Flanged bearings come in three types: four-bolt round/square, three-bolt triangular, and two-bolt diamond. They use ball, plain, needle, or roller bearings and can be made of plastic, bronze, or other materials. Flanged bearings support shafts against deflection, vibration, and axial load/movement. The type of bearing used depends on the problem, cost, space, and radial force. Ball bearings provide low-friction rotational motion, plain bearings control linear motion, needle roller bearings provide low profile radial load support, and roller bearings support the largest amount of load but cost more.
A flanged bearing is a bearing mounted in a cast iron flange. There are three basic types of flanged bearings: a round or square flange with four bolts; a triangular three-bolt flange; and a diamond-shaped two-bolt flange. Bearings use one of four types of bearings: ball bearings, plain bearings, needle bearings and roller bearings. There are also plastic, bronze, and other materials used to manufacture the actual bearing that the shaft rides on. A flanged bearing is commonly used to provide support for a shaft that runs perpendicular to the bearing’s mounting surface.
Shafts can create problems when high speeds or heavy loads create shaft deflection, vibration, and axial load or movement. This can be facilitated with the application of a flanged bearing positioned to support the shaft. Depending on shaft length and speed, more than one bearing may be required. Often, the problem determines what type of bearing to use to correct it. Other factors that come into play when choosing a flange bearing are cost, available space, and the amount of radial force that will be exerted on the bearing by the shaft.
The installation of a ball bearing flange is commonly done at the outboard end of the shaft to provide smooth, low-friction rotational motion of the shaft. The extremely small contact area of the ball in this type of bearing does not support the weight of the shaft, nor does the ball bearing fight linear motion. A plain bearing, also known as a bushing, provides a smooth, level surface that aids in the control of linear motion by a shaft. This type of flanged bearing often contains an oil-impregnated, bronze or nylon bushing that does not require frequent oiling or greasing to remain operational.
A flange mounted needle roller bearing provides support against radial loads while also providing a low profile. This type of flange can have grease applied or be maintenance free, which requires no grease for the flange to remain operational. Roller bearing flanges provide radial load support and combat linear motion of the shaft. The larger contact area of the long roller bearing, compared to the ball bearing, allows the flanged roller bearing to support the largest amount of load of all flange types. This comes at a cost, with roller bearings typically costing more than other bearing types.
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