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Bearing(mechanical)
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Abearingisamachineelementthatconstrainsrelativemotion
toonlythedesiredmotion,andreducesfrictionbetweenmoving
parts.Thedesignofthebearingmay,forexample,providefor
freelinearmovementofthemovingpartorforfreerotation
aroundafixedaxisor,itmaypreventamotionbycontrolling
thevectorsofnormalforcesthatbearonthemovingparts.Many
bearingsalsofacilitatethedesiredmotionasmuchaspossible,
suchasbyminimizingfriction.Bearingsareclassifiedbroadly
accordingtothetypeofoperation,themotionsallowed,ortothe
directionsoftheloads(forces)appliedtotheparts.
Theterm"bearing"isderivedfromtheverb"tobear"[1]a
bearingbeingamachineelementthatallowsoneparttobear
(i.e.,tosupport)another.Thesimplestbearingsarebearing
Ballbearing
surfaces,cutorformedintoapart,withvaryingdegreesof
controlovertheform,size,roughnessandlocationofthesurface.
Otherbearingsareseparatedevicesinstalledintoamachineormachinepart.Themostsophisticated
bearingsforthemostdemandingapplicationsareveryprecisedevicestheirmanufacturerequiressome
ofthehigheststandardsofcurrenttechnology.

Contents
1History
1.1Industrialera
2Common
3Principlesofoperation
4Motions
5Friction
6Loads
7Speeds
8Play
9Stiffness
10Servicelife
10.1L10life
10.2Externalfactors
11Maintenanceandlubrication
11.1Rollingelementbearingouterracefaultdetection
11.2Packing
11.3Ringoiler
11.4Splashlubrication
11.5Pressurelubrication
12Types
13Seealso
14References
15Externallinks

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History
Theinventionoftherollingbearing,intheformofwoodenrollers
supporting,orbearing,anobjectbeingmovedisofgreatantiquity,and
maypredatetheinventionofthewheel.
ThoughitisoftenclaimedthattheEgyptiansusedrollerbearingsinthe
formoftreetrunksundersleds,[2]thisismodernspeculation.[3]Theyare
depictedintheirowndrawingsinthetombofDjehutihotep[4]as
movingmassivestoneblocksonsledgeswithliquidlubricatedrunners
whichwouldconstituteaplainbearing.TherearealsoEgyptian
drawingsofbearingsusedwithhanddrills.[5]

Taperedrollerbearing

Theearliestrecoveredexampleofarollingelementbearingisa
woodenballbearingsupportingarotatingtablefromtheremains
oftheRomanNemishipsinLakeNemi,Italy.Thewreckswere
datedto40BC.[6][7]
LeonardodaVinciincorporateddrawingsofballbearingsinhis
designforahelicopteraroundtheyear1500.Thisisthefirst
recordeduseofbearingsinanaerospacedesign.However,
DrawingofLeonardodaVinci
AgostinoRamelliisthefirsttohavepublishedsketchesofroller
(14521519)Studyofaballbearing
[2]
andthrustbearings. Anissuewithballandrollerbearingsis
thattheballsorrollersrubagainsteachothercausingadditionalfrictionwhichcanbepreventedby
enclosingtheballsorrollersinacage.Thecaptured,orcaged,ballbearingwasoriginallydescribedby
Galileointhe17thcentury.
Thefirstpracticalcagedrollerbearingwasinventedinthemid1740sbyhorologistJohnHarrisonfor
hisH3marinetimekeeper.ThisusesthebearingforaverylimitedoscillatingmotionbutHarrisonalso
usedasimilarbearinginatrulyrotaryapplicationinacontemporaneousregulatorclock.

Industrialera
ThefirstmodernrecordedpatentonballbearingswasawardedtoPhilipVaughan,aBritishinventorand
ironmasterwhocreatedthefirstdesignforaballbearinginCarmarthenin1794.Hiswasthefirst
modernballbearingdesign,withtheballrunningalongagrooveintheaxleassembly.[8]
BearingsplayedapivotalroleinthenascentIndustrialRevolution,allowingthenewindustrial
machinerytooperateefficiently.Forexample,theysawuseforholdingwheelandaxletogreatlyreduce
frictionoverthatofdragginganobjectbymakingthefrictionactoverashorterdistanceasthewheel
turned.
Thefirstplainandrollingelementbearingswerewoodcloselyfollowedbybronze.Overtheirhistory
bearingshavebeenmadeofmanymaterialsincludingceramic,sapphire,glass,steel,bronze,other
metalsandplastic(e.g.,nylon,polyoxymethylene,polytetrafluoroethylene,andUHMWPE)whichare
allusedtoday.
Watchmakersproduce"jeweled"watchesusingsapphireplainbearingstoreducefrictionthusallowing
moreprecisetimekeeping.

