'Sealed-for life' angular contact bearings
Barden claims to have come up with a neat solution to the problem of
providing seals in standard angular contact bearings with its recently
launched RSD series seals. These have lubricant retention characteristics
equal to standard seal designs, but are fitted in such a way that there
is minimal contact with the bearing inner rings, thus reducing friction
and preventing bearing temperature rise. The RSD also overcomes problems
of ring distortion caused by seal radial pressure, while the space
between the seal and the balls serves as a useful grease reservoir. A key
application area for this type of enclosed bearing is the machine tool
spindle drive, where 'sealed- and greased-for-life' bearings are
increasingly being used as replacements for complex and costly
re-circulating oil lubrication systems.