Inpro/Seal Conveyor Idler Bearing Isolator Increases Reliability And Safety In Mining Operations -- Now With MSHA Recognition
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has recognized Inpro/Seal's Belt Conveyor Idler/Roller Bearing Isolator, assigned it tag #AP2007-93304 and posted it on their website - www. msha. gov. Once installed it will protect idler bearings in mining operations and provide additional safety and reliability.
Rock Island, Illinois (PRWEB) February 8, 2007
Inpro/Seal Company, the Rock Island, IL, based manufacturer of bearing isolators has announced that the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has recognized their Belt Conveyor Idler/Roller Bearing Isolator, assigned it tag #AP2007-93304 and posted it on their website - www. msha. gov
The Mission Of The MSHA
Part of the U. S. Department of Labor, the Mine Safety and Health Administration administers the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and enforces compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents; to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal accidents; to minimize health hazards; and to promote improved mine safety and health.
Accident Prevention Program
The MSHA's accident prevention program, which addresses safety and reliability, can be found on their website - www. msha. gov. This site provides safety tips, programs, and material that can be used to prevent mining accidents. It also identifies innovative products that can help reduce mine hazards. On January 31, 2007, the Inpro/Seal Belt Conveyor Idler/Roller Bearing Isolator was recognized by the MSHA for its safety and reliability issues it assigned it with their tag #AP2007-93304. Once at the website, information can be found in a number of locations, including: safety, non-sparking conveyor; safety; reliability; innovative products; conveyors and related search areas.
The Use Of Belt Conveyors
Belt conveyors are used extensively to transport bulk materials, such as coal and ores. Typically, their belts are supported by three conveyor rollers (or idlers), positioned at intervals as close as three linear feet. One roller is horizontal; the other two are located on either side, at an angle necessary to carry the burden.
In the mining industry it is estimated that each mine has 3-4 miles of conveyor with idlers strung out the entire length of the belt. Depending on the application, they operate above and under ground and may extend for many miles over mountainous terrain, roads and streams. There may be as many as 10,500 bearings on the conveyor rollers per mile of run.
Ineffective Sealing Methods
Before the advent of Inpro/Seal's Belt Conveyor Idler/Roller Bearing Isolator, end users had to deal with ineffective methods to protect idler bearings. Because they were cheap and nothing else was available, spring-loaded elastomeric seals were used. The problem was that, as a contact seal, these tiny plastic devices made contact with each other, rubbed on the exterior of the idler roll when operating and were prone to early failure, making the entire bearing protection system somewhat precarious.
Failure Is Not An Option
When an idler fails, it is most likely to be the result of bearing damage caused by contaminants entering the bearing environment where they condense and contaminate the lubricant and cause the bearings to fail. Chances are the plastic has worn out, grooved the shaft or burned to a crisp at the point of contact. The end result is a seized roll, belt damage or worse. The idler can burst open, and if it does, metal-on-metal contact can cause sparking. To counter, most mining operations employ greasers to try to keep idler bearings lubricated in an effort to make contact seals work. Because contact seals carry a 100% failure rate, eventually end users have to deal with catastrophic belt failure.
Enter The Belt Conveyor Idler Roller Bearing Isolator
To counter, Inpro/Seal took their bearing isolator, a compound labyrinth bearing protection device, that they invented (and patented) in 1977 and modified it for use mining and other bulk solid applications. A non-contacting, non-sparking bronze labyrinth type seal, it provides safe, permanent bearing protection that never wears out and requires only a negligible amount of energy to operate.
In September of 2006, based upon direct customer request, continuous R&D and extensive field testing, Inpro/Seal announced their Belt Conveyor Idler/Roller Bearing Isolator. Initially, it was developed for use in coal mining to help boost productivity, save energy and most importantly increase safety. It has additional applications in aggregate, concrete and related applications that use belt conveyors.
The MSHA Recommendation
In mid-October 2006, David C. Orlowski, President/CEO of Inpro/Seal and the inventor of the bearing isolator made initial contact with the MSHA. Over the next few months photography and operating detail was submitted to MSHA people who fully understood what this product could mean to mining people. On January 31, 2007, the Inpro/Seal Belt Conveyor Idler/Roller Bearing Isolator obtained MSHA recognition and assigned MSHA tag #AP2007-93304. This is significant for Inpro/Seal as this is their first product to carry a government agency stamp of recognition.
Www. msha. gov
According the to the MSHA website, "Belt conveyor roller bearings are subjected to severe duty service. They are constantly exposed to dust, dirt and moisture. Plastic end caps and rubber contact seals installed to protect the bearings quickly wear and deteriorate, resulting in seized bearings. When a bearing seizes, it throws off sparks, melts and eventually causes the roller to seize. In addition, the frictional drag on the belt creates a large amount of electrical energy consumption, worn or torn belts and downtime."
It goes on to state, "Bearings are typically designed to last 20 years or more, but very seldom do, mostly because they are not adequately protected. Bearing isolators made of bearing bronze, brass, other non-sparking metal or sintered materials last much longer than those of rubber or plastic and can act as emergency sleeve bearings for a short time. The main bearing meltdown is therefore delayed until temperature rise is detected. The use of a temperature gun during examination exponentially increases the detection of failing bearings. There are isolator replacements available for the plastic protectors that can be installed by mine maintenance personnel with a press or a soft hammer."
About Inpro/Seal
Inpro/Seal Company is the originator and the world's number one manufacturer of bearing isolators, used to protect motor and pump bearings, machine tool spindles, turbines, fans, gear boxes, paper machine rolls and many other types of rotating equipment. Of the almost three million bearing isolators delivered to date, most all continue to operate in process plants worldwide, where end users continue to report significantly reduced operating costs with increased productivity and reliability.
For more information on Inpro/Seal Bearing Belt Conveyor Idler Roller Bearing Isolators contact: Jason
Putnam at: Inpro/Seal Company, P. O. Box 3940, Rock Island, Illinois 61204. Phone numbers are: (800) 447-0524 or (309) 787-4971. Fax number is: (309) 787-6114. Website: www. inpro-seal. com or www. bearingisolators. com
Additional information may be found at: www. msha. gov or by contacting MSHA's Approval and Certification Center at 304-547-0400
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