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Evenbasicmaterialscanhavegooddurability.Asexamples,woodenbearingscanstillbeseentodayin
oldclocksorinwatermillswherethewaterprovidescoolingandlubrication.
Thefirstpatentforaradialstyleballbearingwasawardedto
JulesSuriray,aParisianbicyclemechanic,on3August1869.
Thebearingswerethenfittedtothewinningbicycleriddenby
JamesMooreintheworld'sfirstbicycleroadrace,ParisRouen,
inNovember1869.[9]
In1883,FriedrichFischer,founderofFAG,developedan
approachformillingandgrindingballsofequalsizeandexact
roundnessbymeansofasuitableproductionmachineand
formedthefoundationforcreationofanindependentbearing
industry.
Themodern,selfaligningdesignofballbearingisattributedto
SvenWingquistoftheSKFballbearingmanufacturerin1907,
whenhewasawardedSwedishpatentNo.25406onitsdesign.

EarlyTimkentaperedrollerbearing
withnotchedrollers

HenryTimken,a19thcenturyvisionaryandinnovatorincarriagemanufacturing,patentedthetapered
rollerbearingin1898.Thefollowingyearheformedacompanytoproducehisinnovation.Overa
centurythecompanygrewtomakebearingsofalltypes,includingspecialtysteelandanarrayofrelated
productsandservices.
ErichFrankeinventedandpatentedthewireracebearingin1934.Hisfocuswasonabearingdesign
withacrosssectionassmallaspossibleandwhichcouldbeintegratedintotheenclosingdesign.After
WorldWarIIhefoundedtogetherwithGerhardHeydrichthecompanyFranke&HeydrichKG(today
FrankeGmbH)topushthedevelopmentandproductionofwireracebearings.
RichardStribecksextensiveresearch[10][11]onballbearingsteelsidentifiedthemetallurgyofthe
commonlyused100Cr6(AISI52100)[12]showingcoefficientoffrictionasafunctionofpressure.
Designedin1968andlaterpatentedin1972,BishopWisecarver'scofounderBudWisecarvercreated
veegroovebearingguidewheels,atypeoflinearmotionbearingconsistingofbothanexternaland
internal90degreeveeangle.[13]
Intheearly1980s,PacificBearing'sfounder,RobertSchroeder,inventedthefirstbimaterialplain
bearingwhichwassizeinterchangeablewithlinearballbearings.Thisbearinghadametalshell
(aluminum,steelorstainlesssteel)andalayerofTeflonbasedmaterialconnectedbyathinadhesive
layer.[14]
Todayballandrollerbearingsareusedinmanyapplicationswhichincludearotatingcomponent.
Examplesincludeultrahighspeedbearingsindentaldrills,aerospacebearingsintheMarsRover,
gearboxandwheelbearingsonautomobiles,flexurebearingsinopticalalignmentsystems,bicycle
wheelhubs,andairbearingsusedinCoordinatemeasuringmachines.

Common
Byfar,themostcommonbearingistheplainbearing,abearingwhichusessurfacesinrubbingcontact,
oftenwithalubricantsuchas OIL orgraphite.Aplainbearingmayormaynotbeadiscretedevice.It
maybenothingmorethanthebearingsurfaceofaholewithashaftpassingthroughit,orofaplanar
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surfacethatbearsanother(inthesecases,notadiscretedevice)oritmaybealayerofbearingmetal
eitherfusedtothesubstrate(semidiscrete)orintheformofaseparablesleeve(discrete).Withsuitable
lubrication,plainbearingsoftengiveentirelyacceptableaccuracy,life,andfrictionatminimalcost.
Therefore,theyareverywidelyused.
However,therearemanyapplicationswhereamoresuitablebearingcanimproveefficiency,accuracy,
serviceintervals,reliability,speedofoperation,size,weight,andcostsofpurchasingandoperating
machinery.
Thus,therearemanytypesofbearings,withvaryingshape,material,lubrication,principleofoperation,
andsoon.

