Industrial Factory Automation

SKF has launched its latest range of HDSF2 large-diameter seals with PTFE excluder lip to protect bearings from the ingress of abrasive dust and particles. The HDSF2 range of seals is said to be ideal for a range of power, cement, mining and quarrying applications. In particular, the seals enable the typical operating life of bearings in horizontal grinding mills, coal pulverisers and vertical rolling mills to be more than doubled, helping end users to improve productivity while reducing repair and maintenance costs. Bearings fitted with conventional seals and used in plant and equipment that is exposed to high levels of abrasive dust are highly susceptible to rapid degradation, of bearing and shaft surfaces and of lubricants; this can often lead to premature failure within months of operation. To address this problem, the latest HDSF2 seals incorporate a standard primary elastomer sealing lip and metal case, plus an additional hardwearing PTFE excluder lip that is integrated within...

A welding accessory from Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT) is being utilised in an increasing number of applications in unexpected areas. For example, a Norwegian pipe manufacturer found that the inflatable dams - designed to provide a rapid seal for pipework during weld purging - offer a cost-effective alternative for protection against contamination from dust and water during transport. The dams, which can be inflated rapidly via a standard Schrader or BSP fitting, provide excellent sealing and are reusable, according to the company. They are available to fit all standard pipe diameters between 50mm and 1,800mm (2in and 72in).

ZF Electronics has introduced the Cherry VN1015 digital vane sensors, which are immune to moisture and dust. These digital sensors are magnetically operated, which means there are no mechanical contacts that can be worn out, ensuring extra-long product life and reliability. Models in the VN1015 series are available either with three-pin sink output or with 24 AWG terminations. They cope with operating and storage temperatures from -40C up to +125C, depending on the model. VN1015 digital vane sensors have glass-filled polyester sensor bodies suitable for vane parameters with low-carbon material at least 0.040in (1.016mm) thick, which should penetrate to a depth greater than 0.120in from the bottom of the sensor slot. Open collector (sinking or NPN) outputs enable them to be used with bipolar or CMOS logic circuits with a suitable external pull-up resistor. Maximum operating speed is 25kHz. Reverse battery protection is provided to -24V DC. Model VN101501 has a three-pin sink output wit...

Electromagnetic bin vibrators from Elscint Automation offer an economical and convenient means of maintaining the flow of bulk materials from bins, hoppers and chutes. An optional adjustable control is provided, which gives flexibility and assures optimum flow for any type of material being handled. The electromagnetic bin vibrators can be operated either continuously or intermittently, depending on customer requirements. Elscint bin vibrators are factory tested and adjusted for optimum performance. All models come with totally enclosed, dust-tight construction. Water-proof models can be made available on request. The vibrators have no rotating or sliding parts, and so are virtually maintenance-free. The Elscint bin vibrators are available in two models: the Elscint A, which has a 40VA rating, and Elscint B, which has a 320VA rating. They offer quiet and reliable operation.