Gearboxes
Used in countless applications, gearboxes are crucial components that can transform a small rotation force (torque) into a much larger one or speed up a slow rate of rotation. Gearboxes transmit power all around us—in wind turbines, vehicle transmissions, Ferris wheel reduction gears, and more.
Bearings keep gearboxes rotating smoothly, making them indispensable components to our world in motion.
The breakdown of a gearbox can have costly effects, so extremely reliable bearings are a must. NSK pursues not only the latest and most optimal designs in line with gearbox needs, but also aims to supply reliable bearings with high load capacity and long life for lower maintenance costs.
We continue to draw on our resources to develop environmentally friendly next-gen gearbox bearings with even smoother rotation.
The bearings that are used in gearboxes must have certain performance characteristics:
low noise
low vibration
low heat generation
light weight
high rigidity
long operating life
In order to meet all customer requirements for:
low energy use
lower maintenance costs
compactness
light weight
high reliability
NSK has contributed all of its know-how in such fields as its globally renowned design and development strengths, as well as materials, tribology, and production technologies. Products include NSKHPS spherical roller bearings and the EW/EM Series with its high rigidity cages. As a result, NSK has not only achieved unprecedentedly long operational life and higher limiting speeds, it has also made it possible to increase load capacity for smaller bearings Customers who use NSK bearings will be able to experience the latest in bearing technologies.
Operating conditions: high shock loads
Industrial gearboxes are used in many different sectors and often face dynamic operating conditions twinned with high shock loads in some cases. They are usually located between the drive on one side and the process technology on the other. In this case, industrial gearboxes primarily serve to reduce input speeds and increase torques for the processes in question. Typical applications include power generation and mining.
All industrial gearboxes have to function reliably in spite of the dynamic processes acting on them. As higher-performance machines keep emerging, the bearings used for shafts also play a crucial role in ensuring reliability in service. These are also tailored specifically to the relevant application.
For instance, NSK supplies solutions for every stage of the planetary gears used for wind turbines, from the planetary carrier to the generator shaft. Various options are available: traditional locating/non-locating bearings, floating bearings and adjusted bearing arrangements. The choice of material is another key consideration. NSK’s Super-TF technology maximises bearings’ service life, even in operating conditions where conventional bearings would show signs of fatigue damage. If it is also possible to change operating conditions for the better, the components can last several times longer than standard bearings.
High Load Capacity Cylindrical Roller Bearings
Two key innovations extend the lives of heavy-duty cylindrical roller bearings by up to 30%. Firstly, an increase in the number of rollers reduces the surface pressure on the contact area between the rollers and the raceway, thereby increasing the maximum load. Secondly, an optimised cage provides sufficient stability despite the larger number of rolling elements.
Our innovations:
The TF series of bearings
Electrically insulated bearings with a ceramic coating
NSKHPS Spherical Roller Bearings
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