1622000900 The main functions of the bearing sleeves of Atlas Copco air compressors
Support and positioning: Fix the position of the compressor rotor shaft, ensuring that the male and female rotors maintain precise meshing gaps during high-speed rotation, and avoiding mechanical wear or collisions due to offset.
Reduce friction and lubrication: In conjunction with the shaft neck, through the lubricating oil film, it reduces direct metal contact, lowers the friction coefficient, and extends the service life of the rotor and bearings.
Sealing assistance: Some bearing sleeves also have auxiliary sealing functions to prevent the leakage of high-pressure gas or lubricating oil in the compression chamber.
Material and characteristics
Common materials: Mostly use wear-resistant alloys (such as tin bronze, lead bronze), cast iron, or composite materials (such as self-lubricating materials containing graphite), which have high strength, high wear resistance, and good thermal conductivity.
Precision processing: The inner wall of the bearing sleeve needs to undergo precision processing to ensure the fit clearance with the shaft neck (usually in the micrometer range), which not only meets the lubrication requirements but also ensures the positioning accuracy of the rotor.
Temperature resistance: Needs to adapt to the working temperature of the compressor during operation (usually 80~120℃), avoiding material deformation or performance decline due to high temperature.
Common problems and replacement timing
Wear signs: After the bearing sleeve is worn, it may cause an increase in rotor clearance, manifested as a decrease in compressor exhaust volume, increased energy consumption, abnormal operating noise (such as metallic noise) or the presence of metal debris in the lubricating oil.
Replacement timing:
During regular major maintenance (such as after 10,000~20,000 hours of operation, refer to the equipment manual for details), it is necessary to check the wear condition of the bearing sleeve.
If the rotor clearance exceeds the standard, the inner wall of the bearing sleeve shows obvious scratches or grooves, or if any of these conditions are detected, it is necessary to replace it promptly.
It is generally recommended to replace the bearing sleeves in pairs (corresponding to the male and female rotors' bearing sleeves) to ensure the mating accuracy.
