Feature 40 years of mechanical components
Four decades of innovation W
Phil Burge, communication manager at SKF, guides us through the developments in bearing technology, explains the importance of sustainability and environmental concerns, and takes a look at some of the interesting applications in which bearings have been used over the years
hen Design Solutions began in 1971, SKF had already been trading for over sixty years, with Sven Wingqvist,
the Company’s founder, inventing the self-aligning ball bearing in 1907. The company, however, has always valued innovation and development, and this was especially true during the early years of Design Solutions magazine. In 1972, for example, it established the Engineering Research Centre in Utrecht. Here, the company still collaborates with universities and scientific institutions to analyse lubri- cants and material structures, and reproduces the forces that dictate the effectiveness of systems before pooling our combined intelligence to break
the Ferrari Innovation Award for its ‘continuous ability to innovate, sup- plying bearings of the highest possible quality for the Formula 1 single seater and also the Ferrari and Maserati Grandturismo road cars’.’
In 1995, the Engineering Research Centre was proved beyond any doubt when it provided the basic research that enabled the development of the CARB toroidal roller bearing, a revolutionary bearing type that is self-aligning and axially free. Then in 1997, the company sup- plied bearings for the London Eye. Two slewing bearings, each 3.6m in diameter, were contained within each of the 32 passenger capsules, with each bearing handling the axial, radial
The CARB toroidal roller bearing is self-aligning and axially free
‘Shortly before Design Solutions was launched, Apollo 11 touched down on the moon and Armstrong and Aldrin photographed the surface using a Hasselblad camera that contained an extremely light SKF miniature ball bearing’
new ground in engineering.
1972 was also the year that SKF produced the first Hub Unit Bearing, in which the bearing is packaged within a modular system, factory lubricated and bolted in one piece to increase efficiency for the end user. Their popu- larity has since seen them produced in broad ranges, high volumes and with ever-improving sophistication to cater for the loads of different vehicles and to satisfy the increasing need to reduce friction and conserve energy.
Over the years
By the 1970s, the household washing machine was becoming a far more familiar feature in the average family and SKF was there to soothe the early teething troubles – most notably the high level of vibration. The DynaSpin auto-balancer reduced vibration by 90%, improving the lifespan and efficiency of the machines.
In stark contrast, SKF has, throughout the 1970s and up to the present day, con- tinued its association with Ferrari, which began in 1947, and in 2003 was awarded
Design Solutions 1971-2011 - 40TH ANNIVERSARY SUPPLEMENT -
and moment loads singly or in combi- nation in any direction.
Energy efficiency
In the 21st century and beyond, the focus is on sustainability, though this has always been a concern for SKF. In 1994, the company illustrated the positive environmental impact of its bearings by pointing out that, if the friction in all bearings worldwide was reduced by 10%, the global energy saved would
Energy efficient bearings: if the friction in all
bearings worldwide was reduced by 10%, the global energy saved would be the equivalent of that provided by 18 nuclear power stations
be the equivalent of that provided by 18 nuclear power stations. SKF's ambition to maximise sustain- ability has now resulted in its Beyond Zero commitment. This initiative is designed to reduce the company's own energy consumption and emissions, as well as those produced by end users, to reduce any negative environmental impact to zero and to make a positive impact on the environment. Energy Efficient bearings were launched in 2007, and these tapered roller and deep groove ball bearings have been calculated to save 30% of energy. These two bearing types are the most commonly used worldwide, underlining the positive difference these innovations have made, both for their users and for the environment.
The sky’s no limit
Where we’ll go next, who knows? But the sky’s no limit, as evidenced by the fact that eight SKF ball bearings were used to control the mirrors of the Spot 2 satellite launched by the Ariane rocket in 1990. Indeed, space brings us back to the beginning of our 40-year story when, shortly before Design Solutions was launched, Apollo 11 touched down on the moon and Armstrong and Aldrin photographed the surface using a Hasselblad camera that contained an extremely light – 6.7g – SKF miniature ball bearing. Armstrong and Aldrin had to leave the camera behind and no one can be sure where it’s ended up. So, who’s to say that other civilisations haven’t now discovered at least one of the innovative solutions of SKF!
SKF Enter 266 T: 01582 496433
www.skf.co.uk S27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96