SKF/SRB brochure 27/8/03 8:54 AM Page 3

SKF Explorer
sealed spherical roller bearings
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SKF Explorer sealed spherical roller bearings

- environmentally friendly units for longer life
Sealed spherical roller bearings are ● Capable of carrying heavy loads Of particular and ever-increasing
characterised by several valuable ● Due to the integral seals and the importance is that sealed spherical
properties. They are: incorporated grease fill, they are roller bearings are environmentally
● Sealed at both sides with rubbing able to: friendly and conserve resources.
seals, which retain grease in the - Allow simpler and space Sealed spherical roller bearings
bearing saving bearing arrangements, are especially ideal for bearing
● Protected against contamination thus saving total costs positions where, because of limited
and moisture - Provide long service life and space or for cost reasons, sufficiently
● Ready-to-mount and normally high reliability with minimal effective external seals cannot be
maintenance-free maintenance requirements provided.
● Not affected by normal angular
misalignment and shaft alignment
errors

Why sealed spherical roller bearings from SKF?

Quite simply because of the are used today as those of any The development of the sealed
expertise behind the efficient seals. other bearing manufacturer. spherical roller bearing has followed
In 1919, SKF invented the SKF spherical roller bearings the SKF tradition. High demands
spherical roller bearing. SKF has are state-of-the-art products. They on sealing efficiency and operational
continued to further develop and are the subject of a continuous reliability has been fulfilled. The
refine the design, including the way improvement process designed seals have been extensively tested
it is sealed. The best proof of the to further enhance performance both in the laboratory and in the
total quality of SKF spherical roller and reliability, with the aim of field, and have proven their reliable
bearings is their success. Twice as conquering new and even more performance and efficiency.
many SKF spherical roller bearings demanding applications.

Benef its Benef its Durable Forgiving

The use of SKF Explorer sealed ● Long service life

spherical roller bearings will Proven design. Appropriate
provide the following benefits: greases and efficient
sealing make this possible.
● Very high combined Rugged
load carrying capacity ● Minimum maintenance Solid contaminants excluded
Both radial and axial, as requirements
the internal geometry of Highly efficient seals keep 0.5 °C
the bearings corresponds contaminants and moisture
to that of the open out, and the grease in.
(unsealed) bearings.
● Better for the Tolerant to alignment errors
Moisture cannot enter
● Wide range of environment
applications The bearings are normally
Two different seal variants maintenance-free. 180°C
and two different greases This reduces grease
can be supplied - for consumption and
normal and for high conserves resources.
operating temperatures.
Resistant to elevated temperatures
Always operationally reliable
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SKF Explorer benefit chain

Size down Equivalent load ratings Higher speeds Less vibrations Less noise Less heat

Longer bearing life Reduced power usage Reduced maintenance costs Less lubricant

Extra bonus Extra bonus Extra bonus

with sealed bearings with sealed bearings with sealed bearings

Environmentally friendly
SKF features
Brand Designation ● Easier to handle, maintaining
alignment during assembly.
OR E R BS
PL ● Ensures bearings are
X

2-

assembled uncontaminated.
E

221
SKF

Reduced lubricant
5 - 2 CS

consumption.
IN

A Z
GT.BRIT

Country Year of
of origin manufacture

Endurance life test

* Bearing life (million rev.)

Recognised competitors
Low cost
alternative

*Refer to pages 18-19 in brochure 5100 E

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A wide assortment
The range of SKF Explorer sealed spherical roller roller bearings and effectively prevent contaminants
bearings comprises bearings with cylindrical bore for from penetrating to the rolling contact area. This is not
shaft diameters of 25 to 220mm, from seven different only true in operation, but also during bearing installation,
bearing series. Bearings with tapered bore can be resulting in a long service life.
produced to special order. Two particularly suitable greases have been chosen
Sealed spherical roller bearings, depending on series for the bearings. One is an SKF grease recommended
and size, are produced in the E or the CC design. Sealed for normal operating temperatures with nitrile seals.
bearings of the CC design generally have the same The other, a special high-temperature grease, is used
boundary dimensions as the corresponding open bearings. in combination with fluoro rubber seals for high-
Most E designated bearings have extended widths. temperature operation.
The seals have been specially developed for spherical

