What are bearings?
Bearings, in general, are the functional part of a device that enables the
rotational or linear movement more efficiently, i.e. by reducing friction and
handling the stress. It has a ball like structure which helps in reducing the
friction between the surfaces in contact and helps in the fluidic rolling
motion. The spherical or wheel like structure helps in making not just rotary
motion but also linear motion, while the speed and efficiency of the movement
increases substantially.
Simplistic function of roller and ball bearings:
Roller bearings
are like mechanical miracle that is used in almost all machinery known to man,
this shows the simplicity of its application and function. Its functionality
comes generally from the concept of friction. The intrinsic structure remains
similar as mentioned above, i.e. a ball with smooth internal and external
surfaces to aid in rolling. Generally the structure is divided into two parts,
the internal ball bearings and the external rings which enclose them as shown
in the picture. The ball itself carries the whole load of the weight which in
return drives the bearings rotation. However, the loads acting may be of
different nature, radial or thrust.
Radial loads put weight on the ball bearings in a manner
which enables the motion as a result of tension, as seen in pulleys. The thrust
load is to bear the weight of the object and move only when some extra stimulus
is added, like in a bar stool. These are the basic forces working on a bearing
but practically they work on it in combination which in turn varies the working
load for it. For example, tires of a car, on a straight route the thrust and
radial loads are normal but while cornering they come at various angles on the
bearing. Herein rises the need of ball bearings specific to certain machinery
and working environment.
Types of Ball Bearings:
There are many
different kinds of ball bearings that are designed to cope with the load
specific to it, as each and every application has its own unique parameters and
working environment. The bearings are generally categorized as:
Ball Bearings: Commonly used bearings which can handle less
weight and it has a extensive scope of uses such as, roller blades.
Roller Bearings:
By replacing the ball in a ball bearing with a cylinder roller and adjusting
the outer rings accordingly to avail larger surface area and handle larger
weights. These are efficient for radial loads mostly, except for roller thrust
bearings that are designed to bear the thrust load of larger weight categories.
Tapered Roller
Bearings: These bearings are used to handle large amount of both radial and
thrust loads. This property comes in handy for its use in car hubs, to carry
the load over the wheels.
Specialized Bearings: There are many job specific bearings
that are designed to handle the stress and load only in that specific setting,
otherwise useless, e.g. magnetic bearings and giant roller bearings.
These are the various ball bearings and roller bearings and how they work in general. To get more detailed
info and find the perfect bearing to hold your weight and roll you better,
visit wd-bearing.com. We are best at what we do and what we do is manufacture
bearings that suits your requirements.
