1.

types of bearing

(i)Plain bearing, consisting of a shaft rotating in a hole. There are several specific styles: bushing,
journal bearing, sleeve bearing, rifle bearing, composite bearing;

(ii)Rolling-element bearing, in which rolling elements placed between the turning and stationary
races prevent sliding friction. There are two main types:
• Ball bearing, in which the rolling elements are spherical balls;
• Roller bearing, in which the rolling elements are cylindrical, taper, and spherical rollers;

(iii)jewel bearing is a plain bearing in which a metal spindle turns in a jewel-lined pivot hole. The
hole is typically shaped like a torus and is slightly larger than the shaft diameter. The jewel material
is usually synthetic sapphire or ruby (corundum). Jewel bearings are used in precision instruments
where low friction, long life, and dimensional accuracy are important. Their largest use is in
mechanical watches.

(iv)Fluid bearings are bearings in which the load is supported by a thin layer of rapidly moving
pressurized liquid or gas between the bearing surfaces. Since there is no contact between the
moving parts, there is no sliding friction, allowing fluid bearings to have lower friction, wear and
vibration than many other types of bearings.
They can be broadly classified into two types: fluid dynamic bearings (also known as
hydrodynamic bearings) and hydrostatic bearings. Hydrostatic bearings are externally pressurized
fluid bearings, where the fluid is usually oil, water or air, and the pressurization is done by a pump.
Hydrodynamic bearings rely on the high speed of the journal (the part of the shaft resting on the
fluid) to pressurize the fluid in a wedge between the faces. Fluid bearings are frequently used in
high load, high speed or high precision applications where ordinary ball bearings would have short
life or cause high noise and vibration. They are also used increasingly to reduce cost. For example,
hard disk drive motor fluid bearings are both quieter and cheaper than the ball bearings they
replace.

(v) magnetic bearing is a type of bearing that supports a load using magnetic levitation. Magnetic
bearings support moving parts without physical contact. For instance, they are able to levitate a
rotating shaft and permit relative motion with very low friction and no mechanical wear. Magnetic
bearings support the highest speeds of all kinds of bearing and have no maximum relative speed.
Active bearings have several advantages: they do not suffer from wear, have low friction, and can
often accommodate irregularities in the mass distribution automatically, allowing rotors to spin
around their center of mass with very low vibration.
Passive magnetic bearings use permanent magnets and, therefore, do not require any input power
but are difficult to design due to the limitations described by Earnshaw's theorem. Techniques using
diamagnetic materials are relatively undeveloped and strongly depend on material characteristics.
As a result, most magnetic bearings are active magnetic bearings, using electromagnets which
require continuous power input and an active control system to keep the load stable. In a combined
design, permanent magnets are often used to carry the static load and the active magnetic bearing is
used when the levitated object deviates from its optimum position. Magnetic bearings typically
require a back-up bearing in the case of power or control system failure.
(vi) flexure bearing is a category of flexure which is engineered to be compliant in one or more
angular degrees of freedom. Flexure bearings are often part of compliant mechanisms. Flexure
bearings serve much of the same function as conventional bearings or hinges in applications which
require angular compliance. However, flexures require no lubrication and exhibit very low or no
friction.

2. functions of bearing

(i)Reducing friction
Application of a bearing, in any applications, will have one prime objective and that is to reduce the
friction between moving components.
Let us think the case of movement of the shaft within bearing housing, the bearing will reduce the
required effort and also require energy here for providing the smooth movement of the shaft within
bearing housing by reducing the friction.

(ii)Supporting the load

As we know that load will be dependent over the direction and weight, bearings are used for
supporting the loads in each and every engineering application. The shaft will always try to push the
bearing in a direction in which load will move.

(iii)The design of bearing may provide for free linear movement of the moving part or for free
rotation around a fixed axis; or, it may prevent a motion by controlling the vectors of normal forces
that bear on the moving parts. Most bearings facilitate the desired motion by minimizing friction.

3. uses of bearings

The function of bearing is clear then you can use it in different applications for those functions…
(i) To support the shaft,
(ii) To transfer/ To bear the load (radial/ axial/ combined),
(iii) Reduce the friction and improves efficiency of system.
The bearings are used in ceiling fan, gearbox, motors, agitators, mixers, conveyors, cranes and
many more applications…
Wherever there is a rotary motion, you can use rotary bearings.Nowadays, linear bearings are also
available which are used as a bearing surface in linear movements…

4. selection of appropriate bearings

When selecting bearings for any purpose, ultimately you want to be certain of achieving the
required level of equipment performance – and at the lowest possible cost. Robustness also is very
important because the conditions in which your equipment is assembled, operated and maintained
may not be precisely known and may, in fact, vary over time.
In addition to the bearing rating life, there are key factors you must consider when putting together
the bearing specifications for an application, including:
• lubricant and supply method
• shaft and housing fits
• bearing clearance class
• cage material and guidance
• dimensional stability
• precision requirements
• bearing sealing
• mounting method and maintenance