Slew Drives
TGB Group’s slewing drives are synonymous with quality and precision. With a track record of over 30 years designing and manufacturing the best rotary solutions on the market, we continue to innovate in the pursuit of maximum performance under the most demanding conditions.
Slewing ring
With one or two rows of balls to support the highest loads.
Screw worm
It can be straight or globoid depending on the needs or type of slew drive.
Housing
Designed to be watertight and provide robustness to the system.
Greasing nipple
Located in strategic places to ensure proper lubrication of moving parts.
Motor flange
It is used to adapt the connection of the hydraulic or electric motor, also to adapt the placement of an encoder.
Top plate
A top plate is used to give a little thickness and avoid contacts during rotation.
What is a slew drive?
A slew drive is compact rotary system designed to be installed directly on the customer’s applications which give rotational movement to the structure while at the same time are able to withstand high loads and critical environmental conditions due to its enclosed system. Slewing drives are composed by a slewing ring, mounted on or inside a housing which is where it is also assembled the screw worm which is the part in charge of the transmission of the torque to the slewing ring. Inside that housing, there are also a couple of bearings which hold the screw worm together with their corresponding motor cap and encoder cap. These caps can be adapted to fit directly a hydraulic motor or a gearbox by means of an adapter flange. The drive has its own grease nipples that allow the regreasing of the slew drive for maintenance.
All the series
BE Standard Serie
High precision and low backlash for industrial applications.
LBE Light Serie
Aluminum housing for light system requirements.
TE Serie
High loads holding torque with globoid screw worm.
TGO Open Serie
Open housing for clean environment applications.
TGP Pinion Serie
Pinion drive for high speed rotation applications.
Double Worm
Dual screw worm series for high torque requirements.
TVR Vertical
High loads holding torque with globoid screw worm.
DAD Dual Axis
High loads holding torque and full angle rotation.
TGB Group offers a wide variety of slew drive series ready for use in any conditions.
- BE Series: Slew drive with high precision and low backlash for industrial applications. Fully enclosed with lip seals to ensure an IP65 on the system. With globoid slewing ring teeth and straight screw worm provides more smoothness on the rotational movement but reduces the maximum allowable torque.
- LBE Series: Light version of the BE series with aluminum housing to reduce the system weight.
- TE Series: Slew drive with globoid screw worm and helicoidal teeth on the slewing ring, which is able to withstand high loads due to its 4 teeth in contact. This kind of slew drive is prepared for high torque applications like solar plants and uses a lip seal to guarantee the IP65.
- TGO Series: Open version of the TGE series for applications in clean environments.
- TVR Series: Vertical serie that uses bearings or bushings to fix the geared ring inside the housing.
- Double worm: Dual screw worm series for high torque requirements.
- DAD Series: Combined Vertical and Horizontal series to give a full rotational movement in azimuth and zenith directions. All the drives mentioned above can be adapted according to clients requirements, for example adding some of the following modifications: splined shaft, slewing rings with double raceway, holes in imperial, etc.
Some Applications
Slew drives, also known as worm driven bearings, slewing rings or four-point contact ball bearings, are used in a wide range of applications in various sectors. Some examples of sectors where slew drives are used include:
- Solar energy: Slew drives are used in solar trackers, which are used to position solar panels to track the movement of the sun. This allows the panels to generate more energy by capturing the maximum amount of sunlight.
- Construction machinery: Slew drives are used in excavators, cranes, and other construction equipment to provide smooth and precise rotation. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as digging and lifting more efficiently.
- Wind energy: Slew drives are used in wind turbines to provide rotational movement for the blades. This allows the turbine to capture wind energy more efficiently.
- Industrial automation: Slew drives are used in robotic systems and other automated equipment to provide precise and reliable rotation. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as sorting, packaging, and assembly with greater efficiency.
- Mining equipment: Slew drives are used in mining equipment such as excavators, conveyors, and crushers. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as digging, moving, and crushing ore more efficiently.
- Marine equipment: Slew drives are used in marine equipment such as cranes, winches, and davits. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as lifting and positioning heavy loads with greater precision.
- Defense and aerospace: Slew drives are used in military and aerospace equipment such as radar systems and missile launchers. This allows the equipment to track targets and move in a precise and controlled manner.
- Agriculture: Slew drives are used in agricultural equipment such as irrigation systems, sprayers, and harvesters. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as watering, spraying, and harvesting crops with greater efficiency.
- Transportation: Slew drives are used in transportation equipment such as cranes and gantries used for loading and unloading cargo. They are also used in bridge and tunnel construction equipment to provide smooth and precise rotation.
- Entertainment industry: Slew drives are used in amusement park rides, such as Ferris wheels and roller coasters, to provide smooth and controlled rotational movement.
- Medical equipment: Slew drives are used in medical equipment such as patient lifts and adjustable hospital beds. This allows the equipment to provide smooth and controlled movement for patient comfort and safety.
- Environmental equipment: Slew drives are used in environmental equipment such as water treatment plants and waste management systems. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as filtering, separating, and treating waste and water with greater efficiency.
- Oil and gas industry: Slew drives are used in oil and gas equipment such as drilling rigs and offshore cranes. This allows the equipment to perform tasks such as drilling, lifting, and positioning with greater precision.
- Aerospace industry: Slew drives are used in aerospace equipment such as satellite dishes and solar panels on space missions. This allows the equipment to track and move with precision in the harsh conditions of space.
In summary, slew drives are used in a diverse range of sectors and applications where precise and efficient rotational movement is required. They play a critical role in improving productivity, safety, and performance in various industries.