What are spherical roller bearings characterized by?

Spherical roller bearings are characterized by the fact that (as the name suggests) the rolling elements in it resemble barrels. Barrels are revolving solids with a slightly spherical side surface. In spherical roller thrust bearings, the shape of the barrels taper towards the top. The barrels are located between the inner ring with two races and the outer ring with one spherical race. They are self-aligning because the center of curvature of the outer ring raceway surfaces is aligned with the bearing axis.

The spherical raceway of the outer ring allows the inner inner ring to tilt together with the cage and the rolling elements. The radial spherical roller bearing is manufactured with a cylindrical bore and a tapered bore for mounting on a withdrawal or adapter sleeve. A spherical roller bearing can be lubricated with both grease and oil.

These bearings are usually double-row, but sometimes you can also come across single-row variants. In addition, the bearings are available as both radial and thrust bearings.

Usage

Spherical roller bearings are specially designed for the bearing of machine shafts with large dimensions. They are perfect mainly where we come into contact with high loads, e.g. radial loads. These bearings can bear very high axial and radial loads. Moreover, these bearings can accommodate axial loads in both directions.

Moreover, a spherical roller bearing is a self-aligning bearing, its maximum deflection depends on the bearing load and usually does not exceed 2 °.

Solid cages made of steel or brass are usually mounted in spherical roller bearings. In smaller bearings there are pressed cages made of steel. For lubrication, oils and plastic greases are used, depending mainly on the operating and environmental conditions.