Types
Bearing types at a glance
Ball Bearings
Ball Bearings use balls as rolling elements. They are characterised by point contact between the balls and the raceways. As a rule, ball bearings can rotate very quickly but cannot support substantial loads.
Deep-Groove Ball Bearings
Deep-Groove Ball Bearings are the most commonly used and feature in a wide range of different applications. Thanks to their simple design, they are easy to maintain and not sensitive to operating conditions.
In addition to radial forces, they absorb axial forces in both directions. Their low torque makes them suitable for high speeds. >>
Angular Contact Ball Bearings
Angular Contact Ball Bearings are characterised by a contact angle. This means that forces are transferred from one raceway to the other at a particular angle.
Angular-contact ball bearings are therefore suitable for combined loads, where high axial forces have to be transferred in addition to radial forces. >>
Self-Aligning Ball Bearings
Self-Aligning Ball Bearings comprise a double row of balls guided by a cage and double row inner ring raceway but have the special feature of a continuous spherical outer ring raceway allowing the inner ring / ball complement to swivel within the outer ring. This enables a degree of self-alignment in the application.
This type of bearing is recommended when problems arise with the alignment of the shaft and the housing (misalignment) and the shaft could deflect. Self-aligning ball bearings are primarily suitable for absorbing radial forces. >>
Thrust Ball Bearings
Thrust Ball Bearings consist of two bearing discs with raceways for the balls.
Thrust ball bearings were developed solely for absorbing axial forces in one direction, which means that they can locate the shaft axially in one direction. >>
Roller Bearings
Roller Bearings are characterised by line contact. This type of contact means that roller bearings have a higher load rating than ball bearings of the same size; however the speed ability is lower than a ball bearing due to the increased friction of a contact line.
Spherical Roller Bearings
Spherical Roller Bearings are very robust and work on the same principle as Self-aligning bearings with the exception that they comprise spherical rollers instead of balls allowing higher loads to be supported. This can compensate for misalignments between the shaft and the housing.
Spherical roller bearings can absorb high radial loads and moderate axial loads. >>
Cylindrical Roller Bearings
Cylindrical Roller Bearings use line contact between the rolling elements and the raceways, which optimises the distribution of stress factors at the point of contact between the roller and the raceway. This construction means that cylindrical roller bearings have a very high radial load rating.
Depending on the design, they may also be able to transmit limited amounts of axial loads. >>
Tapered Roller Bearings
Tapered Roller Bearings have tapered raceways in the inner and outer rings with conical rollers arranged between them.
Due to the contact angle, tapered roller bearings can absorb high radial and axial forces in one direction.
Tapered roller bearings are often fitted in pairs to support axial forces in both directions. >>
Needle Roller Bearings
Needle Roller Bearings are a special type of cylindrical roller bearing which containing very long, thin rolling elements, known as needle rollers. The ratio of diameter to length is between 1:3 and 1:10.
Needle roller bearings have a high load rating and are only suitable for radial forces.
If space is a constriction, needle bearings can be a good solution. >>
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