Hull Cleaning Machines

UMC designs and manufactures hull cleaning machines for underwater divers. They are hydraulically powered and they typically have 2 rotating brushes. The vehicle can be powered forward or reversed, steered and the brushes raised and lowered on a gimbal mechanism. Typical cleaning speed is 1000 sqm per hour. The original pamper vehicle weighed 551 lb and a re-design was required to give a more compact and lighter vehicle. Aluminum was used a lot more than stainless steel to reduce weight resulting in possible corrosion between dissimilar metals. The steering assembly was also heavy duty due to the use of ball and roller bearings in a watertight housing which was also high maintenance. iglide® H plastic bearings were selected to support the various parts of the brush lift and articulation mechanism to insulate stainless pivots from aluminum supports. The steering mechanism is a handlebar at the front, connected to a propelled castor at the rear. Each is supported by large bore iglide® Z plastic bearings, which provide substantial weight reduction, zero maintenance and zero corrosion in salt water.

iglide® Z sleeve bearing

• Resistant to wear and impact even at high loads and temperatures
• Excellent wear resistance especially with high loads
• High thermal resistance
• Extremely long service life under extreme conditions

iglide® H sleeve bearing

• High resistance to temperature and chemicals
• Can be used underwater
• For high temperatures
• Resistant to chemicals