Now in its sixth year, Design World’s LEAP Awards continue to showcase the best engineering innovations across several design categories. It’s a large undertaking that wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and support of the engineering community. WTWH Media is not involved with selecting the winners. Each year, the editorial team assembles OEM design engineers and academics to create an independent judging panel. Below is their selection for this year’s LEAP Awards winners in the mechanical category.
GOLD
Bishop-Wisecarver
Solid Lubricant DualVee Guide Wheels
What the judges had to say: “A new technology for lubrication that can impact a wide range of applications. Plus, 2.5 times longer life expectancy is exceptional for a bearing!”
DualVee® guide wheels are known for their ability to excel in harsh and extreme environments. The new solid lubricant wheel offers even greater life and ingress protection than ever before seen in guide wheel motion systems. In most applications, this guide wheel will last several times longer than guide wheels of a similar size and capacity.
Instead of using a grease to retain the oil for lubricating the internal bearings, this wheel uses an oil-impregnated solid polymer matrix. This matrix improves the environmental resistance of the internal elements and keeps the bearings running well-lubricated for longer. Plus, it retains the vee wheel geometry of DualVee® guide wheels. This means the matching 90° angles in the wheel and track generate a self-cleaning wiping action that clears away debris as the wheel rolls.
DualVee Solid Lubricant provides smooth and quiet motion over any length, with the highest degree of protection and longest wheel life of its kind.
SILVER
HP Inc
Thermal Diverting Valve 3.0
The John Deere Thermal Diverting Valve 3.0 is a redesigned, 3D-printed part for the company’s industry-leading cold starter option agricultural machinery. In collaboration with GKN Additive’s (Forecast 3D) additive manufacturing network, John Deere is using HP’s Metal Jet Fusion technology to create 3D-printed metal parts that prevent diesel fuel from gelling or waxing. The valve is part of John Deere’s 6R and 6M tractors and opens and closes at certain temperatures, maintaining fuel temperatures in the most extreme weather conditions without affecting engine performance.
BRONZE
Emerson
Branson GMX-HP
The Branson GMX-HP ultrasonic metal welder is a new member of Branson’s GMX ultrasonic metal welding product portfolio. The GMX-HP delivers higher power with greater downforce, essential for larger welds like electric vehicles, batteries, and energy storage systems. The GMX-HP features increased weld power, furnished by a high-capacity, 8-kilowatt,
20-kilohertz power supply. Welding power is transmitted through a direct-press actuator, equipped with dual linear bearing guides, precision distance sensors, and a dynamic pressure trigger that delivers greater part-holding downforce with the high stability needed for repeatable weld quality.
Filed Under: LEAP Awards, Awards • acquisitions