Timken EcoTurn

Seal Among Top

100 Innovations
of the Year
Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71

Distinction
Winner
R&D 100 Awards
Market
Rail
Product
Timken EcoTurn Labyrinth Seal
The Timken Advantage
Timken EcoTurn labyrinth seal is
designed for energy efficiency and
reduced emissions in rail applications.
Key features and benefits include:

 inimal torque for reduced

M
frictional forces in rail bearings

 o direct ingress path, which

N
reduces likelihood of debris
contamination

Improved grease retention for

reduced weepage

 esigned to maintain lower

D
and more consistent bearing
operating temperatures

Rail operators are constantly looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption and
emissions. Because the Timken EcoTurn non-contacting labyrinth seal helps
do both, R&D Magazine recently awarded the product a Top 100 Award as one
of the most technologically significant innovations introduced to the general
marketplace in 2008.
The R&D 100 Awards honor the latest technology developments that are
designed to meet societal, scientific or business challenges facing us today and
tomorrow, said Rita Peters, editorial director of R&D Magazine.
Introduced in late 2008 by Timken, the EcoTurn seal is revolutionizing the railroad
industry. As a true labyrinth seal, the EcoTurn has no rubbing surfaces, thus
eliminating virtually all seal-generated torque, which in turn reduces the locomotive
horsepower required to pull a train. This also enables the bearings to run cooler, last
longer and require less maintenance.
For rail freight applications, the EcoTurn seal offers an approximate 20 inch-pound
reduction in operating torque per bearing over its closest competitor. This torque
reduction can lower the yearly fuel consumption required to pull a 100-car train
by more than 13,500 gallons also reducing environmental emissions, including
nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, by four tons. For a single train, this is
equivalent to removing 240 vehicles from the road.
Considering the thousands of trains operating every day, the impact on fuel
savings and emissions reductions is dramatic.

Timken keeps the world turning, with innovative ways to make customers products run smoother, faster and more efficiently. Our highly engineered
bearings, alloy steels and related products and services turn up everywhere. To learn more about how Timkens expertise in friction management and
power transmission can maximize your performance, contact your Timken sales representative or visit us online at www.timken.com.

Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71 Case Study 71
We set out to develop a seal that would outperform the lowest torque seal
produced by Timken and our competitors, said Doug Smith, senior vice
president technology. Our goal was to develop a seal that would significantly
lower customers fuel consumption. The result is the EcoTurn seal. We are
gratified that R&D Magazine has acknowledged EcoTurns revolutionary design.
Held annually, the R&D 100 Awards recognize the top 100 product innovations
introduced in a given year. This years honorees represented 19 different product
categories, including the Mechanical/Devices category in which Timken was
awarded recognition.
Previous winners such as the automated teller machine (ATM), the halogen lamp,
the fax machine, the NicoDerm antismoking patch and HDTV have become
fixtures of modern life.

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Precision Components Lubrication
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www.timken.com
Timken is a registered trademark of
The Timken Company
2009 The Timken Company

Timken keeps the world turning, with innovative ways to make customers products run smoother, faster and more efficiently. Our highly engineered
bearings, alloy steels and related products and services turn up everywhere. To learn more about how Timkens expertise in friction management and
power transmission can maximize your performance, contact your Timken sales representative or visit us online at www.timken.com.