Low Temperature DualVee Guide Wheels

Pittsburg, CA – - Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation announces the availability of its new low temperature wheel, the latest addition to the company’s signature DualVee product line. Designed primarily to meet the extreme low temperature demands present in the aerospace industry, the low temperature wheel also provides an economical solution for refrigeration and sub-zero climates.

DualVee low temperature wheels are available in sizes 1 through 4 from stock. DualVee low temperature wheels feature type 440C stainless steel balls and races, and type 304 stainless steel retainers, with a special lubricant formulated to withstand service temperatures from -94 to +230°F (-70 to +110°C). Bishop-Wisecarver DualVee wheels are also available from stock in high temperature, washdown, clean room, and stainless versions to satisfy application requirements. DualVee guide wheels can be provided with custom or customer-supplied lubricants, generally within three weeks. Wheels can even be provided completely dry for applications such as food processing and medical devices where the possibility of grease contamination is an issue.

“This addition to the DualVee family of products supports Bishop-Wisecarver’s mission of ‘Motion without limits’, and truly allows us to provide guided motion solutions for all types of critical and extreme environments”, says Pamela Kan, president of Bishop-Wisecarver.

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Bishop-Wisecarver Sponsors CA High School’s Entrance in Robotics Competition

Pittsburg, CA – -  Always looking for new ways to spark students’ interest in engineering and science, Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation is sponsoring Heritage High School’s participation in the 2009-10 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge. This is the first time the Brentwood, CA high school, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, will participate in the competition known for fostering students’ interest in science and technology.

Founded in 1989, FIRST has brought the energy and fanfare of a sporting event to science and technology via robotics competitions. In 2005, the group launched its FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program, providing a more accessible and cost-effective way for high school students to discover the excitement of technology, science and engineering. Teams of 10 students, working with a coach and mentor, receive a Competition Kit, which they will use to build their robots to meet the season’s engineering challenge. Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation contributed some of the funds needed for Heritage High School to purchase their Competition Kit. The company also paid for the school’s registration in the 2010 Northern California Tournament. Each year in April, regional and international competitions lead up to the Championship, where the FTC teams compete.

The upcoming competition is a new opportunity for Heritage High School, and is just one aspect of their groundbreaking engineering/technology program that focuses on robotics design and development. Business Technology instructor Robert Pardi, who spent 14 years at a neighboring high school that twice sent teams to the FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC), is now at the helm of Heritage High School’s robotics engineering program. Determined to build an offshoot robotics program and get Heritage High School students involved in FIRST competitions, Pardi this year assembled a Robotics Club of nearly 10 students. These are the students who will design and build the robot that will compete in the FTC beginning this Fall.

“These kinds of activities directly benefit and change kids’ lives,” Pardi says. “Without support from the community and businesses, many kids would not have these experiences.”

Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation previously sponsored FRC but decided this year to focus its efforts on helping a single high school enter the competition. Their continued involvement with FIRST is part of a long tradition. Nearly 40 years ago, Bud Wisecarver, founder of Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation, began a life-long commitment to youth programs related to education, engineering, manufacturing and science.

Pardi describes the FIRST experience as “phenomenal,” and says it gives students an outlet for their advanced math and science skills. The competition, which requires students to speak to judges and other teams, also provides a way for students to improve their communication skills.

“We are very proud to be a sponsor of Heritage High School in their FIRST Technology Challenge efforts,” says Pamela Kan, President of Bishop-Wisecarver. “Our involvement at a local level gives us the opportunity to promote innovation and encourage and engage the engineers of the future.”

The company’s sponsorship of the school’s FTC aspirations is part of Pardi’s big picture plans.

“I am trying to build a robotics program at this school,” he says. “With Bishop-Wisecarver’s help it will be possible.”

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DualVee® Washdown Wheels from Bishop-Wisecarver

Pittsburg, CA – - Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation announces its new patent pending washdown wheels, the latest addition to the company’s signature DualVee product line. Designed primarily to meet the extreme demands of food processing equipment linear motion applications, the washdown wheel significantly extends bearing life, and is interchangeable with standard vee wheels for ease of replacement.

Available in sizes 2 and 3, DualVee washdown wheels feature an all stainless steel construction, FDA approved grease, an outer shield, and inner seal for added protection from liquids and debris. The rubberized metallic shield acts as a momentary seal when subjected to a stream of high velocity washdown fluid. The fluid velocity causes the rubberized shield to deflect and conform to the metallic surface of the wheel, sealing against ingress of liquids. The inner seal provides the principal line of defense, ensuring that external fluids are kept out of the wheel while retaining the internal lubrication grease; both important factors affecting the life of the wheel. Once the stream is directed away from the wheel, the deflected shield returns to its original position, allowing any residual fluid that entered the zone between the shield and seal to drain out or be spun out by centrifugal force.

For more information on DualVee washdown wheels visit www.bwc.com/products/dual-vee.html.

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