Bearings

A basic guide for the nontechnical reader

in understanding the mechanics of
bearings.

Robert Swahl

28 July 2014

Bearings
A basic guide for understanding the mechanics of ball
bearings.

Audience and Scope
The purpose of this document is to provide basic information
for readers without any specialized knowledge to grasp the
mechanics and applications of bearings. The document will
focus on the comprehensive category of bearings, and more
specifically the different types and uses of specific bearings.

Bearings are used in many daily activities, and understanding
the mechanics is helpful to understand how their usage affects
each person. The purpose of this document is to provide the
appreciation of bearings to a group ranging from young
engineers all the way to elderly hobbyists, by illustrating the
ways a bearing operates, and how different bearings can be
used effectively.

Introduction
Bearings are devices used to create near-frictionless rotation
around a fixed point. Essentially, the concept behind bearings
is that two mechanisms roll easier than they slide. In a system
that requires fitted joints, simply assembling pieces together
creates sliding, and does not permit free rotation. Bearings
reduce this friction through the use of balls, or rollers, in order
to allow devices to spin smoothly.

Bearings can be categorized according to the function they

perform, and their respective components.

Five of the most commonly used bearings are
Ball bearings
Cylindrical roller bearings
Roller thrust bearings
Ball thrust bearings
Tapered thrust bearings
And an innovative bearing in development, the magnetic
bearing.

Each bearing type is named by the manner in which it
functions, as well as the intended application.

Ball Bearings
Ball bearings are manufactured to allow rotation by rolling
metal spheres. The ball bearing is the most common used
bearing, ranging from products such as inline skates and
skateboards, to hard drives and medical equipment. Ball
bearings are used in instances where weight
distribution supports a relatively lower load.
Since the bearing exerts force on spheres,
there is only two points of contact each. This
allows the bearing to spin much more freely,
but increases a squishing possibility for each
sphere. Squishing is a type of plastic, or semi-

permanent
deformation that does not
automatically return to its original form.

A typical ball bearing cutaway,

with spacing bracer. [6]

Cylindrical Roller Bearings

Cylindrical roller bearings are used primarily in applications
like conveyer belt rollers, where devices must hold a heavy
load.
A roller bearing is composed of
individual cylinders along the
shaft of the device, so that the
contact area forms a line instead
of a point. This contact area
creates elongated weight
distribution forbearing loads.
Because of this weight
distribution, squishing is less
likely to occur, but also reduces
the capability to rotate as freely
as ball bearings.
A cutaway of a roller bearing in a housing. [7]

These types of bearings are the
earliest known type of bearing, dating back to designs
containing wooden balls from 40 B.C. They were also apparent
in large-scale applications, like building the pyramids where
large logs were used to roll heavy materials.

Roller Thrust Bearings

Similar to cylindrical roller bearings, roller thrust bearings
incorporate cylinders for load bearing translation, or sliding
motion. The distinguishing characteristic about roller thrust
bearings is most notably the position of the rollers.

Instead of supporting a radial load, or an inward force at a

constant distance from the center, thrust bearings support a
lateral load, or a force perpendicular to a central rotation point.
This indicates that a load placed on the bearing would pivot
around the central point.

More clearly defined in
the picture to the left is
the arrangement of the
rollers in a flat array.

Roller thrust bearings are
used in a large variety of
applications. Since roller
bearings are built to
A cutaway view of a cylindrical thrust bearing. [1]
withstand loads placed
directly, cylindrical thrust
bearings can be installed in roundabouts; on rotating
playground toys, under carousels, between helical gears in a
cars transmission, and crane hook base rotation.

Ball Thrust Bearings

Ball thrust bearings act similarly to
roller thrust bearings to provide
rotation between two opposing lateral
forces. Since the contacts are spheres,
again, the rotation of ball thrust
bearings is near frictionless, but can
still be prone to squishing.
Consequently, the applications for ball
thrust bearings are significantly limited.

A cutaway of a ball thrust bearing to
show individual components. [5]

The bearing can only tolerate a specific weight based upon the
size; most ball thrust bearings are used in lazy Susan
turntables and rotating barstools.

Tapered Thrust Bearings

The last common type of
bearing is the tapered thrust
bearing. The impressive quality
about the tapered thrust
bearing is that it combines
aspects from the cylindrical
roller bearings and the roller
A cutaway of a basic tapered roller
thrust bearings.
bearing revealing components. [2]


Since the cylindrical roller bearings cannot provide support
laterally that roller bearings can, tapered bearings allow thrust
force to be exerted on a bearing that still maintains a radial
load. This type of bearing is used in car hubs where force is
exerted downward on the car rim, as turning puts horizontal
forces on the rim.

