ROLLER BEARINGS & BALL BEARINGS - Part 1

Figure 5 - Flat-race, flat-seat thrust ball bearing, A, and grooved-race, flat-seat thrust ball bearing, B. Figure 6 - Banded thrust ball bearing, A, and aligning, single-acting, grooved-race thrust ball bearing, B. Figure 7 - Aligning, double-acting, grooved-race thrust ball bearing.

Ball Bearings cont.

Grooved race, flat-seat ball bearings, Figure 5B, are the most common thrust ball bearings. These ball bearings consist of a shaft-mounted small-bore washer, a large housing-mounted bore washer, and a ball retainer assembly.

Banded thrust ball bearings, Figure 6A, are self-contained, have grooved races, have a stationary and rotating race with full ball complement, and are encased in a containing band. These ball bearings are most commonly used where the bearing's outer circumference must be protected from contamination, for blind installation, or where separating forces cause substantial axial motion of ball bearing components.

Aligning, grooved race ball bearings, Figure 6B, are available in single and double-acting types. Double-acting thrust ball bearings consist of two retainer assemblies separated by a flat washer and have washers on the top and bottom of the unit. Aligning members compensate for initial misalignment due to shaft deflection or mismatch, while allowing uniform distribution of load through the bearing. Aligning, concave surface washers are generally soft, to ensure proper seating through wear-in.

Double-acting, grooved-race ball bearings, Figure 7, have two identical flat seat washers, two ball retainer assemblies, and a center washer. They carry thrust loads in either direction. One ball assembly carries load in one direction, the other assembly in the reverse direction.

Unground ball bearings - Commercial unground ball bearings can reduce cost of assemblies, decrease the number of parts required, and reduce labor costs by speeding assembly for original equipment ball bearing manufacturers. Because tolerances are much looser than in precision ball bearings - commonly 0.005 in. for OD and ID - extra fasteners and locking plates are often unnecessary with unground ball bearings. A split race type simplifies assembly. A press-fitted flange radial ball bearing, for example, seats itself. Drilled and tapped inner races or square or hex bore inner races provide an inexpensive means of locating the bearing on the shaft. In many cases, the shaft itself serves as an inner race.

Roller Bearings & Ball Bearings

Previous Page      Next Page