Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Provides Bearing Products to Tianfei No.1

Recently, it was learned from Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd. (referred to as Bearing Research Institute) that the joint bearings developed by it were applied to the world’s first super-large cross-section hard rock composite stratum rectangular pipe jacking machine "Tianfei No. 1", which was successfully rolled off the assembly line, which provided key support for its normal operation.

Pipe jacking machine is a kind of tunnel boring equipment. The total weight of the "Tianfei No. 1" rectangular pipe jacking machine rolled off the assembly line exceeds 1,300 tons, which solves the worldwide problem of hard rock processing in the blind area of the rectangular shield cutter head excavation and makes up for the gap in the full-section rectangular pipe jacking excavation.

"We tailor-made a new type of joint bearing for the'Tianfei No. 1', which provides a key guarantee for its pipe jacking construction." The person in charge of the Bearing Research Institute said.

Joint bearing, as the name suggests, is equivalent to a human joint in practical applications. Whether the joint can operate flexibly and freely will have a great impact on the normal operation of the machine.

According to the plan, "Tianfei No. 1" will be used in the Fu-Xia high-speed rail supporting project-Putian Railway Station's railway pre-embedded project. This is the first domestic case where multiple large-section rectangular jacking pipes simultaneously pass through the high-speed rail of an operating railway. Difficult project as it is, the construction geological conditions are very complicated, the joint bearing matched with "Tianfei No. 1" needs to work under harsh working conditions such as mud, high pressure, and impact, which puts forward the functions of sealing, bearing, and centering of the bearing.

The Bearing Research Institute has developed large-scale angular contact joint bearings with a new special structure after many tests by using technical advantages and years of accumulated experience in the shield industry for special working conditions.

According to the bearing installation environment and working conditions, the company adopts a large arc bearing surface structure design, while increasing the swing angle of the bearing, which greatly expands the working range of the rotary digging head of the pipe jacking machine. In order to adapt to the muddy water and gravel working environment, the Research Institute also designed a self-adjusting sealing structure in this research and development to make the bearing more resistant to the intrusion of foreign bodies, and further optimized the heat treatment process of the raw material forgings and the finishing of the parts, thus ensuring stable product performance and reliable quality.

In recent years, the Research Institute has been actively focusing on innovation. In addition to making achievements in the country's aerospace industry, the new products developed by the company have also been applied to many "big power equipment" in the field of excavation in the country. China’s largest diameter shield machine "Victory" exported to Europe last year provided many core components. At the beginning of this year, the slewing bearing of the super-large segment assembly machine developed by it was also used for the largest-diameter slurry balance shield machine in the country. On the "Canal", the operation accuracy and efficiency of the shield machine are guaranteed.