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Applications Of Roller Bearing In Heavy Machinery

The roller bearing is used in the mobilization of machinery to reduce friction between moving parts. The different types of roller bearings are used in heavy-duty machinery that supports radial, axial and thrust loads. This blog discusses various applications where roller bearings are used in heavy machinery.  The bearings are made to support complex mechanical systems and their vitality can be observed in their application in a multitude of machinery. Be it automobiles, aeronautics, railways, earthmoving or agriculture, the roller bearings can be used perfectly to match the needs of different heavy-duty applications.  While referring particularly to a roller bearing, they are designed in such a way to support performance in those applications where there are large axial and radial loads. The Roller Bearings consist of the outer ring, inner ring, and a window cage which works as a holder for the rollers.

Design of Roller Bearing – Supporting Heavy Machinery

Roller Bearing helps in support the large radial and axial loads in heavy-duty machinery. This works in one direction to guide the axial loads while complimenting bearings are also used simultaneously to support the load in other directions. These types of bearings can be widely used in those conditions where the temperature may vary between -30 degrees celsius to 120 degrees Celsius.

Applications of Roller Bearings in Heavy Machinery

There can be varied types of Heavy Machinery that might require heavy-duty applications. Here are some of the applications of roller bearings in heavy machinery:
  • Wind Turbine Generators for Energy Generation – Wind Turbine generators are usually installed in high-altitude areas which require a reliable bearing solution that can operate within the high-performance wind turbines in high-speed winds. In such conditions, the tapered roller bearing and spherical roller bearings can be installed in the main shaft of the wind turbine that receives the force and can pass on the rotation to the generator.
  • Use of Roller Bearing in Agriculture Machinery – The agriculture industry also demands heavy-duty machinery as it has to deal with heavy-duty applications on a day-to-day basis. While these applications range in a multitude of high-performance tasks, the bearings must be reliable and long-lasting as they have to be used in heavy dirt and mud conditions which might also impact the bearing life. The roller bearings are one such perfect solution that can be used in varied tasks which might require heavy radial or axial loads and they can get the work done with ease. The common type of bearing used in the agriculture industry is a tapered roller bearing.
  • Construction and Heavy Machinery – The construction industry requires varied earth-moving equipment for a high range of heavy-duty tasks. While there can be varied challenges while dealing with the applications of construction, the bearings are usually exposed to excessive working conditions as machines have to be deployed for high-performance tasks. In order to meet this demand, there is a need for different types of roller bearings such as spherical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, etc. which are designed to deliver the desired performance.
  • Use of Roller Bearings in Railways – The railways are considered one of the most reliable modes of transport worldwide. While there are different systems, trains, and tracks connected over wide networks, heavy-duty machines are used to facilitate day-to-day operations. The bearings in the railway industry are used in traction motors, drive units, wheel axles, etc. While the bearings have to work in extreme conditions of carrying heavy loads and adapting to high vibrations in drive units, varied roller bearings like tapered and spherical roller bearings are also widely used to support the mechanical system. Since the railway network is now moving towards high-speed trains, the roller bearings are also designed especially for double helical gears which can work for a longer duration without the need for lubrication.
  • Use of Spherical Roller Bearings in Marine Propulsion  – Marine propulsion can be referred to as a thrust system that is used to move a boat or a giant ship. While this is also considered in the category of heavy-duty application, the diesel engine of the ship is linked to the propeller which facilitates the movement through a complex system. Here, roller bearings can be used within the shaft or different mechanical systems as there can be conditions where the bearing has to adjust to radial or axial load while also complying with the scope of heavy misalignment. These kinds of bearings are designed to handle one-directional axial load and radial load at the same time while allowing shaft misalignment.
Conclusion While heavy-duty applications use bearings within the machinery, the complex working conditions can make bearings tough to work as desired. In such cases, the different types of roller bearings are used to facilitate high-performance working conditions ensuring the reliability and longevity of bearings in multiple ways.
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All You Need to Know About Spherical Roller Bearing

Spherical Roller Bearing is designed to handle heavy-duty operations with higher loadbearing capacity and efficiency. This blog talks about various aspects to help you understand better about Spherical Roller Bearing.

The term “spherical roller bearing” refers to a type of rolling element bearing with spherical rollers that operate on the principle of rolling contact without sliding or fretting. The bearing can be used for many applications where radial loading is required. It can be classified as either a single row or double row depending upon whether it has one or two rows of balls between its inner ring and outer ring. These bearings have been widely applied in various industries including automobile, aerospace, wind energy generation, construction equipment, mining, off-road vehicles, marine, automotive transmission and agriculture sectors.

Spherical Roller Bearing - Designed for Heavy Loads

The term “spherical roller bearing” refers to a type of rolling-element bearing with spherical rollers that operate on the principle of rolling contact without sliding or fretting. The bearing can be used for many applications where radial loading is required. It can be classified as either a single row or double row depending upon whether it has one or two rows of balls between its inner ring and outer ring. These bearings have been widely applied in various industries including automobile, aerospace, wind energy generation, construction equipment, mining, off-road vehicles, marine, automotive transmission and agriculture sectors.

Spherical Roller Bearing Is Built For Tolerances

The major purpose of bearings is to prevent friction between the loads and there can be conditions when the bearing has to tolerate the misalignment due to the design and specification of machine operation. It can be bent shaft rotation where the shaft may deflect due to the increase in potential load or operation. In such cases, the spherical roller bearing comes as a savior to solve numerous challenges of manufacturing tolerances. Due to its unique design and efficiency, the spherical roller bearing can work quite well where the ball bearings might not work as optimum.

