When it comes to choosing bearing solutions, there are multiple options, and the right choice will depend on the application. However, Motion Australia Key Account Executive Brad Hudson uses the analogy of car types when describing why some packages – such as a Timken SNT Plummer Block housing and bearing solution – might achieve better results.

“Any car can get you from A to B, but it’s ongoing performance will be determined by the quality of its design, its parts and maintenance,” he says. “It’s the same for industrial equipment, which rely on bearings to rotate and move. Certain industrial applications are particularly taxing on equipment and componentry, and so quality and strength will be key to their performance.”

In the case of a customer who runs a recycling business – where used materials are shredded and processed for re-purposing – there was an ongoing issue with one of their critical conveyor applications on site. 

“This particular conveyor operates in a rugged environment where the bearings are actually upside down on the conveyor – and the bearings they were using just kept failing, which wasn’t just increasing maintenance expenditure, but was taking its toll on the whole production facility,” explains Brad. “We suggested switching them out with the Timken SNT housed units which have a number of features that make them robust and reliable in these settings. Since they’ve changed over to the Timken SNT solution the conveyor has been running smoothly.”

The Timken SNT Plummer Blocks come as a single brand solution that includes the housing, bearings, adaptor sleeve and seals. Whilst these units are available in different materials such as standard cast iron, ductile iron or special-order cast steel, across a variety of metric shaft sizes, they all share the common ability to keep lubrication in and contamination out.

“One of the causes of the failure experienced on the conveyor at the recycling facility was an over-greasing of the bearings and housing, adding to the maintenance costs on site” says Brad. “When we installed the SNT units we also provided some training on site as to the procedures around maintenance and lubrication to address those issues. Also, the Timken SNT units have a centre-mounted grease fitting matched to the bearing lube ring and holes, enabling effective lubrication at all times.”

Moreover, the bearings feature four different seal options including double-lip split rubber seal, labyrinth, V-ring and taconite. End Covers also clip into the seal groove, to blank of one side of the housing.  All seal options fit into the seal groove in the housing body, enabling customers to use the seal suited for the environment and application demands.  All designed to keep the bearing free from debris and properly lubricated, increasing the bearing life and uptime of equipment.

“The housings have features that make them extra durable in harsh industrial environments and together with high-performance spherical roller bearings inside, they give our customers longevity and reliability on critical equipment,” says Brad. “Also, the power of a single solution cannot be overstated – traditionally, customers would use different brands for the housing, bearings and seals which created challenges from an inventory standpoint but also around compatibility of components when they needed replacing. With the Timken part numbering system and all-in-one kit, identification and upgrading are made simpler and more efficient.” 

Importantly, the Timken SNT Plummer Block solution comes with flexible configurations. Each unit offers the choice of a parallel shaft design for use with a tapered adaptor sleeve, or stepped shaft design for applications requiring better axial location.  A single housing can be utilized for a variety of bearings based on capacity needs and accessories, and conversion between fixed and floating is made possible by adding or removing the locating rings. Available in two and four bolt foot designs, to suit the mounting structure.

“The flexibility and interchangeability of the Timken SNT unit designs make these a popular choice among many of our industrial customers,” Brad concludes. “Sourcing all components of these housing units from Motion Australia minimises the downtime of equipment and operations.”

TIMKEN SNT SPLIT PLUMMER BLOCK OFFERING

Features and Benefits
• Two-Bolt SNT 500–600 series (shaft diameter 20mm–140mm) for Tapered and Cylindrical Bore Bearings in grey cast iron (SG Iron special order)

• Four-Bolt FSNT 500–600 series (shaft diameter 40mm–140mm) for Tapered and Cylindrical Bore Bearings in cast iron (SG Iron special order)

• Large Plummer Block Housings: 3000–3100 series (shaft diameter 115 mm– 500 mm) come standard in SG Iron (ductile iron)