The bearings also feature a newly developed labyrinth gasket that is said to provide a tight seal regardless of the bearing material expanding or contracting as a result of temperature changes on the rolling mill. This design innovation means that the sealing lip remains in constant contact with the exterior of the bearing's inner ring.
The loads that can be tolerated by NSK's optimised cylindrical roller bearings means that smaller guide rollers and more rollers per segment can be installed. As a result, both the load capacity for heavy steel slabs and the number of cast thin slabs that can be accommodated are increased.
Engineers can select NSK's latest split cylindrical roller bearings to suit shaft diameters ranging from 100 to 190mm. The larger sizes, from 160mm upwards, are intended typically for use on guide rollers. As well as new installations, the bearings are said to be suitable for retrofit where steel plants are adapting existing continuous casting lines to suit higher loads or achieve extended service lives.
