Optimized ball bearing for extreme-duty applications

Baldor Electric introduce a new Dodge-brand mounted ball bearing that offers extended life in automation equipment designed for the most extreme industrial power transmission applications, including aggregates, cement, paper, wood and metal processing.

Designated Dodge Extreme Duty, the bearings feature a new sealing system and a ball retainer for superior protection and reduced maintenance. These bearings, available in a variety of housing styles, use a 65 degree spacing for setscrews. This design offers an optimum balance between locking force and inner ring stress.

The new sealing system, QuadGuard, consists of two features: a triple lip seal and a rubberized flinger. The triple lip seal offers three points of contact, keeping the lubricant in and contaminants out. This design maximizes sealing with a minimal amount of drag. The rubberized flinger is a moulded nitrile rubber component that is bonded to the flinger surface and provides an additional barrier to contaminants. The rubber-baffled design on the external surface of the flinger enhances the removal of liquid as it rotates, while grease chambers on the internal surface of the flinger prevent lubricant from exiting the bearing.

A new two-piece ball retaining cage, Maxlife, creates a grease compartment around each of the rolling elements. The compartments provide constant contact between ball and grease so an oil film always exists to prevent wear, and minimize friction and heat. The compartmental construction holds in the grease and prevents it from being washed out. This design extends the life of the bearing and requires less frequent relubrication than standard designs.

For additional protection, the housings are machined with a groove to accept a snap-on polymer end cover to cover exposed, rotating shafts and create safer working conditions. These covers incorporate a drain hole to prevent moisture build-up.

Dodge Extreme Duty ball bearings also utilize the latest synthetic grease technology to provide lower operating temperatures, and extend grease life and the interval between relubrication operations.  The range is available in a wide range of imperial sizes plus metric sizes from 20 to 85 mm.

Baldor UK Ltd, Mint Motion Centre, 6 Bristol Distribution Park, Hawkley Drive, Bristol BS32 OBF tel: (01454) 850000; email: sales.uk@baldor.com