FAG developed robust double-row tapered roller bearing

SCHWEINFURT, May 13, 2004. FAG Kugelfischer has developed a particularly robust double-row tapered roller bearing that can be used in challenging conditions in the wind power industry. This bearing has an O arrangement and has been designed with a large pressure angle. This allows the bearing to support any forces and moments that occur. It has an outside diameter of 2.6 meters, an inside diameter of 2.2 meters, a width of 320 millimeters and a total weight of 2,700 kilograms. The bearing is made from case hardened steel and offers maximum load carrying capability and robustness in combination with the stud cage used. This tapered roller bearing was designed in Schweinfurt and checked extensively by means of FEA calculations. The large bearing was manufactured at FAG's plant in Wuppertal . The customer for this product is a leading Finnish wind turbine manufacturer called WinWinD, who worked closely with FAG during the nine-month development period. The tapered roller bearing will be installed in WinWinD's new pilot turbine, WWD3. This turbine uses the MULTIBRID driveline without a shaft and achieves a nominal performance of 3MW. For FAG, this is the third wind turbine manufacturer that is supplied with double-row tapered roller bearings for this type of modern driveline. Over the next few weeks, the bearing will be sent to Finland. Following startup operation, the bearing will meet the requirements for a long service life, clearance-free in continuous operation. More wind turbines are expected to follow soon.