Bearing / drive components
In all of our installations there are bearing and drive components which require alignment and normally lubrication.
The most common drive components are gear reducers. Gear reducers are used when reduced speed or increased torque is required. We use a gear reducer on the kiln. Rotation in and out, rollback capability, reversibility, and actual speed reduction, overall torques are all specifications required for designing a gear box.
Hydraulic couplings are also used in some fan applications were speed control is required. Hydraulic couplings are not used as much due to their size and inefficient characteristics. The simplest drive components are belt drive systems. Belt drive systems are used mainly on fans and screw conveyors; however, direct coupling the motor to the unit will reduce maintenance. The modern way of control is to use a variable speed drive.
Hydraulic drives are also used for low speed high torque (kiln) applications. These are special drive motors that can be directly coupled to pinion shafts without the use of gearboxes. They can produce high starting torque for an unlimited period, with full torque from zero speed. Sophisticated hydraulic power units are required to control and synchronize the motor.
Bearings are in every moving piece of equipment. Bearings are also uniquely designed for their application. The most common bearings are the anti-friction or roller bearings. These bearings have become standardized and perform excellent in almost any condition. Anti-friction bearings do not work well with heavy loads. Specialized bearings are used on the kiln were high loads are seen.
Metso has developed very sophisticated bearings for use on all kind of kilns, mills, crushers, material handling equipment, and large machinery. These bearings are designed for long life utilizing a high level of lubrication used for cooling and lubricating. The bearings are precision manufactured with high quality materials.
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