Design ,Materials &processes.
Identifying
bearing types
Group members
Kirk Swaby- Id# 20152246
Stephen Moore- Id#
Identifying bearing types
What is a bearing : Bearings are "parts that assist objects' rotation". They support the shaft that
rotates inside the machinery.
Machines that use bearings include automobiles, airplanes, electric generators and so on.
They are even used in household appliances that we all use every day, such as refrigerators,
vacuum cleaners and air-conditioners.
Bearings support the rotating shafts of the wheels, gears, turbines, rotors, etc. in those
machines, allowing them to rotate more smoothly.
What Is the Purpose of Bearings?
The main purpose of bearings is to prevent direct metal-to-metal contact between two
elements that are in relative motion. This prevents friction, heat generation and ultimately,
the wear and tear of parts. It also reduces energy consumption as sliding motion is
replaced with low-friction rolling.
They also transmit the load of the rotating element to the housing. This load may be radial,
axial, or a combination of both. A bearing also restricts the freedom of movement of
moving parts to predefined directions as discussed above.
The role of bearings: So why are they so
important.
Function 1: Reduce friction and make rotation more smooth
Friction is bound to occur between the rotating shaft and the part that supports the
rotation. Bearings are used between these two components. The bearings serve to reduce
friction and allow for smoother rotation. This cuts down on the amount of energy
consumption. This is the single most important function of bearings.
The role of bearings: So why are they so
important cont.
Function 2:
it protect the part that supports the rotation, and maintain the correct position
for the rotating shaft. A large amount of force is needed between the rotating
shaft and the part that supports the rotation. Bearings perform the function of
preventing damage from being done by this force to the part that supports the
rotation, and also of maintaining the correct position of the rotating shaft.
Rolling Element Bearings
Rolling element bearings contain rolling elements in the shape of balls or cylinders. We know
that it is easier to roll a wheel than slide it on the ground as the magnitude of rolling friction is
lower than sliding friction. The same principle is in work here. Rolling element bearings are used
to facilitate the free movement of parts in rotational motion
An example is a reciprocating pump that can convert rotational energy from a motor into
translational motion with the help of linkages. In each of these applications, ball bearings are used to
support motor shafts as well as shafts of other rollers in the assembly .
Ball Bearings
Ball bearings are one of the most common types of bearing classes used. It consists of a row of
balls as rolling elements. They are trapped between two annulus-shaped metal pieces. These
metal pieces are known as races. The inner race is free to rotate while the outer race is
stationary.
Ball bearings provide very low friction during rolling but have limited load-carrying capacity.
This is because of the small area of contact between the balls and the races. They can support
axial loads in two directions besides radial loads.
Ball bearings are used for controlling oscillatory and rotational motion. For example, in
electrical motors where the shaft is free to rotate but the motor housing is not, ball bearings are
used to connect the shaft to the motor housing.
Advantages and Dis-advantages of ball
bearings:
Advantages Dis advantages
Good wear resistance May break due to shocks
Do not need much lubrication Can be quite loud
Provide low friction, thus little energy Cannot handle large weights
loss
Long service life
Easy to replace
Small general dimensions
Comparatively cheap
Can handle thrust loads
Deep Groove Ball
This is the most widely used ball bearing type.
Bearings
Trapped between the two races is a ring of balls
that transmit the load and allows rotational
motion between the two races. The balls are
held in place by a retainer.
They have very low rolling friction and are
optimized for low noise and low vibration. This
makes them ideal for high-speed applications.
They are comparatively easy to install and
require minimal maintenance. Care must be
taken during installation to prevent denting of
the races as they have to be push fit onto shafts.
Angular Contact Ball In this ball bearing type, the inner and outer races
Bearings are displaced with respect to each other along the
bearing axis. This type is designed to handle
greater amounts of axial loads in both directions
in addition to radial loads.
Due to the shift in the inner and outer races, the
axial load can be transferred through the bearing
to the housing. This bearing is suitable for
applications where rigid axial guidance is
required.
Angular contact bearings are widely used in
agricultural equipment, automobiles, gearboxes,
pumps, and other high-speed applications, such as
CNC machining tool spindles
Self-Aligning Ball
Bearings
This type of ball bearing is immune to
misalignment between the shaft and the
housing which may happen due to shaft
deflection or mounting errors.
The inner ring has deep grooves similar to deep
groove ball bearings followed by two rows of
balls and the outer ring. The outer ring has a
concave shape and this grants the inner ring
some freedom to rearrange itself depending on
the misalignment.
Thrust Ball Bearings Thrust ball bearings are a special type of ball
bearings designed specifically for axial loads.
They cannot sustain radial loads at all.
Thrust ball bearings exhibit low noise, smooth
operation and are capable of high-speed
applications.
They are available as single-direction or
double-direction bearings and the selection
relies on whether the load is unidirectional or
bidirectional.