Principlesofoperation
Thereareatleast6commonprinciplesofoperation:
Plainbearing,alsoknownbythespecificstyles:bushing,
journalbearing,sleevebearing,riflebearing
Rollingelementbearingsuchasballbearingsandroller
bearings
Jewelbearing,inwhichtheloadiscarriedbyrollingthe
axleslightlyoffcenter
Fluidbearing,inwhichtheloadiscarriedbyagasor
liquid
Magneticbearing,inwhichtheloadiscarriedbya
magneticfield
Flexurebearing,inwhichthemotionissupportedbya
loadelementwhichbends.

Motions

Animationofballbearing(withouta
cage).Theinnerringrotatesandthe
outerringisstationary.

Commonmotionspermittedbybearingsare:
axialrotatione.g.shaftrotation
linearmotione.g.drawer
sphericalrotatione.g.ballandsocketjoint
hingemotione.g.door,elbow,knee

Friction
Reducingfrictioninbearingsisoftenimportantforefficiency,toreducewearandtofacilitateextended
useathighspeedsandtoavoidoverheatingandprematurefailureofthebearing.Essentially,abearing
canreducefrictionbyvirtueofitsshape,byitsmaterial,orbyintroducingandcontainingafluid
betweensurfacesorbyseparatingthesurfaceswithanelectromagneticfield.
Byshape,gainsadvantageusuallybyusingspheresorrollers,orbyformingflexurebearings.
Bymaterial,exploitsthenatureofthebearingmaterialused.(Anexamplewouldbeusing
plasticsthathavelowsurfacefriction.)
Byfluid,exploitsthelowviscosityofalayeroffluid,suchasalubricantorasapressurized
mediumtokeepthetwosolidpartsfromtouching,orbyreducingthenormalforcebetweenthem.
Byfields,exploitselectromagneticfields,suchasmagneticfields,tokeepsolidpartsfrom
touching.
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Combinationsofthesecanevenbeemployedwithinthesamebearing.Anexampleofthisiswherethe
cageismadeofplastic,anditseparatestherollers/balls,whichreducefrictionbytheirshapeandfinish.

Loads
Bearingsvarygreatlyoverthesizeanddirectionsofforcesthattheycansupport.
Forcescanbepredominatelyradial,axial(thrustbearings)orbendingmomentsperpendiculartothe
mainaxis.

Speeds
Differentbearingtypeshavedifferentoperatingspeedlimits.Speedistypicallyspecifiedasmaximum
relativesurfacespeeds,oftenspecifiedft/sorm/s.Rotationalbearingstypicallydescribeperformancein
termsoftheproductDNwhereDisthemeandiameter(ofteninmm)ofthebearingandNistherotation
rateinrevolutionsperminute.
Generallythereisconsiderablespeedrangeoverlapbetweenbearingtypes.Plainbearingstypically
handleonlylowerspeeds,rollingelementbearingsarefaster,followedbyfluidbearingsandfinally
magneticbearingswhicharelimitedultimatelybycentripetalforceovercomingmaterialstrength.

Play
Someapplicationsapplybearingloadsfromvaryingdirectionsandacceptonlylimitedplayor"slop"as
theappliedloadchanges.Onesourceofmotionisgapsor"play"inthebearing.Forexample,a10mm
shaftina12mmholehas2mmplay.
Allowableplayvariesgreatlydependingontheuse.Asexample,awheelbarrowwheelsupportsradial
andaxialloads.Axialloadsmaybehundredsofnewtonsforceleftorright,anditistypicallyacceptable
forthewheeltowobblebyasmuchas10mmunderthevaryingload.Incontrast,alathemaypositiona
cuttingtoolto0.02mmusingaballleadscrewheldbyrotatingbearings.Thebearingssupportaxial
loadsofthousandsofnewtonsineitherdirection,andmustholdtheballleadscrewto0.002mmacross
thatrangeofloads

Stiffness
Asecondsourceofmotioniselasticityinthebearingitself.Forexample,theballsinaballbearingare
likestiffrubber,andunderloaddeformfromroundtoaslightlyflattenedshape.Theraceisalsoelastic
anddevelopsaslightdentwheretheballpressesonit.
Thestiffnessofabearingishowthedistancebetweenthepartswhichareseparatedbythebearing
varieswithappliedload.Withrollingelementbearingsthisisduetothestrainoftheballandrace.With
fluidbearingsitisduetohowthepressureofthefluidvarieswiththegap(whencorrectlyloaded,fluid
bearingsaretypicallystifferthanrollingelementbearings).

