Sealmaster, Emerson's mounted bearing line, offers reduced maintenance bearings with lubricant circulation efficient enough to eliminate the need for regular service intervals. The bearings are suitable for use in inaccessible locations.

The outer surface in conventional bearings is parallel to the axis of the inner ring. According to the company's press release, the reduced maintenance bearings feature a surface that is tapered in a radial direction toward the bearing race so that lubricant is easily redirected back to the raceway. This design, along with a brass land riding retainer, provides improved lubricant circulation.

"Improved circulation means longer bearing service life, ultimately leading to a dramatic reduction in cost and maintenance," says Ian Rubin, manager, application engineering for reduced maintenance, Emerson Power Transmission. "This subtle yet critical design change makes a huge difference in increasing bearing life expectancy when compared to a traditional bearing."

Reduced maintenance bearings are designed with three distinct sealing options. The felt seal offers a low drag to protect against dry, gritty contaminates. The single lip seal offers a balance between seal drag and wet contamination avoidance. The spring-loaded seal's heavy drag makes it ideal for heavy contamination environments. Additionally, each bearing is filled with the specially formulated GoldPlex-HP grease, designed to run longer and cooler in mounted bearing applications.