Difference Between Various Types Of Bearings

Ball Bearings Rollers | Image Resource : indiamart.com

Ever since humans started to move things, the round rollers are used to make the daunting task bit easier. In the bygone era, simple rollers made of sticks or logs were used. Today, with the help of technology, more sophisticated rollers are used over dragging materials across the ground. 

However, when two surfaces rub on each other during the motion, friction is generated. To reduce this challenge, bearings are used in a plethora of applications. Bearings are available in thousands of shapes and sizes. There are various different kinds of bearings which can be used as per the need of the application. Some common types are ball bearings, needle bearings, roller bearings, and tapered roller bearings. 

Bearings are widely used in various applications and industries. The automobile industry has its own favorite automobile bearing types which handle radial or thrust load or even the combination of both. So, as per the need, manufacturers can choose the bearing and its type for a friction-less job.

How Bearings Work?

Generally, all bearings consist of the same basic mechanics. They are composed of a ball or roller fixed within an internal or external shell or ring. This structure allows the load to be placed on the roller or ball. It is referred to as ‘loading’. A bearing can experience different types of loading which is thrust, radial or combination of both. So, if the bearing handles a radial load, it will roll or rotate when put under tension. While, when the bearing is subjected to a thrust load, it depends on the angle. 

Difference between Common Bearings:

Ball Bearings: Ball bearing rollers are extremely common and widely used in various applications in which small amounts of weights are used. Ball bearings are designed to handle both radial and thrust loads. Hence, these bearings have tremendous popularity.  When ball bearings are subjected to motion, they transfer the load from the external raceway towards the internal. Thus, they allow a smooth and frictionless spin. Ball bearings are used in hard drives, small wheels, etc. But they can deform when subjected to excessive tension. 

Roller Bearings: They are designed to handle heavy loads. Roller bearings are set around a cylinder which enables to distribute the large load over a big surface of the area. Thus, they can carry heavy and large weights. Another difference between the ball and roller bearing is that the later one is not designed to handle thrust loads. 

Roller Thrust Bearings: Roller thrust bearings are used in numerous devices and applications as they can handle higher load capacities. They consist of washers which are generally flat unlike the grooved ones used in the ball thrust bearings. Roller thrust bearings have rolling elements which can be needle, spherical, tapered, or cylindrical rollers.  Spherical roller thrust bearing is very commonly used as it is self-aligning. 

Choose the bearings and its size as per the need of your application to complete the job without any friction.