Servicelife
Fluidandmagneticbearings
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Fluidandmagneticbearingscanhavepracticallyindefiniteservicelives.Inpractice,therearefluid
bearingssupportinghighloadsinhydroelectricplantsthathavebeeninnearlycontinuousservicesince
about1900andwhichshownosignsofwear.
Rollingelementbearings
Rollingelementbearinglifeisdeterminedbyload,temperature,maintenance,lubrication,material
defects,contamination,handling,installationandotherfactors.Thesefactorscanallhaveasignificant
effectonbearinglife.Forexample,theservicelifeofbearingsinoneapplicationwasextended
dramaticallybychanginghowthebearingswerestoredbeforeinstallationanduse,asvibrationsduring
storagecausedlubricantfailureevenwhentheonlyloadonthebearingwasitsownweight[15]the
resultingdamageisoftenfalsebrinelling.Bearinglifeisstatistical:severalsamplesofagivenbearing
willoftenexhibitabellcurveofservicelife,withafewsamplesshowingsignificantlybetterorworse
life.Bearinglifevariesbecausemicroscopicstructureandcontaminationvarygreatlyevenwhere
macroscopicallytheyseemidentical.

L10life
Bearingsareoftenspecifiedtogivean"L10"life(outsidetheUSA,itmaybereferredtoas"B10"life.)
Thisisthelifeatwhichtenpercentofthebearingsinthatapplicationcanbeexpectedtohavefaileddue
toclassicalfatiguefailure(andnotanyothermodeoffailurelikelubricationstarvation,wrongmounting
etc.),or,alternatively,thelifeatwhichninetypercentwillstillbeoperating.TheL10lifeofthebearing
istheoreticallifeandmaynotrepresentservicelifeofthebearing.BearingsarealsoratedusingC0
(staticloading)value.Thisisthebasicloadratingasareference,andnotanactualloadvalue.
Plainbearings
Forplainbearingssomematerialsgivemuchlongerlifethanothers.SomeoftheJohnHarrisonclocks
stilloperateafterhundredsofyearsbecauseofthelignumvitaewoodemployedintheirconstruction,
whereashismetalclocksareseldomrunduetopotentialwear.
Flexurebearings
Flexurebearingsrelyonelasticpropertiesofmaterial.Flexurebearingsbendapieceofmaterial
repeatedly.Somematerialsfailafterrepeatedbending,evenatlowloads,butcarefulmaterialselection
andbearingdesigncanmakeflexurebearinglifeindefinite.
Shortlifebearings
Althoughlongbearinglifeisoftendesirable,itissometimesnotnecessary.TedricA.Harrisdescribesa
bearingforarocketmotoroxygenpumpthatgaveseveralhourslife,farinexcessoftheseveraltensof
minuteslifeneeded.[15]

Externalfactors
Theservicelifeofthebearingisaffectedbymanyparametersthatarenotcontrolledbythebearing
manufactures.Forexample,bearingmounting,temperature,exposuretoexternalenvironment,lubricant
cleanlinessandelectricalcurrentsthroughbearingsetc.

