BEARINGS

1. Introduction

Contents

2. Rolling Bearings
3. Rolling Bearing General Classification
4. Brief description of various types of Rolling Bearings
5. General Application Guidelines
6. Radial Internal Clearances
7. Damage Analysis & Troubleshooting
8. Optimizing Bearing Service Life
9. Lubrication and Schedule

Bearing can be defined as:

a device that supports, directs and lessens the
friction of motion that occurs between the machine
parts; one being fixed and the other in motion.
It is also that part of the main machinery that
supports the entire weight.
In the initial days a bearing was an arrangement of
tree trunks laid under sleds. This technology is said
to have been used during the construction of the
Pyramids of Giza. Apart from wood, other material
used as bearings were ceramic, sapphire, glass,
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steel, bronze and plastic.

Bearings General Classification

1. Antifriction bearings that includes the roller
and ball bearing, which function on the
principle of rolling friction.
2. Linear or sliding bearings include journal and
thrust bearings that work on the principle of
sliding friction.
3

Advantages of Rolling bearings over sliding

bearings
The starting friction coefficient is lower and only a
little difference between this and the dynamic
friction coefficient is produced.
Internationally standardized, interchangeable and
readily obtainable.
Ease of lubrication and low lubricant consumption.
As a general rule, one bearing can carry both
radial and axial loads at the same time.
May be used in either high or low temperature
applications.
Bearing rigidity can be improved by preloading.
4

Rolling bearing construction

Generally rolling bearings consist of rings with
raceways (an inner ring and an outer ring), rolling
elements (either balls or rollers) and a rolling
element retainer.
The retainer separates the rolling elements at
regular intervals, holds them in place within the inner
and outer raceways, and allows them to rotate freely.
Rolling elements come in two general shapes:
ball or rollers.
Rollers come in four basic styles: cylindrical, needle,
tapered, and spherical.
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Working of Rolling bearings

While the contact surface of rollers is a line
contact, balls geometrically contact the raceway
surfaces of the inner and outer rings at points.
Theoretically, rolling bearings are so constructed as
to allow the rolling elements to rotate orbitally while
also rotating on their own axes at the same time.
While the rolling elements and the bearing rings take
any load applied to the bearings (at the contact point
between the rolling elements and raceway surfaces),
the retainer takes no direct load. The retainer only
serves to hold the rolling elements at equal
distances from each other and prevent them from
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falling out.

Classification of Rolling bearings

R o llin g b e a r in g s
B a ll b e a r in g s

R o lle r b e a r in g s

D e e p g ro o v e

C y lin d r ic a l

A n g u la r c o n t a c t

N e e d le

T h ru s t

Taper
S p h e r ic a l

Rolling element bearings can be further classified

according to the direction in which the load is applied:
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Radial bearings and Thrust bearings.

Other classification methods include

1. Number of rolling rows (single, multiple, or 4-row),
2.Separable and nonseparable, in which either the
inner ring or the outer ring can be detached.
3.Thrust bearings which can carry axial loads in only
one direction, and double direction thrust bearings
which can carry loads in both directions.
There are also bearings designed for special
applications, such as: railway car journal roller
bearings (RCT bearings), ball screw support bearings,
turntable bearings, as well as rectilinear motion
bearings (linear ball bearings, linear roller bearings
and linear flat roller bearings).
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Radial and thrust bearings

Almost all types of rolling bearings can carry both
radial and axial loads at the same time.
Bearings with a contact angle of less than 45have
a much greater radial load capacity and are classed
as radial bearings;
Bearings which have a contact angle over 45have
a greater axial load capacity and are classed as
thrust bearings.
There are also bearings classed as complex
bearings which combine the loading characteristics
of both radial and thrust bearings.
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Standard bearings and special bearings

Bearings which are internationally standardized for
shape and size are much more economical to use,
as they are interchangeable and available on a
worldwide basis.
However, depending on the type of machine they are
to be used in, and the expected application and
function, a nonstandard or specially designed
bearing may be best to use.
Bearings that are adapted to specific applications,
and unit bearings which are integrated (built-in) into
a machines components, and other specially
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designed bearings are also available.

Radial ball bearings

11

Thrust ball bearings

12

Radial roller bearings

13

Thrust roller bearings

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Bearings No. with respect to various bore sizes and types.

If last 2 digits are 04 and above multiply last two digits by 5 to get bore in mm.
When ID is 500 and above the bearing is represented by last three digits.
Bore
size; d
(mm)

Deep
groove ball
bearing

Selfaligning
ball
bearing

Single row
angular
contact ball
bearing

Double row
angular contact
ball bearing

Four point
contact ball
bearing

Cylindrical
roller
bearing

Spherical
roller
bearing

Tapered
roller

623

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

624

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

625

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

626

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

607, 627

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

608

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

609, 629

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

10

6000

1200E,
2200E

7200BE

3200A

--

--

--

--

12

6001

1201E

7201BE,
7301BE

3201A

--

--

--

--

15

6002

1202E

7202BE

3202A

--

--

--

30302

17

6003

1203E

7203BE

3203A

QJ303

NU2203EC

--

30203

20

6004

1204E

7204BE

3204A

QJ304

NU304EC

21304CC

32004

500

--

--

--

--

--

--

230/500
CA/W33

--

630

--

--

--

--

--

--

230/630
CA/W33

--

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TYPES OF BEARING FOR A GIVEN BORE SIZE

OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND WIDTH

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Single
row
deep
groove
ball
bearing
This bearing consists of inner and outer rings with deep
symmetrical ball race, ways, separator and a compliment of
balls.
It is designed primarily for radial load, but due to its design
features it is capable of carrying equal amount of thrust load in
either direction and is capable of operating at high speed too.
This bearing has the lowest frictional losses and is, therefore
the most widely used among all types of bearings.
Generally, it requires little attention in service. These are
incorporating shields or seals at one or both sides.
Two shields or seals bearings are mainly pre-lubricated
lithium base grease for normal temperature.
Snap ring on the outer groove provides fix location in the
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housing.

