Page 28 - AWA Vol.37 No.4

TRACTORS

AGRICULTURE SECTOR CAN BOOST DRIVE-

TRAIN RELIABILITY WITH NSK BEARINGS

or improper lubrication is yet another
contributor to flaking.

State-of-the-art materials
Further NSK solutions that are ide-
al for gearbox manufacturers serving
the agriculture sector include NSKHPS
spherical roller bearings and HST thrust
ball bearings. The former use state-
Drive-train solutions for vehicles and to a failed bearing are little short of of-the-art material technology that
machines in the agriculture industry catastrophic. For the OEM, it could provides suitability for applications
must meet a variety of performance mean warranty call-outs and damage necessitating high loads.
demands that typically centre on high to professional reputation. In fact, as NSK’s highest load-rating
torque and high loads. Bearings for In drive trains, flaking occurs when spherical roller bearing (25% higher),
transmissions, differentials and prop bearing material fragments chip away it is possible to downsize in some ap-
shafts must therefore offer the highest from the smooth surface of the race- plications.
levels of reliability and service life. way or rolling elements due to rolling HST high-reliability cage-equipped
NSK, based on decades of experience fatigue, subsequently creating regions thrust bearings are specifically for
in supplying bearings for automotive with a coarse texture. This failure applications in hydraulic static trans-
drive trains, has successfully trans- mechanism can result from a variety missions (HST), found commonly in
ferred its knowledge and experience of sources, including excessive load machines/vehicles for the agriculture
to applications in the agriculture indus- and penetration by foreign matter. sector. The bearing provides twice the
try, bringing a number of distinct ad- life of conventional thrust bearings,
vantages to OEMs and end users alike. High-load bearings thanks in part to the use of EP steel
There are numerous emerging trends To overcome the potential for flaking, supported by a special heat treatment
in the agriculture sector, which is now NSK solutions include HR series high- that resists sub-surface fatigue of the
starting to follow the lead set by auto- load bearings, which provide excellent inner and outer races.
motive. By way of example, there are performance in drive-train applications
growing calls for increased levels of for the agriculture sector. Offering a Added value
downsizing to improve fuel economy, higher load-carrying capacity and NSK not only offers an extensive
while EU legislation on CO2 emissions longer operating life not only prevents range of proven products for drive-
is constantly tightening. However, by flaking, but adds value through its abil- train applications in the agriculture
sourcing bearings that offer attributes ity to support downsizing initiatives. industry, but can provide added-val-
such as a high load rating and low-fric- HR series tapered roller bearings use ue solutions for initiatives that in-
tion running, it is possible to meet these conical rollers guided by a back-face clude downsizing, lower friction and
challenges head-on. rib on the cone. These bearings are reduced CO2. Through innovations
capable of taking high radial and axial such as special materials, advanced
Specific demands loads in one direction as the rollers are heat treatment and innovative manu-
While experience in automotive is larger in both size and number. facturing processes, NSK has been ben-
advantageous, there are a number The HR series is also available as a efitting the automotive sector with its
of important differentiations when it deep-groove ball bearing, which offers expertise in transmission bearings for
comes to applications for the agricul- 7-19% higher dynamic load rating and many decades, with growing numbers
ture sector. Whereas road vehicles a 22-68% increase in ISO L10 life. in agriculture also now gaining from
demand good acceleration/speed To help counter the ingress of con- this industry-proven resource.
performance and travel on smooth tamination, which is another common
surfaces, farm vehicles must cope with cause of flaking in drive-train bearings, Press pictures
rugged terrain and carry/pull high NSK’s TM series is proving popular.
loads, which means that high torque The seal is particularly effective in
replaces high speed as the primary the transmission systems of vehicles
drive-train requirement. for agriculture applications, where it
Many pitfalls can arise if drive trains can facilitate 2.5 times more service
use poorly specified or incorrectly se- life than open bearings.
lected bearings. Common failures of The innovative design of the seal lip
transmission bearings include flaking, structure prevents contaminants such
fretting, cage damage and creep, all of as gear dust from entering, while si-
which have undesirable consequences. multaneously allowing the passage of
With modern agriculture so depend- lubricating oil. In addition, the sealed-
ent on high productivity through max- in grease has a high affinity for trans- 1) NSK HR series tapered roller
imised vehicle uptime, the potential mission oil to aid initial lubrication. Poor bearings can take high radial and
costs and lost operational hours due axial loads in one direction
26 Vol. 37 No. 4