Roller Bearings

Roller bearings are components that utilise cylindrical rather than spherical shapes. The effect of this is that a line is formed at the contact between the inner race and outer race, rather than a point. This enables a roller bearing to withstand a greater overall load than a ball bearing, as the overall load is spread over a larger area. Roller bearings can be found in various types designed for different uses. These include needle roller bearings, thrust roller bearings, spherical roller bearings and tapered roller bearings. Needle roller bearings are the most compact and tapered roller bearings run on conical rollers and races, enabling them to bear both axial and radial loads. The extensive number of different types of roller bearings mean that they have a considerable number of industrial uses. Tapered roller bearings are most commonly seen in the wheel bearings of most motor vehicles. Roller bearings can be used in conveyer belt rollers required to cope with heavy radial loads, but it is in the automotive industries where roller bearings have the most applications.