GRAPHALLOY® Maintenance-Free Bearings for Tunnel Ovens
BackgroundGRAPHALLOY® self-lubricating bearings can operate from -450°F to +1000°F, handle caustic washdowns, and eliminate routine lubrication. FDA acceptable grades are available for food-related applications. A bakery oven OEM was using rolling element bearings on the conveyor circuit of a tunnel oven. The bearings supported various styles of wire conveyor belting on idler shafts and support rollers. Belt speed was generally slow, while operating temperatures could range from 450°F to 650°F. Application Details
The Problem
Reaching the bearings was difficult. Mechanics had to crawl over the oven belt after shutdown, which risked damage to the belting and rollers. Greasing these bearings became a constant maintenance problem. Automatic lubrication systems were tested with mixed results. These systems also created cleanliness and contamination concerns, making them a poor fit for the application. Caustic washdowns created another problem: even the 400-series stainless ball bearings the OEM tried were rusting. In some locations, bearing life was as short as two weeks. Once bearings failed, idler rolls stopped turning and could cause premature conveyor belt wear, leading to added downtime and difficult maintenance trips into the oven. The GRAPHALLOY® Solution
The company began looking for another solution and found Graphalloy. GRAPHALLOY self-lubricating bushing materials thrive in high-temperature environments, handle caustic washdowns, and are well suited for hard-to-access bearing locations. After discussions with Graphalloy engineers, the company tested GRAPHALLOY stainless steel pillow blocks with copper-grade bushing inserts. The ResultThe GRAPHALLOY material eliminated the need for greasing, while the material and stainless components stood up well to continuous washdown. These GRAPHALLOY bushings have been running for several years with no issues. Why GRAPHALLOY®GRAPHALLOY is ideal for high-temperature, washdown, and hard-to-lubricate applications where conventional bearings often fail. Its self-lubricating properties help reduce maintenance requirements while improving reliability in harsh operating conditions.
Do you have a troublesome, high-temperature, or caustic washdown application? Tell us about it and our sales engineers will contact you. You may also contact us directly.
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