The arranged tapered bearings make up a double outer
tapered bearing. The bearings can be in a number of positions;
the most commonly used are shown below, utilizing either an
outer or inner tapers depending on the distribution of forces.

Left: a double outer tapered

bearing. [4]

Right: a double inner tapered
bearing. [3]

Magnetic Bearings.
The final category of bearings is the magnetic bearing: an
uncommon bearing that uses magnetic repulsion and
attraction to surpass the limits of traditional bearings. The
reason this is included is the intriguing manner in which the
magnetic bearing functions. While the bearing is magnetically
attracted to the opposing forces, it is simultaneously repelled
from the other side.

The concept behind this is simple; as a magnet approaches its
attracting force, the attraction grows stronger; as it distances
itself from an attracting force, the force grows weaker. If this
were the only force considered, the magnet would locate to a
specific attracting source.

In contrast, as a magnet approaches its repelling force, it grows
stronger, and pushes it back. As the magnet is pushed towards
another repelling magnet, the forces even out and push
towards an equilibrium axis of rotation.


By combining the two forces,
the axis of rotation can be
kept at one single location,
and still levitate the bearing
for the lowest amount of
friction possible, limited only
to air friction.

The limits of magnetic
bearings exist only by the
strength of the materials. As
opposed to ball bearings and
A cutaway showing magnetic polarity in a
roller bearings, no risk of
magnet bearing [8]
deformation occurs in
squishing, and no lubrication is required to maintain operating
conditions. As such, the bearing is capable of reaching
extremely high speeds, with seemingly no limit.

An application that somewhat incorporates this technology is
magnetic levitation, or Maglev. Maglev allows trains to travel at
extremely high speeds, and to allow shock absorption to
dampen any impact or sudden change.

More information and videos about magnetic bearings can be
found online with examples such as the Tesla Turbine with
Magnetic Bearing on YouTube, or Active magnetic bearings
on the SKF website, a leader in supplying bearings, seals,
lubrication, and maintenance products.

Conclusion
To summarize, a bearings purpose is to create a near
frictionless environment, allowing effortless movement. The
applications of loads to radial or lateral axis, can be managed
by rotation instead of high friction sliding by using ball
bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, roller or ball thrust
bearings, tapered bearings, or even magnetic bearings,.

In a bearing that is not under constant maintenance, the
average lifespan ranges around one million rotations.
Individual bearings used in different situations have varying
lifespans: like a barstool that goes dry, or an axel in the car that
needs the bearings greased up and lubricated. Since the
introduction of the fundamental understanding of ball
bearings, the daily commute to work has been significantly less
of a drag.

Works C ited
"TP (standard) ." TP (standard). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014.
<http://www.timken.com/en-
us/products/bearings/productlist/roller/thrust/Cylindrical/Pages/TP.aspx>

"Spherical Roller Thrust Bearings | Products | The Timken Company ."Spherical
Roller Thrust Bearings. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.timken.com/EN-
US/products/bearings/productlist/roller/thrust/Pages/SphericalRollerThrust.aspx
>

"TDI (Two-Row Double-Inner Race) ." TDI (Two-Row Double-Inner Race). N.p., n.d.
Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.timken.com/EN-
US/products/bearings/productlist/roller/Tapered/DoubleRow/Pages/TDI.aspx>

"TDO (Two-Row Double-Outer Race) ." TDO (Two-Row Double-Outer Race). N.p., n.d.
Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.timken.com/EN-
US/products/bearings/productlist/roller/Tapered/DoubleRow/Pages/TDO.aspx>

PMK. "Thread: Any DIY Fox 40 Tuners / Riders." Mtbr Forums RSS. N.p., 24 Nov.
2010. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/any-diy-
fox-40-tuners-riders-667721.html>

"Radial Ball Bearings ." Radial Ball Bearings. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014.
<http://www.timken.com/en-
us/products/bearings/productlist/ball/Pages/radial.aspx>

"Cylindrical Roller Bearings." Victor Bearings -. N.p., 2010. Web. 27 July 2014.
<http://www.victorbearings.com/cylindrical-roller-bearings.html>

Design Formulas for Permanent-Magnet Bearings.
<http://mechanicaldesign.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/data/Journals/JMDEDB/
27766/026303j.2.jpeg>
J. Mech. Des. 125, 734-738 (2004) (5 pages); doi:10.1115/1.162540

Nice, Karim. "How Bearings Work" 11 October 2000. 27 July 2014
HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-
equipment/bearing.htm>