Sand Processing Applications Call for Heavy Duty Bearings
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Granite quarries are predictably dusty, dirty environments that can take
a toll on power transmission equipment. The wet, gritty operating
conditions that occur in the sand processing part of these plants are
particularly tough on bearings. At a large quarry in Macon, Georgia,
plant engineers were having a difficult time resolving bearing
misalignment issues on a sand conveyor that was transporting refined
sand from a McLanahan sand classifier to a sand pile. The misalignment
was occurring in a competitor’s bearings located in the screw take-ups in
the conveyor’s tail pulley. The bearing seals were also failing due to
misalignment. Contamination from the fine grains of sand resulted in
shorter bearing life.
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Working with Applied Industrial Technologies in Macon, an Emerson Power
Transmission Senior District Manager recommended a heavy duty Sealmaster
® roller pillow block (RPB) bearing as
a solution. Heavy shock loads, loss of shaft lock, abrasive particles
and water – Sealmaster RPB bearings are built to withstand the toughest
application conditions.
RPB bearings feature a cartridge style design that compensates for up
to +/- 3° of misalignment, which was a
perfect fit for the screw type take-up configuration. The innovative
design maintains proper rolling element contact with the races when
misaligned – reducing edge loading, eliminating field adjustment and
prolonging bearing life. Also, the one piece, self-aligning cartridge
fits any RPB housing style for easy replacement.
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Sealmaster self-aligning RPB bearings include several sealing options
to purge grease contamination during relubrication. The standard,
patented, felt lined flinger seal outperforms standard competitive seals
by filtering out contaminants in dry, dusty, dirty conditions. The seal
is mounted between the races to prevent misalignment distortion and
rotates with the shaft to direct contaminants away from the sealing
surface. In this case, a contact seal was used to accommodate the moist,
sandy environment. RPB bearings are also factory lubricated so they are
ready to install.
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Quarry plant personnel were so pleased with the increased operating life
and reduced maintenance delivered by the Sealmaster RPB bearings that they
plan to change out all bearings on screw take-ups throughout the plant.
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