WHAT ARE BEARINGS?

BEARINGS are highly engineered,

precision-made components that enable
the machinery to move at extremely HIGH
SPEEDS and CARRY REMARKABLE
LOADS with ease and efficiency.
 A BEARING is a device that is used to
enable ROTATIONAL or LINEAR MOVEMENT.
BASIC PARTS
OF A BEARING
1. INNER RING / INNER RACE:
Is the SMALLER of the two
bearing rings.
Has a groove on its outer diameter
to form a pathway for the balls.
The surface of outside diameter
path is finished to extremely tight
tolerances.
Is mounted on the shaft.
BEARING NUMBER (SKF)
2. OUTER RING / OUTER RACE:
Is the LARGER of the two
bearing rings.
Has a groove on its inside
diameter to form a pathway for
the balls.
Also has the same high
precision finish of the inner
ring.
The outer ring is usually held
stationery.
3. ROLLING ELEMENT
Separation of the inner ring and outer ring permits the
bearing to rotate with minimal friction.
The most common material used to produce the load
carrying components in precision ball bearings, roller
bearings, and tapered roller bearings is 52100
chrome steel.
4. CAGE (RETAINER):
 It maintains constant spacing between the inner and outer
rings, to accurately guide the balls in the path during
rotation and to prevent the balls of bearing from falling
out.
OTHER ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS
*SHIELDS:
Is a stamped, profiled sheet metal disc.
Shield is pressed into a very small groove on the
inside edge diameter of the outer ring.
A small space or gap remains open between the
outside diameter of the inner ring and shield.
*SEALS:
Is also inserted into the very small groove on the
inside edge diameter of the outer ring.
The inner edge of the seal is molded into a
specifically designed lip configuration.
EXPLODED VIEW
OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF
BEARINGS
TYPES OF
BEARINGS
1. SPHERICAL ROLLER BEARING
Spherical roller bearings (SRB) are popular
because they can take very heavy loads and
are self-aligning. Their design allows them to
take combined loads in both the radial and
axial direction acting together.
2. CYLINDRICAL ROLLER BEARING
Cylindrical Roller Bearings are bearing in which
cylinders are used as the rolling elements as
opposed to balls in ball bearings. They have the
capability to withstand heavy radial load capacity
and are suitable for high speeds.
3. TAPERED ROLLER BEARING
Tapered roller bearings feature tapered inner and outer ring
raceways with tapered rollers arranged between them, angled
so the surface of the rollers converge at the axis of the
bearing. These bearings are unique in that, unlike most
bearings that can handle either axial or radial loads, they can
handle large amounts of load in both directions.
4. BALL BEARING
The function of a ball bearing is to connect
two machine members that move relative to one another in
such a manner that the frictional resistance to motion is
minimal. In many applications one of the members is a
rotating shaft and the other a fixed housing.
5. NEEDLE ROLLER BEARINGS
A needle roller bearing is a bearing that uses small
cylindrical rollers. These rollers are used to reduce
friction of a rotating surface. Compared to ball
bearings, needle roller bearings have a large
surface area that is in contact with the bearing
raceway journals.
CLASSIFICATION
OF BEARINGS
ACCORDING TO
LOAD
APPLICATIONS
 1. RADIAL BEARING
- Generally, bearings with a contact angle of less
than 45°have a much greater radial load capacity and are
classed as radial bearings. Bearings are designed to
withstand forces that are perpendicular to the direction of
the shaft, or radial loads.
2. THRUST BEARING
- Bearings which have a contact angle over 45°have a greater
axial load capacity and are classed as thrust bearings. It is designed to
withstand force in the same direction as the shaft. This is called an axial
load, or thrust load. In some applications, ceramic bearings, a type
of radial bearing, are used to withstand high rotational speeds. The rolling
elements are ceramic, which is significantly lighter than steel. This
reduces the centrifugal force within ceramic bearings at high speeds.
