Eaton Hydraulics takes a focus on mining, oil and gas

Eaton’s Hydre-MAC low-speed, high-torque motor.

Once again, the Eaton Distributor Meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency, in Orlando, September 14-17 was a hit, as the company introduced and educated its distributors on its new and redeveloped product lines.

Approximately 800 people attended the event, about 100 more than last year, company officials said. And as always, the company had a unique tradeshow experience, offering attendees a chance to see some of its new and innovative technologies and talk one-on-one with product and market managers.

One such conversation I shared was with R. Wayne Brantley Jr., Director of Marking for Eaton Hydraulics Energy Segment, who demonstrated some of Eaton’s newest technologies for use in mining and oil and gas exploration. Last year at EDM, I spoke with Brantley about Eaton’s solutions in aftermarket wind applications. This year, Brantley focused on three key products for more traditional energy markets, including offshore oil and gas exploration, mining and other off-highway stationary applications. Two of these products include a motor and a brake design that were both announced earlier this year at IFPE.

Eaton’s water-cooled, third-generation brake in a four-plate design.

First up is Eaton’s Hydre-MAC motor—a low-speed, high-torque (LSHT) direct drive, radial piston motor featuring a cam lobe design for variable speed operations. The big push for this huge motor, said Brantley, will be as a direct, drop-in replacement for Bosch Rexroth’s Hägglunds division, which has apparently changed the size and mounting hardware for its LSHT motor.

Brantley said that while the motor uses less energy to deliver more power when needed, its key benefits are that it is 94% efficient and is easily serviceable in the field by Eaton, its partners, or operators can be trained to service the motors themselves. The motor features easy-to-replace bearing pads, wear rings and shaft and piston seals.

Also in line for use in industrial applications is Eaton’s new Airflex WCBD3 and WCSB3 third generation, disc type, water-cooled dynamic tensioning brakes which are ideal for offshore winches, paper and steel processing, etc., Brantley said.

Brantley added that these new brakes are the most powerful on the market, increasing from the standard 650 hp per disc to 1000 hp per disc. With this increase in power, users can downsize their brakes while still getting the power they need, thus saving a great deal of weight in offshore drilling applications, for example. In addition, corrosion protection and mounting hardware can come standard.

A one-plate design of the Airflex water-cooled brake was on display at EDM.

Eaton said that the brake’s improved internal design allows for faster drilling and gives original equipment manufacturers, distributors and end users the ability to downsize their brake, saving up to $60,000 a brake installation.

“Because it is a more powerful brake, you can drill faster than previously possible,” he said. “This can generate up to $10,000 in savings. Most of the time, they don’t come standard with corrosion protection, so that can be up to $20,000 in savings, and mounting hardware—this could be up to $25,000.”

In addition to these benefits, Brantley added that the water-cooled designs eliminate leakage and copper cracking. They will be available in 1 to 4 plates (the small 1-plate model was on display at EDM), with the 1-plate design being 36 in. and the 4-plate design being 48 in.

Simon Meester, Corporate Segment Director, Mining, said that because the boom days of mining are over, efficiency and cost reduction are critical to keep the mining market growth steady.

And, added Don Keck, Global Mark Development Manager for the Airflex Product line, the new designs eliminate hazardous conditions. “Since 1960, there has never been a failure in the field,” Keck said.

Eaton Hydraulics
www.eaton.com