INDUSTRIAL BEARINGS

BEARINGS

All rotation parts require to be supported in such a way that they function correctly
and lose as little as possible of the power they are transmitting in overcoming
unnecessary friction.

PURPOSE OF A BEARING

1. To reduce friction

2. To withstand loads

3. To assist in maintaining correct alignment of the shaft

TYPES OF BEARINGS

1. Plain

2. Ball

3. Roller

1.0 PLAIN BEARINGS

These can be separated into several classes:

Complete Bush: usually made of phosphor bronze and as its name implies,
encloses the shaft as a solid ring. Normally used on comparatively slow running
shafts.

Split Bearings: (White metal, tin based alloys).These consist of an outer shell of
steel or brass or other metals cut in half across the diameter. This shell is then
lined with a thin layer of the required bearing metal.This metal has a comparatively
low melting point, so that in the event of a bearing becoming overheated, the
metal will melt and so prevent seizure. The bearing metal most commonly used is
known as `BABBIT METAL’ after Sir Isaac Babbit in 1829, commonly used in big
end and main bearings.

OTHER METALLIC BEARING MATERIALS FOR PLAIN TYPE BEARINGS

CADMIUM-ALLOY BEARINGS

(a) Greater fatigue life than `Babbit‘bearings.

 (b) Corrode easily in presence of oils.

(c) Approximately 50% stronger than `Babbit’ bearings.

COPPER-LEAD ALLOY BEARINGS

(a) Copper provides strength and fatigue resistance.

(b) Lead provides resistance to seizure.

(c) Have more than four times the fatigue resistance of `Babbit’ bearings.

ALUMINIUM ALLOY BEARINGS

(a) Easily casted or moulded.

(b) Usually alloyed with small amounts of tin, silicon, cadmium, nickel or
copper.

(c) Best for hard journal.

(d) Large clearances are required due to high thermal expansion.

(e) Good corrosion resistance.

(f) Good fatigue and yield strength.

POROUS BEARINGS

(a) These are usually of plain or leaded bronze, sometimes of cast iron, steel
and rarely aluminum. These are made from powdered metals.

(b) Has sponge like nature.

(c) 25% of the bearing volume is oil.

(d) Used where lubrication supply is difficult, inadequate or infrequent.

(e) Usually employed as bushings and not as split bearing shells.

PLASTIC LAMINATED BEARINGS

(a) Made from Teflon and nylon resins.

(b) Low co-efficient of friction.

 (c) Have good anti-scoring and strength properties.

(d) Some plastics have metallic fillers added to improve wearing properties.

(e) Can be used with lubricants containing diluted acids or alkaline.

(f) Water is used to lubricate most teflon type bearings but oil and grease are
also used.

(g) Nearly all types of plastic bearings absorb water and oil to some extent.

2.0 BALL BEARINGS

Ball bearings consist of two hardened steel concave races into which fit a number
of highly polished hardened steel balls. The race of the bearing is fitted to the
casing and the inner race to the shaft. The balls taking up the space between the
two races. It will be seen that the balls are true spheres, the only parts now
bearing between casing and shaft are the points where the balls touch the races.
The saving of frictional losses will be readily appreciated. As so little is in actual
contact, less lubrication is need but due to the complete nature of their production,
their cost is fairly high. A list of the more common types is given below:

(2.1) SINGLE ROW RADIAL BALL BEARINGS

Unless otherwise stated, these are usually of the deep groove type without filling
slots. They are widely used and are suitable for high speeds. They are designed to
deal mainly with radial loads but can take considerable thrust (axial load) in either
direction.

(2.2) DOUBLE ROW RADIAL BALL BEARINGS

These have filling slots and are only suitable for moderate speeds and light
axial loads.

(2.3) DOUBLE ROW SELF – ALIGNING BALL BEARINGS

These bearings have a double grooved inner ring with a single spherical track
in the outer ring to give self-aligning feature.

(2.4) SINGLE ROW ANGULAR CONTACT BALL BEARINGS

This has ball tracks which are so arranged that the load through the balls
acts at an angle to the bearing axis, making it suitable for axial and radial loads. It
must always be used to with another bearing capable of dealing with axial loads in
the opposite direction.

(2.5) DOUBLE ROW ANGULAR CONTACT BALL BEARINGS

This is like two single row angular contact ball bearings face to face .It can have a
two or one piece outer ring but the inner ring is solid. It can carry radial loads and
heavy thrust loads in either direction. It usually has filling slots.
3.0 ROLLER BEARINGS

The same principle as ball bearings, the ball being replaced by rollers. In some
instances the bearing is tapered to allow adjustments to be made. These are able
to withstand greater loads than ball bearings. Where as ball bearings have point
contact, roller bearings have little line contact.

(3.1) CYLINDRICAL ROLLER BEARINGS

These have a much higher radial capacity than the equivalent size ball bearings and
should always be used for heavy duty. The rollers are guided by flanges on one of
the bearing rings, the other ring usually having no flanges. This permits relative
axial displacement of the shaft and bearing housing within certain limits. Single,
double and even triple row cylindrical roller bearings are manufactured.

(3.2) SPHERICAL ROLLER BEARINGS

These are usually row but can be obtained in single row design. The inner ring is
grooved with the outer track sphere to obtain self-aligning action.

(3.3) TAPER ROLLER BEARINGS

Since the axes of its rollers and tracks form an angle with the shaft axis, the taper
roller bearing is especially suitable for carrying radial and axial forces at the same
time.

Where axial forces are very heavy a series of bearings with a steep taper angle are
manufactured.

(3.4) NEEDLE ROLLER BEARINGS

These have rollers with a very small diameter in comparison to their length and are
suitable for use where radial space is limited. They are produced in a wide range to
cover various applications. Loose needles can be assembled in the space between a
hardened shaft and the hardened bore of a component to provide complete circle
of crowded needles e.g. Hard Spicer universal joints.

An outer ring with a cage of needles can be mounted directly on to a hardened

shaft. Rollers cannot skew and higher speeds are possible.

Full bearings with inner and outer rings and caged rollers are manufactured.
SPECIAL BEARINGS

Special bearings are designed and manufactured to meet the need of industry for
specific requirements for various machines. For example the slewing rings whose
diameters are very big etc.