Bently Nevada Launches 21000, 24701, and 164818 Proximity Probe Housing Assemblies to Enhance Industrial Automation Monitoring

Industrial proximity probes require secure, stable mounting when used to measure shaft position and vibration in rotating equipment. Bently Nevada’s 21000, 24701, and 164818 Proximity Probe Housing Assemblies provide rugged external enclosures that protect probes and maintain precise alignment for automated condition monitoring.

 

 

What are the Bently Nevada 21000, 24701, and 164818 Proximity Probe Housing Assemblies

The 21000, 24701, and 164818 assemblies are all‑metal housings engineered to mount proximity probes outside a machine’s bearing housing. Each assembly package includes a protective body, threaded ports for conduit, a probe sleeve of selectable length, sealing O‑rings, a pre‑mounted reverse probe, thread seals, and accessories such as conduit adapters or optional standoff supports.

 

The 21000 housing uses an aluminum body with a 304 stainless steel sleeve, making it lightweight yet able to withstand industrial vibration. The 24701 housing uses a 303 stainless steel body and 304 stainless steel sleeve for enhanced resistance to corrosion and wear in aggressve environments. The 164818 housing is a compact version designed for installations with limited access or tight clearance, and it also supports ceramic‑capped probes where required.

 

All three assemblies can be ordered with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approvals and are rated explosion‑proof for use in hazardous areas. They are designed to meet the American Petroleum Institute (API) 670 Standard for externally mounted proximity probe housings, ensuring conformity with industry practice for mechanical and measurement configuration.

 

 

How do they work

Proximity probes measure the distance between the probe tip and a rotating target surface by generating an alternating voltage proportional to the gap. In practice, this voltage is used by automated systems to derive shaft position, vibration amplitude, and Keyphasor timing information.

 

A proximity probe housing assembly holds the probe in a precise location relative to the target path. The probe sleeve protects and guides the probe shaft, maintaining the correct air gap. Threaded ports allow conduit to carry the signal cable into control panels or monitoring racks. O‑rings and thread seals prevent ingress of oil and contaminants into the probe assembly.

 

The 21000 and 24701 assemblies use durable metal bodies to maintain this alignment despite mechanical shock or vibration. For sleeves longer than 304 mm (12 in), vibration can induce measurement error. To counter this, Bently Nevada offers additional support accessories (e.g., part number 37948‑01 probe support and oil seal) that anchor the sleeve through an inner bearing housing, minimizing displacement and ensuring correct measurement transfer into automation systems.

 

 

What are their advantages

 

Rugged Mechanical Protection

The 21000 aluminum housing offers impact resistance with reduced weight, while the 24701 stainless steel housing withstands harsh process and environmental conditions. Probe sleeves of both can be sized for specific installation depths.

 

Hazardous Area Certification

CSA, ATEX, and IECEx approvals are available for the 21000 and 24701 assemblies, permitting use in classified explosive atmospheres without additional enclosures. This expands automated monitoring into areas with combustible gases or vapors.

 

API 670 Compliance

All assemblies support the mechanical and measurement requirements of API 670. This means the assemblies help ensure that linear range, probe orientation, and mechanical mounting conditions required by industrial monitoring standards are met.

 

Flexible Installation Options

The 164818 Compact Proximity Probe Housing allows deployment where space is limited. Its shorter body and compact interface are ideal for automation systems with constrained access or tight mounting points.

 

Enhanced Probe Protection

Optional FluidLoc cable and ceramic‑capped probes available for 164818 and other assemblies prevent oil or fluid migration along the probe shaft, maintaining consistent measurement signals over time.

 

 

What are their applications

 

Vibration tracking in rotating equipment

Use the 21000 housing to mount proximity probes on steam turbines, hydro turbines, or compressor trains. Automated systems can rely on consistent probe positioning to detect shaft vibration peaks and frequency content.

