Plant availability and seamless production are fundamental to the sustainability of all mines and industries. The new Cooper 01E and 02E split roller bearing series from Bearings International, provide increased life and load capacities for cost effective operation and increased productivity. Bearings International has been the sole authorised distributor of the original Cooper split roller bearings for 75 years and according to Product Manager - Cooper, Matthew Tyler, the new redesigned 01E medium-duty and 02E heavy-duty bearings are able to handle higher radial and thrust loads and are an enhancement on the proven and popular Cooper 01 and 02 series split roller bearings.

Tyler explains, “A redesign of the internal geometry, which includes larger rollers and a robust brass cage, affords increased life as well as extra radial load carrying capacity of 6% to 29%  and 16% to 90% for axial load carrying capacity in fixed GR bearing. In terms of bearing fatigue life, the new series will provide 23% to 135% more L10 life depending on size and these extended intervals between replacements substantially increase uptime.”

“Because the new series has been designed to share the same exterior dimensions with the corresponding Cooper 01 and 02 series, they are dimensionally fully interchangeable, a factor which poses numerous advantages for the customer,” continues Tyler. “The new 01E and 02E bearings can be conveniently mounted in a customer’s existing Cooper  housing, providing more capacity in the same space. ” The 01E and 02E series, with bore sizes from 160mm – 300mm, feature the same energy efficiency and superior sealing as their 01 and 02 counter-parts and are available in different mounting and sealing options.

Cooper have a full range of pedestals that are dimensional interchangeable with a standard SD housing that is used for solid spherical bearings. This range is designed for the 01E and 02E series and has the same bolt centres and centre height as SD range. All the Cooper heavy duty SD pedestals are made out of the stronger SG iron instead of a industry standard of cast iron . This is the strongest pedestal in the bearing industry.

Cooper, the inventor of the split bearing, designed the first split roller bearing for an agricultural steam digger in 1907. Today, more than a century later, these bearings offer the same proven design, legendary reliability, excellent sealing characteristics and time saving qualities. Cooper split roller bearings are manufactured to exacting standards of quality and precision from only the finest quality hardened and finished carbon chrome steel supported by over a century of technological expertise.

Like all Cooper split roller bearings, the 01E and 02E series is manufactured in two halves and completely split to the shaft. “This unique configuration makes it very difficult to beat this market leader, says Tyler. “The split technology makes bearing assembly, service or replacement possible without the need to disturb or disassemble all components and ancillary equipment on the shaft. Assembly and dismantling of the bearings is further simplified as only hexagon keys are required.” The self-aligning cartridge allows for lubrication directly onto the rolling elements and seals remain concentric with the shaft.

“The split feature also significantly reduces handling weights eliminating the need for heavy duty lifting equipment,” says Tyler. When it comes to inspection and maintenance, the simplicity of operation facilitates inspection of rolling surfaces and seals during the operating life for preventative maintenance and enables replacement to be made at the optimum time rather than when costly unexpected failures occur. Inspection and maintenance on the rolling elements can be carried out in situ. In addition to reduced downtime, there is also tremendous cost saving as labour hours are kept to a minimum. Complete accessibility also makes the Cooper bearing ideal for trapped applications.

Fast easy installation, assembly, inspection, maintenance, service or replacement reduces high operating costs across a wide range of equipment including fans, belt and screw conveyors, crushers, bucket wheel excavators, mill drives, pumps, industrial fans, elevators and electric motors. 
The robust 01E and 02E bearings can stand up to harsh dusty and abrasive quarrying and aggregate environments as well as corrosive, wet conditions, operating reliably and cost effectively across a broad range of industry sectors where they are subjected to excessive loads including automotive, cement, marine, mining, steel, sugar, paper, power generation, water and sewage and quarrying.

“We can supply all bearing users, including OE manufacturers, with custom-built bearings designed to individual specifications, and we are also able to retro-fit Cooper bearings.  We offer expert advice, technical assistance and support to ensure correct specification so that our  equipment performs reliably giving our customers maximum uptime and optimum plant availability for lower total cost of ownership and ultimately, return on investment,” concludes Tyler. The new 01E and 02E series complements the extra-heavy-duty 03, the high-speed 04 and the compact 100 Series, making the Cooper line of split roller bearings one of the most comprehensive and highest capacity products in this critical size currently available on the global market.