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Radial bearings vs thrust bearings, which one?
With the rapid development and progress of the world, bearings have become one of the essential components in mechanical equipment. A bearing is a rotating mechanical component that consists of two rings, a rolling element and a set of cages. The ferrule is fixed in the mechanical device, and the rolling elements roll inside the ferrule. As the core component of mechanical equipment, bearings are used to support the operation of mechanical equipment. They can also transmit motion and force to ensure the accuracy and stability of mechanical equipment. The bearing actually “bears” the force of the part as it moves. Although most bearings have a similar design, some are radial and others are thrust. Therefore, understanding the differences between bearing types and mastering the correct use and maintenance methods of bearings are of great significance to our scientific and technological progress.
Radial bearings are specifically designed to support radial loads. Radial loads are forces that occur perpendicular to the axis of rotation. It is understood that the origin of radial bearings can be traced back to the 19th century. In 1869, Jules Suriray patented the world’s first radial bearing. Suriray’s design was originally intended for use on bicycles, but it paved the way for other applications. The design of radial bearings usually includes main components such as outer rings, inner rings, rolling elements and cages. When the rolling elements roll between the outer ring and the inner ring, friction and wear can be reduced, thereby improving the efficiency and life of the mechanical equipment. The main feature of a radial bearing is that it can only bear radial loads and cannot bear axial loads. If the equipment is required to withstand axial loads, other types of bearings or structural designs are often required, such as thrust bearings. The main categories of radial bearings are:
Application range of radial bearings
Radial bearings are widely used in various mechanical equipment, such as automobile engines, transmissions, reducers, motors, engineering machinery, ships and aircraft, etc. They play an important role in mechanical transmission, ensuring the normal operation of equipment and improving production efficiency and quality.
What is a thrust bearing?
A thrust bearing is a bearing used to reduce friction and wear between two moving surfaces, usually a shaft and a housing. Thrust bearings are used in different applications, from industrial machinery to automotive components. They provide a low-friction interface between two components and reduce the amount of wear that occurs in direct contact. Thrust bearings are generally composed of two thrust washers or thrust washers and several rolling elements. Generally, thrust washers are divided into shaft pieces and seat pieces. The most common types of rolling elements are generally made of iron or copper. The cage is combined into a whole. Thrust bearings are specifically designed to support axial loads. Axial loads are forces along the axis of a rotating shaft. Like their radial counterparts, they are designed to reduce friction. However, thrust bearings are better suited for applications involving axial loads. The main types of thrust bearings are:
Automobile clutch king pin bearing
Angular contact ball thrust bearing
Thrust cylindrical roller bearings
Thrust tapered roller bearings
Thrust needle roller bearing
Thrust spherical bearing
Crossed roller bearings
Application range of thrust bearings
Airplane engine
Thrust bearings are used in aircraft engines to support shafts and absorb the engine’s thrust load.
Thrust bearings are particularly important for applications such as turbojet engines that produce high thrust.
Thrust bearings help reduce vibration and ensure the engine runs smoothly and efficiently.
Thrust bearings also help reduce wear on engine components and extend their service life.
Automotive Transmission
Thrust bearings are an important part of automobile transmissions and are used to support drive shafts and other components.
Thrust bearings are designed to handle high loads and help keep the driveline running smoothly.
Thrust bearings are typically made of hardened steel and are strong enough to handle the rigors of a transmission system.
Thrust bearings help reduce friction and wear on transmission components and help extend the service life of the transmission.
Machine tool spindle
Thrust bearings are used in machine tool spindles for a variety of reasons, including reducing friction between the spindle and bearing surfaces, providing support for the spindle, and aiding in radial and axial alignment.
Thrust bearings are designed to withstand axial loads imposed on the spindle and provide smooth, uniform force as it rotates.
Thrust bearings ensure smooth, accurate operation of the machine and reduce wear on the spindle itself.
Pump
Thrust bearings are commonly used in pumps to absorb axial loads due to the high pressure and torque generated by the pump.
Thrust bearings act as supports for the pump, helping to ensure that the pump shaft remains in line and that parts do not wear out excessively.
Thrust bearings help extend the life of your pump and ensure it operates efficiently.
The difference between radial bearings and thrust bearings
Structural difference
The structures of thrust bearings and radial bearings are very different. Radial bearings are mainly composed of inner and outer rings, rolling elements and cages, and bear mainly radial force. The thrust bearing is mainly composed of two rings and rolling elements, and it mainly bears axial force. The structural differences between thrust bearings and radial bearings determine their different abilities to work under different forces.
The difference between forces
The force endured by radial bearings is mainly radial force and is not suitable for bearing axial force. When the axial force is too large, radial force may also be generated, making the radial bearing unable to withstand such force. Thrust bearings mainly bear axial force and can withstand a large amount of axial force. They can also withstand a certain radial force. In addition, the direction of the force of the thrust bearing is different from that of the radial bearing. Thrust bearings can be designed to have high stiffness and resist deformation when pressed, but when subjected to inappropriate load directions, secondary loads between the inner and outer rings can result.
The difference in scope of application
Radial bearings are suitable for light-load and medium-light load applications and are commonly used in equipment such as electric motors, machine tools, and automobiles. Thrust bearings play an important role in large machinery, such as heavy-duty machines, steel mill rolling rolls and large metallurgical equipment. In addition, some equipment needs to bear both radial force and axial force. In this case, a combined bearing composed of a radial bearing and a thrust bearing needs to be used in conjunction.
Conclusion
Thrust bearings and radial bearings are very different in terms of structure, force, and scope of application. When selecting bearings, you should consider the types of loads they will be subjected to. For radial loads, radial bearings should be selected. For axial loads, thrust bearings should be selected. In practical applications, different bearings need to be selected according to different forces.