Spherical Plain Bearing for Low Maintenance and High Performance
Spherical Plain Bearings
The engineering developments in the automotive industry have resulted in the demand of high performance bearings, which can operate under extreme conditions. The spherical plain bearings are one of the recent developments to help minimize friction under heavy load conditions. These bearings are standardized components which are readily mountable and good enough to make self-aligning, as well as multi-directional movements.
Designs and Characteristics of Spherical Plain Bearing
The design of the spherical plain bearing consists of the inner race, which has “spherical concave outside diameter” and the outer race in a similar “concave inside diameter”. The load on the bearing remains static and may take place during the oscillating or repeated swerving and tilting movements at a comparatively low speed.
When it comes to various applications in the industry, the spherical plain bearings are the apt choice for it offers total design economy. Available in various designs and sizes, they are long-lasting and come for minimal maintenance and high reliability.
Get to Know More about Spherical Plain Bearing
Thoroughly hardened, the spherical plain bearing is made of steel and used to support heavy static loads, shock loads, or alternating loads, with additional features of being tough to high temperatures and contaminants. The bearing also saves time on lubrication with the holes and grooves in the inner and outer raceways.
When in heavy and constant load conditions, the spherical plain bearings have to accommodate some minor alignment movements. During such operating conditions the bearings experience lubricant starvation. To cope up with it, multi-groove system with increased diameter is found suitable as they offer the following advantages:
- Continuous lubrication during heavy loads
- Increased diameter offers elaborate lubricant reservoir
- Make re-lubrication possible
- Extended intervals for re-lubrication
- Increased grease life
- Tough to contaminants
This bearing system comes with a bearing pillow block, which is a housing to secure the bearing for reliable operation.
Angular Contact Spherical Plain Bearings for Combined Loads
The angular contact ball bearings with spherical plain bearings support the spherical contact surfaces and inclined to an angle to the shaft. They help support both radial and axial loads. Nevertheless, the angular contact spherical plain bearings come in single or double row angular to accommodate only axial loads or both axial and radial loads moving in one direction or multiple directions respectively.
Over the standard steel bearings with maintenance, the spherical plain bearing is the best choice for it offers free maintenance and other features mentioned above.