Bearing failures on mine sites occur most often due to contaminants, such as aggregates, iron ore, coal or any mining material penetrating the seal of the housing. This is aggravated by poor maintenance of the equipment, insufficient or excessive lubrication, and incorrect installation.
On a mine site, water is often used to wash down equipment, leaking through the bearings, turning dust into mud, and hindering performance on production lines.
Sealed spherical roller bearings, as Tony Tormey, BSC’s product manager for industrial bearings explains, are the “last line of defence” where bearings are used in dust-prone applications in mining, such as in conveyor pulleys or conveyors in cement mills.
“Bearings in harsh conditions like mining generally have three barriers, which is the housing, the grease and the seal on the bearing. You can also fill the cavity in the housing with grease, which will act as another barrier,” Tormey said. “But despite all that, water or dust can still penetrate the housing, and that’s where sealed spherical roller bearings provide an extra layer of protection to the bearing.”
