Ball Bearings with High Mud-Resistance Seals
for Agricultural Machinery:
The Secret Behind High Sealing Performance
and Low Torque
- Customer outlineAn agricultural equipment manufacturer (Field: Agricultural machinery, etc.)
- ProductBearings for agricultural machinery wheels
-
Problems
- Agricultural machinery is used in harsh environments filled with mud and muddy water, leading to premature bearing damage—a persistent issue.
-
Solutions
- Improved the bearing seal by applying the labyrinth structure used in high-sealing hub unit bearings for automobiles.
- Added a sleeve along with an axial lip in addition to the two radial lips.
Drawing on JTEKT’s many years of expertise in automotive bearings, the team explored whether they could resolve the issue by improving the bearing seal using the labyrinth structure developed for high-sealing hub unit bearings in automobiles.
Conventional bearing seals use two radial lips to block the intrusion of muddy water from the outside. In the newly developed version, a sleeve was added, along with an axial lip in addition to the two radial lips.
This created a labyrinth structure, and the guttering effect at the base of the axial lip made the intrusion path more complex—significantly improving the sealing performance.
Achievements
- High sealing performance
Test
A large volume of muddy water was sprayed onto the side of a rotating bearing for an extended period.
Results
With the conventional product, vibration levels began to increase after approximately 100 hours, indicating that muddy water had likely entered the interior of the bearing. In contrast, the newly developed product showed virtually no water intrusion even after 400 hours, with vibration levels remaining stable throughout.
- The starting torque was measured.
Test
The starting torque was measured.
Results
Compared to the conventional product, the new design successfully reduced starting torque by 40%.
Comments from Our Customers
We adopted the new bearing in an attachment used for planting seeds on a tractor.
Since using the newly developed product, we’ve been able to operate the tractor for longer periods than before, when bearing failures were more frequent. Thanks to the high sealing performance, we’ve been able to prevent sudden breakdowns and emergency repairs. This has reduced both the frequency of bearing replacements and maintenance, leading to significant cost savings.
A Message from JTEKT
To address the short lifespan caused by foreign matter intrusion with conventional seals, we applied automotive hub unit technology. The result was both low torque and high sealing performance. By offering a more durable bearing, we’ve been able to help extend warranty periods, reduce maintenance costs, and lower industrial waste—all while better meeting our customers’ needs.
Industrial Solutions Engineering Dept.
Foundational Fields Engineering Office
Industrial Machinery Section
Product
Ball bearings with high mud-resistance seals for agricultural machinery
Applicable types: Double-row ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, double-row tapered roller bearings
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