Maintenanceandlubrication
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Manybearingsrequireperiodicmaintenancetopreventprematurefailure,butmanyothersrequirelittle
maintenance.Thelatterincludevariouskindsoffluidandmagneticbearings,aswellasrollingelement
bearingsthataredescribedwithtermsincludingsealedbearingandsealedforlife.Thesecontainseals
tokeepthedirtoutandthegreasein.Theyworksuccessfullyinmanyapplications,providing
maintenancefreeoperation.Someapplicationscannotusethemeffectively.
Nonsealedbearingsoftenhaveagreasefitting,forperiodiclubricationwithagreasegun,oranoilcup
forperiodicfillingwithoil.Beforethe1970s,sealedbearingswerenotencounteredonmostmachinery,
and OILING andgreasingwereamorecommonactivitythantheyaretoday.Forexample,
automotivechassisusedtorequire"lubejobs"nearlyasoftenasengineoilchanges,buttoday'scar
chassisaremostlysealedforlife.Fromthelate1700sthroughmid1900s,industryreliedonmany
workerscalledoilerstolubricatemachineryfrequentlywithoilcans.
Factorymachinestodayusuallyhavelubesystems,inwhichacentralpumpservesperiodicchargesof
oilorgreasefromareservoirthroughlubelinestothevariouslubepointsinthemachine'sbearing
surfaces,bearingjournals,pillowblocks,andsoon.Thetimingandnumberofsuchlubecyclesis
controlledbythemachine'scomputerizedcontrol,suchasPLCorCNC,aswellasbymanualoverride
functionswhenoccasionallyneeded.ThisautomatedprocessishowallmodernCNCmachinetoolsand
manyothermodernfactorymachinesarelubricated.Similarlubesystemsarealsousedon
nonautomatedmachines,inwhichcasethereisahandpumpthatamachineoperatorissupposedto
pumponcedaily(formachinesinconstantuse)oronceweekly.Thesearecalledoneshotsystemsfrom
theirchiefsellingpoint:onepullononehandletolubethewholemachine,insteadofadozenpumpsof
analemitegunoroilcaninadozendifferentpositionsaroundthemachine.
Theoilingsysteminsideamodernautomotiveortruckengineissimilarinconcepttothelubesystems
mentionedabove,exceptthatoilispumpedcontinuously.Muchofthisoilflowsthroughpassages
drilledorcastintotheengineblockandcylinderheads,escapingthroughportsdirectlyontobearings,
andsquirtingelsewheretoprovideanoilbath.Theoilpumpsimplypumpsconstantly,andanyexcess
pumpedoilcontinuouslyescapesthroughareliefvalvebackintothesump.
Manybearingsinhighcycleindustrialoperationsneedperiodiclubricationandcleaning,andmany
requireoccasionaladjustment,suchaspreloadadjustment,tominimisetheeffectsofwear.
Bearinglifeisoftenmuchbetterwhenthebearingiskeptcleanandwelllubricated.However,many
applicationsmakegoodmaintenancedifficult.Forexample,bearingsintheconveyorofarockcrusher
areexposedcontinuallytohardabrasiveparticles.Cleaningisoflittleuse,becausecleaningisexpensive
yetthebearingiscontaminatedagainassoonastheconveyorresumesoperation.Thus,agood
maintenanceprogrammightlubricatethebearingsfrequentlybutnotincludeanydisassemblyfor
cleaning.Thefrequentlubrication,byitsnature,providesalimitedkindofcleaningaction,by
displacingolder(gritfilled) OIL orgreasewithafreshcharge,whichitselfcollectsgritbeforebeing
displacedbythenextcycle.

