Selection of bearing type and form A1

Bearings allow relative movement between the com- The form of bearing which can be used is determined
ponents of machines, while providing some type of location by the nature of the relative movement required and the
between them. type of constraints which have to be applied to it.

Relative movement between machine components and the constraints applied

Constraint applied to
Continuous movement Oscillating movement
the movement

About a point The movement will be a rotation, and the arrange- If only an oscillatory movement is required, some
ment can therefore make repeated use of accurate additional arrangements can be used in which the
surfaces geometric layout prevents continuous rotation

About a line The movement will be a rotation, and the arrange- If only an oscillatory movement is required, some
ment can therefore make repeated use of accurate additional arrangements can be used in which the
surfaces geometric layout prevents continuous rotation

Along a line The movement will be a translation. Therefore one
surface must be long and continuous, and to be
economically attractive must be fairly cheap.
The shorter, moving component must usually be
supported on a fluid film or rolling contact for an
acceptable wear rate
If the translational movement is a reciprocation,
the arrangement can make repeated use of accurate
surfaces and more mechanisms become economic-
ally attractive

In a plane If the movement is a rotation, the arrangement can If the movement is rotational and oscillatory, some
make repeated use of accurate surfaces additional arrangements can be used in which the
geometric layout prevents continuous rotation

If the movement is a translation one surface must
be large and continuous and to be economically
attractive must be fairly cheap. The smaller
moving component must usually be supported on a
fluid film or rolling contact for an acceptable wear
rate
If the movement is translational and oscillatory, the
arrangement can make repeated use of accurate
surfaces and more mechanisms become economic-
ally attractive

For both continuous and oscillating movement, there The following tables give examples of both these forms
will be forms of bearing which allow movement only within of bearing, and in the case of those allowing additional
a required constraint, and also forms of bearing which movement, describe the effect which this can have on a
allow this movement among others. machine design.
 Examples of forms of bearing suitable for continuous movement
Examples of arrangements which Examples of arrangements which
Constraint applied to the Effect of the other degrees of
allow movement only withir. this allow this movement but also have
movement freedom
constraint other degrees of freedom

About a point Gimbals Ball on a recessed plate Ball must be forced into contact
with the plate

About a line Journal bearing with double Journal bearing Simple journal bearing allows
thrust location free axial movement as well

Double conical bearing Screw and nut Gives some related axial move-
ment as well

Ball joint or spherical roller Allows some angular freedom

bearing to the line of rotation

Along a line Crane wheel restrained be- Railway or crane wheel on a These arrangements need to
tween two rails track be loaded into contact. This
is usually done by gravity.
Wheels on a single rail or
cable need restraint to pre-
vent rotation about the track
member
Pulley wheel on a cable

Hovercraft or hoverpad on a
track

In a plane (rotation) Double thrust bearing Single thrust bearing Single thrust bearing must be
loaded into contact

-EJ-3
IL
In a plane (translation) Hovercraft or hoverpad Needs to be loaded into contact
usually by gravity
 Examples of forms of bearing suitable for oscillatory movement only
Examples of arrangements which Examples of arrangements which
Constraint applied to the Effect of the other degrees of
allow movement only within this allow this movement but also have
movement constraint freedom
other degrees of freedom

About a point Hookes joint Cable connection between Cable needs to be kept in
components tension

About a line Crossed strip flexure pivot Torsion suspension A single torsion suspension
gives no lateral location

Knife-edge pivot Must be loaded into contact

Rubber bush Gives some axial and lateral

flexibility as well

Rocker pad Gives some related translation

as well. Must be loaded into
contact

Along a line Crosshead and guide bars Piston and cylinder Piston can rotate as well unless
it is located by connecting
rod

In a plane (rotation) Rubber ring or disc Gives some axial and lateral
flexibility as well

In a plane (translation) Plate between upper and lower Block sliding on a plate Must be loaded into contact
guide blocks
A2 Selection of journal bearings

n, rev/min
TYPICAL MAXIMUM LOAD, newtons

TYPICAL MAXIMUM LOAD W. lbf

Externally pressurised bearings
can be used over the whole
range of loads and speeds

n, rev/s

Rubbing plain bearings in which the surfaces rub together.

The bearing is usually non-metallic.

Plain bearings of porous metal impregnated with a lubricant.

Rolling bearings. The materials are hard, and rolling elements

separate the two moving components.

Fluid film plain bearings. A hydrodynamic pressure is gener-

ated by the relative movement dragging a viscous fluid into a
taper film.

Selection by load capacity of bearings with continuous rotation

This figure gives guidance on the type of bearing which
has the maximum load capacity at a given speed and shaft
size. It is based on a life of 10 000 h for rubbing, rolling and
porous metal bearings. Longer lives may be obtained at
reduced loads and speeds. For the various plain bearings,
the width is assumed to be equal to the diameter, and the
lubricant is assumed to be a medium viscosity mineral oil.
In many cases the operating environment or various
special performance requirements, other than load capa-
city, may be of overriding importance in the selection of
an appropriate type of bearing. The tables give guidance
for these cases.
Selection of journal bearings with continuous rotation for special environmental conditions

Low temp. Wetand Dirt and External Type of

Type of bearing High temp. Vacuum humid dust Vibration bearing
Rubbing plain Good up to Good Excellent Good but Good but Good
bearings the tem- shaft must sealing
(non-metallic) perature be incor- helps
limit of rodible
material

Porous metal Poor since Fair; may Possible Good Sealing Good
plain bearings lubricant have high with essential
oil oxidises starting special
impregnated torque lubricant

