[Industry first! Lubricant supplied with self-generated electrical power as bearings rotate]

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has developed the “Lubricating Oil Supply Unit with Self-power Generator” that provides a reliable, long-term supply of lubricant into the bearing without the need to supply external electrical power or lubricant.

Grease lubricants that do not generate air sound or oil mist when the lubricant is pumped are widely used for the main spindles of machine tools due to the fact that they present less load on the environment. Yet long-life operation has always remained an issue with these grease lubricants, as their operating life is limited to the time the initial amount of grease runs out.

NTN developed the “MQGS* New Grease Lubrication System” in 2006 to supply micro amounts of grease base oil to the inside of the bearing with the aim of extending the operating life of grease filled bearings. The MQGS concept has been developed further resulting in the industry's first “Lubricating Oil Supply Unit with Self-power Generator” that offers better reliability through the use of applied electronics technology.

The “Lubricating Oil Supply Unit with Self-power Generator” features a generator, battery, controller, lubrication tank and oil delivery pump built in to the spacer of the outer ring adjacent to the bearing. Electrical power is generated from the temperature difference between the inner and outer rings of the bearing when the bearing is rotating, which drives a pump to supply micro amounts of lubricant to the inside of the bearing. The amount and interval of lubricant supplied is controlled via a program, which ensures reliable lubrication over a long period of time. This unit does not require any additional piping or wiring, and can be assembled on to spindles of machine tools in the same way as conventional bearings.

The “Lubricating Oil Supply Unit with Self-power Generator” will be displayed as a reference exhibit at the “26th Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF)” to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from November 1 to 6. In addition to promoting commercialization of the unit as a bearing for main spindles of machine tools, we will extensively market the unit for general industrial machinery, and propose technologies for saving energy and reducing the load on the environment.
* MQGS:Minimum Quantity base oil Grease Supply lubrication

[ Features ]
(1) Built-in self-generated power supply and lubricant tank, eliminating the need to supply external electrical power or lubricant
(2) Same bearing and spacer assembly process as conventional products
(3) The amount and interval of lubricant supplied can be controlled via a program for long-term reliability

[ Product photo ]

Lubricating Oil Supply Unit with Self-power Generator (with the inner ring spacer removed)

Dimensions of the above unit:

Bearing dimensions: φ100 × φ150 × 24
Unit dimensions: φ114 × φ150 × 25


[ Structure ]


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