Types Of Bearings [PDF]

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Ali Abbas Khan October 20, 2023

In this article, I will explain the types of bearings. A PDF has been provided at the end.

Many types of machinery, from a small supermarket trolley to huge power plants, rely on
bearings for their operation. Bearings, which are crucial tribological components, come in
various shapes and forms, defining them as machine elements that permit only a specific
type of motion in a system under static or dynamic loading.

For example, consider a sliding door. Bearings restrict its movement to sliding only,
preventing it from being lifted or removed from its place.

Definition of Bearings
Bearings are mechanical components designed to facilitate smooth motion between two
moving parts by providing support and reducing friction. They prevent direct contact between
surfaces, minimizing wear and heat generation, and contribute to efficient energy
transmission and load distribution in various types of machinery.

Purpose of Bearings
Bearings serve to prevent direct metal-to-metal contact between two elements in relative
motion, aiming to avoid friction, heat generation, and the resulting wear and tear of parts.
The utilization of bearings replaces sliding motion with low-friction rolling, reducing energy
consumption.

In addition, bearings transmit the load of the rotating element to the housing, handling radial,
axial, or combined loads. Furthermore, bearings restrict the freedom of movement of moving
parts in predefined directions.

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 Bearing Classification

Types of Bearings
Here is a list of the different types of bearings.

Roller Element Bearings

Rolling Element Bearings, housing balls or cylinders, leverage lower rolling friction for
efficient rotational motion. This principle extends to linear applications, where converting
rotational to sliding motion is seamless—evident in escalators or pumps. Ball bearings, key
in these scenarios, support motors and roller shafts. This design minimizes friction, which is
crucial for load-bearing. The broader classification includes ball bearings and roller bearings.

This is divided into two main types of bearings:

Roller Bearings
Ball Bearings

Let’s first discuss the roller bearings, and then we’ll cover the ball bearings.

Roller Bearings

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Roller bearings employ cylindrical rolling elements distinct from ball bearings, enhancing
load-bearing capacity. Rollers, with longer length than diameter, ensure line contact with
inner and outer races, accommodating greater loads than ball bearings. Available in various
types, selection depends on factors like loading, service conditions, and misalignment.

Roller Bearing Diagram

Pros

Easy Maintenance
Low Friction
High Radial Load Capacity
Tapered Rollers for Axial Loads

Cons

Noisy Operation
Higher Cost
Application Sensitivity
Specialized Types for Precision

Types of Roller Bearings

In our list of different types of bearings, Let us explore the Different types of roller
bearings

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Cylindrical Roller Bearings
Cylindrical roller bearings, the simplest in their family, handle heavy radial loads and high
speeds effectively. They ensure stiffness, transmit axial loads, maintain low friction, and
boast an extended service life.

Eliminating cages or retainers increases load capacity by allowing more rollers. They come
in single-row, double-row, and four-row types, including split and sealed variants. Split
versions suit hard-to-reach areas like engine crankshafts. Sealed types prevent
contamination and retain lubricant, offering a maintenance-free solution.

Pros

Heavy Radial Load Handling

High-Speed Capability
Axial Load Transmission
Extended Service Life

Cons

Potential for Noisy Operation

Complexity Sans Cages
Application-Specific Configurations
Maintenance Considerations
(Sealed or Split Versions)

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Spherical roller bearings
Spherical roller bearings effectively handle heavy radial and axial loads, particularly in
situations prone to shaft misalignment. These bearings boast high load-carrying capacities,
efficiently managing misalignment between the shaft and housing. This not only reduces
maintenance costs but also enhances service life.

Their raceways, inclined at an angle to the bearing axis, feature spherical sides on the rollers
that accommodate small misalignments. Widely applicable, they find use in scenarios with
heavy loads, moderate to high speeds, and potential misalignment—examples include off-
road vehicles, pumps, mechanical fans, marine propulsion, wind turbines, and gearboxes.

