Bearings

STUDY GUIDE

Ahsan Latif | Machinery O&U

Contents
Bearings............................................................................................................................................2
Types and classification:................................................................................................................ 2
Anti-frictional bearings:.............................................................................................................2
Thrust bearings....................................................................................................................... 3
Journal bearings...................................................................................................................... 3
Parts of a bearings: .........................................................................................................................5
Cage construction...................................................................................................................6
Shapes of rolling elements:....................................................................................................6
Types of Antifriction Bearings...................................................................................................7
Selection of bearing type............................................................................................................... 8
Bearing Reading guide;.................................................................................................................. 9
Clearances...................................................................................................................................12
Bearing Mantling & Dismantling.................................................................................................12
Bearing Failure............................................................................................................................... 13
Bearing Damage:........................................................................................................................14
Failure Matrix:............................................................................................................................15

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Bearings
Bearing refers to any kind of support, which is in direct contact with a moving machine
part. It ensures free rotation with minimum friction. Bearing transmits the forces acting
on rotating parts to the frame of the machine.

There are four main functions of a bearing:

 To eliminate friction between moving parts.

 To radially support and align the shaft.
 To carry and disperse loads & maintain shaft in correct position.
 To locate the shaft axially.

Types and classification:

Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to
their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can handle.
Bearings can have many types but major classification is done on their operation basis.

FRICTIONAL BEARINGS:
A friction bearing consists of a fixed, non-moving bearing surface, such as machined metal
or pressed-in bushing that provides a low-friction support surface for rotating or sliding
surfaces. It commonly uses lubricating oil to separate the moving component from the
mated non-moving bearing surface. Friction bearing surfaces commonly consist of a
material softer than the supported component.
Friction Bearings have the following abilities:

 To embed foreign matter to prevent spreading in the engine.

 To conform to slightly irregular mating surfaces.
 Easy Installation and Removal.

ANTI-FRICTIONAL BEARINGS:
An antifriction bearing is with moving elements to provide a low friction support surface
for rotating surfaces. The rolling elements support the load, and transmit rotation by
rolling, rather than sliding.
Frictional resistance in roller bearings is less than that in plain bearings. The starting
resistance is only slightly more than the running resistance.
Antifriction bearings

 Reduce lubrication requirements.

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  Decrease starting and operating friction. Reduced friction results in less power
required to rotate engine components and increases overall engine output.

Bearings

Fricton Anti-
Type friction

Radial Thrust Ball Roller

Sub-types

Journal bearings Thrust bearings

 Plain journal bearings  Flat face thrust bearing

 Tilting pad bearings  Tilting pad thrust
 Elliptical bearings bearing
 Lobe bearings
 Pressure dam bearings
 Off-set half bearings

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Plain Journal Bearings

Works on either thin film or hydrodynamic film

lubrication. Usually made from bronze, zinc, or
babbitt-lined steel or bronze and may be either
solid cylindrical or split shell. The rolled insert type is also common.
Off Set Half
Can be modified for high speed stability by cutting in a pressure dam,
making an elliptical bore, or cutting in longitudinal grooves.
Used for low speed and high load applications.

Rest are the variants of journal bearings with different

constructions of internal surfaces as shown in pictures.

Flat faced thrust bearing

Pressure Dam
Similar in construction to the plain journal bearing except
has flat babbitted face to absorb thrust. Will not develop a
hydrodynamic film on face. Can be used in all speed ranges.

Pad type thrust bearing

They have a number of babbitted tilting shoes to absorb

thrust. Can be designed with self-equalizing (load sharing)
feature. The fixed pads may have a fixed taper angle, or the
pads may be pivoted and allowed to assume their own
optimum tilt angle, or they may be partially constrained and permitted a small variation in
tilt angle.

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Parts of a bearings:
A bearing’s smooth performance is assured
by a combination of four basic working
parts:

• Outer race (also called outer ring or cup)

It protects the bearing’s internal parts. Sits

on the housings.
• Inner race (also called inner ring or cone)

The inner race sits directly on the shaft.

• Rolling elements (either balls or rollers)

The rolling eases the moving friction of the shaft within its housing. These elements keep
the outer and inner races separated and enable them to move smoothly and freely. The
shape of the rolling elements depends on the type of load, operating conditions and
particular applications.

• Separator (also called cage or retainer)

Made of metal that holds the balls or rollers.

Positioned between the inner and outer races, the separator keeps the rolling elements
evenly spaced.

In addition to the inner and outer races, rolling element and separator, there are three
accessory components frequently used with ball bearings:

 Snap rings
 Shields
 Seals

Snap rings are separate components used to locate ball bearings in the housing. They hold
the bearing in place the same way a shoulder on the shaft or housing

Shields are circular rims that cover the open space between the two races, on one or both
sides of the bearing. They are attached to the edge of only one race, with clearance left at
the inner race. Shields prevent dirt and particles from getting in the bearing, while letting
excess lubrication flow through the bearing and escape if necessary.

A seal is a metal-based ring lined with a single, double or triple lip made of rubber,
elastomers, synthetic or non-synthetic materials. It is a barrier designed to retain

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lubricants while excluding moisture, fine dirt, dust, or other contaminants from damaging
the bearing. Unlike shields, seals prevent lubricants from leaking out of the bearing.

