diagnostics therefore provides a crucial indicator of the condition and reliability of a motor. www.schaeffler.co.uk n Siemens and Schaeffler join forces to cut motor maintenance bills