BEARINGS

•Bearings can generally be classified as ball or 
roller bearings. 
•Ball and taper bearings can accept both radial 
and axial loads, all other roller bearings can only 
accept radial loads. 
•Bearings contained in cages are generally for 
high speed engine and gearbox use. (IN EXCESS 
OF 100 rpm). 
•Most other bearings are for slow rotation, have 
no cage and are pre‐lubricated and sealed. 
 BEARINGS

‘The purpose of a bearing is to support

(generally) moving, components at
minimum friction’.
BALL BEARINGS

• BALL BEARINGS EMPLOY STEEL BALLS

ROTATING IN A GROOVED RACEWAY.
ROLLER BEARINGS

Roller bearings utilise

cylindrical, tapered or
spherical rollers running in
suitable shaped raceways.
BALL BEARINGS
ROLLER BEARINGS
 TYPES OF BALL BEARINGS

•RADIAL BEARING.
•THRUST BEARING.
•ANGULAR-CONTACT BEARING.
•INSTRUMENT PRECISION BEARING.
TYPES OF BALL BEARINGS
Outer ring
Seal

shield

Inner
ring

Single row ball Double row self-aligning ball

Contact Raceway cage

angle groove Rolling
element
Outer ring
thrust face Washer

Angular contact Washer-type ball thrust

 TYPES OF ROLLER BEARINGS

Rigid Needle Taper

Spherical roller
roller roller roller
 RADIAL BEARINGS
•Usually manufactured from SINGLE OR
DOUBLE ROW BALL BEARINGS.
•Radial bearings are ones which withstand
loads forcing out from the centre of the
bearing.
•The most common type used, found on
shafts, gears and control rod end fittings.
•They can be fixed, where the centre race
rotates in one plain, or self aligning where
the centre race can swivel.
 THRUST BEARINGS

•The thrust bearing is designed to accept axial loads

only.
•They are normally made up of two plates, with
groves that the ball bearings run in. Between the
two plates, the bearings are retained in a cage.
•Thrust bearing are normally used in conjunction
with bearings that take the radial loads.
•Used for high loads at low speeds.
 ANGULAR-CONTACT BEARINGS

• Unlike radial or thrust bearings, angular-contact bearings

accept both RADIAL LOADS AND ALSO AXIAL LOADS IN ONE
DIRECTION.
• They are manufactured so that the balls and cage can be
installed together from one side.
• The load is transferred through the bearing at an angle
between the axial and thrust loads.
• They are fitted in pairs if the axial loads are in both
directions.
 INSTRUMENT PRECISION BEARING

•Usually small, high quality precision bearings

manufactured to a high accuracy and finish.
•They are normally radial bearings and used in
instruments and communication equipment.
 TYPES OF ROLLER BEARING

•CYLINDRICAL BEARING.
•SPHERICAL BEARING.
•TAPERED BEARING.
 CYLINDRICAL BEARING

•They accept greater loads than ball bearings due to

the increased surface contact area.
•When run in grooves on both the inner and outer
race, they will accept, light axial loads.
•If the length is greater than the diameter they are
classed as needle roller bearings and are used for
oscillating, radial loads.
 SPHERICAL ROLLER BEARING

•Can be either single or double row.

•They run in spherical raceways that allow for
slight misalignment.
•They accept high radial and moderate axial
loads.
 TAPERED ROLLER BEARING

•Designed so that the rollers rotate at an angle to

the shaft. This transfers the loads between the
radial and axial directions.
•They are capable of accepting radial loads and axial
loads in one direction.
•Used back to back to accept two way axial loads.
 BEARING INTERNAL CLEARANCES

•Bearings are manufactured with varying internal

clearances allowing for different working
temperatures.
•A marking system is used to identify the standard
for each bearing.
•The most common is the dot system, With four
different grades of bearing.
 GROUP 2 (ONE DOT) BEARING

•These have the smallest internal clearances.

They are used were precision applications
are required.
•High temperature or speeds will cause these
bearings to seize.
•Would not be used as thrust bearings as the
axial loads would also cause them to seize
 NORMAL GROUP (TWO DOT) BEARING

•Used for general application were no

appreciable amount of heat would be
transferred.
•Either the inner or outer race will be an
interference fit, but not both. The
interference fit would be able to work in
higher temperatures.
 GROUP 3 (THREE DOT) BEARING

•These have greater internal clearances and

one or both of the races will be interference
fits.
•They are used where heat transfer is required,
usually in high speed or predominant axial
loading applications.
 GROUP 4 (FOUR DOT) BEARING

•Used in high temperature areas and have the

greatest internal clearances.
•Both the inner and outer races are interference
fits.

•Instrument precision bearing are only

manufactured in the first three groups.
 LUBRICATION OF BEARINGS

•Bearing failure can be catastrophic, so the schedule

for their lubrication and inspection is detailed in the
amm and maintenance schedule.
•Sealed bearing can not be lubricated and must be
replace if they show signs of wear.
•In areas where the lubrication may be lost, then
bearings are used that can be re-greased using a
grease gun.
 INSPECTION OF BEARINGS
•Bearing are design to have the minimum of
maintenance, but must be inspected regularly
for wear or corrosion.
•They are normally inspected still fitted to
prevent damage and wear removing them.
•They will be inspected for freedom of
movement, smoothness (brinelling), corrosion
and fouling.