COAL FACE
COAL PRODUCER BENEFITS from SRB solution
SKF was approached by a leading South African coal producer to quote on a traditional solid spherical roller bearing (SRB) to replace an obsolete unit on a bucker wheel feeder.
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KF managed to come up with a solution in the trapped position on the SKF Cooper Split that would enhance worker safety and SRB also increases production uptime and shrinks deliver substantial cost savings. The Cooper maintenance costs. Split SRB solution is expected to enhance Extended service life safety and reduce mean time to repair (MTTR) by 70% Furthermore, the wire-cut inner and outer ring for the local coal producer. manufacturing technique and sealed versions of “The customer faced two primary challenges with the SKF Cooper Split SRB extend service life or the traditional solid SRB, namely limited accessibility longer mean time between failures compared to and prolonged downtime during maintenance,” other split bearings. explains Lisa Binzani, Binzani also points territory sales engineer: out that increased Central & Eastern machine availability Gauteng, SKF. “But of and performance bigger concern was – and subsequent the fact that the nature uptime – have a direct of the application and positive influence arrangement for on productivity and the free end was production levels. posing a safety risk SKF Cooper leads to maintenance the market in personnel. Statistics the field of splithave shown that up bearing technology to 43% of accidents in and is the only the mining and cement bearing manufacturer industry occur during to offer split maintenance work cylindrical, taper or when personnel and spherical roller conduct checks on The SKF Cooper Split SRB was delivered to the coal bearings in addition conveyors. We therefore plant at the start of Q3 2021 to the new sealed recommended the split SRBs. SKF Cooper Split SRB, The SKF Cooper Split SRB is suitable for a wide range which offers safety and cost advantages over the of applications, including conveyor pulleys, rope solid SRB unit.” sheaves, bucket elevators, stackers/reclaimers, hoists Thanks to its special design, the Split SRB can be and winches, horizontal grinding mill pinions, mixers replaced easily in situ, requiring very few changes to the shaft alignment or driveline. As there is and agitators, jack shafts and fans. no need to dismount the drive coupling or the “We highly recommend the conversion of traditional cantilevered drive to replace the bearing – thus bearing units to the SKF Cooper Split SRB to any avoiding realignment – MTTR is reduced by twocustomer that requires bearings that can be easily thirds. In addition to enhancing the safety of replaced in situ with little disturbance to the shaft maintenance personnel, in situ bearing replacement alignment or driveline,” concludes Binzani.
