Bearings are highly engineered, precision-made components that enable machinery to move at extremely high speeds and carry remarkable loads with ease and efficiency.
Bearings must be able to offer high precision, reliability and durability, as well as the ability to rotate at high speeds with minimal noise and vibration.
Bearings are found in applications ranging from automobiles, airplanes, computers, construction equipment, machine tools, DVD players, refrigerators and ceiling fans.
If something twists, turns or moves, it probably has a bearing in it.
Bearing Types and Application
There are many distinct bearing types, each with particular characteristics which are suited to specific applications. Here are the four most common types of bearings:
Ball Bearings:
–Rolling function is provided by a ball
–Low friction, high speed, light to medium loading
–Light and general machine applications
Commonly found in fans, roller blades, wheel bearings, and under hood applications on cars etc.
Cylindrical & Needle Roller Bearings:
Where the rolling function is provided by a cylinder of some kind. May also be referred to as needle roller bearings (where length is much greater than diameter)
-Low friction, medium to heavy radial loading
Commonly found in general machine applications including gearboxes and transmissions, machine tool and construction equipment.
Tapered Roller Bearings:
A tapered version of a roller bearing is used for combined axial and radial loads, such as in wheel applications on trucks
Commonly found in heavy industrial, truck and wheel applications with combined radial and axial loads. Some examples are manual transmissions, gearboxes, power generation and other process equipment.
Spherical Roller Bearings:
- A roller bearing that has a barrel shaped roller.
- Medium friction, medium to heavy loads and misalignment capabilities
- Generally used for very high load applications with misaligned shafts to housings.
Commonly found in gearboxes, conveyors, pulp and paper machines and other process equipment.
Where are bearings found?
You would be surprised to find out where and how many bearings are in your car and home right now!
Click Here to find out where bearings are located in your home.
Click Here to find out where bearings are located in your car.
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