Cage Material

Brass typically provides the best life. Brass operates more quietly than steel and tends to
be the most common bearing used by high quality manufacturers. Polymer based cages
also operate more quietly than steel.

 Steel cage
 Brass cage
 Polyamide cage
 Phenol resin cage

Cage construction
 J-type cage
 W- type cage
 RJ- type cage
 TW- type cage
 THA – type cage
 TA- type cage

Shapes of rolling elements:

Cages Constructions
 Ball
 Cylindrical
 Taper
 Needle
 Symmetric Barrel
 Asymmetric Barrel

Shapes of Roller

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TYPES OF ANTIFRICTION BEARINGS

Antifriction Self aligning

bearings Ball Radial Deep Grove

Bearing Bearing Angular Contact

Thrust Angular Contact

Bearing

Roller Radial Cylinderical

Spherical
Taper
Needle

Bearing Bearing
Thrust Cylinderical Taper
Bearing Spherical Needle

Ball Bearing Self-Aligning Roller Bearing

Bearing

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Selection of bearing type
To select a proper bearing for our application is a very important thing.
Here is a quick guide for selecting right bearing.
 For low and medium loads select ball bearing, and for heavy
load select roller bearings.
 In case of misalignment between shafts self-aligning ball
bearings or roller bearings are used.
 For medium thrust load radial thrust bearings are selected and
for heavy thrust loads cylindrical thrust bearings are used.
 For situations where we have both axial and radial component
of load we use deep groove ball bearing, angular contact bearing
and spherical roller bearing.
 For high speed applications deep groove ball bearings, angular
contact bearings and cylindrical roller bearings are recommended.
 When rigidity of the system is our main requirement like in
machine tools we use double row cylindrical roller bearing or
taper roller bearing.
 When noise reduction is our main criteria we use deep groove
ball bearing.

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Bearing Reading guide;

First Digit tells the type of bearings. Following is the chart for reference.

1 Self-aligning Ball Bearing

2 Spherical ball bearing

3 Double row Angular contact Ball Bearing

4 Double row ball bearing

5 Thrust ball bearing

6 Single row deep groove ball bearing

7 Single row angular contact

8 Felt Seal Bearing

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 32/T Tapered roller bearing

R Inch bearing

N Cylindrical roller bearing

NN Double row roller bearing

NA Needle roller bearing

BK Needle roller bearing with closed end

HK Needle roller bearing with open end

C CARB toroidal roller bearing

K Needle roller bearing and cast thrust assembly

QJ Four Point contact ball bearing

Second Digit tells usage level. Following is the chart for reference.

1 Extra light thrust

2 Light

3 Medium

4 Heavy

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 5 Extra thin section

6 Very thin section

Third and fourth Digit tells the internal diameter. After the 04, multiply by 5 to calculate
the internal diameter in millimeters.

Last digit says about the type of enclose used.

Z single side shielded

ZZ double side both side shielded

RS one side rubber sealed

2RS double side rubber sealed

V one side non-contact seal

VV both side non-contact seals

DDU both side contact seals

NR snap ring and groove

M brass case

C3 the clearance factor

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CLEARANCES
Bearing clearance is the space between the balls or rollers and the inner and outer races.
Different clearances are available. Typically motors use C3 fit bearings. The clearance
values are defined as follows:

 Co is normal clearance.
 C1 Clearance less than C2
 C2 Clearance less than normal
 C3 Clearance greater than normal
 C4 Clearance greater than C3
 C5 Clearance greater than C4

Bearing Mantling & Dismantling

Bearing removal
There are a number of recommended tools and methods that assure safe, reliable bearing
removal. Using hammers and drift pins, or an uneven application of force, for example,
can cause as much damage to the shaft and housing as to the bearing itself.
Safe bearing removal tools include:

1. Arbor press.
2. Mechanical (or hydraulic) jaw-type pullers that grip parts by their press-fit edges.
3. Mechanical (or hydraulic) push-pullers that use forcing screws to push or pull parts out
of the housing.
4. Slide hammer pullers with a weighted sliding handle.
It strikes a “stop” on its own rod and removes parts from blind holes.
Mounting

Store bearings in their original unopened packages, in a dry place.

Bearings should be installed in a dry, dust free room away from metalworking or other
machines producing dust.
Before mounting, all the necessary parts, tools, equipment and data need to be at hand. It
is also recommended that any drawings or instructions be studied to determine the
correct order in which to assemble the various components.
Support the shaft firmly in a clean place.
The dimensional and form accuracy of all components of the bearing arrangement need to
be checked.
It is generally a good idea to use gloves as well as carrying and lifting tools, which have
been specially designed for mounting and dismounting bearings.
Use Heating inducer to heat bearing and then mount it.

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Bearing Failure
A lot of factors contribute to the failure of bearings. Here is chart for the operating
conditions and other factors.

PAGE 13
BEARING DAMAGE:
This standard recognizes six primary damage/failure modes and their sub-modes related to post-manufacturing
sustained damage. These are based primarily upon the features visible on rolling element contact surfaces and other
functional surfaces and which identify the mechanisms involved in each type of damage/failure.

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FAILURE MATRIX:

The damage and failure matrix shown can help with roots cause for the failure.
It shows the links between the damage (sub) modes and operating conditions and whether or
not one of the operating conditions might be a root cause.

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