Editor's Choice


The strength of your machine is defined by its pivot joints

Third Quarter 2022 Editor's Choice Shaft power components

BMG’s Nord-Lock range of bolting solutions includes Expander System pivot pin components that comprise advanced pivot pin technology, to offer dependable solutions that combat the challenges of lug wear in diverse industries. Pivots, which are at the centre of any rotational movement, often experience lug wear, which occurs due to the clearance between the bore and the conventional pin. This is commonly repaired with line boring – a technique associated with high costs and protracted downtime.

“Through Nord-Lock’s advanced Expander System, which consists of a comprehensive range of components, BMG specialists are able to supply the correct pivot to prevent the problems that lug wear causes excavators, mobile cranes and dump trucks. This maximises uptime, enhances safety on site and minimises maintenance costs,” says national product manager, Wean Marais. The Expander System – which comprises an assembly that includes an axle tapered at both ends, two expansion sleeves, two tension washers and two fasteners – has been designed for convenient onsite repairs. Even in a situation where the lugs are badly worn, a repair can be made in the field, with minimum downtime. The sleeves of the Expander System simply expand to conform with the wear pattern and lock the system in place, without the need for time-consuming and costly welding and line boring. Once re-torqued, the system locks from both sides, significantly increasing stability.

This system has also been designed to improve safety on site. By replacing a traditional straight pin with an Expander System pivot pin of the same diameter, the risk of axle breakage is reduced and the strength of the machine is enhanced through the system’s double sided axial locking design.

There are many other benefits, which include a permanent solution to lug wear, quick and easy installation and removal, increased service life of bushings, bearings and seals, and greater safety. A key advantage of this system over conventional pivot pins is pressure distribution. A conventional system only distributes the load onto a very small area, whereas the Expander System distributes pressure over the whole contact area in the direction of the force.

There is no need for additional fastening holes, threads or welding of locking rings on the machine, and no need for fine machining in the lugs, as this system makes it possible to use wide tolerances. The Expander System can also be combined with Nord-Lock washers for enhanced efficiency in vibration-intense applications.

BMG’s customised Expander System pivot pins are specifically adapted to suit exact requirements through the use of specific materials, hardening treatments, surface coatings and the correct tolerance for each application.

Severe vibration of heavy machinery is a major challenge in the mining industry. BMG specialists recommend the use of the Expander System in conjunction with Nord-Lock wedge-locking washers as an efficient vibration-resilient pivot solution for reduced maintenance and downtime in loading and hauling equipment, drilling, excavators and mechanical scalers.

Safety and productivity are critical on any construction site, where the continuous operation of equipment and machines makes lug wear prevalent. The Expander System has been designed to extend the service life of pivot joints in articulated haulers, excavators, dump trucks, backhoes, wheel loaders, cranes and bulldozers.

Forestry and agricultural machinery often operate in isolated locations, which are long distances from workshops and technical support. This makes them susceptible to long periods of downtime if they break down. The Expander System is quick and easy to install and remove, allowing for onsite maintenance, substantially decreasing production losses associated with downtime.

In the oil and gas sector, the Expander System increases control and precision during the handling and setup of drilling equipment, while enhancing safety on the rig or extraction site.

This system is also designed for efficient use in manufacturing and processing. Examples are in cutters, sludge filters, centre rollers and jack-screws in paper mills, and balers and trimmers used in saw mills. In energy plants these pivot pins are used in roasters, stoker feeders and grapples, while in steel mills they find application in cooling beds, tensioning arms, oscillator and segment machines, side roller guides and side tensioner frames.

Nord-Lock Expander pivot pins − used by many leading OEMs − have been endurance tested for over 50 000 hours without failure and more than 1 million pivot pins have been installed in over 60 000 applications.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Safe handling in all sectors
Bearing Man Group T/A BMG Electrical switching & drive systems & components
BMG is committed to ensuring optimum safety standards in all sectors, and encourages and assists customers to adhere to stringent safety legislation during bulk handling. Tsubaki backstops and cam clutches, which have been developed and manufactured in Japan for high efficiency and optimum safety in high- or low-speed applications, meet the requirements of current legislation.

Read more...
Pushing technological boundaries with Festo Electric Automation solutions
Festo South Africa Editor's Choice
In the ever-evolving landscape of Industrial Automation, Festo Electric Automation solutions are at the forefront of a revolution, fundamentally reshaping production paradigms. As a global leader in automation, Festo focuses on intelligent connectivity to reduce costs, save time, and increase efficiency and convenience for customers.

Read more...
Nord-Lock’s CE marked securing washers
Bearing Man Group T/A BMG Shaft power components
The Nord-Lock range of securing washers, distributed and supported by BMG, is the only brand on the market that currently displays the CE quality mark of approval from leading global authorities.

Read more...
Perfect balance for every race
Horne Technologies Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
It goes without saying that success in Formula 1 requires a top driver. However, their chance of achieving a place on the podium depends on the car, which in turn depends on three essential factors: engine, tyres and aerodynamics. To find the optimum balance, the racing teams test models of their bolides in the wind tunnel. At Sauber, the adjustable components are moved on the model and in the test chamber using FAULHABER motors.

Read more...
MeerKAT radio telescope array
Editor's Choice News & events
Leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory practice, Zutari is continuing its involvement with the world-leading MeerKAT radio telescope array, where it has played a leading role since the project first broke ground.

Read more...
Top 10 emerging technologies
Editor's Choice
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified ten technologies likely to make a significant positive impact in the next three to five years. These are detailed in the ‘Top 10 Emerging Technologies’ report, which explains each technology’s potential for addressing global challenges and the factors that will shape the future and revolutionise connectivity still further.

Read more...
Electrifying the future
Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
A revolution is underway, transforming the way we power compact construction machines and heavy-duty mobile machinery. This is the electrification of equipment, a movement propelled by the need for environmental sustainability, lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and the pursuit of a cleaner, greener future.

Read more...
How to clean compressed air effectively
Editor's Choice
SO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.

Read more...
New Black Bruin hydraulic motors for heavy-duty applications
Axiom Hydraulics Editor's Choice Hydraulic systems & components
Axiom Hydraulics and Black Bruin have been working together since the late 1990s, serving southern Africa’s fluid power, mining, industrial, agriculture and marine industries. Now Black Bruin is extending its rotating shaft motor portfolio. With a patent pending design, the new X-series is engineered to enhance the performance of both new and existing machinery in terms of durability, serviceability and cost-effectiveness.

Read more...
Quality gearboxes for agriculture
SEW-EURODRIVE Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Offering a complete gear solution for centre pivot irrigation systems, SEW-EURODRIVE brings its quality products and support as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) closer to South Africa’s farming sector.

Read more...