Rollingelementbearingouterracefaultdetection
Rollingelementbearingsarewidelyusedintheindustriestoday,andhencemaintenanceofthese
bearingsbecomesanimportanttaskforthemaintenanceprofessionals.Therollingelementbearings
wearouteasilyduetometaltometalcontact,whichcreatesfaultsintheouterrace,innerraceandball.
Itisalsothemostvulnerablecomponentofamachinebecauseitisoftenunderhighloadandhigh
runningspeedconditions.Regulardiagnosticsofrollingelementbearingfaultsiscriticalforindustrial
safetyandoperationsofthemachinesalongwithreducingthemaintenancecostsoravoidingshutdown
time.Amongtheouterrace,innerraceandball,theouterracetendstobemorevulnerabletofaultsand
defects.
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Thereisstillaroomfordiscussionwhethertherollingelementexcitesthenaturalfrequenciesofbearing
componentwhenitpassesthefaultontheouterrace.Henceweneedtoidentifythebearingouterrace
naturalfrequencyanditsharmonics.Thebearingfaultscreateimpulsesandresultsinstrongharmonics
ofthefaultfrequenciesinthespectrumofvibrationsignals.Thesefaultfrequenciesaresometimes
maskedbyadjacentfrequenciesinthespectraduetotheirlittleenergy.Hence,averyhighspectral
resolutionisoftenneededtoidentifythesefrequenciesduringaFFTanalysis.Thenaturalfrequenciesof
arollingelementbearingwiththefreeboundaryconditionsare3kHz.Therefore,inordertousethe
bearingcomponentresonancebandwidthmethodtodetectthebearingfaultataninitialstageahigh
frequencyrangeaccelerometershouldbeadopted,anddataobtainedfromalongdurationneedstobe
acquired.Afaultcharacteristicfrequencycanonlybeidentifiedwhenthefaultextentissevere,suchas
thatofapresenceofaholeintheouterrace.Theharmonicsoffaultfrequencyisamoresensitive
indicatorofabearingouterracefault.Foramoreseriousdetectionofdefectedbearingfaultswaveform,
spectrumandenvelopetechniqueswillhelprevealthesefaults.However,ifahighfrequency
demodulationisusedintheenvelopeanalysisinordertodetectbearingfaultcharacteristicfrequencies,
themaintenanceprofessionalshavetobemorecarefulintheanalysisbecauseofresonance,asitmayor
maynotcontainfaultfrequencycomponents.
Usingspectralanalysisasatooltoidentifythefaultsinthebearingsfaceschallengesduetoissueslike
lowenergy,signalsmearing,cyclostationarityetc.Highresolutionisoftendesiredtodifferentiatethe
faultfrequencycomponentsfromtheotherhighamplitudeadjacentfrequencies.Hence,whenthesignal
issampledforFFTanalysis,thesamplelengthshouldbelargeenoughtogiveadequatefrequency
resolutioninthespectrum.Also,keepingthecomputationtimeandmemorywithinlimitsandavoiding
unwantedaliasingmaybedemanding.However,aminimalfrequencyresolutionrequiredcanbe
obtainedbyestimatingthebearingfaultfrequenciesandothervibrationfrequencycomponentsandits
harmonicsduetoshaftspeed,misalignment,linefrequency,gearboxetc.

Packing
Somebearingsuseathickgreaseforlubrication,whichispushedintothegapsbetweenthebearing
surfaces,alsoknownaspacking.Thegreaseisheldinplacebyaplastic,leather,orrubbergasket(also
calledagland)thatcoverstheinsideandoutsideedgesofthebearingracetokeepthegreasefrom
escaping.
Bearingsmayalsobepackedwithothermaterials.Historically,thewheelsonrailroadcarsusedsleeve
bearingspackedwithwasteorloosescrapsofcottonorwoolfibersoakedin OIL ,thenlaterused
solidpadsofcotton.[16]

Ringoiler
Bearingscanbelubricatedbyametalringthatrideslooselyonthecentralrotatingshaftofthebearing.
Theringhangsdownintoachambercontaininglubricatingoil.Asthebearingrotates,viscousadhesion
drawsoiluptheringandontotheshaft,wheretheoilmigratesintothebearingtolubricateit.Excessoil
isflungoffandcollectsinthepoolagain.[17]

Splashlubrication
Somemachinescontainapooloflubricantinthebottom,withgearspartiallyimmersedintheliquid,or
crankrodsthatcanswingdownintothepoolasthedeviceoperates.Thespinningwheelsflingoilinto
theairaroundthem,whilethecrankrodsslapatthesurfaceoftheoil,splashingitrandomlyonthe

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interiorsurfacesoftheengine.Somesmallinternalcombustionenginesspecificallycontainspecial
plasticflingerwheelswhichrandomlyscatteroilaroundtheinteriorofthemechanism.[18]

Pressurelubrication
Forhighspeedandhighpowermachines,alossoflubricantcanresultinrapidbearingheatingand
damageduetofriction.Alsoindirtyenvironmentstheoilcanbecomecontaminatedwithdustordebris
thatincreasesfriction.Intheseapplications,afreshsupplyoflubricantcanbecontinuouslysuppliedto
thebearingandallothercontactsurfaces,andtheexcesscanbecollectedforfiltration,cooling,and
possiblyreuse.Pressureoilingiscommonlyusedinlargeandcomplexinternalcombustionenginesin
partsoftheenginewheredirectlysplashedoilcannotreach,suchasupintooverheadvalve
assemblies.[19]Highspeedturbochargersalsotypicallyrequireapressurizedoilsystemtocoolthe
bearingsandkeepthemfromburningupduetotheheatfromtheturbine.