Pros

Effective Load Handling

Misalignment Tolerance
Extended Service Life
Versatile Applications

Cons

Increased Complexity
Potential for Noise
Higher Initial Cost
Maintenance Considerations

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Tapered Roller Bearings
Tapered roller bearings utilize cone sections as load-carrying elements, fitting between two
races forming sections of a hollow cone. Extending the races and roller axes would converge
at a common point. These bearings handle higher axial and radial loads, with the common
cone’s half-angle determining the axial load capacity. Functioning as both thrust and radial
load bearings, they are often used in back-to-back pairs for balanced axial support in either
direction.

Pros

High Axial Load Handling

Radial Load Support
Thrust Bearing Function
Balanced Axial Support in Pairs

Cons

Increased Complexity
Potential for Noise
Specific Arrangement are needed.
Maintenance Considerations

Needle Roller Bearings

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A needle roller bearing is a distinctive roller bearing type featuring cylindrical rollers
resembling needles due to their small diameter. Unlike typical roller bearings, the length of
these rollers exceeds their diameter by at least four times. This design allows for a higher
number of rollers in the same space, increasing the contact surface with the races and
enabling them to handle high loads.

Their compact size is advantageous in applications with limited space, requiring smaller
clearances between the axle and housing. Needle bearings find application in automobile
components like transmissions and rocker arm pivots, as well as in compressors and pumps.

Pros

High Load Capacity

Compact Design for Limited Spaces
Versatile Applications
Increased Surface Area

Cons

Potential for Noise

Specialized Design
Maintenance Needs
Application Sensitivity

Ball Bearings

Ball bearings represent a prevalent bearing class, featuring a row of balls as rolling elements
confined between two annulus-shaped metal pieces known as races. The inner race rotates
freely, while the outer race remains stationary. Despite providing minimal friction during
rolling, ball bearings have a limited load-carrying capacity due to the small contact area
between the balls and races.

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They support axial loads in two directions and radial loads. Ball bearings find application in
controlling oscillatory and rotational motion, such as in electrical motors connecting a free-
rotating shaft to a stationary motor housing. Various types of ball bearings are available
based on specific application requirements.

Pros

Wear Resistance
Low Maintenance
Energy-Efficient (Low Friction)
Long Service Life

Cons

Susceptible to Breakage
Potential for Noise
Limited Weight Capacity
May Require Lubrication

Types of Ball Bearings

In our list of different types of bearings, Let us explore the Different types of ball bearings

Deep Grove Ball Bearings

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 Angular Contact Ball Bearings
Self-Aligning Ball Bearings
Thrust Ball Bearings

Deep Grove Ball Bearings

Deep Groove Ball Bearings, the widely preferred type, comprise a ball ring nestled between
races, allowing load transmission and rotation. A retainer secures the balls. Renowned for
minimal rolling friction, they excel at low noise and vibration, making them ideal for high-
speed use. Installation is straightforward, with low maintenance needs. Precise care
prevents race denting during push-fit onto shafts.

Pros

Low Friction
Low Noise and Vibration
High-Speed Capability
Ease of Installation

Cons

Potential for Race Denting

Limited Load Capacity
Dependency on Lubrication

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 Susceptibility to Breakage

Angular Contact Ball Bearings

This ball bearing type displaces the inner and outer races along the bearing axis. Angular
contact roller bearings can handle substantial axial loads in both directions and radial loads.
The design allows the transfer of axial loads through the bearing to the housing, making it
suitable for applications requiring rigid axial guidance. Angular contact bearings find
widespread use in agricultural equipment, automobiles, gearboxes, pumps, and high-speed
applications like CNC machining tool spindles.

Pros

Efficient Load Handling

For Axial and Radial Loads
Axial Load Transfer
Rigid Axial Guidance

Cons

Complex Design
Increased Friction
Requires Precision Installation
Higher Cost

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Self-Aligning Ball Bearings

Self-aligning ball bearings are resilient to misalignment caused by shaft deflection or

mounting errors. The inner ring, resembling deep groove ball bearings, houses two rows of
balls along with the outer ring. The outer ring’s concave shape allows the inner ring flexibility
to adjust based on misalignment.

