Needle bearing damage – how to avoid planetary gear failure?

What is this?

Needle bearing is one of the roller bearing types (K), commonly called needles. Their name comes from the fact that the rollers resemble needles – their diameter is small compared to the size. It is also worth to mentioning that the slighty rounded ends of the rollers counteract their wedging.

Needle bearings come in many variants, but most often consist of three elements – outer ring, needle rims and basket, which prevents the rolling elements from falling out. In the other words, basket guarantees safe and stable work.

These bearings are banded into two types: radial bearings and thrust bearing. Their essential feature is the lack of their own raceway, which consequently affects the weight of the travel gearbox damage.

Needle bearing is one of the most popular bearing types used in planetary gears, where the space is limited. 

The most important advantage of needle bearings is the fact that they, compared to ball bearings, can handle heavy loads. However, they aren’t used only at high rotational speeds.

Needle bearing damage – how to avoid?

Bearing life is affected by lubrication, which is mainly used to reduce friction and abrasion of the contact surface.  It work against the entery of undesirable of particles and dustes into the bearing but it also  has function as an anti-corrosion protection. Using of correct lubricants and oils also contributes to the adequate heat distribution and prevents overheating.

Therefore, we recommend regularly checking the condition of the oils in the travel final drive. Working out with some certain habits will protect the excavator from unnecessery damage and allow for longer machine operation.

It is appropriate to mention that the lack of the an own raceway in the needle bearing, which we mentioned at the beginning, affects on a damage of the other machines element. Needle bearing damage can entails much greater failure, including the costs and time of repair.

Using

Needle bearings are used in travel final drive, in different weighing machines.