Types
Therearemanydifferenttypesofbearings.
Type

Description

Friction

Stiffness

Speed

Life

Notes

Widelyused,
relativelyhigh
Rubbing
friction,suffers
surfaces,
Dependson
Good,
fromstictionin
usuallywith
materialsand
provided
some
lubricantsome construction,
wearis
Lowtoveryhigh applications.
Plain bearingsuse
PTFEhas
low,but Lowto dependsupon Depending
bearing pumped
coefficientof
some
veryhigh applicationand uponthe
lubricationand friction~0.05
slackis
lubrication
application,
behave
0.35,depending normally
lifetimecanbe
similarlyto
uponfillersadded present
higherorlower
fluidbearings.
thanrolling
element
bearings.

Ballorrollers
Rolling areusedto
element preventor
bearing minimise
rubbing

Rolling
coefficientof
frictionwithsteel
canbe~0.005
(addingresistance
duetoseals,
packedgrease,
preloadand
misalignmentcan
increasefriction
toasmuchas
0.125)

Offcenter
Jewel
bearingrollsin Low
bearing
seating
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Good,but
some
slackis
usually
present

Moderate
tohigh
(often
requires
cooling)

Lowdue
Low
toflexing

Moderatetohigh
(dependson
lubrication,often
requires
maintenance)

Usedforhigher
momentloads
thanplain
bearingswith
lowerfriction

Adequate
(requires
maintenance)

Mainlyusedin
lowload,high
precisionwork
suchasclocks.
Jewelbearings
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Fluidisforced
Fluid betweentwo
Zerofrictionat
bearing facesandheld zerospeed,low
inbyedgeseal

Very
high

Zerofrictionat
zerospeed,but
Facesof
constantpower
bearingare
forlevitation,
keptseparate
eddycurrentsare
Magnetic
bymagnets
ofteninduced
Low
bearings
(electromagnets whenmovement
oreddy
occurs,butmay
currents)
benegligibleif
magneticfieldis
quasistatic

Materialflexes
Flexure togiveand
Verylow
bearing constrain
movement

Low

maybevery
small.
Canfail
Very
quicklydueto
high
Virtuallyinfinite gritordustor
(usually insome
other
limitedto applications,
contaminants.
afew
maywearat
Maintenance
hundred startup/shutdown freein
feetper insomecases.
continuoususe.
second
Oftennegligible Canhandle
at/by
maintenance.
verylarge
seal)
loadswithlow
friction.
Active
magnetic
bearings
Indefinite.
(AMB)need
No
Maintenance
considerable
practical
free.(with
power.
limit
electromagnets) Electrodynamic
bearings(EDB)
donotrequire
externalpower.

Very
high.

Veryhighorlow
dependingon
materialsand
strainin
application.
Usually
maintenance
free.

Limitedrange
ofmovement,
nobacklash,
extremely
smoothmotion

Stiffnessistheamountthatthegapvarieswhentheloadonthebearingchanges,itisdistinctfromthe

frictionofthebearing.
!knifeedgebearings

Seealso
Axlebox
Ballbearing
Ballspline
Hertzcontactstress
Hinge
Mainbearing
Needlerollerbearing
Pillowblockbearing
Race(bearing)
Rolamite
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Rollingelementbearing
Scrollerwheel
ShockPulseMethod
Slewingbearing
Sphericalplainbearing
Sphericalrollerbearing
Spiralgroovebearing