Unique design features

The design of SKF Explorer sealed spherical roller The result is a ready-to-mount, lubricated-for-life
bearings corresponds to that of the open (unsealed) bearing unit.
standard bearings, and incorporates the same unique The advantages include a simplification of the bear-
design features. These include: ing arrangement design, and the option to downsize the
● Self-guiding rollers - an SKF patent arrangement. Relubrication equipment is not required.
● Floating guide ring between the two rows of rollers There is no waste grease in cooling water systems, and
● Bearing components dimensionally stabilised for
there are no disposal costs for used grease.
high temperatures
● Window-type steel cages Rule of thumb
Additional features of the SKF Explorer sealed Sealed bearings do not need relubrication when the
spherical roller bearings include: temperatures do not exceed 70°C (158°F) and speeds
● Double-lip, sheet steel reinforced seals and are not more than 50% of the speed rating in the
● A grease appropriate to the operating conditions bearing catalogue.

Benefits of sealed spherical roller bearings

Design Capacity Lubrication Protection
● Two window ● Very high load ●Bearings with ● Well protected
type steel cages capacity nitrile rubber The bearings
centred on the The rollers seals for normal have a sheet
inner ring and a position them- operating steel reinforced
floating guide selves automatically so that the temperatures double-lip seal at each side.
E design and reasonable speeds are lubri-
ring between load is evenly distributed over The seals are made of nitrile
the two roller the whole length. This results in cated with an SKF lithium base rubber or fluoro rubber. The
rows. very high load carrying capacity grease with good rust inhibiting nitrile rubber seals are for normal
properties. The bearings for high operating conditions and can
● Two window ● No edge stresses temperature use have fluoro operate at high speeds. The
type steel cages, Because of the rubber seals and are lubricated fluoro rubber seals are for high
a flangeless special roller with a high temperature temperatures and primarily
CC design inner ring and profile there is polyurea base grease. intended for low speed operation.
a floating guide virtually no
ring between the two roller rows. danger of stresses
The guide ring, which is centred ● Low friction ● Lightweight,
on the inner ring, also guides the and low heat high strength
cages. generation cages
The patented The window
self guidance of the rollers and type steel cages are light but very
the floating guide ring, which stable and wear-resistant. They
guides the rollers axially through take up very little space so that an
the load zone, keep friction and ample supply of grease can be
heat generation down. contained in the bearing.
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Typical sealed spherical roller bearing applications

If you’re replacing a conventional bearing with So, the next time you’re replacing a bearing, or
an SKF Explorer sealed spherical roller bearing, specifying the bearings for a new piece of equipment,
the SKF Explorer bearing will run quieter and ask for SKF Explorer sealed spherical roller bearings.
longer - much longer than the bearing you just
replaced.
If you buy new machinery that has been downsized,
with an SKF Explorer bearing you’ll see the benefits
immediately. Your new machine will run quieter and
cooler with less vibration. It will consume less power,
require less maintenance and run longer.

Conveyor belt stacker equipment Screw pumps Cable car assembly

Increased load carrying capacity, The use of sealed spherical roller Safe, strong and reliable bearings that
higher speed and longer bearing life bearings led to considerable cost require a minimum of maintenance are
in upgraded corrugating machines, savings - e.g. reduced maintenance especially appreciated in applications
with sealed spherical roller bearings. costs and eliminated grease and where maintenance is difficult and where
grease pump costs. the security regulations are strict.

Material handling Industrial robots Cranes

The possibility to standardise a more SKF Explorer sealed spherical roller The distance between the bearings in
compact bearing arrangement with bearings made the use of extra seals the wire drum of this process crane was
a longer service life was the most and grease in stock unnecessary. reduced by 40% and the shaft diameter
important advantage for this slimmed by 20%. All thanks to the use of sealed
storage system. spherical roller bearings.
SKF/SRB brochure 27/8/03 8:54 AM Page 2

SKF (U.K.) Limited

Sundon Park Road, Luton
Bedfordshire LU3 3BL
Tel: 01582 490049
Fax: 01582 848091
E-mail: marketing.uk@skf.com
www.skf.co.uk
www.skf.com

SKF is a registered trademark

of the SKF Group.

© Copyright SKF 2003

Publication UK 0905 E