Slewing Bearing

The slewing bearing, also known as slew(ing) ring, is a type of bearing for low-speed and high axial load applications. This type of bearing is composed of two high-strength steel rings. The rolling raceways housing the rolling elements (balls or cylindrical rollers) allow for rotational movement.

It is necessary to use slewing bearings when the machinery has a structural part that must rotate with respect to another part on a single axis, thus ensuring that the parts meet the maximum amount of resistance.

The slewing bearing is a mechanical component that is used in major industrial sectors. Harbor and deck cranes are one of the ideal applications for using slewing bearings – for example, for container handling. Additionally, for wind turbine blades, the use of slewing bearings ensures the highest level of reliability and efficiency, as required by this sector.

Slewing Bearing can be manufactured with an internal or external gear, or even without a gear. They are shielded on both sides, greased with a high-quality lubricant (with the ability to be re-lubricated) and easy to assemble.

Structure

Inner Ring and Outer Ring

Slewing ring bearings are comprised of two rings, each of which contains a precision raceway that is induction hardened on the surface to a specified depth. Each ring is made from a medium carbon steel forging.

Rolling Elements

Precision rolling elements (specifically hardened chrome alloy steel balls for Silverthin™ SK and ST Series bearings) facilitate relative ring rotation between the inner and outer rings. Rollers as rolling elements are also often used.

Spacers, Spacer Balls & Separators

Spacers, typically made from a plastic material, are commonly used to separate balls to prevent them from rubbing directly against each other. Sometimes spacer balls are utilized instead of spacers. In this case these are balls that are slightly smaller than the load carrying balls, placed between each load carrying ball. Occasionally, application parameters warrant the use of a separator.

Mounting Holes

Mounting holes are generally spaced around the faces of the inner and outer ring along a uniform bolt circle and equal spacing. These holes can be thru holes, tapped holes, blind tapped holes, counter-bored holes, etc. Sometimes bolt circle or spacing requirements need to be customized to meet the demands of a specific application, in which case custom options are available. In the case of either the standard part numbers listed in this catalog, or other custom versions provided by Silverthin™, the equipment designer, manufacturer, or user is responsible to determine that the mounting design is adequate.

Seals

Seals are provided on each side of the bearing, with their primary functions being grease retention and prevention of some contamination such as dust and debris from entering the bearing. The seals are typically made from an extruded Buna-N rubber strip, and in smaller sizes are a metallic non-contact shield.

Load Plug

Due to the nature of the race hardening process, there is a gap in the race hardness of each race. In that location for the non-geared ring, or the outer ring for ungeared bearings, a hole is drilled to permit the loading of balls into the final slewing ring assembly. This hole is plugged and secured with a taper pin. Note that for the ring where a load plug is not present, an ‘S’ is stamped on the face of that ring at the location of the unhardened gap in the race (also known as the soft spot). Removal of the load plug voids the warranty.

Taper Pin

Secures load plug to the inner or outer ring.

Gear

Slewing ring bearings can be supplied as ungeared, or with gears on either the ID of the inner ring or the OD of the outer ring. Gears are typically a standard stub involute spur gear with backlash provisions and AGMA Q8 quality minimum. Details for each bearing can be found in the enclosed dimensional tables, and drawings are available from Silverthin™ Engineering. Custom gear configurations are also available.

Grease Fitting

At least one grease fitting is included in one of the rings. The quantity may increase with the diameter of the bearing. For bearings with gears, the grease fitting(s) are located on either the ID or OD of the ungeared ring. For ungeared bearings, Silverthin™ ST Series and SK Series slewing rings come equipped to accommodate grease fittings on either the inner or outer ring. Custom quantities, locations and configurations for grease fittings are available.

Application:

Earth Moving Machinery

Concrete pumps

Civil and Harbor Cranes

Wind Turbines

Radar

Robotics

Packaging

Logistics

Material handling

Bottling / filling carousels

Rotating tables