Spherical Roller Bearings

Spherical roller bearings are used in a variety of applications. They are especially useful for heavy load applications. They can withstand radial and axial loads, as well as combined loads. These bearings are commonly used in the construction industry. Many spherical roller bearings are manufactured using low-carbon steels, though some are manufactured from chrome steel or brass. Other spherical roller bearings are made from high-carbon grades of steel, which can be case hardened by conventional heating methods.

Spherical roller bearings are constructed with two rows of rollers and an outer ring. The inner ring has dual raceways that allow the rollers to rotate in different directions. This design offers a symmetrical roller geometry, which reduces vibration. It also provides greater resistance to wear. If the outer ring has a groove or a guide channel, it is designed to help the rollers stay in place.

Some spherical roller bearings have a cage between the rollers. In these cases, the cage is typically made of brass or pressed steel. Depending on the application, the bearing might require a special coating or be plated. Typical materials include sheet steel, polyamide, chrome steel, and brass. However, other alloys are available, including carbon, boron, and zirconium. Choosing a suitable material is important to the performance of the bearing.

Spherical roller bearings are commonly lubricated with grease. A quality lubricant increases the bearing's minimum load in low-temperature environments. But oil is better for high-speed applications. Regardless of lubricant type, the overall performance of a spherical roller bearing depends on the quality of the raceway.

For the most part, spherical roller bearings are not susceptible to misalignment. This is due to their self-aligning properties. When the shaft is under a load, the support structure is slightly displaced, which increases the likelihood of misalignment. Fortunately, spherical bearings are capable of sustaining a "wobble." Even if the support structure moves slightly, the rollers are held tightly inside the spherical bore.

SKF, for example, manufactures spherical roller bearings. Their SRBs are some of the largest bearings available on the market, each weighing 8.8 tons. SKF has also used their bearings in the Bahrain World Trade Center's three tower wind turbines.

Despite their size, spherical roller bearings can handle high loads. Because of their self-aligning capabilities, they are often used in heavy machinery. Besides being designed to sustain heavy loads, spherical bearings are also suitable for impact applications. They are also ideal for use in the axles of trucks.

Typically, spherical roller bearings have tapered bores. Tapered bores can be a useful tool for mounting, especially if the housing is difficult to align. Several options for mounting spherical roller bearings are available, including collars and setscrews. There are even withdrawal sleeves. Most spherical roller bearings have oil holes to help the bearing maintain a proper operating temperature.

ULTAGE spherical roller bearings combine optimized internal and external designs to provide unmatched service life and limiting speeds. The best-in-class combination of premium-grade materials and cutting-edge product research ensures unmatched performance.