Compact and corrosion-free: plain bearings in a new type of Segway wheelchair

The supports are designed so that they extend within 100 milliseconds in an emergency situation. This happens, for example, if the tyres lose traction or the battery is flat. The bearing points are then subjected to high loads of up to 5,000 revolutions per minute. finding bearings that can withstand this and are compact enough for small installation spaces was a challenge for the designers. As they are used outdoors and off-road, the bearings also have to withstand impacts, direct sunlight, temperatures from -10 to +50°C, snow, rain and dirt. And since every additional gram reduces the battery range, the bearings should be as light as possible.

Conventional metal ball bearings were out of the question due to the above-mentioned requirements, primarily because of their size.

The perfect solution was found with iglidur ® P plain bearings. They are very compact with a wall thickness of 1 mm and an inner diameter of 12 mm, but still withstand loads of up to 50 MPa. As a result, they withstand the impact on the floor when the supports extend quickly. As in all bearings from igus®, solid lubricants are embedded in them so that no additional lubrication is required. This means that neither sand, dust nor soil can adhere and block or damage the bearing. Even rain or snow pose no threat to the corrosion-free plastic material. This makes the bearings particularly durable and maintenance-free. Hoss Mobility was so impressed by them that they are also used in the cushioned seat, the backrest shell and the removable armrests. The same applies to these applications: minimum maintenance and maximum service life with low size and weight.