 

Shaft position measurement in pumps and motors

Installing the 24701 housing on high‑speed pumps allows real‑time measurement of radial and axial shaft movement, which feeds into process automation and protective shutdown systems.

 

Hazardous area monitoring

CSA‑approved 21000 and 24701 housings are suited to petrochemical plants or refineries where probes monitor rotating machinery inside explosive gas zones, enabling automated alarming and shutdown logic based on probe output.

 

Space‑restricted automation installations

The 164818 Compact Proximity Probe Housing is chosen when minimal probe body length is required — for example, near gearboxes or in non‑standard mounting locations where traditional housings won’t fit.

 

Long sleeve support for deep mounting

Probes installed deep within bearing housings that extend probe sleeves beyond 304 mm benefit from support parts such as part number 37948‑01 to reduce signal noise in automated data acquisition.

 

 

Specifications

Body Material：

21000  Aluminum body

24701  303 stainless steel body

164818  Compact housing material varies

 

Sleeve Material：

21000  304 stainless steel sleeve

24701  304 stainless steel sleeve

164818  Material suited for environment

 

Typical Mass (without fittings)：

21000  1.1 kg (2.4 lb)

24701  1.8 kg (4.1 lb)

164818  Depends on configuration

 

 

Key Operational Data

Probe thread size: M10x1 or 3/8‑24 UNF depending on installed probe

Maximum thread engagement: 15 mm (approx.)

Operating temperature: −52°C to +177°C (−62°F to +350°F)

Extension cable: Standard shielded or optional FluidLoc

Cable capacitance: ~69.9 pF/m (21.3 pF/ft)

Field wiring: 0.2 to 1.5 mm² (16–24 AWG)

Approvals: CSA, ATEX, IECEx available

Compliance: API 670 mechanical configuration for externally mounted housings

 

 

Case Example — Compressor Vibration Monitoring

At a gas compression station, 24701 housings were installed on externally accessible mounting points of twin‑screw compressors. Proximity probes within these housings provided continuous shaft position and peak vibration data to the plant’s DCS. Over a six‑month period, analysts used the probe outputs to adjust balance weights via automated correction algorithms, reducing vibration amplitudes by 18% and preventing unplanned shutdowns. The 303 stainless steel body resisted corrosive washdown procedures common in the plant environment, demonstrating the practical value of 24701 in an automated diagnostics loop.

 

330101-30-63-10-02-00	330103-00-25-50-02-02	21000-16-10-15-057-03-02
330101-30-63-10-02-CN	330103-02-06-05-02-00	21000-16-10-15-102-03-02
330101-30-63-15-02-CN	330103-02-07-10-02-00	21000-16-10-15-114-03-02
330101-XX-XX-10-02-05	330103-02-12-05-02-CN	21000-16-10-15-144-03-02
330101-XX-XX-10-02-CN	330103-02-12-10-02-00	21000-28-10-00-098-04-02
330102-00-40-10-02-00	330103-03-06-05-02-00	21000-28-10-00-217-04-02
330102-22-58-10-02-00	330103-03-12-05-02-00	330930-040-00-00
330103-00-03-05-02-00	330103-05-10-02-00	330930-040-01-00
330103-00-04-05-02-00	330103-05-10-10-02-05	330930-045-00-05
330103-00-04-05-02-CN	330103-05-12-10-01-00	330930-060-00-00
330103-00-04-10-02-00	330103-05-13-10-02-00	330930-060-01-CN
330103-00-04-15-02-CN	330103-06-13-05-02-CN	330930-065-00-05
330103-00-04-50-11-00	330103-06-13-10-02-00	330930-065-01-05

Contact:

Sale Manager: John Yang      
Email: [email protected] 
Mobile(WhatsApp):  86-18150117685

Sources:

https://dam.bakerhughes.com/m/10dc6008c2654db1/original/21000-and-24701-Proximity-Probe-Housing-Assemblies-Datasheet-141600-pdf.pdf

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