References
1. MerriamWebster,"headwords"bearing"and"bear" "(http://unabridged.merriam
webster.com/collegiate.htm),MerriamWebster'sCollegiateDictionary,onlinesubscriptionversion.
Paywalledreferencework.
2. AmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineers(1906),TransactionsoftheAmericanSocietyofMechanical
Engineers(http://books.google.com/books?id=aWd1G50m8WEC&pg=RA1PA441)27,AmericanSocietyof
MechanicalEngineers,p.441.
3. BryanBunch,Thehistoryofscienceandtechnology.
4. StevenBlakeShubert,EncyclopediaofthearchaeologyofancientEgypt
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id=ttBQ1k8MYZ4C&pg=PA178&lpg=PA178),WorldScientific,p.178,ISBN9789810229825.
6. Purtell,John(1999/2001).ProjectDiana,chapter10:http://nemiship.multiservers.com/nemi.htm
7. BearingIndustryTimeline(http://www.americanbearings.org/?page=bearing_timeline),retrieved20121021.
8. "DoubleRowAngularContactBallBearings"(http://www.intechbearing.com/5200Series
DoubleRowAngularContactBallBearingsSealsandShieldsShop.html).
9. "BicycleHistory,ChronologyoftheGrowthofBicyclingandtheDevelopmentofBicycleTechnologyby
DavidMozer"(http://www.ibike.org/library/historytimeline.htm).Ibike.org.Retrieved20130930.
10. R.Stribeck,KugellagerfrbeliebigeBelastungenZeitschriftdesVereinsDeutscherIngenieure,1901,Nr.3,
Band45,p.7379
11. N.N.(R.Stribeck),Kugellager(ballbearings),GlasersAnnalenfrGewerbeundBauwesen,1901,No.577,
p.29,Published01.July1901
12. A.Martens,Schmierluntersuchungen(Investigationson OILS )PartI:MitteilungenausdenKniglichen
technischenVersuchsanstaltenzuBerlin,ErgnzungsheftIII1888,p.137,VerlagvonJuliusSpringer,Berlin
andPartII:MitteilungenausdenKniglichentechnischenVersuchsanstaltenzuBerlin,ErgnzungsheftV,
1889,p.157,VerlagvonJuliusSpringer,Berlin,(Note:Thesefilescanbedownloadedfromthewebsiteof
BAM:http://www.bam.de/de/ueber_uns/geschichte/adolf_martens.htm)
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(http://www.bwc.com/pdf/news/1737_MSD_BIWI_eprint_.pdf)(PDF),MachineDesign,p.1.
14. "DesignNewsMagazineJuly1995"(http://www.designnews.com/article/9409
Prime_mover_in_custom_bearings.php).
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16. White,JohnH.(1985)[1978].TheAmericanRailroadPassengerCar(http://books.google.com/books?
id=RAidPrpZUNQC)2.Baltimore,MD:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress.p.518.ISBN0801827477.
OCLC11469984(https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11469984).
17. SteamPowerPlantEngineering,byGeorgeFrederickGebhardt,publishedbyJ.Wiley&sons,Incorporated,
1917,p791GoogleBooksscannedref(http://books.google.com/books?
id=6QhMAAAAMAAJ&dq=ring%20oiler&pg=PA791#v=onepage&q=ring%20oiler&f=false)
18. Thegasolineautomobile,GeorgeWilliamHobbsb.1887,BenGeorgeElliott,EarlLesterConsoliver,
UniversityofWisconsin.UniversityExtensionDivision,McGrawHillBookCompany,Inc.,1919483
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id=kWJVAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA114&dq=splash+lubrication&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qN1zT8qZCcbl0gG77uT_Ag
&ved=0CFAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=splash%20lubrication&f=false)
19. PressureLubricatingCharacteristics,byPaulDumas,Motorage,Volume42,ClassJournalCo.,14Sep1922
GoogleBooksscannedref(http://books.google.com/books?id=S0AfAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA10
PA22&dq=engine+pressure+oiling&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hZlzT
P5L6bt0gGhstH_Ag&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=engine%20pressure%20oiling&f=false)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_%28mechanical%29

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Bearing(mechanical)Wikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Externallinks
Comprehensivereviewonbearings,Universityof
WikimediaCommonshas
Cambridge(http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/phase
mediarelatedtoBearings.
trans/2011/Bearings/index.html)
Howbearingswork
(http://science.howstuffworks.com/bearing.htm)
Bearinglubricants(http://www.jaredzone.info/2014/03/bearinglubricants.html)
Earlybearingfailuredetection(http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/260/bearingfailuredetection)
Howtomeasureabearing(http://www.bearingking.co.uk/howtomeasureabearing.php)
Choosingthecorrectbearingtype(http://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Measuring_Bearings15a)
KinematicModelsforDesignDigitalLibrary(KMODDL)
(http://kmoddl.library.cornell.edu/index.php)Moviesandphotosofhundredsofworking
mechanicalsystemsmodelsatCornellUniversity.Alsoincludesanebooklibrary
(http://kmoddl.library.cornell.edu/ebooks.php)ofclassictextsonmechanicaldesignand
engineering.
Typesofbearings,CambridgeUniversity(http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/phase
trans/2010/types/index.html)
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Categories: Bearings(mechanical) Tribology
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