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Traction Motors & Gearbox Bearings

Customized Drive Concepts

Modern drive concepts involve increasing requirements for high and rapid levels of availability. To this end, Schaeffler offers integrated rolling bearing solutions for all manufacturers of electric drive concepts - innovative products that are developed in-house in accordance with customer-specific criteria and which offer cost-effective solutions.

Prevention of Damage due to Current Passage

When conditions are unfavorable, bearings used in electric motors are susceptible to damage caused by the passage of current. Schaeffler offers a range of innovative solutions to prevent this, including inner and outer rings with oxide ceramic coating and hybrid bearings with ceramic rolling elements. Coated bearings are suitable for breakdown voltages of up to a minimum of 500 V or 1,000 V, depending on the layer thickness. Hybrid bearings with ceramic rolling elements provide even better protection.

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Bearing damage due to the passage of current
The passage of current in traction motors can cause serious damage to the raceways of bearing rings in the form of craters caused by melting and false brinelling, which can lead to extremely high repair costs. It is therefore advisable to take precautions at the planning stage to prevent such damage and failures, thereby helping to cut costs. In many cases, it is sufficient to fit current-insulating bearings.

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Longer operating life due to current insulation
Current-insulating bearings prevent damage due to the passage of electrical current and thus ensure lower maintenance costs and higher machine availability. All current-insulating bearings have the same dimensions and load carrying capacities as those without insulation, which makes them perfectly interchangeable.

Rolling Elements made of Ceramic

FAG hybrid cylindrical roller bearing
FAG hybrid cylindrical roller bearing

FAG hybrid bearings are an ideal alternative for Insutect bearings. The rings of these hybrid bearings are made from rolling bearing steel, while the rolling elements are manufactured from ceramic material that is absolutely resistant to wear and functions as a current insulator.

Hybrid bearings offer a longer grease operating life than standard bearings that are lubricated for life. Furthermore, hybrid designs are more cost-effective for smaller bearing sizes than ceramic-coated bearings. Hybrid bearings are available as ball bearings and as cylindrical roller bearings.

The advantages compared to ceramic-coated bearings:

  • Hybrid bearings provide maximum resistance against the passage of electric current.
  • Hybrid bearings allow higher speeds with lower friction levels and therefore make lower temperatures possible during operation.
  • Hybrid bearings have better emergency running characteristics than standard bearings.

Compared to steel ball bearings, hybrid ball bearings have the following features:

  • Identical dynamic load ratings Cr
  • 30% lower static load ratings C0r
  • 20% higher limiting speeds nG

High Operating Performance

In electric freight train locomotives, FAG suspension tube roller bearings support the traction motor, which is mounted transverse to the direction of travel and seated in two bearing positions located directly on the axlebox shaft. The bearings allow up to two million kilometers to be traveled.

Tapered roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, and cylindrical roller bearings from Schaeffler ensure that the suspension tube roller bearing support has a long operating life. High loads due to vibrations and shocks are supported by special tapered roller bearings with a reinforced sheet metal cage, for example. Further design variants, e.g. with a shoulder on the outer ring or current insulation, are also available on request.

FAG suspension tube roller bearing
FAG suspension tube roller bearing

Rolling Bearings for Extreme Loads

FAG four-point contact ball bearings with solid brass cage
FAG four-point contact ball bearings with solid brass cage

Rolling bearings in railway gearboxes have to withstand extreme loads and environmental effects. The main requirements for bearings used in these applications are high speeds, high loads, high temperatures, and high vibration and shock loads.

Particular strain is placed on the rolling bearing cage here. Four-point contact ball bearings and cylindrical roller bearings, which are frequently used as drive bearings, therefore employ single-piece solid brass cages, preferably with guidance on the outer ring.

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