igus linear technology prevents dirt and dust from sticking to Gessmann’s shifting system

Construction sites can be daunting, given all the machines, material and people. Keeping track of everything is difficult. A flexible new operating concept for driver’s cabs from Gessmann helps to ensure that operators always have the best possible overview of their surroundings. Because the tribo-plastics from igus used in the machinery require no lubricants or maintenance and therefore it remains relable over a long period of time.

The fact that there are no road traffic regulations on construction sites makes it all the more important for construction machine drivers to have good all-round visibility. This is not always easy, especially with particularly wide excavators or wheel loaders, whose field of vision is very limited. To achieve a full view of his surroundings, the driver must stop the vehicle and leave his seat. Gessmann’s operating concept focuses on offering the driver maximum flexibility by shifting his control station, and using igus linear technology makes lubrication and maintenance unnecessary.

Durable solution for a wide range of machines

During development, the objectives of W. Gessmann GmbH were clear: the driver’s seat needed to rotate around its own axis and to move transversely in the direction of travel. The operator was to be able to change position within seconds in order to have an overview of the entire machine environment, again as quickly as possible. In addition to the high degree of flexibility, the seat operation must also withstand the harsh construction site conditions and require minimal maintenance. The designers therefore used drylin linear technology from igus. The tribologically optimized high-performance plastics are light, corrosion-free and, most importantly, require no external lubrication. This increases service life in the moving application, dirt will not stick to the bearing point. This was also the conclusion the Gessmann developers reached after initial tests. The design was originally to be guided with recirculating ball bearings and a stainless steel guide shaft. The hardened steel balls rolled over the ground stainless steel guide, so the system was not optimal for the planned application due to the construction machines vibrating. This can cause the steel balls to damage the stainless steel shaft, increasing shifting force and greatly reducing service life. The designers used a far more cost-effective system, drylin W guide rail and drylin hybrid double roller bearings. The drylin W series’s require a small installation space, meaning that the guide system can be mounted below the machine floor. This protects the system from the weather and contamination.

Varied igus construction machinery range

Over 20,000 customers worldwide in the construction machinery sector are already capitalizing on these advantages. Wear-resistant plain bearings for heavy-duty applications can be found in excavators, wheel loaders, and telescopic handlers. Available directly from stock or as a custom-made product. For example, igus has introduced the new iglidur TX2 slide bearings this year for use in bearing points subject to particularly high loads. The high-strength composite fibre construction with incorporated solid lubricants ensures low-friction and a maintenance-free operation. By eliminating external lubrication means that no greases are released into the environment. In addition to bearing technology, energy chains such as the E4.1 ensure cable protection and guidance in the construction machinery sector, in such applications as handling excavators, telescopic handlers, and drills. igus also offers UV-resistant and temperature-resistant cables for dynamic continuous movements. The service life of all components can be calculated. Online tools that can be used free of charge are available for this purpose on the igus website. They are freely accessible.