For a Saudi Arabian client project involving a Herrenknecht tunnel boring machine, a bearing replacement program was carried out on the cutterhead system. The machine operates according to the Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) principle, with disc cutters distributed across the center, gauge, face, and transition zones, each exposed to different combinations of axial and radial loads during excavation.
The project involved replacing the original bearings with equivalent RKB bearings while maintaining the original dimensional and load specifications.
The replacement covered all major cutterhead zones. RKB single row taper roller bearings, selected in different part number configurations to match the load and operating requirements of each application, were installed in the center, gauge, face, and transition zones of the cutterhead system.
The replacement process followed the required technical standards, ensuring dimensional compatibility, adequate load capacity, and suitability for demanding cutterhead operating conditions. Following installation, the RKB bearings demonstrated operational performance and stability consistent with the original bearing arrangements, supporting reliable cutterhead rotation throughout tunnelling operations. Sales Engineer Osama Abbas Yahia