Fixed-Wheel Gate Bearing Studies

摘要

Tests to determine friction coefficients and bearing behavior in 3 types of bearings--2 self-lubricating and 1 plain bronze--show that increased allowable bearing pressures of 6,000 psi and a design coefficient of friction of 0.10 can be used for one of the self-lubricating-type wheel bearings (Type B). Antifriction roller bearings were studied because reductions in wheel-bearing friction forces gained from raising allowable bearing pressure may not always be sufficient to permit gravity closure. Although antifriction bearings cost more, there are circumstances in which the higher bearing cost could be offset by other overall design or economic considerations. Since bearings must support heavy radial loads as well as thrust loads, only tapered roller and self-alining spherical roller bearings were studied. Self-alining spherical roller bearings were chosen because the selfalining feature compensates for deflections caused by hydraulic load and for installation and fabrication misalinements. Fixed-wheel gate design on one job using antifriction self-alining spherical roller bearings saved 12,000 pounds of gate weight and 23,000 pounds in hoist capacity. Operation and maintenance experience from this gate will help evaluate reliability of these bearings. (Author)