20

21

22

DOUBLE ROW ANGULAR CONTACT BALL BEARING

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24

25

26

27

28

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General Application Guidelines

1. Ball bearings are the less expensive choice in
the smaller sizes and under lighter loads.
2. Roller bearings are more satisfactory under
shock or impact loading than ball bearings and
less expensive for larger sizes and heavier
loads.
3. Ball-thrust bearings are for pure thrust loading
only. At high speeds, a deep-groove or angularcontact ball bearing usually will be a better
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choice, even for pure thrust loads.

General Application Guidelines

(Continued)

4. Self-aligning ball bearings and cylindrical roller

bearings have very low friction coefficients.
5. Deep-groove ball bearings are available with
seals built into the bearing so that the bearing
can be pre-lubricated to operate for long periods
reducing maintenance requirements.
6. Careful consideration of speed requirements are
important for proper bearing application design.
Useable speeds are influenced by bearing size,
properties,
lubrication
and
operating
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temperatures.

Ball bearings and Roller bearings

When comparing ball and roller bearings of the same
dimensions, ball bearings exhibit a lower frictional
resistance and lower face run-out in rotation than
roller bearings.
This makes ball bearings more suitable for use in
applications which require high speed, high
precision, low torque and low vibration.
Roller bearings have a larger load carrying capacity
which makes them more suitable for applications
requiring long life and endurance for heavy loads and
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shock loads.

INTERNAL CLEARANCE
In the manufacture of ball bearings, it is standard
practice to assemble rings and balls with a
specified internal clearance. This characteristic is
necessary to absorb the effect of press fitting the
bearing at mounting.
Internal clearance is sometimes utilized to
compensate for thermal expansion of bearings,
shafts and housings, or to provide a contact
angle in the bearing after mounting.
Internal clearance can be measured either by
gaging radially or axially.
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RADIAL INTERNAL CLEARANCE

The radial internal clearance of a radial contact ball
bearing can be defined as the average outer ring
raceway diameter minus the average inner ring
raceway diameter minus twice the ball diameter.
The total movement of the outer ring when the balls
are seated in the raceways, determines the radial
internal clearance. Several readings should be taken
using different circumferential orientations of the
rings in order to get a comprehensive average
reading.
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There is a designation system for indicating the

radial clearance of bearings.
The following designation indicates the magnitude of
clearances:
Designation

Magnitude of clearance

C1

Radial clearance smaller than C2

C2

Radial clearance smaller than normal

CN

Normal Radial clearance

C3

Radial clearance greater than normal

C4

Radial clearance greater than C3

C5

Radial clearance greater than C4

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Bearing Troubleshooting

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Reasons for Bearing Failures

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Optimizing Bearing Service Life

Initial Selection
Handling & Storage
Mounting & Dismounting
Lubrication
Condition Monitoring
Alignment Issues
Inspection & Cleaning
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44

Lubrication
Lubrication is regarded as the blood stream of
the machinery parts. Lubrication therefore forms
a very important aspect of preventive
maintenance and if accomplished properly can
eliminate roughly half of the breakdowns.
Right type of lubricant, right quantity, right frequency
of lubrication and right method of lubrication are
essential parts of effective lubrication programme.
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The choice of Lubricant is determined by:

1.Operating temperature
2.Speed of the bearing
Oil lubrication is generally recommended where
speeds or temperatures are high, when heat is to be
conducted away from the bearing, or where
adjacent machine components are oil lubricated.
Under normal operating conditions grease can
normally be used. It is more easily retained in the
bearing arrangement than oil and also serves to
protect the bearing against moisture and
impurities.
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Types of greases
Lubricating greases are oils which contain
thickeners, generally in the form of metallic soaps.
When selecting suitable grease it is necessary to
consider the consistency, operating temperature
range and rust inhibiting properties.
Consistency is classified according to the National
Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) scale.
Generally speaking, metallic soap base greases of
consistency 1,2 or 3 may be used for roller bearings.
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Temperatures limits for different greases

Calcium base greases

+ 600C

Sodium base greases

- 300C + 800C

Lithium base greases

- 300C + 1100C

A no. of different types of high temperature

greases are available for temperatures in excess of
+ 1200C.
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Relubrication Interval
A diagram based on lubrication using an ageresistant grease of normal quality may be used as a
guide to determine the re-lubrication interval in
hours.
The diagram is valid for stationary machines,
normal bearing loads and operating temperatures up
to + 700C, measured at the bearing outer ring.
For every 150C increase in temperature above +
700C, the re-lubrication interval must be reduced by
half, but the upper temperature limit for the grease
must not be exceeded.
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Relubrication Interval
Hours of operation

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Requisite grease quantity

Where no recommendations are available, the
quantity of grease to be used can be calculated
from the equation
G = 0.005 D B
Where,
G = Grease quantity in gms
D = Bearing outside diameter in mm
B = Bearing width in mm
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