HERCULES is unveiling new structural bearings designed to support over 1600 tonnes of compressive load per set, catering to the demands of high-stress applications.
The latest offering, Herculon Type ‘D’ Free Float Bearings (HLD/FF-8000), feature a sliding layer composed of globally proven fibre-reinforced and incompressible H-Glide engineering plastic, boasting exceptional friction coefficients ranging from 0.05 to 0.1.
These remarkable sliding characteristics and load-bearing capabilities, even in confined or wet spaces, are highly sought after by infrastructure developers, engineers, architects, and specifiers. Lower coefficients of friction translate to reduced stress transfer onto load-bearing structural components, effectively safeguarding them against surrounding movement.
Representing the largest H-glide bearings produced by the company, the new HLD-FF bearings can be custom-manufactured to accommodate even greater capacities, meeting the industry’s demand for extended low-maintenance lifespans of up to 100 years.
Featuring an incompressible H-Glide sliding layer, these bearings can withstand extreme point pressures ranging from 350 to 500 MPa, depending on the specific design and application. This outstanding performance, surpassing conventional water-resistant and non-lubricated fibre-reinforced elastomeric bearing pads by up to 40 times, is further complemented by the material’s suitability for various environments, including damp or underwater settings.
A notable advantage of these composite bearings is their independence from lubrication, minimizing disruptions to processes. Enhanced longevity can be achieved by incorporating a mirror-polished stainless steel sliding plate, with negligible absorption of water and other fluids. The material’s inert nature ensures minimal reactions with substances like food and cleaning agents.
Developed to meet the demand for low-friction bearings in scenarios where a continuous slip joint is unsuitable, HLD/FF bearings find applications under beams, slabs, pipes, ducts, conveyors, pressure vessels, and small span bridges.
These custom bearings, integrating H-Glide technology, expand the existing product range, providing architects and engineers with high-performance and durable bearing options. The H-Glide bearing pad, available in various formulations, including conductive materials, caters to a wide spectrum of high-load structures, offering extreme load-bearing capability coupled with non-stick-slip behaviour, where static and kinetic coefficients of sliding friction are virtually equal.
