Aux.

Blower on a MAN B&W 2 stroke engine

TYPES OF BEARINGS

There are many types of bearings for different purposes and

bearing is a device that is used to enable rotational or linear
movement while handling stress and reducing friction.

There are many types of bearings as discussed below;

1. Plain Bearings
2. Ball Bearings

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3. Roller Bearings
4. Fluid Bearings
5. Magnetic Bearings
6. Flexure Bearing

PLAIN BEARINGS:

These bearings are one of the most basic types of bearings

and consist of a flat surface without any rollers or balls.
These bearings have much longer lives than other types
and have a high load-carrying capacity and generally the
least expensive.

To reduce friction, plain bearings like flat wheels, and like

other bearings are placed between two surfaces. For sliding,
rotating, oscillating, or reciprocating motion these bearings
are used. These are also suitable for a wide variety of
industrial machinery such as construction and agricultural
equipment.

Advantages of Plain Bearings:

There are the following advantages of pain bearings such

as;

1. Large load carrying surface area.

2. The load-carrying capacity is high.
3. High tolerance for misalignment.

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 4. It can handle oscillating or reciprocating movements.

BALL BEARINGS:

These bearings are the most common types of bearings and

from inline skates to hard drives, they are found in
everything. These types of bearings are usually found in
applications where the load is relatively small can handle
both radial and thrust loads.

The load is transmitted from the outer race to the ball and
from the ball to the inner race in a ball bearing and it only
contacts the inner and outer race at a very small point which
helps it spin very smoothly since the ball is a sphere. But the
balls can deform or squish, ruining the bearing if the bearing
is overloaded.

By their circular shape in which many small balls are

housed, ball bearings are characterized and while taking
both radial and axial loads off a moving part they reduce
friction.

Advantages of Ball Bearings:

There are the following advantages of ball bearings such as;

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1. With a higher dripping point, the bearing uses grease.
2. To prevent leaking of lubricants, these are a better
sealing shield.
3. It has easy bearing replacement and increases motor
performance.
4. It has a cheaper cost for replacement and in the
market, these are easily available.

ROLLER BEARINGS:

One of the types of bearings that contains the rolling

elements either balls or rollers in circular-shaped races is
called roller bearing and also known as the rolling-element
bearing.

The roller is a cylinder in these types of bearings and to

handle much greater loads than a ball bearing this spreads
the load out over a larger area. To handle much thrust
loading, these are not suitable.

Advantages of Roller Bearings:

There are the following advantages of roller bearings such

as;

1. For mass production, it is suitable and production

efficiency is high, and the quality is stable and reliable.
2. As compared to the traditional fluid dynamic bearing
the axial size is less.
3. The weight is light and the structure is compact.
4. The unique bearing design can achieve excellent
performance within a large load and velocity range.

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FLUID BEARINGS:

These types of bearings are designed to take the load off a

moving part while also reducing friction but they don’t
contain rolling elements or moving balls.

They contain liquid and the fluid creates a thin layer to which
the moving part is exposed which allows it to bear the load
and most fluid bearings contain water or oil and in reducing
friction both are effective.

These bearings are classified into two types such as

hydrostatic bearings and fluid-dynamic bearings. The fluids
usually oil, water, or air rely on an external pump in
hydrostatic bearings while to form the liquid into a lubricating
wedge against the inner surface fluid-dynamic bearings use
rotation.

In high load, high speed or high precision applications that

ordinary ball bearings either couldn’t handle fluid bearings
are used.

Advantages of Fluid Bearings:

There are the following advantages of fluid bearings such

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as;

1. There is a full film of oil between the bearing and race

components so they have very low friction.
2. As compared to standard bearings, they have lower
wear and longer life.
3. Since there is less friction and mainly viscous loss to
the oil so it should run cooler.

MAGNETIC BEARINGS:

Magnetic bearings use magnetism to lift and bear loads

without creating direct contact and to keep the load stable,
they require continuous power input.

These types of bearings have the ability to run without

lubrication or in a vacuum and have very low and
predictable friction. In industrial machines like turbines,
motors, and generators they are increasingly used.

Advantages of Magnetic bearings:

There are the following advantages of magnetic bearings

such as;

1. There is minimal friction and wear from load-bearing

elements because of no physical contact between
rotating and stationary components.
2. These are maintenance-free, reducing initial costs as
well as operating and maintenance costs.
3. In harsh environmental conditions including
extremely low temperatures, zero-gravity, and corrosive
environments they can be used.

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4. It provides precise control of the nominal shaft center
under load due to high static stiffness.

FLEXURE BEARING:

A typical flexure bearing is one part of joining two others and

requires repeated bending. The flexure bearing can have an
indefinite life with the right materials and bearing design but
some materials fail after repeated bending even at low
loads.

Its resistance to fatigue is another notable characteristic of

this bearing and in the sensitive precision measuring
equipment, these bearings are also used.

Advantages of Flexure Bearing:

There are the following advantages of the flexure bearing

such as;

1. They are inexpensive and simple.

2. They have very low friction and are also compact and
lightweight.
3. Without specialized equipment, they are easier
torepair

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