Press releases | 03/14/2023 Digital clearance monitoring for slewing bearings

  • Liebherr enables high-precision wear measurement
  • The new technology ensures greater safety in the danger zone
  • Condition monitoring is also available for lubrication and temperature measurement

With the condition monitoring system for slewing bearings, Liebherr created a digital monitoring system. The integrated wear measurement system, bearing clearance monitoring (BCM), ensures optimum monitoring of the slewing bearings in various applications, such as mining and material handling equipment or maritime applications. The BCM system can be used to measure bearing wear in axial and radial directions as well as tilting clearance. These diagnostics ensure flexibility in measurement, as well as reduced downtime, lower costs in maintenance and, above all, higher personal protection.

The danger zone of the excavator is located directly at the point where the service personnel attach the measuring device during a manual measurement.

Single image, web (25 KB)

Liebherr's bearing clearance monitoring system is working in tandem with Bluetooth.

Single image, web (84 KB)

The focus of digital clearance maintenance lies on personnel safety. "A distinct disadvantage of all common wear measurement methods is the necessity for service technicians to mount dial gauges or other measuring devices directly on the slewing bearing in the danger zone under the excavator or other machines," explains Wolfram Halder, Product Manager of the slewing bearings business unit. "The Liebherr BCM system makes this unnecessary, as the measuring devices are already permanently installed on the bearing." Another advantage is flexibility in terms of time. Currently, machine operators commission external service providers to measure the bearing clearance. This makes them dependent on the experience and schedule of third-party companies. "With digital maintenance for slewing bearings from Liebherr, measurements can be carried out at any time outside the danger zone, independently of external service providers," explains Halder.

Measurement within minutes: How the BCM from Liebherr works

The right technology and the right connection make it happen. The sensor connection box receives the data from the sensors attached to the slewing bearing and supplies the entire BCM system with power. The gateway stores the sensor data and updates for the BCM. This allows operators to use the system autonomously in regions without a data connection. This is the case in mines, for example, as these often do not have the necessary mobile reception. A direct connection via Bluetooth makes the measurement process possible from a safe distance and without a network connection. Smart, integrated and remote, the BCM system is a small measurement system with great effects.

Downloads

Here you will find the press release and images for download.

Press release English DOCX (135 KB)
Press release English PDF (228 KB)

Additional links

CONEXPO 2023: Digital clearance monitoring for slewing bearings

Contact

Alexandra Nolde

Senior Communication & Media Specialist


Liebherr-Components AG

Kirchweg 46

5415 Nussbaumen

Switzerland