HAP 0921

20 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2021 www.hpmag.co.uk APPLICATIONS The world’s population continues to increase rapidly and is expected to reach 8 billion people by 2024. This puts mounting pressure on farmers to maximise their crop yields. There are many ways to make land more productive – from using greenhouses to extend the growing season to adopting different irrigation strategies. It seems a stretch to think that bearings could also play a role, but modern farming relies heavily on machinery. For maximum effect, the machinery must run as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible – and this is where bearings come in. Machinery as diverse as tractors, seeding equipment and combine harvesters are all forms of rotating equipment. If the bearings they use are more robust – or perform more effectively – this helps them run longer and more efficiently. Seeding help SKF’s seeding portfolio includes bearing solutions with and without housings, various dimensions, features and different sealing performance levels. These solutions aim to improve the durability and performance of seeding applications, such as disc openers, gauge wheels, etc., through increased productivity, non-stop operation, cost reduction and no lubrication. For example, disc openers are designed to meet a range of soil conditions – from no-till (direct seeding) to fine soil. Bearings are tailored with improved seals, optimised clearance and features to reduce contamaintion ingress due to soil, moisture and crop residue while maintaining seeding precision. Meanwhile, with larger disc diameters and direct seeding, disc openers experience higher loads – so can require a more robust bearing design. This can mean selecting a bearing with more capacity such as a double row vs. single row, larger size, etc. Food for thought: raising efficiency in farming Ensuring the bearing design, seals, features and capacity are aligned with the seeding equipment requirements is of utmost importance since typical planters or grain drills may have over 40 disc openers and all need to function correctly to provide the best yield at harvest time. The bearing solutions for seeding applications include an integrated bearing and sealing system that is virtually maintenance free. Options are also available that can be delivered as a complete Agri Hub unit incorporating bearing, seals and housing. Bearings based on a 16mm or 20mm bore diameter are available as well as single row or double row variants. Agri Hub solutions help OEMs to control production costs, raise product quality and reduce environmental impact. At the same time, it cuts the need for multiple sourcing of components and reduces additional warranty, testing, engineering and assembly costs. Overall, it can save OEMs up to 50% in total management costs. It also helps farmers and contractors to carry out effective seeding operations by increasing machine productivity. This is done by withstanding heavier loads, operating under harsh environmental conditions and requiring less maintenance. Together, these features support to reduce maintenance, downtime and cost of ownership. Harsh lesson One critical factor – as with many bearings – is the harsh environment. Farm machinery is put through punishing conditions, which bearings must be able to withstand. With this in mind, SKF has developed an extensive portfolio of agricultural bearing solutions designed for machines such as combine harvesters, balers, seeding and tillage equipment, etc. Bearings are designed with special agricultural seals for different performance or contamination levels or requirements. Many solutions offered require no relubrication for reduced maintenance. As well as protecting the bearing from contaminant ingress, the seal prevents grease from leaking out – which could potentially contaminate crops or groundwater. An added benefit of non-relubricatable solutions is the reduction of grease consumption. Over the life of a machine, this could be as much as 200 kg, which cuts costs and reduces waste. In this way, it can help farmers meet stricter environmental regulations. The wide range of seals and Maintaining the efficiency of farm equipment – through the use of more sophisticated bearings – can help to maximise crop yields in the face of an expanding world population, writes Marcelo Borges da Silva, global application Engineer - Agriculture Strategic Segment Group - Seeding Competence Centre at SKF Group. Agri specials.