What Do Bearings Serve as?

Preventing direct metal-to-metal contact between two parts in relative motion is the primary function of bearings. By doing this, friction, heat production, and eventually part wear and tear are avoided. Because low-friction rolling replaces sliding action, it also uses less energy. Read more about types of bearing by visiting our website and if you have any questions related to this topic, connect with us.

Additionally, they transfer the spinning element’s load to the housing. This load might be axial, radial, or a mix of the two. As was previously mentioned, a bearing also limits the range of motion of moving parts to predetermined directions.

A quick look at bearing types

Ball Bearings

Balls are used as rolling components in ball bearings. Point contact between the balls and the raceways is what distinguishes them. Ball bearings typically have a high rotational speed but are unable to sustain heavy loads.

Ball Bearings with Deep Grooves

The most widely used ball bearings are deep-grooved ones, which are employed in many diverse applications. They are easy to maintain and insensitive to operation circumstances because of their straightforward design.

They absorb axial forces in both directions in addition to radial forces. They are appropriate for fast speeds because to their low torque.

Ball Bearings with Angular Contact

A contact angle is what distinguishes angular contact ball bearings. This indicates that forces are transmitted at a specific angle from one raceway to the other.

For mixed loads, where large axial forces must be transmitted in addition to radial forces, angular-contact ball bearings are appropriate.

Ball bearings that align themselves

Self-Aligning The unique characteristic of ball bearings is a continuous spherical outer ring raceway that permits the inner ring/ball complement to rotate within the outer ring. Ball bearings are made up of a double row of balls guided by a cage and a double row inner ring raceway. This allows the application to self-align to some extent.

When there is misalignment between the shaft and the housing and the shaft may deflect, this kind of bearing is advised. The main use for self-aligning ball bearings is the absorption of radial forces.

Bearing Thrust Balls

Two bearing discs with ball raceways make up a thrust ball bearing.

Thrust ball bearings may position the shaft axially in one direction since they were designed specifically to absorb axial stresses in that direction.

Bearings for rollers

Line contact is a characteristic of roller bearings. Roller bearings with this sort of contact have a larger load rating than ball bearings of the same size, but because of the additional friction of a contact line, they can’t move as fast.

Roller bearings that are spherical

Spherical roller bearings are incredibly durable and function similarly to self-aligning bearings, but they can sustain larger loads since they use spherical rollers rather than balls. By doing this, shaft and housing misalignments may be fixed.

Both moderate axial and strong radial loads may be absorbed by spherical roller bearings.

Roller bearings that are cylindrical

In order to optimize the distribution of stress factors at the point of contact between the roller and the raceway, cylindrical roller bearings employ line contact between the rolling elements and the raceways. Cylindrical roller bearings have a very high radial load rating because of their construction.

They might also be able to transmit a restricted amount of axial loads, depending on the design.

Bearings with tapered rollers

Conical rollers are positioned between tapered raceways in the inner and outer rings of tapered roller bearings.

Tapered roller bearings have the ability to absorb high axial and radial forces in a single direction because of the contact angle.

In order to support axial forces in both directions, tapered roller bearings are frequently installed in pairs.

Roller bearings for needles

Needle roller bearings are a unique kind of cylindrical roller bearing that has needle rollers—very long, thin rolling elements. The diameter to length ratio ranges from 1:3 to 1:10.

Needle roller bearings are only appropriate for radial forces and have a high load rating.

Needle bearings may be a suitable option if space is a constraint.