Case introduction of FV slewing bearings on ladles

Feb 22, 2024

The ladle is one of the important pieces of equipment in steel enterprises, used for storing and transporting molten steel. The slewing bearing is one of the key components of the spoon. It supports the weight of the ladle and simultaneously withstands the effects of harsh environments such as high temperature, heavy load, and corrosion. Therefore, the performance and quality of the slew plate bearing are directly related to the service life and safety of the spoon.

The following are the structure, materials, manufacturing process, performance requirements, and application cases of slew bearings.

1. Structure of slewing bearing

The slewing bearing on the ladle usually consists of a bearing seat, a bearing cover, a sleeve, a bearing cover plate, a seal, etc. Among these, the bearing seat is the base of the slew bearing and is used to support the entire spoon, while the bearing cover and bearing sleeve fix the bearing seat. The function of the seal is to prevent media such as molten steel from entering the inside of the bearing, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the bearing.

2. Materials of slewing bearings

The material of slew bearings is usually made of high-strength, high-temperature-resistant, corrosion-resistant alloy steel, such as stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, etc. These materials have good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance and can meet the special requirements of ladle slewing bearings.

In addition, to improve the life and stability of slew bearings, the materials are usually subjected to special heat treatment and surface treatment, such as quenching, carburizing, etc.

3. Manufacturing process of slewing bearings

The manufacturing process of slewing bearings on ladles mainly includes casting, processing, assembly, and other links. The casting link is mainly to produce blank parts that meet the specifications according to the requirements of the drawings; the processing link is to turn and mill the blank parts to make them meet the size and accuracy required by the drawings; the assembly link is to assemble the processed parts and debugging to make it a slew bearing that meets the requirements.

In addition, during the manufacturing process, quality testing and control are also required to ensure the quality and reliability of the slew bearings.

4. Performance requirements of slewing bearings

The performance requirements of slewing bearings on the ladle are very high as they must withstand bad environments such as high temperatures, heavy loads, and corrosion. Specifically, slew bearings need to have the following properties:

High-temperature performance: Slewing bearings need to work in high-temperature environments, so they need good heat resistance and thermal stability to prevent problems such as thermal deformation and high-temperature wear.

Bearing capacity: The slew bearing needs to bear the weight of the spoon and the overturning moment and other comprehensive loads, so it needs to have high bearing capacity and stability.

Corrosion resistance: The liquid steel and furnace gas in the spoon will cause corrosion to the slew bearing, so it needs to have good corrosion resistance.

Wear resistance: Slewing bearings will be affected by friction during operation, so they need good wear resistance to prevent excessive wear and failure.

Long life: Due to the long service life of the spoon, the slew bearing also needs to have a long service life and stability to reduce maintenance costs and improve production capacity.

5. Application cases of slewing bearings

Slewing bearings on spoons are widely used in steel industry, non-ferrous metals, ceramics, and other industrial fields.

Steel enterprises: In steel enterprises, the spoon is one of the important equipment in the continuous casting and rolling process, and the slew bearing is one of the key components of the spoon. Steel companies usually choose high-quality slew bearings to ensure the safe and stable operation of ladles and improve production efficiency.

Non-ferrous metal enterprises: In non-ferrous metal enterprises, the smelting and casting processes of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper also require ladles and slew bearings. Like steel companies, non-ferrous metal companies also need to choose high-quality slew bearings to ensure the safety and stability of production.

Ceramic enterprises: In ceramic enterprises, the firing and melting process of ceramic materials requires using container equipment similar to spoons, and slew bearings are one of the key components of this equipment. Ceramic companies usually choose slew bearings with high-temperature performance and corrosion resistance to ensure the safety and stability of production.

In the future, with the continuous development of science and technology, as long as the continuous application of new materials and manufacturing processes, it is believed that the performance and quality of slew bearings will be further improved. At the same time, as environmental awareness continues to strengthen, higher requirements will be placed on the environmental performance of equipment components in harsh environments such as high temperatures, heavy rotation load, and corrosion. Therefore, the future development direction of slew bearings will pay more attention to environmental protection, energy saving, and sustainable development.

Since 2019, FV Company has continuously produced ladle slew bearings for its customers and exported them to Egypt, Turkey, and other countries. The dimensions are completely customized according to customer requirements. As the slew bearings run on the machine, FV Company is also doing its part for the steel industry in various countries worldwide.