Split cylindrical roller bearings offer far higher load capacity

Time for innovation

The split roller bearing is an industry stalwart. It is known throughout the engineering world for its ability to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and increase production, and is admired for its time-saving attributes and simplicity of design. It is almost essential for applications where the bearing location is trapped or access is limited. However, with very few developments or upgrades since its invention in 1907, it is starting to lag behind an ever-increasing modern demand for higher capacities. With the market for quality split roller bearings dominated by just a handful of large bearings companies, design engineers have had little choice but to work within certain parameters.

JHB looks set to break this paradigm with a new product that does everything the original split bearing did while offering significantly more in the way of capacity, flexibility and simplicity of fitting and maintenance.

3D printing

JHB is part of The Bowman Group of companies and has had the luxury of being able to partner with the 3D printing division of the group, Bowman Additive Production, to explore the possibility of how to improve and innovate on a component whose design has remained largely unchanged for the better part of 110 years. The end product is something that is said to be almost inconceivably advanced compared to anything currently available.

The entire split bearing has been designed around the bearing cage and the numbers are quite breathtaking; the patent-pending bearing cage, Rollertrain, has an increased radial capacity of up to 70 per cent and an increased axial capacity of up to 1000 per cent compared with other split bearings. Indeed, the bearing cage has already been nominated for the prestigious Industrial Product Application Award at the annual TCT Awards. The dramatic capacity increases enable the JHB Split Bearing to replace three series of split bearings with a single series that covers almost all existing requirements.

Axial load independent of radial load

The rolling elements within conventional split bearings are unable to properly accommodate axial and radial loads independently; they only allow for a radial load with a significantly downgraded axial load capacity. The JHB Split Bearing is able to accommodate both loads independently and, in so doing, enables for the first time the calculation of an axial L10 life. This is a capability that was previously impossible and offers a new dimension of flexibility and design freedom.

More versatile, durable and cost-effective

It is difficult to overstate the importance of these new bearings. JHB and Bowman have done what good innovators do and have taken an existing idea, added to it, made it more efficient and improved it substantially. The says the bearing offers improvements and added value across the board compared to any other split bearing and genuinely has the potential to severely disrupt the market by offering design engineers a more versatile, durable and cost-effective alternative to the conventional split bearings currently available.

Follow the link for more information about the innovative new JHB Split Bearings.