Basic Knowledge of Bearings- 01 (Structural Composition)

Bearings are an essential part of machinery and equipment, as they support the moving parts and reduce friction between them. They are used in everything from vehicles, industrial machines, and power tools to household appliances. In this article, we will introduce the basic knowledge of bearings- Part 1: bearing structural composition.

As we all know, Bearings consist of mainly four parts – inner ring, outer ring, rolling elements, and cage.

1. Inner ring:

The inner ring of the bearing often fits closely with the shaft and rotates together. 

2. Outer ring:

The outer ring of the bearing is often in transitional fit with the bearing seat and mainly plays a supporting role.

3. Rolling elements:

Rolling elements are the critical part of bearings. they are evenly arranged in the grooves of the inner and outer rings with the help of cages, and can help reduce friction between the outer and inner rings. They roll along the rings and handle the load, thereby allowing the inner ring to rotate. Different types of bearings have different types of rolling elements, including balls, cylindrical rollers, tapered rollers, or spherical rollers. Their shape, size, and quantity directly affect the bearing's load-bearing capacity and performance.

4. Cage:

The function of the cage is to separate the rolling elements to reduce friction, evenly distribute the rolling elements to optimize the load, guide the unloaded rolling elements, and ensure that the rolling elements will not scatter when the separable bearing is installed or disassembled.

5. Auxiliary structures-Sealing device & Grease/Oil:

Some bearings are equipped with sealing devices to prevent dust, contaminants and grease from entering, and to protect the internal parts of the bearing. Extend service life, preserve lubricant, and prevent foreign matter from invading.

There are also some special types of bearings, such as angular contact ball bearings, deep groove ball bearings, etc. Their structures will be different, but their basic composition is similar. 

I hope that through this sharing, everyone will have a clearer understanding of the composition of bearings. As the heart of mechanical equipment, bearings play a vital role in the performance of the entire equipment! Remember to replace your equipment with good bearings. They will make the device smoother and more reliable!