FEATURE BEARINGS, SEALS & GASKETS
Lightweight plain bearings from igus
HORSE POWER
have been specified for a new all-terrain vehicle described
by its designers as ‘Horse 2.0’
being described as ‘Horse 2.0’, can travel almost anywhere, electrically and silently, with a range of up to 160km. In addition, it is also waterproof up to a depth of 60cm. For the vehicle to operate with minimal
Allen realised the vehicle had a lot more potential. In fact they soon discovered it was capable of pulling a 2.2 ton SUV across a car park. Designed and built by their company LyteHorse Labs, the vehicle has four independent hub motors, and a switchable all-wheel drive for maximum traction and stability, enabling a variety of uses – from leisure, agricultural and manufacturing to exploration and more. When designing the vehicle, igus bearings
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were specified in order to help make the vehicle maintenance- and corrosion-free, even in the most inhospitable environments. The tribopolymer bearings from igus were also
technical glitches in these varied and challenging conditions, the longevity and zero maintenance of the components was particularly important to the designers. After extensive tests with steel and nylon bearings, LyteHorse Labs selected the lubrication- and maintenance- free polymer bearing technology from igus to use in the suspension and steering. “We could notmeet our requirements with
ith his design for a stand-up electric vehicle for transiting golf courses, Canadian Brad Bonk and his brother
said to be ideal for this application as they are lightweight and lubricant-free, and therefore particularly low-maintenance.
DIFFERENT TERRAIN The LyteHorse is capable of transporting 350kg on pavements and stairways in urban settings, so can be used by the police, in rescue operations, on rough terrain, in mines, warehouses, farming or even in forestry. “In the past, horses were often used inmany of
these scenarios but they are expensive to train, comparatively slow and the rider’s posture is not ideal,” commented Bonk. LyteHorse, which is
traditional bearings because they are susceptible to dirt, salt water and extreme temperatures,” Bonk explained. “In the end, the iglidur J bearings convinced us in terms of performance, durability, reliability and cost. Without the targeted advice of igus, we would certainly not be where we are today with the product.” The Canadian company is optimistic about the
future and is expanding into the USmarket, with its immediate focus on winning government contracts and building a distribution network.
igus
www.igus.co.uk
WatchademonstrationoftheLyteHorse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8eILFmDcRU
ROLLING BEARINGS FOR USE IN SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS THAT HANDLE CRYOGENIC GASES
An increasing number of projects are promoting the use of hydrogen as an energy source. These projects often use special submersible pumps that can reliably pump gaseous and liquid media in continuous or intermittent operation, at temperatures down to around -200˚C. In such pumps, the double bearing of the pump
shaft is a critical design element – corrosion resistance is essential, and no lubricant can be used other than the media washing around the bearing. However, this tribology is unfavourable as it places tough demands on thematerial pairing. The bearings also need tomaintain long service life, even at low temperatures. To help, NSK has developed a series of deep
groove ball bearings with key design features that provide differentiation from conventional pump bearings. As an example, the inner and
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outer rings are made of a stainless steel adapted to the special requirements of rolling bearings. A stable cage that occupies the entire inner
volume of the bearing provides guidance for the rolling elements (also made of stainless steel), while the cage material, a self-lubricating fluoroplastic, ensures low-friction running of the bearing without external lubrication. In addition, the high-performance fluoroplastic is extremely wear-resistant and offers good low-temperature properties at speeds up to 3600rpm. The cage is of two-piece design, with the two halves joined by stainless steel rivets. In laboratory tests, and in practice, these deep groove ball bearings are said to achieve significantly longer service life than other bearings for this application, such as those with a cage made from hard phenolic resin. The bearings are available in various sizes, with
4 DESIGN SOLUTIONS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022
shaft diameters from30 to 100mm, and are ideal for use in both larger hydrogen pumping facilities and decentralised applications, such as hydrogen filling stations. They are also suitable for pumps handling other cryogenic gases such as nitrogen.
NSK Europe
www.nskeurope.com
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