What are the Different Types Of Spherical Roller Bearing?

There are two types of Spherical Roller Bearing which are as follows:

  • Spherical Roller – These types of bearings have the ability to adapt well to heavy radial loading. As in terms of design, they are barrel-shaped, they can bear possible angular errors and misalignments that can happen in the case of heavy-duty machinery due to higher load. Referring to the practical application, they can tolerate the conditions of misalignment between housing and shaft making it possible to attain parallelism without the scope of errors and breakdown.
  • Spherical Roller Thrust – The Spherical Roller Thrust bearings come with an asymmetrical barrel shape roller that makes it capable to adjust well with a higher load and speed. The main application of this bearing is to maintain the higher capacity of thrust along with continuous alignment. In terms of its manufacturing and design, these bearings also result in a lesser fraction.

What Are The Features and Advantages of Spherical Roller Bearing?

The Spherical Bearings do offer greater benefits to their counterparts such as Ball Bearings whose applications and operating efficiency are limited. Since it is unique in terms of build quality, resistance, and design, the spherical roller bearings are widely used in high-performance and heavy-duty applications.

Here are various features which are as follows:

  • Self-Aligning Feature – Spherical roller bearings have the capability to self-align themselves during operation. The inner race can be adjusted until it is perfectly centred on the outer race. No special tools are required for this process and the bearing itself is designed in such a way as to maintain its state
  • Low Bearing Diameter – Spherical rollers require less bearing diameter than other types of ball bearings. For example, when using an 8 mm bearing, you will only need 4 mm between your inner and outer races.
  • High Load Capacity – Spherical roller bearings are designed to handle higher load capacities than other bearings. They also offer superior performance under adverse operating conditions such as temperature variations or vibration.
  • Continuous Alignment – Spherical roller bearings maintain their alignment throughout the life cycle of the bearing. Unlike tapered roller bearings which must be realigned after each use, spherical roller bearings can continue to operate without any maintenance
  • Extremely Smooth Operation – Spherical roller bearings provide extremely smooth operations due to their unique design. They are designed to deliver utmost efficiency in any kind of machine or equipment to power smooth operation.
  • Easy Maintenance – Spherical roller bearings require little maintenance compared to other types of bearings. You just need to clean out the grease once every six months.
  • Ideal For Heavy Duty Applications – Spherical roller bearings are often used in applications where there is a requirement for heavy-duty operation. These include earthmoving equipment, mining machines, industrial machinery, construction vehicles, marine vessels, wind turbines, and so on.

Understanding Application Of Spherical Roller Bearing

The Spherical Roller Bearings can be used in conditions or machinery where the load you need to carry exceeds the load rating of other types of bearings, such as ball bearings. The outer ring has two rows of rolling elements separated by a radial gap. These rolling elements contact the inner race surface at both ends. Because there is no separate cage or retainer, the rolling elements can move freely within the radial gap. As the spherical roller rotates, they will always be aligned on their axis of rotation; therefore, they do not require any special alignment method.

List of Industries Using Roller Bearing

Roller bearings find widespread use across a variety of industry segments due to their ability to handle heavy loads, high speeds, and diverse operating conditions. Here’s a list of industry segments where roller bearings are commonly employed:

  1. Automotive Industry: Roller bearings are extensively used in automotive applications such as wheel hubs, transmissions, engines, steering systems, and suspension systems.
  2. Industrial Machinery: Roller bearings are crucial components in industrial machinery including machine tools, conveyors, pumps, compressors, gearboxes, printing presses, and textile machinery.
  3. Aerospace Industry: Roller bearings are utilized in aircraft engines, landing gear systems, flight control mechanisms, and various other aerospace applications due to their reliability and performance under extreme conditions.
  4. Construction Equipment: Roller bearings are found in construction equipment like cranes, excavators, loaders, bulldozers, and compactors, where they facilitate smooth operation and withstand heavy loads.
  5. Railway Industry: Roller bearings are used in railway applications such as locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, and rail infrastructure components to support wheels, axles, and rotating mechanisms.
  6. Mining and Quarrying: Roller bearings are employed in mining equipment such as crushers, screens, conveyors, and drills, where they endure heavy loads, shock, and vibration.
  7. Power Generation: Roller bearings are used in power generation equipment such as turbines, generators, and wind turbines to support rotating shafts and ensure efficient energy conversion.
  8. Marine Industry: Roller bearings are utilized in marine applications such as ship propulsion systems, steering systems, winches, and deck machinery, where they withstand harsh environmental conditions.
  9. Renewable Energy: Roller bearings are critical components in renewable energy systems like wind turbines and solar trackers, supporting rotor shafts and ensuring smooth operation for optimal energy production.
  10. Steel and Metal Processing: Roller bearings are essential in steel mills, metal processing plants, and forging operations where they support heavy rotating machinery and equipment.

These are just a few examples of the diverse range of industry segments where roller bearings are widely used, highlighting their importance in modern manufacturing, transportation, and infrastructure.

Conclusion

The Spherical Roller Bearing is a great solution for industries that require heavy-duty tolerance and load in terms of bearings. It not only meets the demand for modern mechanized machinery but makes operations efficient and optimal to carry heavy loads.