Thrust bearing urns have the following serious effects on the normal operation of the crusher:

First. Mechanical properties

Reduced running accuracy: After burned thrust bearing, its rolling body, raceway and other parts will have deformation, wear and surface roughness and other problems. This will cause the positioning accuracy of the crusher spindle in the axial direction to decrease, so that the running accuracy of the whole crusher will be reduced. For example, in the crushing process, uneven crushing size and unstable discharge may occur. The axial runout of the shaft increases, affecting the matching precision with other parts, which may lead to instability of the transmission system, such as belt slipping, poor gear meshing and other problems.

Decrease in load-bearing capacity: After the thrust bearing is burned, its internal structure is damaged, the contact area between the rolling body and the raceway is reduced, and the load-bearing capacity decreases significantly. When the crusher is working, the axial load cannot be effectively supported, which may lead to bending, deformation or even fracture of the main shaft. Decreased load-bearing capacity will also make the crusher unable to withstand the corresponding load when handling materials of greater hardness or larger volume, affecting productivity and equipment reliability.

Increased vibration and noise: Burnt thrust bearings will produce uneven force and friction during operation due to the poor fit between the rolling elements and raceways, which will lead to increased vibration and noise of the crusher. Strong vibration will not only affect the working environment and health of the operator, but also may cause loosening and damage to other parts of the crusher, further aggravating the equipment failure. Increased noise will also cause pollution to the surrounding environment, but also may be an important signal of equipment failure, prompting the operator to timely inspection and maintenance.

Second, the production efficiency

Frequent downtime for maintenance: Once the thrust bearing is burned, the crusher usually cannot operate normally and must be shut down for maintenance. Frequent downtime for maintenance will seriously affect the production progress and reduce the utilization rate and productivity of the equipment. The maintenance process requires a lot of time and human and material resources, including dismantling the equipment, replacing bearings, debugging and installation, which will lead to the interruption of the production line and bring economic losses to the enterprise. Moreover, frequent maintenance may also lead to the damage of other components, increasing the maintenance cost and the overall maintenance difficulty of the equipment.

Reduced processing capacity: Due to the reduction of the crusher’s running precision and bearing capacity after the thrust bearing burns, its processing capacity will also be greatly affected. In the same working time, the amount of material that the crusher can process is reduced, resulting in lower productivity. For example, a certain amount of ore that could be processed per hour may now take longer to complete the same task, affecting the output and economic efficiency of the enterprise.

Increased energy consumption: Burnt thrust bearings will increase the energy consumption of the crusher during operation due to increased friction and reduced efficiency. The motor needs to output more power to overcome the resistance of the bearings and other losses of the equipment, which will lead to higher energy costs. At the same time, the increase in energy consumption may also cause excessive loads on the motor and other driving equipment, shortening its service life and increasing the maintenance costs of the equipment.

Third, the safety risk aspect

Accidents caused by equipment damage: when the thrust bearing is burned seriously, it may lead to damage to other parts of the crusher such as the main shaft, gears, pulleys, etc., and may even trigger the overall failure and damage of the equipment. If a sudden equipment failure occurs during operation, it may pose a threat to the safety of the operator, such as flying debris, broken parts, etc. may cause casualties. In addition, equipment failure may also cause other equipment in the production line to be affected, triggering a chain reaction and increasing the risk of accidents and the degree of harm.

Unstable operation brings safety hazards: the burnt thrust bearing will make the crusher run unstably, with increased vibration and noise, which not only affects the operator’s working condition and attention, but also may lead to equipment control failure, misoperation and other situations. For example, the vibration may make the wiring of the electrical control system loose, sensor failure, etc., which will affect the normal operation of the safety protection devices of the equipment and increase the possibility of accidents.