4 Industrial Applications Of Bearings

Bearings play a crucial role in the movement of any machine. Whether it’s a bicycle or a heavy track, they’re very handy when reducing friction in the moving parts of the vehicle. Bearings were first used in the 1790s in an axle assembly and have since grown in popularity across all relevant industries.

In the manufacturing sector, for instance, the introduction of this simple but effective idea gave birth to many motor-driven machines that you see today. However, the applications go beyond driving factory machinery. For example, food processors, tumble dryers, and washing machines also use these innovative features.

If you’ve been browsing online for Bushings and bearing facts, then this article is for you. Read on to learn more about the most common industrial applications of bearings:

1. 1. Enhancing Vehicle Performance

Whenever bearings are mentioned, the first industry that comes to mind is the automotive sector. Bearings are commonly used to optimize the performance of a machine’s moving parts.

A typical vehicle has many such parts that require optimization for the automotive to move. Therefore, many bearings are used by manufacturers when designing and assembling these road machines. Some of the essential parts that require these items include the steering, engine, driveline, and driveshaft.

Depending on the design and requirements, deep groove, tapered roller, and wheel hub bearing units are the most common bearing types used. And when the correct bearing is used, it helps reduce friction increases the vehicle’s efficiency. This can be seen in the machine’s reduced fuel consumption and lower carbon oxide emission.

1. 2. Used In Large Electricity Generators

One of the most notable industrial applications of bearings is in the renewable power generation industry. As you already know, electricity from wind generators can only be harvested when there’s enough turbine spinning. This movement is caused by wind blowing or water flowing on the blades, causing the system to rotate.

So, how are bearings applied in this scenario? Among the main moving parts in this system is the shaft that transmits the rotating force from the wind or water to the generator. For the transmission of this force to be efficient enough, main shaft bearings are used to reduce friction.

These bearings are expected to support the weight of the blades and, at the same time, endure the force of the wind. As such, manufacturers use spherical roller bearings here because of their ability to sustain all these forces. Their aligning capability is also excellent, which is another reason why they’re ideal for such applications.

1. 3. Used In Steel Rolling Machines

Steel rolling is another common industrial project where bearings play a crucial role. Steel rollers apply force on steel sheets and stretch them out at very high temperatures. So, unlike in the wind turbines, the system isn’t only subjected to strong forces but also high temperatures.

Where do bearings come into play? A steel rolling machine has two main parts – a work and backup roll. Work rolls support exceedingly large forces generated by both radial and bi-directional axial loads. Four-row tapered bearings are, therefore, employed to ensure that these rolls aren’t only able to support these loads but also roll efficiently when the machine is turned on.

Backup rolls make up another set of moving parts in these sheet rolling machines. Here, two-row tapered bearings are employed to enhance the movement and help prevent work rolls from warping.

1. 4. Used In the Paper-Making Industry

Industrial application of bearings is evident in just about any sector, and the paper industry isn’t an exception. Like steel mills, paper mills also operate at high temperatures, which makes bearings the best solution to frictional forces between moving parts. Spherical, tapered, and cylindrical bearings are all great options depending on how demanding the paper mill is on an ideal day of operation.

Tough and long life (TL) spherical roller bearings, for one, are designed to handle high temperatures. As such, they’re used for the dying cylinders in these machines. Any area that’s designed for high load capacity, on the other hand, uses HPS spherical bearings.

Conclusion

Since their innovation, the basic working mechanism of bearings has proven very effective in enhancing motion in machinery. Today, their industrial applications have expanded significantly. Bearings are now used in almost every industry in one way or another. In steel rolling factories, for instance, bearings play a crucial role in enhancing the movement of work and backup rolls. The same applies to the paper industry where bearings are employed to reduce friction in various parts of the paper mills. The power generation sector has also benefited from these tools