New and remanufactured slewing ring bearings

Kaydon precision slewing ring bearings, which are widely specified for tunnel boring machines, are finding favour in similar arduous applications in Europe, where high technical performance and cost-efficiency are prerequisites.

Sold throughout the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia by factory representative R. A. Rodriguez, these bearings are generally custom-designed to suit the application and budget. Kaydon has more than 70 years' experience in this field and all bearings are manufactured in ISO 9001:2000 certified facilities. The complete range comprises three-row roller, angular-contact ball, four-point-contact ball, cross-roller and multi-row roller bearings.

To illustrate the scale of what Kaydon can do, the company regularly supplies slewing rings for cutter heads. These are typically three-row, induction-hardened, roller bearings with dual thrust rollers that can be up to 9m in diameter. Segment erector slewing ring bearings can be up to 6m in diameter, also induction-hardened in a ball or multi-row ball configuration.

Another typical application is on screw conveyors, which are in constant rotation. Slewing ring bearings for such a task would be up to a 1.5m in diameter and in ball or cross-roller configurations.

Bearing design

Bearing races are made from a seamless rolled ring of bearing-quality steel, and gears can be cut into the inner or outer race and hardened to resist wear. Special sealing and lubrication is available to enhance bearing life. Kaydon also designs the metallic cages for the rolling elements to suit the application.

Kaydon has supplied many hundreds of large slewing ring bearings for this type of application nd demand continues to grow, particularly now in China and India. In the UK and northern Europe the current demand is principally for assemblies in cranes, excavators, fork lift attachments, access platforms, pile drivers and machines for trench digging and crushing.

Slewing ring bearings in construction applications are inherently subject to heavy wear and abuse, hence most need replacement on a regular basis. One option is the Kaydon remanufacture programme; all remanufactured bearings come with a warranty that is equal to that of a new bearing, and the remanufacturing process includes the precision grinding of raceways to the correct geometry and load capacity, new rolling elements and replacement separators and lubricant.

Alternatively, via Kaydon, RA Rodriguez is able to make a replacement for any bearing, regardless of the OEM. Kaydon has comprehensive reverse-engineering capability at its manufacturing plants. Contact RA Rodriguez for more information about new and remanufactured slewing ring bearings.