Roller Bearings
Roller bearings contain cylindrical rolling elements instead of balls as load-carrying
elements between the races. An element is considered a roller if its length is longer
than its diameter (even if only slightly). Since they are in line contact with the inner
and outer races (instead of point contact as in the case of ball bearings), they can
support greater loading.
Roller bearings are also available in various types. The appropriate type may be
selected after considering the type and magnitude of loading, service conditions, and
the possibility of misalignment among other factors.
When to Use Ball Bearings?
So let’s outline some of the working
conditions that may require a ball bearing.
Advantages of roller bearings:
Easy maintenance
Thrust loads are present. Ball bearings’
Low friction
design makes them capable of
withstanding axial loads. Can take high radial loads
No heavy loads. Due to having ball- Tapered roller bearings can withstand
shaped rolling elements, the bearings high axial loads
concentrate all the force onto a few
points of contact. This can result in Great accuracy
early failure with high loads. Used to adjust the axial displacement
High speeds. The ball bearing’s small Low vibrations
point of contact also means less friction.
So there is less resistance to overcome
and thus it is easier to achieve high
speeds with these types of bearings.
Cylindrical Roller Bearings
These are the simplest of the roller bearings family. These
bearings can face the challenges of heavy radial loading and
high speed. They also offer excellent stiffness, axial load
transmission, low friction, and long service duration.
The load capacity can be increased further by obviating the
use of cages or retainers that are usually in place to hold the
cylindrical rollers. This permits the fitting of more rollers to
carry the load.
They are available as single-row, double-row and four-row
types. They also come in split and sealed variants.
Split variants are used for areas that are difficult to access
such as engine crankshafts. In sealed variants, the bearing
contamination is prevented and the lubricant is retained
making it a maintenance-free option.
Spherical Roller Bearings
Spherical roller bearings provide dual-
directional movement versatility. Its
primary function is to reduce friction
between the components while allowing
misalignment.
There are two spherical roller bearings,
non-sealed/open bearings, and sealed.
Both bearings are designed to withstand
high loads; however, sealed bearings
benefit from the enclosure that helps extend
their service life. A highly effective double-
lip seal keeps lubricants in and
contaminants out.
Tapered Roller Bearings The tapered roller bearing contains sections of
a cone as a load-carrying element. These rollers
fit between the two races that are also sections
of a hollow cone. If the races and the axes of
rollers were extended, they would all meet at a
common point.
Tapered roller bearings are designed to handle
higher axial loads besides radial loads. The
larger the half-angle of this common cone, the
more axial load it can sustain. Thus they work
as thrust bearings as well as radial load
bearings.
Needle roller bearing is a special type of roller
bearing that has cylindrical rollers that resemble
needles because of their small diameter. Normally,
Needle Roller Bearings
the length of rollers in roller bearings is only
slightly more than its diameter. When it comes to
needle bearing, the length of rollers exceeds their
diameter by at least four times.
Needle bearings have a smaller diameter, more
rollers can be fit in the same space which increases
the surface area in contact with the races. Thus,
they are capable of handling high loads. The small
size can also prove helpful in applications where
space is limited as they require smaller clearances
between the axle and the housing.
Needle bearings are used in automobile
components such as transmission and rocker arm
pivots. They are also used in compressors and
pumps.
When to Use Roller Bearings?
Roller bearings are the most common alternative to ball bearings. So let’s determine
what kind of working conditions are best suited for this type of bearing.
Heavy loads. Roller bearings provide a considerably larger area of contact,
distributing the load more evenly. Thus, they are less prone to failure and can
withstand high forces.
Lower speeds. This, again, comes down to the contact area. There is more friction
which can result in higher temperature generation and quicker wear.
Plain Bearings
plain bearing is the simplest type of bearing.
It usually only consists of a bearing surface.
There are no rolling elements.
The bearing is basically a sleeve mounted on
the shaft and it fits into the bore. Plain
bearings are inexpensive, compact and
lightweight. They have high load-carrying
capacity.
Plain bearings are used for rotational, sliding,
reciprocating or oscillatory motion. The
bearing remains fixed while the journal slides
on the bearing’s inner surface. To facilitate
smooth movement, material pairs with low
coefficients of friction are selected.
Fluid Bearings
Fluid bearing is a special type of bearing
that relies on pressurized gas or liquid to
carry the load and eliminate friction.
These bearings are used to replace
metallic bearings in applications where
they would have a short life in addition
to high noise and vibration levels.
Magnetic Bearings
Magnetic bearings use the concept of magnetic
levitation to hold the shaft mid-air. As there is
no physical contact, magnetic bearings are
zero-wear bearings. There is also no limitation
on the maximum amount of relative speed it
can handle.
Magnetic bearings can also accommodate some
irregularities in shaft design as the shaft’s
position is automatically adjusted based on its
centre of mass. Thus, it may be offset to one
side but will still function just as satisfactorily.
End of presentation thank
you.