Everything You Should Ever Know About a Thrust Roller Bearing

Thrust Roller Bearing | Img Source : miro.medium.com

The performance of a machine to a great extent depends on a bearing design. When it comes to bearings, there are two common types, such as roller bearings and ball bearings. Though both of them are used to handle loads while reducing friction, there are some differences that make them stand apart. One of the primary differences is the rolling elements, where cylindrical-shaped ones are used in roller bearings, while balls are used in ball bearings.

The barrel-shaped rolling elements help transmit loads and keep the moving parts of the roller bearings separate. These rollers are found in single or multiple rows to considerably enhance the radial load capacity. Their different shapes further assist in minimizing friction and handling both axial and radial loads.

What Makes Roller Thrust Bearings the Most Preferred Bearings?

The use of thrust roller bearings is typically found in areas where higher loads are to be handled; nevertheless, they are largely used in applications with low-speed operations. You can find a thrust roller bearing designed to handle misalignment, shaft displacement, and any mounting issues. Their self-aligning feature, as well as their self-lubrication system, helps minimize maintenance costs and any repair needs.

To support various industrial applications, a roller thrust bearing is used in different types, shapes, series, and dimensions. You can also customize the design and sizes to use in some special situations. Some design variations can be exercised by using cages, flanges, and multiple rows to enhance performance and meet specific needs.

Get to Know Some Popular Types of Thrust Roller Bearings

Though there are innumerable types of roller thrust bearings, few of them are quite popular owing to their wider usage in applications. The taper roller bearing has found its way into a variety of applications that ask for supporting both radial and thrust loads. A significant characteristic of this bearing is it handles only unidirectional axial loads and to have it otherwise, you need a laterally reversed bearing.

There are different types of tapered roller bearings and some of the typical ones are explained below.

• Single-Row Tapered Roller Bearings: They are so designed to accommodate a true rolling action and reduce frictional moments when the machine is in operation. These bearings are known to handle combined loads, simultaneously acting axial and radial loads. They have high operational reliability and extended service life.

• Double-Row Tapered Roller Bearings: They come in different design variants to not only help support axial loads in two directions but also handle heavy radial loads. A double-row taper roller bearing is mainly used in rolling mills, gearboxes, the mining industry, and hoisting equipment.

The installation of these bearings allows you to have higher efficiency and durability. Thus, your choice of a thrust roller bearing depends on its use in applications.