Pros

Misalignment Tolerance
Deep Groove Design
Flexibility for Misalignment
Versatile Applications

Cons

Complexity
Reduced Load Capacity
Potential for Noise
Higher Cost

Thrust ball bearings

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Thrust ball bearings, crafted for axial loads, excel in low noise, smooth operation, and high-
speed applications. They eliminate radial load support entirely. The bearings come in single-
direction or double-direction variants, chosen based on the nature of the load—unidirectional
or bidirectional.

Pros

Efficient Axial Load Handling

Smooth Operation
High-Speed Capability
Directional Flexibility

Cons

Intricate Design
Limited Load Capacity
Potential for Noise
Higher Cost

Other Types of Bearings

Apart from the two main types of roller bearings and ball bearings, The other types of
bearings are as follows:

Plain Bearings

A plain bearing, the simplest type, typically comprises only a bearing surface without rolling
elements. Referred to as a sleeve bearing, it’s a sleeve mounted on the shaft, fitting into the
bore. These bearings, which are inexpensive, compact, and lightweight, boast a high load-
carrying capacity.

Suitable for rotational, sliding, reciprocating, or oscillatory motion, plain bearings remain fixed
while the journal slides on the inner surface. Material pairs with low coefficients of friction,
often copper alloys, are chosen for smooth movement. Accommodating misalignment and
multi-directional movements, they suit static and dynamic loads, finding extensive use in
agriculture, automotive, marine, and construction industries. An example is the gudgeon pin
connecting the piston to the connecting rod in diesel engines.

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Fluid Bearings

Fluid bearings utilize pressurized gas or liquid to eliminate friction and support loads. These
bearings replace metallic counterparts in applications with short lifespans, high noise, and
vibration levels. They are increasingly adopted for cost savings. Applied in high-speed, high-
load machines, their higher initial costs are offset by prolonged lifespan in challenging
conditions.

During operation, there is zero contact between elements (except during start and stop),
allowing near-zero wear with fluid bearings. Classifiable into hydrostatic and hydrodynamic
types, fluid bearings find diverse applications, offering advantages in reduced friction, longer
life, and minimal wear in operational conditions.

Hydrostatic Bearings

In hydrostatic bearings, an externally pressurized fluid is compelled between two elements in

relative motion. The pressurized fluid establishes a wedge between the moving parts,
preventing direct contact and wear. Despite the potential thinness of the fluid layer, its
continuous circulation, facilitated by a pump, ensures no wear as long as direct contact is
avoided.

To maintain pressure at all shaft speeds and loads, the exit orifice diameter, responsible for
fluid circulation, is adjustable. This feature allows for precise control of the gap between the
moving parts in hydrostatic bearings.

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Hydrodynamic Bearings

Hydrodynamic bearings use the motion of the journal to propel fluid between the shaft and
housing. The journal’s movement draws lubricating fluid between the moving parts,
establishing a continuous wedge. However, during start-stop and at low loads and speeds,
the wedge formation may be insufficient to prevent wear. The system functions optimally only
at designed speeds.

Magnetic Bearings

Magnetic bearings employ magnetic levitation to suspend the shaft mid-air, resulting in zero-
wear bearings due to the absence of physical contact. These bearings have no limitations on
the maximum relative speed they can handle.

Accommodating irregularities in shaft design, magnetic bearings automatically adjust the

shaft’s position based on its center of mass, allowing offset configurations without affecting
functionality.

There are two main types of magnetic bearings

Active Magnetic Bearings: Utilize electromagnets around the shaft, adjusting the current
based on sensor-detected position changes to return the rotor to its original position.

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Passive Magnetic Bearings: Employ permanent magnets to maintain a magnetic field
without requiring power input, though this design is challenging due to the technology’s early
stage.

In some cases, both types may be used together, with permanent magnets handling static
loading and electromagnets maintaining precise positioning.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Bearings are essential for machinery, with roller and ball bearings leading the
types. Roller bearings (cylindrical, spherical, tapered, needle) excel in load capacity and
versatility. Ball bearings (deep groove, angular) minimize friction for efficient motion. Each
type has unique pros and cons, addressing specific needs.

Other types, like plain, fluid, hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, and magnetic bearings, offer
alternatives for diverse conditions. Consideration of these types of bearings ensures
optimal performance and longevity in mechanical systems.

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