Radial bearings support rotating axial loads by distributing forces along the radius. Deep groove bearings use balls or rollers to evenly distribute loads and can be self-aligning. Materials include steel and ceramic, with hybrid ceramic bearings offering higher speeds. Variations include split and caged designs, as well as self-aligning options with oval profiles.
Radial bearing is a term used to describe a bearing that supports a rotating axial load by distributing the load forces along the radius. In simplest terms, a deep groove bearing supports and keeps a rotating shaft evenly rotating by distributing the load around its inner surface over a series of free-running balls or rollers. These rollers are typically made from hardened steel or ceramic materials and have a very low coefficient of friction. A variety of radial bearing designs are available, including split rings and caged rings, each well-suited to a specific application. Deep groove bearings may also include design features that allow them to be self-aligning and better absorb off-center loads.
Deep groove bearings consist of two raceways which form the inner and outer sliding surfaces for a series of ball or roller elements. The inner bearing race fits tightly on the rotating shaft and the outer race is held static in a specially designed pocket in part of the machine frame. The two races are grooved or shaped on their inner surfaces to accommodate and retain the balls or rollers. When the machine is running, the inner race rotates with the shaft while the outer race remains stationary. The balls or rollers between the races axially support the shaft with very little friction while distributing the loads it carries around the bearing radius.
Various materials are used to build radial bearings. Conventional bearings typically have hardened steel races, balls and rollers to withstand the loads imposed on the bearing. Hybrid ceramic bearings have steel raceways but use balls made of lightweight ceramic material. A ceramic deep groove bearing has lower intrinsic friction between the raceways and balls and requires less energy to maintain rotational speed. As a result, these bearings can withstand operating speeds twenty to forty percent higher than conventional bearings.
The radial bearing design includes variations such as the split roller bearing which allows balls to be added or removed based on application requirements. Caged bearings have the balls or rollers held in place in a brass or steel cage. This allows the bearing to run with fewer balls resulting in less friction. Deep groove ball bearings have internal profiles close to the size of the balls. These bearings can accommodate higher loads but cannot support misaligned loads and shallow groove varieties.
Self-aligning deep groove bearings typically feature double rows of wine barrel-shaped balls or rollers. This type of bearing has internal and external oval profiles which allow for a certain amount of axial displacement. The shape of the bearings and raceways allows the inner race to tilt slightly off axis without displacing the rollers in the outer race. If a misaligned load is applied to the self-aligning radial bearing, it will allow rotation without damage to its balls, rollers or raceways.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
