Effortless cocking of harpoons due to xiros® polymer ball bearings

Patrick Czaja | 16. April 2021

Harpoons are spears or javelins that are barbed to hunt fish or whales. The barbs are there to prevent the spear from slipping out of the hooked fish. Researchers found harpoon-shaped stone-age objects created by the most intricate carvings, which caused astonishment. Over the years, harpoons have evolved into large launching devices used specifically for whaling. Harpoons are always under water and components used must be able to withstand this adversity. We will tell you why our ball bearings in harpoons ensure a long service life.
 
Harpoons often have to be cocked before the barbed bolt is fired. Our polymer ball bearings allow absolutely effortless clamping. The effort required is significantly reduced by our polymer ball bearings. With the same rubber belt length, the speed can be increased by around 25 per cent compared to conventional devices. The mechanism always remains stable in environmental conditions such as sand or seawater.
 
The biggest plus points are therefore the resistance to seawater and corrosion and the freedom from lubricants of the xiros polymer ball bearings. Ball bearings made of metal are out of the question for this area of application. They corrode due to the permanent use of water, the lubricant is washed out and the bearing quickly comes to a standstill.
 
In the following video you can see an example of a harpoon equipped with our polymer ball bearings. It serves here as a storage place for the harpoon reel: