The Importance of Sealed Thrust Bearings

Thrust bearings are designed to support an axial load. Like their radial counterparts, they reduce friction.

Runners or pads are the rotary component of these bearings that remain afloat in hydraulic oil or an air cushion. A cage retains these elements and keeps them evenly distributed.

This type of bearing can handle a minority radial load. This makes them suitable for tiny, tight-fitting and minimal-clearance applications.

Durability

Thrust bearings are essential for many mechanical systems, including aerospace and industrial equipment. They help support rotational movement and disperse axial loads to prevent catastrophic failure of the equipment. They also limit friction and disperse stress across the bearing surfaces.

Several factors determine how long thrust bearings last. The dynamic load and the rated speed can help estimate the expected lifespan of a unit. Then, the end user can make informed design and maintenance decisions.

The quality of the ball materials is another factor. Poor quality balls can degrade quickly, leading to higher resistance and shorter bearing life. The best thrust bearings feature glass or stainless steel balls that last a very long time. These bearings typically need oil lubrication and can work at high speeds. They are also self-aligning, meaning they can accommodate a certain amount of misalignment.

Temperature Tolerance

Thrust bearings can be found in a wide variety of applications. They can be single direction types able to take axial load in one direction or double-direction types able to accept axial and radial loads. They can also be magnetic bearings powered by permanent magnets or electromagnets.

Conventional catalogue tiling pad thrust bearings run evacuated and are typically direct-lubricated. This allows oil to leave the bearing housing as it exits and thus avoids a churning loss that increases shaft temperature and pad temperatures.

The standard hybrid tiling pad bearing with steel and brass cages can tolerate temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius (250 degrees Fahrenheit). However, it is important to understand that lubricants have different temperature capabilities and therefore the correct grease should be selected for each application.

Optimal Lubrication

Providing a lubricant film between bearing surfaces reduces friction and dissipates heat, prolonging the life of a machine’s bearings. It also acts as a barrier, preventing contaminants like dust and debris from entering the bearing, further extending its life.

There are many lubrication options. Choosing the right one depends on the application, bearing size, operating temperature range, load conditions and speed range. A proper assessment of these factors requires knowledge of the lubricant’s required kinematic viscosity to ensure the formation of a thick oil film.

Grease lubrication is the most common method for sealed thrust bearings, but some manufacturers offer a dry lubricant as a post-manufacture option. This type of lubrication has lower power loss and allows for smaller lubricating oil systems, reducing machine costs. In addition, it has an advantage over traditional grease, as it is more resistant to solid and liquid contamination. Nevertheless, regular re-greasing is still necessary to prevent contaminants from infiltrating the lubricant film and contaminating the bearing.

Installation

Thrust bearings are crucial to many equipment and machinery applications. They support axial loads and reduce friction, but they require proper installation to operate effectively. Incorrect installation directly affects the bearing's effect and lifespan.

The present invention relates to an efficient cylindrical thrust bearing assembly for king pin application/thrust load application, comprising double lip seals on radial and axial directions with stiffener made of machined stainless steel as an envelop to the bearing. The envelop protects the bearing from direct exposure to the environment where hard particles and mud can damage the seal lips during handling/mounting of the assembly.

Spherical roller thrust bearings can withstand high axial loads and some radial loading but cannot handle a radial load. These are often installed without a shaft washer and can be susceptible to misalignment. ABEC rated ball bearings have been evaluated for precision and accuracy, and have five ratings to meet different needs. They are the most common in electric motors.