Heavy duty plain bearings for machinery tracked chassis

Smooth and reliable pivot points in crawler track system despite high levels of dirt

This crawler track system is used in agricultural machinery as an alternative to pneumatic tyres. The machines travel at speeds of up to 40km/h in dirty and damp environments, carrying a weight of 50,000kg. This means that the crawler track system is exposed to enormous loads. The bearings that encapsulate the pivot axes in particular have to withstand a lot. Conventional bronze bearings wore out too quickly so that the developers resorted to the lubrication-free and corrosion-free iglidur plain bearings. Since then, the crawler track has been running smoothly in all weather conditions.

Requirement, challenge and solution

Requirement

The IMTS (Intelligent Multi-Purpose Track System) is a crawler track system that can be used as an alternative to pneumatic tyres on a range of large agricultural machines. The system is capable of travelling at 40km/h and can absorb all impact loads. In a recent application, for example, a large 50,000kg grain container was converted.
Bearings are used at the pivot points of the IMTS, which have to bear these high loads at all times.

The track system of a vehicle is heavily covered in mud.

Challenge

To prevent corrosion with metal on metal, they encapsulate the pivot axes in the crawler track system, which must not come into contact with the external metal structure. It was also important to find a completely lubrication-free solution as the machine operates in muddy and dusty environments where the ingress of dirt can lead to significant wear problems.

iglidur XPF plain bearing made of metal.

Solution

With iglidur plain bearings, a bearing solution was found that can withstand the high weight loads and the difficult ambient conditions in the long term. For example, iglidur plain bearings were used in the system, which also offer the advantage of being completely grease-free and low-maintenance. These specifications help considerably in marketing the system successfully as agricultural machinery is often not properly maintained, resulting in early functional failures and considerable costs. The plastic bearings also offer a more cost-effective and wear-free alternative to bronze bushings or bearings and are much easier to replace without damaging the shafts/tubes. Finally, the bearings are completely corrosion-free. Since using the iglidur bearing solution, the crawler track system has been running smoothly in all weather conditions.

Applications in use in the agricultural industry

Agricultural bearings in Lemken machines

No more wasting time with self-lubricating bearings

igus® has been successfully collaborating with Lemken since 2008. Various Lemken machines are equipped with igus plain bearings, among them the cultivator Karat 9. In the overload elements, the metal bearing points previously used had to be lubricated up to one hour per day to prevent wear and corrosion. By switching to lubrication-free polymer plain bearings, the farmer saves valuable time. Furthermore, the dirt resistance and stability of the plain bearings increase service life and dependability.

To the application

The grubber loosens the soil in the field behind the tractor.

Agricultural bearings in bale trimming machines

Heavy load up to 15 tons is made possible

Maintenance-free and resistant to dust and dirt, the iglidur® G plain bearings are used in hinges, locking systems and hydraulic cylinders of bale trimming machines from Optimal-Vertrieb Opitz. They replace red brass solutions, that were produced in-house and required both a relatively large installation space and lubricants that polluted the environment. The new polymer bearings need no lubrication and withstand all edge loads without problems.

Bale wrapping machine in use in a field.

Sumo UK Ltd chooses igus bearings in cultivation equipment

Renowned manufacturer of cultivation equipment, Sumo UK Ltd , know that engineering is fundamental to success and there is no room for error. Producing equipment that often weighs upwards of ten tonnes requires technical solutions that can take high loads frequently and with ease. This is where igus® was able to provide the perfect solution.

To the application