There are also bearings classed as complex bearings which combine the
loading characteristics of both radial and thrust bearings.
3. GUIDE BEARING
- Are a family of special bearings tailored to meet
application requirements. These bearings must be able to
accommodate heavy radial loads, withstand heavy shock
loads, and handle overturning moments produced by
combined radial and thrust loads. Special lubricants are
selected to meet the rigorous demands of industrial truck
service. To retain the lubricant and protect the bearing from
adverse environmental conditions, the bearings are equipped
with either synthetic rubber or polypropylene seals.
1. SURFACE FATIGUE
Surface fatigue is associated with lube oil
problems such as inadequate lubrication, low
viscosity and interruptions of the lubrication
film.
2. SPALLING
Spalling is similar to surface fatigue; but
unlike fatigue, spalling might simply indicate
that the bearing has reached the end of its
fatigue life.
3. ABRASION
Abrasion, removes metal and destroys the
original ground surfaces of rolling elements.
4. ATMOSPHERIC CORROSION
Corrosion is caused by moisture in the
bearing. Air can carry moisture into the
bearing and precipitation can form on the
bearing when the surrounding air cools.
5. FRETTING
Fretting looks much like rust. It occurs in
bores, on shafts, and on other mating
surfaces. It is caused by slight movements
under load.
6. TRUE BRINELLING
True brinelling consists of indentations in the
races. These are plastic deformations of the
metal grinding marks, and the marks are still
visible in the dents.
7. FALSE BRINELLING
Looks similar to true brinelling, but occurs
through vibrations, not necessarily excessive
load.
8. ELECTRICAL DAMAGE
Electrical pitting often develops in a regular
pattern over race and rolling element
surfaces as a result of electrical current
passing through the bearing.
9. SMEARING
Smearing is the result of metal being
removed from one bearing surface and
deposited on another. Smearing is caused by
sliding that occurs under heavy load and with
insufficient lubrication.
10. SCORING
Scoring is abrasive wear that takes the form
of deep scratches in the rolling elements and
races. Scoring is caused by relatively large
particles of material that become trapped in
the bearing.
11. DEBRIS DENTING
Debris denting occurs while the bearing is
running. Foreign matter is actually rolled into
the races by balls or rollers, leading to
random dents.
12. OVERHEATING
The heat is often caused by lack of
lubrication, friction from a race turning on the
shaft or in the housing, or excessive speed.
13. ASSEMBLY DAMAGE
It takes place when the bearing is forced into
the shafting, causing the rollers to indent the
metal.
14. MISALIGNMENT
Misalignment of a shaft, coupling or the
bearing itself, can result in high axial loads
which cause fatigue failure and heavy
chipping.
15. UNBALANCE LOADING
Unbalance can account for most of the total
load on bearings; and when this unbalance
is excessive this can cause bearing failures
as shown.
16. FRACTURES
Fractured bearings often result from
extremely high overloads.
17. RETAINER FAILURES
Retainer failures, often lead to ring fracture
or failure. This leads to catastrophic bearing
failure.
 4 VIBRATION SOURCES
1. Rotational Frequencies
Rotational frequencies generated by a
defective bearing do not occur at integral multiples
of shaft.
1a. Cage
1b. Ball or Roller
1c. Ball passing frequency for the outer race
1d. Ball passing frequency for the inner race
 4 VIBRATION SOURCES
2. Natural Frequencies
It is the momentary impact between the
rolling elements and bearing raceways can excite
the natural frequencies of the machine structure
and various bearing components
 4 VIBRATION SOURCES
3. Sum and Difference Frequencies
A single defect on either the inner or outer
race of a bearing generates a ball-pass frequency.
 4 VIBRATION SOURCES
4. High Frequency Random Vibration
When bearing deterioration takes the form of
a surface fatigue, abrasion, or similar trouble, the
vibrations that are generated are typically high
frequency random vibrations.