What should we pay attention to when using rolling mill bearings in winter?

Dec 20, 2023

The harsh winter is coming. In the cold winter, people must wear no clothes to keep warm. So what problems will arise for rotating equipment, such as bearings? What should I pay attention to?

In winter, roll neck bearings may suffer from the following problems:

Stuck phenomenon: Due to temperature changes, the thermal expansion coefficients of materials inside the bearing are different, which may lead to smaller gaps and jamming. Especially over a wide temperature range, different materials will have different shrinkage rates, further exacerbating the possibility of sticking.

Lubrication problem: In winter, when the ambient temperature is low, the grease may become viscous and have poor fluidity. It may cause the grease to spread unevenly inside the bearing, resulting in insufficient lubrication in some areas of the bearing and wear and noise.

Starting noise: When the motor starts, because the actual viscosity of the grease is higher than the viscosity of regular operation, it may cause more significant grease stirring and the minimum load required for pure rolling of the rolling elements inside the bearing to increase, resulting in more excellent starting noise. 

When using bearings, taking appropriate measures to avoid negative consequences is essential. It includes keeping bearings clean, regularly checking lubrication, controlling bearing temperature, avoiding sudden starts and stops, adjusting bearing clearances, increasing maintenance and care, and paying attention to safe operations.

Therefore, the use of rolling mill bearings in winter requires more attention from the following aspects:

Keep the bearings clean: In the cold winter, frost or snow can quickly accumulate on the bearing surface, affecting lubrication and heat dissipation. Therefore, ensure the bearing surface is clean and free of snow and debris before use.

Check the lubrication regularly: The lubricant is easy to solidify in winter, resulting in poor bearing lubrication. Therefore, the lubrication of the bearings should be checked regularly to ensure that the lubricant is sufficient and has good fluidity.

Control bearing temperature: In winter, due to the low ambient temperature, the heat dissipation effect of the bearing may be affected. Therefore, the temperature of the bearing should be controlled to avoid damage to the bearing due to excessively high or low temperatures.

Avoid sudden starts and stops: In winter, due to the low ambient temperature, the lubricant inside the bearing may become viscous, causing the bearing to experience tremendous shock when starting and stopping. Therefore, sudden starts and stops of the rolling mill should be avoided to reduce the impact on the bearings.

Adjust bearing clearance: In winter, the clearance inside the bearing may change due to lower ambient temperatures. Therefore, the bearing clearance should be adjusted according to the actual situation to ensure the regular operation of the bearing.

Strengthen maintenance and upkeep: In winter, maintenance and upkeep of rolling mill bearings should be strengthened, bearing wear and lubricant consumption should be checked regularly, and problems should be discovered and solved promptly.

Pay attention to safe operation: When using rolling mill bearings in winter, you should use safe operating procedures to avoid accidents caused by improper operation. It is important to wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and protective glasses during operation to avoid injury to the eyes and skin from metal shavings or lubricants.

In short, you need to pay attention to many aspects when using rolling mill bearings in winter, including keeping the bearings clean, regularly checking lubrication, controlling bearing temperature, avoiding sudden starts and stops, adjusting bearing clearances, strengthening maintenance and care, and paying attention to safe operations. Only by doing these things well can the regular operation and extended service life of the rolling mill bearings in winter be ensured.