VLU200414 Slewing Bearings

VLU200414 Slewing Bearings — INA VLU Light Flanged 20 Series Four-Point Contact Ball Slewing Ring

The VLU200414 Slewing Bearings are part of the INA VLU Light Flanged 20 series – a gearless, single-row, four-point contact ball slewing ring with a 414 mm raceway diameter, 518 mm OD, 304 mm bore and 56 mm height. This flanged light-series ring weighs 23.71 kg and handles axial, radial and tilting moment loads in a single row of balls, making it a compact option for solar tracker pivots, rotary indexing tables and other precise rotation applications where weight and ease of installation are important.

What Is the VLU200414 Slewing Ring?

The VLU200414 Slewing Bearings is a four-point contact, single row, gearless flanged ball slewing ring from the INA VLU Light Flanged 20 series. The VLU variant is not the same as the regular VSU200414; the VLU has a flanged light-series envelope that is bolted directly to the host structure via centring lands, without the need for a machined shoulder on the customer side.

Its single ball row can take axial, radial and tilting moment loads at the same time, which makes it ideal for small, lightweight slewing applications with the need for multi-directional load carrying capabilities.

There are no gear teeth, therefore rotation is provided by an external drive such as a pinion that engages a separate gear ring, a chain or belt drive, a friction wheel or connection to an electric or hydraulic motor.

Full Technical Specifications

Key Design Features

Four-point contact ball design. One single ball row handles axial, radial, and tilting moment loads together, reducing component count and simplifying assembly.

Gearless flanged mounting. The flange bolts directly to the structure via centering lands. No machined shoulder is required on the customer side, which reduces machining steps during installation.

Light-series weight. At 23.71 kg on a 414 mm raceway, this ring is notably lighter than the standard-series VSU200414 (27.7 kg per Schaeffler catalogue data), which is relevant in weight-sensitive applications such as large-scale solar tracker installations.

Wide operating temperature range. The double-lip NBR seals and 50Mn/42CrMo4 ring steel support continuous operation from −25 °C to +80 °C, covering typical outdoor and cold-climate duty cycles.

Precision options. Standard clearance is Standard_VL (radial 0–0.5 mm). Precision classes P0, P6, and P5 are available. Reduced clearance and preloaded variants can be produced on request.

Cross-series mounting consistency. The VLU Light Flanged 20 series shares a standardized bolt pattern envelope across its raceway range, so the mounting interface remains consistent when scaling to a different ring size.

Primary Application

Drive heads for solar trackers. The principal use for this ring is in single-axis photovoltaic trackers. The flanged, gearless construction enables the ring to be bolted directly to the tracker pivot housing. Construction with sealed NBR and −25 to +80 °C operating range are suitable for common outdoor duty cycles.

Rotary Indexing Tables and Turntables: Gearless flanged rings operated by chain or friction wheel are used in packaging turntables, conveyor diverters and rotary indexers. The flanged mounting eliminates machining needs to the host structure.

Lightweight material handling: Handling of materials is done by carousels, pallet rotators and AGV turntables working at low loads and velocities. The standard_VL clearance provides free-flowing movement smoothly.

Radar and antenna platforms. Light radar dishes and satellite communication towers need smooth low torque rotation. The four point contact arrangement with regulated clearance allows steady tracking without the heft of a normal series ring.

Medical and imaging equipment. The CT gantry pivots and the rotating stages of the imaging system are low loads and high smoothness. Its NBR seal technology makes it ideal for clean healthcare situations.

Auxiliary drives and light duty turntables. Where peak static capacity is not as critical and weight and compactness of the unit are more important, the light-series VLU200414 meets load and dimension criteria.

Comparison: VLU200414 vs. VSU200414

Data source: Schaeffler medias official catalogue.

The VSU200414 offers higher static axial capacity and is suited for applications where load capacity takes priority. The VLU200414 is preferred when flanged mounting, reduced weight, or a compact envelope are the primary requirements.

Manufacturing and Quality

Heng Guan Bearing manufactures slewing bearings with diameters from 50 mm to 10,000 mm, with accuracy ratings P0, P6, P5 and P4. Ring equivalents of VLU200414 are produced from ring steel 50Mn or 42CrMo4. The raceways are induction hardened to 55-62 HRC to provide resistance to fatigue yet the core remains ductile to absorb stress.

The production equipment comprises CNC vertical lathes, CNC tempering machines, CNC gear shaping machines, machining centers, grinding machines, big gear hobbing machines. All units are tested using coordinate measuring equipment, vibration testers and life testing devices. Traceability from whole material to completed product is maintained.

Products comply with DIN, ISO, GB standards. The firm is ISO 9001 certified and RoHS compliant.

Interchangeability Reference

Per the National Precision catalogue, the VLU200414 is a documented replacement for Kaydon RK6-16PZ, Rotek L6-16P9Z, and Silverthin SK6-16PZ. "INA," "Kaydon," "Rotek," and "Silverthin" are third-party trademarks referenced for compatibility identification purposes only.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between VLU200414 and VSU200414?

A: Both are gearless four-point contact rings on a 414 mm raceway. The VLU200414 is the flanged light series: 304 mm bore, 518 mm OD, 23.71 kg, C0a 295 kN, Standard_VL clearance. The VSU200414 is the standard series: 342 mm bore, 486 mm OD, 27.7 kg, C0a 660 kN, Standard_SL clearance. For higher static capacity, the VSU is appropriate. For lighter weight and flanged mounting, the VLU200414 is preferred.

Q: How is a gearless flanged slewing ring driven?

A: With no integrated gear teeth, rotation is generated by an external drive — a customer-mounted pinion engaging a separate gear ring, a chain or belt drive, a friction wheel, or a directly coupled motor.

Q: What clearance and precision grades are available?

A: Standard is Standard_VL clearance: radial 0–0.5 mm, axial tilting 0–0.7 mm. Precision classes P0, P6, and P5 are available. Reduced clearance and preloaded variants can be produced on request.

Q: Is the VLU200414 available from stock?

A: Stock models ship within 5–7 days. MOQ is 1 piece. Contact our team at mia@hgb-bearing.com for availability, CAD drawings, and pricing.

Q: What bolt grade is recommended for mounting?

A: High-strength bolts of grade 10.9 or 12.9 (ISO) are recommended. Use bolts with an unthreaded shank in the shear plane. Fully threaded bolts should not be used.

Contact Us

Do you have more questions about VLU200414 Slewing Bearings? For technical inquiries, custom specifications, or OEM sourcing, contact Heng Guan Bearing at mia@hgb-bearing.com.