Rolling Consult Good Fair with Fair with Sealing Fair;

bearings makers special seals essential consult
above lubricant makers
15O0C

Fluid film plain Good to tem- Good ; may Possible Good Good with Good
bearings perature have high with seals and
limit of starting special filtration
lubricant torque lubricant

Externally Excellent Good No; Good Good; Excellent

pressurised with gas lubricant excellent
plain bearings lubrication feed affects when gas
vacuum lubricated

General Watch effect of thermal Watch Watch

comments expansion on fits corrosion fretting

Selection of journal bearings with continuous rotation for special performance

requirements
Accurate Axial load Low Standard
Type of bearing radial capacity as starting Silent running parts Simple Tf*
lubrication °f
location well torque available bearing

Rubbing plain Poor Some in Poor Fair Some Excellent

bearings most
(non-metallic) cases

Porous metal Good Some Good Excellent Yes Excellent

plain
bearings oil
impregnated

Rolling bearings Good Yes in most Very good Usually Yes Good when
cases satis- grease
factory lubricated

Fluid film plain Fair No; Good Excellent Some Usually

bearings separate requires a
thrust circulation
bearing system
needed

Externally Excellent No; Excellent Excellent No Poor;

pressurised separate special
plain thrust system
bearings bearing needed
needed
 HARD STEEL

HARD STEEL

POROUS METAL
IMPREGNATED RUBBER
WITH FILLED BUSHES
PTFE

REINFORCED
THERMOSETS
CROSSED
STRIP
FILLED PTFE FLEXURES

V, m/s MAX. DEFLECTION EACH WAY, DEGREES

Selection of rubbing plain bearing materials for
bushes with oscillatory movement, by maximum
pressure and maximum value of average sliding speed.
Rolling bearings in an equivalent arrangement usually
can carry about 10 MN/m2
Selection of flexure bearings by external load
pressure and the required deflection. If the
centre of rotation does not have to be held constant,
single strips or cables can be used

Selection of journal bearings with oscillating movement for special environments

or performance
Dirt and External Wet and Type of
Type of bearing Low friction High temp. Low temp. dust Vibration humid bearing
Rubbing plain Good with Good to Very good Good but Very good Good but
bearings PTFE the temp, sealing shaft must
limit of helps be incor-
material rodible

Porous metal Good Poor since Fair; Sealing is Good Good

plain bearings lubricant friction essential
oil oxidises can be
impregnated high

Rolling bearings Very good Consult Good Sealing is Poor Good with
makers essential seals
above
15O0C

Rubber bushes Elastically Poor Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent

stiff

Strip flexures Excellent Good Very good Excellent Excellent Good;

watch
corrosion

Knife edge Very good Good Good Good Poor Good;

pivots watch
corrosion
 Selection of thrust bearings A3

FREQUENCY OF ROTATION, rev/min

TYPICAL MAXIMUM LOAD, lbf

TYPICAL MAXIMUM LOAD, N

APPROX. MAX. SPEED

ROLLING BEARINGS

APPROX. MAX. SPEED

RUBBING AND POROUS METAL OIL
IMPREGNATED BEARINGS

FREQUENCY OF ROTATION, rev/s

Guide to thrust bearing load-carrying capability

Rubbing*! (generally intended to operate dry—life limited by

allowable wear).

Oil impregnated porous metal*J (life limited by lubricant

degradation or dryout).

Hydrodynamic oil film*f (film pressure generated by rota-

tion—inoperative during starting and stopping).

Rolling! (life limited by fatigue).

i

Hydrostatic (applicable over whole range of load and speed—

D necessary supply pressure 3-5 times mean bearing pressure).

* Performance relates to thrust face diameter ratio of 2.

t Performance relates to mineral oil having viscosity grade in range
32-100 ISO 3448
J Performance relates to nominal life of 10 000 h.

This figure gives guidance on the maximum load capacity special performance requirements, other than load capacity,
for different types of bearing for given speed and shaft may be of overriding importance in the selection of an
size. appropriate type of bearing. The tables give guidance
In many cases the operating environment or various for these cases.
 Thrust bearing selection for special environmental conditions
Type of High Low Wet and Dirt and External
bearing temperature temperature Vacuum humid dust vibration

Rubbing Good— to Good Excellent Good with Good- Good

bearing temperature suitable sealing
(non- limit of shaft and helps
metallic) material runner
material

Oil- Poor- Fair- Possible Good Sealing Good

impregnated lubricant starting with necessary
porous oxidation torque may special
metal be high lubricant
bearing

Rolling Above 10O0C Good Requires Fair with Sealing Consult makers
bearing reduced special seals necessary
load lubricant
capacity
Above 15O0C
consult
makers

Hydrodynamic Good— to Good- Possible Good Sealing Good

film temperature starting with necessary
bearing limit of torque may special
lubricant be high lubricant

Hydrostatic Good— to Good Not Good Good— Good

film temperature normally filtration
bearing limit of applicable necessary
lubricant

General Consider thermal expansion Consider Consider

comments and fits corrosion fretting

Thrust bearing selection for special performance requirements

Suitability
for
oscillatory Availability Simplicity of
Type of Accuracy Low Low Silent or
bearing of axial starting running running of standard lubrication
intermittent
location torque torque parts system
movement
Rubbing Limited Poor Poor Fair Yes Some Excellent
bearing by wear
(non-
metallic)

Oil-impreg- Good Fair Good Good— Yes Good Excellent

nated until
porous bearing
metal dry-out
bearing

Rolling Good Good Good Usually Yes Excellent Good—

bearing satis- when
factory grease
lubricated

Hydro- Good Fair Good Good No Some Usually

dynamic requires
film circulation
bearing system

Hydro- Excellent Excellent Good Good Yes No Special

static system
film necessary
bearing