Lubrication-free and robust polymer bearing technology in cow cleaning machines

Albert Kerbl GmbH in Buchbach is a global manufacturer and wholesaler of products for farms and stables, riders and horses, pets and pasture fencing.
At the beginning of 2013, the family business launched its own development, a plug-in cow cleaning machine, the "CowCleaner DUO". This is because cows need to scrub and scratch themselves. They use this machine to clean themselves and rid themselves of parasites, lichen and mites.
To be more precise, the cow protection machine is a double brush system with a horizontal and a vertical brush.
Several factors had to be taken into account when planning the components. As the cows can attack the machine, all machine parts had to be designed to be particularly robust.
But even during the normal 60-second brushing process, the entire brush is constantly moved up and down by the animals, with forces constantly acting on the machine.
Finally, ammonia vapour in the barn, cow hair, hay and straw dust are aggressive environmental factors that also affect all components. If the brush system is installed outdoors, there are also the effects of the weather. All these influencing factors have such a strong effect that the machine is barely recognisable after a week of use.

Today, a robust igubal ® flange bearing EFOM - a standard design element from igus® - is used to support the shaft end of a brush. It consists of a housing made of igumid® G, which is characterised by its special impact resistance, and a spherical ball made of the highly wear-resistant material iglidur® W300. It has the lowest coefficient of friction in dry operation and therefore works particularly wear-free. The bearing elements are very light, save installation space thanks to their dimensions and help to save costs: firstly in procurement and secondly in operation by eliminating maintenance and assembly costs.
The flange bearing is installed with two mounting holes on the underside of the cow cleaning machine. It reliably absorbs the rotary movements. It is resistant to vapours, fine dust and coarse dirt. It is also UV-resistant. While metallic ball bearings seize up immediately under these aggressive environmental conditions, nothing can seize up with lubrication-free bearings.
Another major advantage in this application is that precise alignment of the bearing housing is not necessary, as the flange bearing automatically compensates for
misalignment. A total of five test machines have been built. All of them are still running perfectly today. Several hundred of the cow cleaning machines are now in use in barns throughout Europe.