Maintenance Free Bearings




Application:
Each 4 sets of 2 stinger rollers is suspended in a frame, the roller box. The roller boxes
originally were suspended in spherical bearings made of a 'self-lube pocket bronze'
sphere in a stainless steel housing. During maintenance it was found that after only a
year these bearings had virtually been destroyed by electrolytical processes (bronze,
graphite and stainless steel in a huge steel construction in sea water) and wear.
Allowable loads on D-glide are very high (>300MPA) but the stiffness is relatively low
and all deformation is elastic. Since misalignment angles were limited, D-glide bushings
with the same dimensions and geometry as the Sphericals could easily perform the
function of the Sphericals. This solution was proposed on Friday at 17.30, on
Wednesday the bearings were aboard the ship!



Advantages of the D-Glide solution
- No moving parts
- Virtually 'indestructible'
- Easy installation
- No corrosion
- Very low cost
- Short delivery times




Offshore pipe-lay vessel: Picture of the stinger
with the roller boxes.